Drew Hendry

There are a number of complex issues arising from the recommendations in the Compensation Framework Study. These issues are under active consideration across government, including consideration of Sir Robert’s evidence to the independent Inquiry on 11-12 July. I will update the House as this work progresses.

I refer the Hon. member to the answer given to PQ 16932 on 20 June.

I refer the Hon. member to the answer given to PQ 16932 on 20 June.

I refer the hon. Member to the Written Statement of 14th of September, which sets out the reasons for the change to the timetable for introducing border import controls on goods from the EU.

The Government is working closely with the Devolved Administrations on the delay to the introduction of controls, especially on controls and checks on Sanitary and Phytosanitary goods which are a devolved matter.

I refer the hon. Member to the Written Statement of 14th of September, which sets out the reasons for the change to the timetable for introducing border import controls on goods from the EU.

The Government is working closely with the Devolved Administrations on the delay to the introduction of controls, especially on controls and checks on Sanitary and Phytosanitary goods which are a devolved matter.

Following discussions with the BBC, they have confirmed they will provide a sign language service during official statements for the foreseeable future.

The current public procurement rules will continue to apply until the UK has left the EU following the successful conclusion of exit negotiations. The longer-term opportunities for our procurement regulations are being considered carefully.

The Crown Commercial Service (CCS) does not routinely collect data from public sector fleet operators in relation to the Government's air quality targets. It does, however, capture data from suppliers relating to fuel types and CO2 Emissions.

The CCS Call Off contract template for Vehicle Purchase and Vehicle Lease and Fleet Management allow departments to specify the provision of this type of information from their appointed suppliers, but there is no specific data set that is recommended.

The CCS Vehicle Telematics framework enables organisations to manage their fleets more effectively by improving safety and efficiency through the use of telematics technology by monitoring things like fuel consumption, vehicle tracking and driver behaviour.

The Competition and Markets Authority has powers to issue civil sanctions for failures to comply with a requirement to produce information under Part 1 of the Competition Act 1998 and Parts 3 and 4 of the Enterprise Act 2002. The Government is strengthening these powers as part of the reforms in the Digital Markets Competition and Consumers Bill, including increasing the maximum penalty that can be imposed on a business.

Government published its response to the 2021 ‘Reforming Competition and Consumer Policy’ consultation in Spring 2022. This set out Government’s intention to continue to consider ways in which consumers can be supported in finding routes to redress, working with Citizens Advice, enforcers and Alternative Dispute Resolution providers to achieve this.

Consumers should report problems to the Government funded Citizens Advice consumer service on 0808 223 1133, www.citizensadvice.org/. The helpline offers free advice to consumers on their rights and how to take their complaints forward. The service can also refer on complaints to Trading Standards for further appropriate enforcement action.

Community support is critical to increasing the scale and pace of development of the electricity transmission network as we transition to net zero.

That is why, in November 2023, the government published its community benefit proposals for communities living near new transmission network infrastructure.

This includes publishing guidance this year covering benefits of £200,000/km for overhead lines, £40,000/km for underground cables, and £200,000 per substation. In addition, properties closest to new transmission network infrastructure will receive electricity bill discounts of up to £1,000 per year for 10 years.

I regularly meet with Ofgem to discuss the energy retail market, including standing charges. Ofgem’s recent Call for Input (CfI) on standing charges closed on January 19^th 2024. The Call for Input seeks to gain greater understanding on how standing charges are applied to energy bills and what alternatives could be considered. Government welcomes this and looks forward to Ofgem’s conclusions.

Further information on the CfI may be found online at: www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/launch-review-standing-charges-energy-bills

The setting of tariffs is a commercial matter for individual suppliers. Suppliers can decide how they structure their tariffs as long as they do not lead to households paying above the relevant maximums set by Ofgem under the price cap. There is no price cap for businesses.

To help protect North of Scotland consumers from high local electricity distribution costs, the Government’s Hydro Benefit Replacement Scheme provides an annual cross-subsidy of around £112m. It is funded via suppliers across GB, saving a typical North of Scotland household over £60 each year.

