Asked by: Ian Lavery (Labour - Blyth and Ashington)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will review the operation of the EPC eligibility criteria within ECO4 Flex where a local authority has accepted a referral under Article 19 on the basis of a medically certified health condition.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
ECO4 Flex Route 3 supports medically vulnerable households not meeting standard benefits criteria, but does not disapply the property requirements. Article 19(1)(e) cross-refers to articles 13 and 14 while omitting only their household-eligibility requirement. Accordingly, owner-occupied homes must have a pre-project SAP band D to G and private-rented homes E to G. Band C homes are outside the scheme. This targets finite support at the least energy-efficient homes, where improvements can deliver the greatest heating-cost reductions and benefits. Equality impacts were considered in accordance with the Public Sector Equality Duty when ECO4 was designed. Eligibility for the scheme, which closes on 31 December 2026, does not guarantee installation of measures.
Asked by: Ian Lavery (Labour - Blyth and Ashington)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what evidence was used to determine that households qualifying under the Article 19 health route should remain excluded from ECO4 Flex assistance where the property has an EPC rating of C.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
ECO4 Flex Route 3 supports medically vulnerable households not meeting standard benefits criteria, but does not disapply the property requirements. Article 19(1)(e) cross-refers to articles 13 and 14 while omitting only their household-eligibility requirement. Accordingly, owner-occupied homes must have a pre-project SAP band D to G and private-rented homes E to G. Band C homes are outside the scheme. This targets finite support at the least energy-efficient homes, where improvements can deliver the greatest heating-cost reductions and benefits. Equality impacts were considered in accordance with the Public Sector Equality Duty when ECO4 was designed. Eligibility for the scheme, which closes on 31 December 2026, does not guarantee installation of measures.
Asked by: Ian Lavery (Labour - Blyth and Ashington)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what is her policy on whether, under the Article 19 health route, households containing a person whose health is worsened by a cold home should be excluded because the property has an EPC rating of C.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
ECO4 Flex Route 3 supports medically vulnerable households not meeting standard benefits criteria, but does not disapply the property requirements. Article 19(1)(e) cross-refers to articles 13 and 14 while omitting only their household-eligibility requirement. Accordingly, owner-occupied homes must have a pre-project SAP band D to G and private-rented homes E to G. Band C homes are outside the scheme. This targets finite support at the least energy-efficient homes, where improvements can deliver the greatest heating-cost reductions and benefits. Equality impacts were considered in accordance with the Public Sector Equality Duty when ECO4 was designed. Eligibility for the scheme, which closes on 31 December 2026, does not guarantee installation of measures.
Asked by: Ian Lavery (Labour - Blyth and Ashington)
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 excluding homes with an EPC rating of C from ECO4 Flex support where the household otherwise satisfies the Article 19 health route on disabled and medically vulnerable households.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
ECO4 Flex Route 3 supports medically vulnerable households not meeting standard benefits criteria, but does not disapply the property requirements. Article 19(1)(e) cross-refers to articles 13 and 14 while omitting only their household-eligibility requirement. Accordingly, owner-occupied homes must have a pre-project SAP band D to G and private-rented homes E to G. Band C homes are outside the scheme. This targets finite support at the least energy-efficient homes, where improvements can deliver the greatest heating-cost reductions and benefits. Equality impacts were considered in accordance with the Public Sector Equality Duty when ECO4 was designed. Eligibility for the scheme, which closes on 31 December 2026, does not guarantee installation of measures.
Asked by: Ian Lavery (Labour - Blyth and Ashington)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether her Department has undertaken an Equality Act assessment of the effect of ECO4 Flex eligibility criteria on households containing disabled persons whose health is adversely affected by living in a cold home.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
ECO4 Flex Route 3 supports medically vulnerable households not meeting standard benefits criteria, but does not disapply the property requirements. Article 19(1)(e) cross-refers to articles 13 and 14 while omitting only their household-eligibility requirement. Accordingly, owner-occupied homes must have a pre-project SAP band D to G and private-rented homes E to G. Band C homes are outside the scheme. This targets finite support at the least energy-efficient homes, where improvements can deliver the greatest heating-cost reductions and benefits. Equality impacts were considered in accordance with the Public Sector Equality Duty when ECO4 was designed. Eligibility for the scheme, which closes on 31 December 2026, does not guarantee installation of measures.
