Asked by: Ayoub Khan (Independent - Birmingham Perry Barr)
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 improve the (a) consumer protection and (b) quality assurance frameworks for the Energy Company Obligation.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Government is committed to creating a simpler, stronger system of standards and oversight, with reforms to ensure work is done right first time, create a clear and straightforward installation process, and enable swift redress.
The Government’s Retrofit System Reform Advisory Panel will continue to support us to develop these proposals. Further detail will be provided in the Warm Homes Plan.
In the short-term, Government is offering comprehensive on-site audits to every household with external wall insulation installed under ECO and GBIS, at no cost to the consumer.
Asked by: Ayoub Khan (Independent - Birmingham Perry Barr)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate his Department has made of the total cost of remediation for homes that received substandard external and internal wall insulation through the Energy Company Obligation and Great British Insulation Scheme.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
No household should be asked to pay for remediation work. Where non-compliance is found and remediation is needed, the original installer is responsible for the cost of putting the work right. Should the installer have ceased trading, the protections under the 25-year guarantee can be invoked.
The vast majority of remediation for solid wall insulation installed under ECO4 or GBIS has cost between £250 and £6,000 for internal wall insulation and £5,000 and £18,000 for external wall insulation. This would all be covered by the £20,000 guarantee required by TrustMark, should the installer no longer be trading.
Asked by: Ayoub Khan (Independent - Birmingham Perry Barr)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department's initial projections of the annual financial and emissions savings to be made through the Energy Company Obligation and Great British Insulation Scheme will be achieved.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Scheme impact assessments included annual bill savings targets of £224.3m for ECO4 and £55.99m for GBIS.
Evaluations of ECO4 and GBIS are underway, including household surveys about energy consumption and bills savings. Evaluation reports will be published in 2026 (ECO4) and 2027 (GBIS). Following completion of ECO4 and GBIS, analysis will be carried out using gas and electricity meter data to assess energy and carbon savings. The official statistics provide ongoing estimates of annual bill savings.
Asked by: Ayoub Khan (Independent - Birmingham Perry Barr)
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 (a) monitor, (b) deter and (c) eliminate fraud among retrofit businesses carrying out works under the Energy Company Obligation and Great British Insulation Scheme.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Measuring fraud and non-compliance is critical to managing the risks they pose. We are taking on board the ten lessons identified by the NAO and embedding these into our future consumer protection system. We will ensure fraud measurement is part of our future quality assurance regime.
For existing schemes, we currently work with Ofgem, TrustMark and energy suppliers to detect, prevent and deter fraud. When Ofgem is notified of suspected fraud, they will engage with suppliers to ensure robust investigation. Ofgem also engages with Action Fraud and the Serious Fraud Office.
Asked by: Ayoub Khan (Independent - Birmingham Perry Barr)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what representations he has made to the Chancellor of the Exchequer on securing long-term funding for the development of smart energy systems within the West Midlands as part of the Spending Review.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises the important role of local government, such as West Midlands Combined Authority, in driving net zero action. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State has regular discussions with Ministerial Colleagues on a number of issues. Details of the spending review will be set out in due course.
Asked by: Ayoub Khan (Independent - Birmingham Perry Barr)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of including the preservation of nature as priority in the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Government is fully committed to protecting nature. That’s why as part of the SSEP we are requiring NESO to give due consideration to environmental impacts and statutory environmental duties throughout all stages of its production. This will include environmental data sets, a robust governance framework and stakeholder engagement. The SSEP will also be subject to a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and plan-level Habitats Regulation Assessment (HRA).
Asked by: Ayoub Khan (Independent - Birmingham Perry Barr)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 30 January 2025 to Question 25957 on North Sea Oil: Carbon Emissions, whether he plans to appeal the Edinburgh Court of Session's ruling of 30 January 2025.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is carefully considering the Court of Session's judgment to inform its decisions on next steps.
Asked by: Ayoub Khan (Independent - Birmingham Perry Barr)
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 the Rosebank oil field development on the UK's net zero obligations.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
I refer the Hon Member to the regulatory decision documents on the environmental effects of the Rosebank project published in September 2023. Those regulatory decisions are currently subject to two Judicial Reviews. In August 2024, the Government announced that it would not be challenging the Judicial Reviews.
At COP28, the UK and others agreed to transition away from fossil fuels in an orderly and equitable manner, accelerating action in this critical decade. This is essential to keep the global temperature limit of 1.5°C within reach. The Government has acted swiftly to consult on new environmental guidance for oil and gas firms to ensure that the impact of burning oil and gas is considered in the Environmental Impact Assessment for new projects.
Asked by: Ayoub Khan (Independent - Birmingham Perry Barr)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to reduce energy bills for businesses.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government believes that our mission to deliver clean power by 2030 is the best way to break our dependence on global fossil fuel markets and protect billpayers, including business consumers, permanently.
In the short term, the Government wants to provide businesses with better protection from being locked into expensive energy contracts and more redress when they have a complaint. We closed a consultation in November regarding the regulation of Third-Party Intermediaries (TPIs), such as energy brokers, aimed at enhancing consumer protections, particularly for non-domestic consumers. A government response will follow in due course once all feedback has been reviewed.
From 19 December 2024, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with fewer than 50 employees can now access free support to resolve issues with their energy supplier through the Energy Ombudsman. This means that 99% of UK businesses can now access this service, with outcomes ranging up to £20,000 in financial awards.
The Government recognises that some businesses may be struggling to pay their bills. These businesses should contact their supplier to discuss their options, including ‘blend and extend’ contracts, where the higher unit rate is blended with a new lower rate, spreading the cost over the course of a long contract.
Asked by: Ayoub Khan (Independent - Birmingham Perry Barr)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to help ensure Great British Energy creates jobs in industrial communities.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Through its investment and development activities, Great British Energy (GBE) will support companies to provide opportunities for high quality, well-paid work, in the projects the company supports, in supply chains and in local communities through the Local Power Plan. As an operationally independent company, GBE will choose the projects it supports across the UK. I am confident that the benefits will be felt in local and national economies, including our industrial heartlands. The decision to headquarter GBE in Aberdeen has already given confidence to industry, as Sarens PSG has announced the opening of a Centre of Excellence in Aberdeen that will train wind farm workers.