Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to increase gas storage in the UK, in light of the current conflict in Iran and the wider Middle East.
Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The UK benefits from diverse gas supply sources, including the UK Continental Shelf, pipeline imports from reliable partners such as Norway, and significant LNG import capability, which limits reliance on any single source.
We are confident this diverse portfolio will continue to meet the country’s energy needs, as it has during previous geopolitical events.
The Government does, however, recognise that the energy transition may change future infrastructure requirements, so we recently consulted on options to safeguard gas security, including measures to encourage storage investment. A response will follow in due course.
Asked by: Ben Maguire (Liberal Democrat - North Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to ensure fair pricing practices for (a) domestic heating oil and (b) liquefied petroleum gas.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government remains committed to supporting those households most affected and to addressing the rising costs linked to the ongoing conflict in Iran.
The Energy Secretary welcomes the Competition and Market Authority’s comprehensive examination of the heating oil industry to ensure customers are treated fairly. Wholesale prices for heating oil have risen more sharply than for LPG and concerns in the heating oil sector were raised immediately. The CMA will apply its person-centred, needs-based approach as appropriate, and its general operating principles extend to addressing any potential concerns in the LPG market. The Government will continue to monitor the situation and will not tolerate profiteering or unfair practices.
As part of the Chancellors announcement on 16 March, £53 million has been made available to assist low-income families facing rising fuel costs. Households using LPG will be eligible for the £27 million of this support available in England, which will be distributed by local authorities through the Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) from 1 April.
Asked by: Ben Maguire (Liberal Democrat - North Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the prevalence of price gouging for (a) domestic heating oil and (b) liquefied petroleum gas.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Price gouging will not be tolerated. That is why the Chancellor has written to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to ask it to remain vigilant on heating oil prices and support action to tackle unjustified price increases.
Wholesale prices for heating oil have risen more sharply than for LPG and concerns in the heating oil sector were raised immediately. The CMA will apply its person-centred, needs-based approach as appropriate, and its general operating principles extend to addressing any potential concerns in the LPG market. The Government and the CMA will not hesitate to take action if companies are found to have breached consumer protection laws.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what support his Department is providing for retrofitting and improving the energy efficiency of older rural housing stock.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Warm Homes: Local Grant and Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund support eligible households– including in rural areas and off gas grid to upgrade their homes, with measures including insulation, solar, batteries, and heat pumps.
All eligible households in England and Wales can benefit from the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) to support low-carbon heating installations, funded with £2.7 billion to 2030. There is a strong uptake of BUS grants in rural areas, with 49% of all grants given to rural properties to date.
Additionally, the government has consulted on alternative heating solutions to ensure every household has a suitable low-carbon option. The consultation is now closed. A government response will follow in due course.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what is the frequency of the updates that he is receiving from the Fuel Distribution Association about challenges in the supply chain of heating oil for [i] domestic and [ii] business customers.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is in frequent communication with the UK and Ireland Fuel Distribution Association (UKIFDA) to monitor heating oil supply and pricing. We are aware that some customers are experiencing delays or difficulties in receiving heating oil deliveries; this was due to an increase in demand. This has now reduced, and industry are reporting that demand has returned to the normal level expected for this time of year.
The Prime Minister confirmed £53 million of immediate support for those most exposed to changing heating oil prices on Monday 16 March.
Asked by: Suella Braverman (Reform UK - Fareham and Waterlooville)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of rising heating oil prices on low‑income households in semi‑rural areas; and what steps she plans to take to help ensure these households are not disadvantaged compared with mains‑connected customers.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises that families and businesses across the country will see the recent global events and once again be concerned about the impact on their energy bills. The Government will continue to monitor the situation closely over coming days and weeks.
My Rt. Hon. Friend the Chancellor has announced £53m for low income families, who heat their homes with oil to help tackle surging prices. This funding will be available to the Northern Ireland Executive, Wales, and Scotland. This funding is allocated as part of the Crisis Resilience fund and will be distributed by local authorities. Local Authorities have responsibility for distributing funds to households. More information can be found here: Over £50 million to help families struggling with soaring heating oil costs - GOV.UK
Households using heating oil also benefit from wider cost‑of‑living support, including electricity bill reductions announced in the Autumn Budget, and the Warm Home Discount, which provides eligible households with £150 off energy bills annually until 2030/31.
Asked by: Dan Norris (Independent - North East Somerset and Hanham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate he has made of the number of renewable energy projects awaiting grid connection in NE Somerset and Hanham; and what steps he is taking to reduce connection delays.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Information on projects holding connection agreements is available at TEC Register | National Energy System Operator for transmission projects and National Grid - Embedded capacity register for distribution projects in the South-West. However, data is categorised by grid connection point, not geographic location of projects.
At transmission level, Government is working with National Energy System Operator, network companies and Ofgem to prioritise connections for viable projects that meet our strategic needs. In addition, in its end-to-end review, Ofgem is proposing measures to hold network companies more to account on timely delivery of connections, to both the transmission and distribution networks.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that large electricity users such as data centres contribute to system investment and operation through flexibility and demand management when connecting to the electricity network.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government, NESO and Ofgem have worked together with industry to identify specific actions to support an increase in large non-domestic consumer-led flexibility, setting those actions out in the Clean Flexibility Roadmap, published in 2025.
Data centres, like other non-domestic users, can play a role in being flexible with their usage, generating system benefits that will help all energy users. Government is currently consulting on whether some categories of large demand users should be required to provide a minimum level of demand flexibility as a condition of connection.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of current electricity costs on the rate of electric vehicle uptake; and what assessment he has made of the effect of electricity pricing mechanisms on those costs.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
On electric vehicle uptake, the Department for Transport has not assessed the potential impact of current electricity costs on the rate of uptake, and it is too early to determine how changes in fuel and electricity prices may influence electric vehicle adoption. The Department for Transport will monitor closely and remains fully committed to the ZEV transition.
On energy pricing, Ofgem are reviewing how we could recover energy system costs from consumers (including consumers who own electric vehicles) in ways that are fairer and more efficient through their Cost Allocation and Recovery Review. DESNZ are working closely with the regulator on this.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to Ofgem's call for input entitled Demand Connections Reform, published on 13 February 2026, how many of the 140 data centres are located in Scotland.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Ofgem's Call for Input draws on data collected by the National Energy System Operator (NESO) in which 140 prospective data centres self-reported their presence in the pipeline for connections. 19 of these were located in Scotland. However, these responses were voluntary and represent developer intent rather than confirmed deliverability. NESO is undertaking further work to validate the results including issuing a mandatory Information Request Notice to demand connection customers on 11 March.