Asked by: Ian Lavery (Labour - Blyth and Ashington)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether eligibility under the health route of the Electricity and Gas (Energy Company Obligation) Order 2022 is intended to provide support for medically vulnerable households that do not meet the standard benefits criteria.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
ECO4 Flex Route 3 supports medically vulnerable households not meeting standard benefits criteria, but does not disapply the property requirements. Article 19(1)(e) cross-refers to articles 13 and 14 while omitting only their household-eligibility requirement. Accordingly, owner-occupied homes must have a pre-project SAP band D to G and private-rented homes E to G. Band C homes are outside the scheme. This targets finite support at the least energy-efficient homes, where improvements can deliver the greatest heating-cost reductions and benefits. Equality impacts were considered in accordance with the Public Sector Equality Duty when ECO4 was designed. Eligibility for the scheme, which closes on 31 December 2026, does not guarantee installation of measures.
Asked by: Ian Lavery (Labour - Blyth and Ashington)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much funding he has allocated to compensate those infected and affected by contaminated blood.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds
In the 2024 Autumn Budget, the Government committed £11.8bn in compensation to people who were infected and affected as a result of the Infected Blood scandal. We estimate that the specific changes announced following the public consultation on the infected blood compensation scheme will cost in the region of £1bn in compensation payments.
These figures are a broad estimate, which reflects the inherent uncertainty in predicting the exact number of eligible claimants who will come forward. This estimate is neither a target nor a limit, and every eligible person will get the compensation they are due.
Asked by: Ian Lavery (Labour - Blyth and Ashington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reason the new service specification for haemophilia and related bleeding disorders has not been published; and when it will be published.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill
The revised service specification for haemophilia and related bleeding disorders has been developed through NHS England's established governance process, including stakeholder testing, public consultation, and consideration by the relevant specialised commissioning governance groups. Following completion of these governance steps, the specification has been progressing through NHS England's approval processes prior to release.
NHS England expects publication to take place once these final internal publication arrangements have been completed.
Asked by: Ian Lavery (Labour - Blyth and Ashington)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle skills shortages in areas historically impacted by deindustrialisation.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
We are strengthening the skills system so people of all ages can gain the qualifications needed for jobs in a changing economy.
Skills England leads on work to identify skills needs, simplify the system, and align training with labour‑market demand. It also works with the both the Department for Education and Department for Business and Trade to ensure skills provision supports the government’s Industrial Strategy and key growth sectors. Additionally, Strategic Authorities have a key role in skills in their areas, and Local Skills Improvement Plans create frameworks for local collaboration between employers and providers.
The Post‑16 Education and Skills White Paper, published in 2025, sets out a vision for a world‑leading system that widens access, meets employer needs, and supports innovation. Reforms by the department include new V Levels and two clear Level 2 pathways, expanding apprenticeships, the introduction of foundation apprenticeships and a new growth and skills levy, as well as investing in higher‑level technical qualifications and providing support for priority sectors.
Asked by: Ian Lavery (Labour - Blyth and Ashington)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department has taken to encourage businesses in deprived areas historically impacted by deindustrialisation to employ people locally.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department for Business and Trade is committed to supporting economic growth and job creation across all parts of the United Kingdom, including in communities historically affected by deindustrialisation. The key objective of the Industrial Strategy is to drive up business investment, increase growth and create high quality jobs.
Across Government we are helping to ensure that local people have the skills that employers need, including through programmes focused on apprenticeships, skills bootcamps, and sector-based work academies.