Asked by: Chris Kane (Labour - Stirling and Strathallan)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent discussions he has had with the Competition and Markets Authority on potential reforms to regulation of the heating oil market.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We welcome the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) commitment to urgently investigate reports from consumers about their experiences in the heating oil market. The CMA is working to publish the findings of its market study later in June.
Ministers continue to meet regularly with the CMA and will work jointly to understand the finding of the market study and develop options to increase consumer protections if required.
The CMA will not hesitate to take action if companies are found to have breached consumer protection law.
Asked by: Chris Kane (Labour - Stirling and Strathallan)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions he has had with the Competition and Markets Authority on alleged breaches of consumer law in the heating oil market.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We welcome the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) commitment to urgently investigate reports from consumers about their experiences in the heating oil market. The CMA will publish the findings of its market study in June.
Ministers continue to meet regularly with the CMA and we will work together to understand its finding and develop options to increase consumer protections in the sector if required.
The CMA will not hesitate to take action if companies are found to have breached consumer protection law.
Asked by: Chris Kane (Labour - Stirling and Strathallan)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions he has had with the Fuel Distribution Industry Federation on the supply of heating oil to vulnerable households.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
My Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State has written to the UK and Ireland Fuel Distributors Association (UKIFDA) reminding distributors of their obligations under the UKIFDA Code of Practice, which includes provisions on the fair treatment of vulnerable customers. Industry schemes, such as UKIFDA’s Cold Weather Priority scheme, help to identify and prioritise vulnerable households. The Government continues to monitor heating oil supply and market conditions, as well as any impact on those most at risk.
Asked by: Chris Kane (Labour - Stirling and Strathallan)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent discussions his Department has had with the devolved Administrations on tackling fuel poverty in the context of recent heating oil price increases.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department has been in discussion with the Devolved Administrations on the matter of heating oil price increases. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Chancellor has announced £53 million for low-income families, who heat their homes with oil to help tackle surging prices, with the Scottish Government receiving £4.6 million. Fuel poverty in Scotland is a devolved matter for the Scottish Government. The Department is also working with the CMA to review the UK heating oil market, including greater consumer protections: https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases/heating-oil-market-study.
Asked by: Chris Kane (Labour - Stirling and Strathallan)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress has been made on securing an adequate supply of propranolol 80mg and 160mg modified release capsules.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department is aware of supply issues affecting propranolol (Bedranol SR) 80 milligrams and 160 milligrams modified release capsules due to manufacturing issues which are expected to last until at least August 2026. We have engaged with National Health Service specialist clinicians and issued comprehensive guidance on how to manage patients during this time, and to advise on alternative preparations including propranolol immediate release tablets or unlicensed imports of propranolol modified release capsules where needed.
The Department continues to work with the suppliers of the medicines and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency to mitigate the situation and ensure supplies are available for patients as soon as possible.
Asked by: Chris Kane (Labour - Stirling and Strathallan)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with the Scottish Government and local authorities on the use of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to promote and develop rural resilience in areas classified as remote rural and very remote rural.
Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)
I am responding as the matter of Scotland's Rural Economy falls within my portfolio. I take the matter of sustainable rural development very seriously and I regularly discuss this matter with colleagues in the Scottish Government and Local Authorities, including in a visit to the Isle of Lewis shortly after my appointment as Minister.
The UK Government recognises the importance of tackling rural depopulation, and we are committed to supporting these communities by boosting investment and opportunities.
The UK Government is ensuring that up to 60,000 young people across Scotland have real pathways into work, whether that's in our growing renewables sector, in construction trades that are crying out for skilled workers, or in hospitality. The Government has also recently committed £10 million towards the creation of Defence Technical Excellence Colleges (DTECs) as part of the £50 million Scotland Defence Growth Deal. Defence is a key sector for providing skilled jobs across all parts of Scotland, from Faslane to Lossiemouth.
This UK Government’s Industrial Strategy sets out how we will grow our economy by doubling down on our national strengths, despite global uncertainty. This includes investing in Scotland’s huge contribution to the UK economy: in energy, defence, advanced manufacturing, life sciences and other sectors. We are also backing the world-class food and drink that so often originates in rural Scotland through our trade agreement with India and, shortly, the European Union.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) has now come to an end across the UK following a year of transition funding in 2025/26, and we are now providing new targeted investments to areas that need it most.
The UK Government is committed to supporting long-term economic growth and is investing £350m for projects that benefit remote rural and very remote rural areas. This includes: £60m for Community Regeneration Partnerships for Argyll & Bute, Scottish Borders, and the Western Isles; £47m to complete Local Regeneration Fund projects in rural areas, including the Fair Isle Ferry, and projects across Scottish Borders, Dumfries and Galloway and rural South Lanarkshire; £25m seed capital funding for the Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport; £60m in Pride in Place Programme funding across Sutherland, Orkney, and Lewis; and £158m to complete delivery of the Inverness & Highland, Moray, Argyll & Bute, Borderlands, and Islands Growth Deals. This Government is backing rural Scotland.
It must be noted, however, that responsibility for many of the issues faced in rural Scotland - such as provision of housing, transport, infrastructure, digital connectivity, training and skills development - are devolved matters that come under the control of the Scottish Government. We will continue to work with them to ensure that the actions that both governments take will benefit all of the people of Scotland, including those in rural communities.
Asked by: Chris Kane (Labour - Stirling and Strathallan)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what steps the Government is taking with the Scottish Government to help promote and develop rural resilience in areas of Scotland classified as remote rural and very remote rural.
Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)
I am responding as the matter of Scotland's Rural Economy falls within my portfolio. I take the matter of sustainable rural development very seriously and I regularly discuss this matter with colleagues in the Scottish Government and Local Authorities, including in a visit to the Isle of Lewis shortly after my appointment as Minister.