The UK has a secure and diverse energy system. Whilst energy policy is a matter reserved to the UK Government under the devolution settlement, planning, including energy infrastructure planning, is devolved to the Scottish Government. The Scottish Government published National Planning Framework 4 in February 2023 which has sections on energy and climate change. This is therefore a matter for the Scottish Government.

Ministers and officials regularly meet with Ofgem to discuss the energy retail market including for business customers.

The Energy Bills Discount Scheme (EBDS) provides all eligible businesses and other non-domestic energy users with a baseline discount on high energy bills for 12 months from April 2023 until 31 March 2024. The EBDS is helping businesses locked into contracts signed before substantial falls in wholesale prices manage their costs and provide others with reassurance against the risk of prices rising again.

Ofgem’s non-domestic review findings noted that more than half of suppliers are now offering contract renegotiation.

Ofgem’s recent Open Letter confirmed the numbers of households reliant on the Radio Teleswitching Service: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/open-letter-smart-meter-installations-prepayment-and-radio-teleswitch-customers

The Government expects energy suppliers to upgrade households with RTS to smart meters in good time in advance of the switch off. Households should contact their energy supplier to arrange their upgrades as soon as possible so they can continue to benefit from multi rate tariffs.

The Data Communications Company (DCC) provides Wide Area Network (WAN) coverage for smart meters to at least 99.25% of premises across Great Britain. The DCC is also obligated under its licence conditions to explore solutions to increase the overall level of coverage even further.

Ofgem is responsible for regulating the DCC against these obligations.

DESNZ ministers and officials meet regularly with Ofgem to discuss a range of issues relating to energy markets and consumers.

As the independent regulator, Ofgem is responsible for ensuring licensed energy suppliers are complying with their rules. Details of Ofgem’s ongoing supplier compliance and enforcement activity, including individual decisions, are at this link https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/energy-policy-and-regulation/compliance-and-enforcement/retail-compliance-and-enforcement.

The Energy Ombudsman is an independent, not for profit company appointed by Ofgem as the alternative dispute resolution (ADR) body for the energy sector under the Alternative Dispute Resolution for Consumer Disputes Regulations 2015. As the Competent Authority, it is the responsibility of Ofgem to carry out an assessment of the Energy Ombudsman’s performance. Ofgem does this every two years to ensure the company meets the approval criteria as an ADR body. A copy of the most recent assessment for the period of 2019-2021 is available on Ofgem’s website at: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/biennial-assessment-ombudsman-services-under-adr-regulations-2019-2021.

Direct Communications Company (DCC) Wide Area Network (WAN) coverage for smart meters has no impact on the ability of energy consumers to install electric vehicle charging points at their properties.

The Government’s domestic and international net zero targets are consistent with the Paris Agreement ambition to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees. The Government’s aim is to accelerate the reduction in oil and gas use and the Government has made progress in this area, including through the expansion of renewables which will reduce gas used for power generation. However, as the Climate Change Committee’s own analysis shows, the UK will still need oil and gas as it makes the transition to net zero by 2050.

No discussions have taken place. However, Ofgem Directors and Director Generals are employed as Civil Servants and, as such, are expected to abide by the Civil Service Code. It is expected that Ofgem staff will have declared any potential conflicts to the relevant senior manager in Ofgem, as set out under Ofgem’s Conflict of Interest Policy, which can be found here: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/sites/default/files/docs/2013/03/conflicts-of-interest-at-ofgem.pdf

The Department regularly engages with the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) supply industry through its trade association Liquid Gas UK. There are several suppliers and Liquid Gas UK provide a postcode search facility to help consumers identify those closest to them (https://www.liquidgasuk.org/domestic/supplier-search). The major suppliers have assured the Department that there will be a sufficient supply of 19kg cylinders across the UK, including Scotland. The industry will also have additional stocks arriving over the coming months to account for increased demand over the winter.

Data on cost estimates for electricity generation technologies and cost estimates for storage technologies along with their methodologies, data and assumptions are found in the Electricity Generation Costs and Storage Cost and Technical Assumptions reports respectively, published by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. These are not directly comparable for pumped hydro storage and nuclear generation given the different cost base and operating characteristics.

These reports can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/electricity-generation-costs-2023 and https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/storage-cost-and-technical-assumptions-for-electricity-storage-technologies.