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FOI/202500495894 · FOI · unclear

Energy bills statement calculation and justification: FOI release

Published
2026-02-23
Received
2025-11-27
Responded
2025-12-22
Directorate
Energy and Climate Change Directorate
Topic
Energy, Public sector
Exemptions
None detected

Information requested

The full calculations and justification for the following statement made by Mr. Swinney during FMQs:

“There will, of course, be consequences for the public. Their energy bills will not be cut by the £300 that was proposed by the Labour Party. Energy bills will still be, on average, £340 a year higher than the Prime Minister promised that they would be.”

Response

During the UK general election in July 2024, the current UK Government promised to cut energy bills by £300 per year.

In July 2024, the energy price cap set by Ofgem meant that a typical household who used both electricity and gas, and paid by Direct Debit, would pay £1,568 for their energy per year. The most recent price cap means that the same typical household will pay £1,758 per year for their energy – £190 higher than at the time of the election.

Measures in the recently announced UK budget are expected to reduce energy bills by approximately £150 per year next year. This means that, even taking account of the budget measures, and based on the most recently available price cap, bills would be £40 higher than at the time of the election.

Therefore, bills will still be, on average, £340 a year higher than the Prime Minister promised that they would be.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.

Contact Please quote the FOI reference Central Correspondence Unit Email: contactus@gov.scot Phone: 0300 244 4000 The Scottish Government St Andrew's House Regent Road Edinburgh EH1 3DG

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