To ask the Minister for Communities what consideration she has given to offering a winter fuel payment to those in receipt of high rate mobility personal independence payments and child disability living allowance, similar to that given in the winter of 2020/21.

The Department for Communities currently provides support through the Affordable Warmth Scheme, Cold Weather Payments, Discretionary Support and the Winter Fuel Payment.

The vast majority of this year’s Winter Fuel Payments have been issued and to date 290,483 people have received their payment, with a total value of £51.7 million.This is a global fuel crisis and undoubtedly will have a major impact, including on those who are already struggling financially. The Department continues to engage with the Utility Regulator and the Consumer Council and given the scale of this crisis will work with Executive colleagues to try and mitigate the impacts