Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps her Department is taking to help support households that use domestic heating oil or liquefied petroleum gas.

Answered by Polly Billington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

We know households reliant on heating oil and LPG fuels have been exposed to sharp prices increases because of the war in the Middle East.  That is why this Government took decisive action and announced targeted support across the UK for these households, allocating £4.6 million directly to the Scottish Government. Woefully, the Scottish government were only able to get a fifth of it's total funding for households out the door. Over 5,600 applications were rejected due to administrative hurdles - failing to protect vulnerable rural communities facing extreme fuel poverty.  This Government will never force households to choose between heating or heating, fuel poverty is poverty and a scourge on our society wherever it is found.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he plans to publish the Statutory Instruments required to implement the provisions of The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and International Committee of the Red Cross (Status) Act 2025.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office continues to work towards implementing the Statutory Instruments required to implement the provisions of The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and International Committee of the Red Cross (Status) Act 2025. The arrangements with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association have been agreed. Negotiations with the International Committee of the Red Cross are ongoing. Once complete, the Statutory Instruments for both Organisations will be laid before the house.