The UK Government recognises the importance of tackling rural depopulation, and we are committed to supporting these communities by boosting investment and opportunities.
The UK Government is ensuring that up to 60,000 young people across Scotland have real pathways into work, whether that's in our growing renewables sector, in construction trades that are crying out for skilled workers, or in hospitality. The Government has also recently committed £10 million towards the creation of Defence Technical Excellence Colleges (DTECs) as part of the £50 million Scotland Defence Growth Deal. Defence is a key sector for providing skilled jobs across all parts of Scotland, from Faslane to Lossiemouth.
This UK Government’s Industrial Strategy sets out how we will grow our economy by doubling down on our national strengths, despite global uncertainty. This includes investing in Scotland’s huge contribution to the UK economy: in energy, defence, advanced manufacturing, life sciences and other sectors. We are also backing the world-class food and drink that so often originates in rural Scotland through our trade agreement with India and, shortly, the European Union.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) has now come to an end across the UK following a year of transition funding in 2025/26, and we are now providing new targeted investments to areas that need it most.
The UK Government is committed to supporting long-term economic growth and is investing £350m for projects that benefit remote rural and very remote rural areas. This includes: £60m for Community Regeneration Partnerships for Argyll & Bute, Scottish Borders, and the Western Isles; £47m to complete Local Regeneration Fund projects in rural areas, including the Fair Isle Ferry, and projects across Scottish Borders, Dumfries and Galloway and rural South Lanarkshire; £25m seed capital funding for the Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport; £60m in Pride in Place Programme funding across Sutherland, Orkney, and Lewis; and £158m to complete delivery of the Inverness & Highland, Moray, Argyll & Bute, Borderlands, and Islands Growth Deals. This Government is backing rural Scotland.
It must be noted, however, that responsibility for many of the issues faced in rural Scotland - such as provision of housing, transport, infrastructure, digital connectivity, training and skills development - are devolved matters that come under the control of the Scottish Government. We will continue to work with them to ensure that the actions that both governments take will benefit all of the people of Scotland, including those in rural communities.
Asked by: Chris Kane (Labour - Stirling and Strathallan)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on depopulation in rural areas.
Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)
I am responding as the matter of Scotland's Rural Economy falls within my portfolio. I take the matter of sustainable rural development very seriously and I regularly discuss this matter with colleagues in the Scottish Government and Local Authorities, including in a visit to the Isle of Lewis shortly after my appointment as Minister.
The UK Government recognises the importance of tackling rural depopulation, and we are committed to supporting these communities by boosting investment and opportunities.
The UK Government is ensuring that up to 60,000 young people across Scotland have real pathways into work, whether that's in our growing renewables sector, in construction trades that are crying out for skilled workers, or in hospitality. The Government has also recently committed £10 million towards the creation of Defence Technical Excellence Colleges (DTECs) as part of the £50 million Scotland Defence Growth Deal. Defence is a key sector for providing skilled jobs across all parts of Scotland, from Faslane to Lossiemouth.
This UK Government’s Industrial Strategy sets out how we will grow our economy by doubling down on our national strengths, despite global uncertainty. This includes investing in Scotland’s huge contribution to the UK economy: in energy, defence, advanced manufacturing, life sciences and other sectors. We are also backing the world-class food and drink that so often originates in rural Scotland through our trade agreement with India and, shortly, the European Union.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) has now come to an end across the UK following a year of transition funding in 2025/26, and we are now providing new targeted investments to areas that need it most.
The UK Government is committed to supporting long-term economic growth and is investing £350m for projects that benefit remote rural and very remote rural areas. This includes: £60m for Community Regeneration Partnerships for Argyll & Bute, Scottish Borders, and the Western Isles; £47m to complete Local Regeneration Fund projects in rural areas, including the Fair Isle Ferry, and projects across Scottish Borders, Dumfries and Galloway and rural South Lanarkshire; £25m seed capital funding for the Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport; £60m in Pride in Place Programme funding across Sutherland, Orkney, and Lewis; and £158m to complete delivery of the Inverness & Highland, Moray, Argyll & Bute, Borderlands, and Islands Growth Deals. This Government is backing rural Scotland.
It must be noted, however, that responsibility for many of the issues faced in rural Scotland - such as provision of housing, transport, infrastructure, digital connectivity, training and skills development - are devolved matters that come under the control of the Scottish Government. We will continue to work with them to ensure that the actions that both governments take will benefit all of the people of Scotland, including those in rural communities.
Asked by: Chris Kane (Labour - Stirling and Strathallan)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what support he is providing to households in rural and off-gas-grid areas reliant on heating oil as their primary source of heat.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
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. In England, funding will be distributed by local authorities via the Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF), which comes into effect from 1 April.
In addition, the Government has announced the intention to regulate the heating oil sector to introduce new customer protections along-side securing agreement with industry to quickly improve customer experience.
We will work closely with the CMA to understand their findings and develop options to increase consumer protections in this sector.
Asked by: Chris Kane (Labour - Stirling and Strathallan)
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 reduce fuel poverty among households reliant on domestic heating oil as their primary source of heating.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government understands that many households, particularly in rural and off‑gas‑grid areas, rely on heating oil as their primary source of heat. We continue to monitor heating oil supply chains to ensure households can access fuel when needed.
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. More information can be found here: Over £50 million to help families struggling with soaring heating oil costs - GOV.UK
Tackling fuel poverty is a priority for this Government. The measures taken in the Autumn Budget reduce the cost of electricity and therefore benefit all households with a domestic electricity meter, including those not on the gas grid. In addition, on 30 January, we announced the continuation of the Warm Home Discount scheme until 2030/31, providing around 6 million eligible households with the £150 rebate on their energy bills each winter.