Asked by: Julian Smith (Conservative - Skipton and Ripon)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will ensure that measures to support people with the cost of gas and electricity also apply to heating oil, including the temporary reduction on VAT for electricity bills.
Answered by Polly Billington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government announced over £53 million of targeted support in March for low-income households reliant on heating oil, ensuring support is directed to those most in need.
Off-gas-grid households with a domestic electricity meter will also benefit from the six-month removal of VAT from domestic electricity bills from 1 October, expected to reduce the annualised Ofgem price cap by around £45.
Asked by: Julian Smith (Conservative - Skipton and Ripon)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when the Government plans to introduce regulation for the heating oil sector; and what details of this forthcoming regulation she can provide.
Answered by Polly Billington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government published its formal response to the Competition and Markets Authority’s heating oil report on 13 October and is taking forward proposals to regulate the heating oil sector for the first time, ensuring households are treated fairly. We are developing options for a proportionate regulatory regime, which will take time to get right to secure the best outcomes for consumers. In the meantime, we will work with industry to strengthen consumer protection measures in existing Codes of Conduct. Our aim is a fairer, more resilient and trusted market, with stronger consumer protections while preserving competition and security of supply.
Asked by: Julian Smith (Conservative - Skipton and Ripon)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a price cap for heating oil.
Answered by Polly Billington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises the concerns of households that rely on heating oil. Unlike gas and electricity, heating oil is bought as a single delivery at the prevailing market price, so prices respond quickly to wholesale costs, international oil markets, seasonal demand and local delivery conditions. The Competition and Markets Authority found that the market is generally competitive and that recent price increases largely reflected wholesale costs.
The Government published its formal response on 13 October and will regulate the heating oil market for the first time, developing a proportionate regime to strengthen fair treatment, transparency, protections for vulnerable households and routes to redress, while preserving competition and security of supply.
Asked by: Julian Smith (Conservative - Skipton and Ripon)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what plans her Department has to ensure better access to redress and dispute resolution between consumers and distributors of heating oil.
Answered by Polly Billington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government agrees with the CMA’s recent assessment that the heating oil sector is not working as it should for consumers, which can lead to poor outcomes, especially during periods of volatility and for vulnerable consumers. This includes the process for price quotations, order cancellations, support for vulnerable consumers, and access to redress. We have therefore announced our intentions to regulate the heating oil sector for the first time. As an interim priority we agree to work with industry to strengthen consumer protections through existing Codes of Conduct, consumer protection initiatives, and awareness of and access to dispute resolution whilst longer-term regulatory solutions are worked through.
Asked by: Julian Smith (Conservative - Skipton and Ripon)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps she is taking to support people with the cost of heating oil.
Answered by Polly Billington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises the pressures facing households that rely on heating oil. We have provided an additional £53 million of targeted support for vulnerable households, largely in rural communities, including £27 million through the Crisis and Resilience Fund for English local authorities in areas with higher reliance on oil heating. Funding is also available to the Northern Ireland Executive, Wales and Scotland. We continue to monitor heating-oil supply chains and engage frequently with industry to help ensure supply and pricing remain resilient.
In addition, the Government published its formal response to the CMA heating oil report on 13 October, and plans to strengthen regulations in the market for the first time, making sure households who use heating oil are treated fairly.
This will include developing options for a proportionate regulatory regime for the heating oil market, which will take time to get right, to ensure the best outcomes for consumers. In the meantime, we will work with industry to strengthen consumer protection measures in existing Codes of Conduct, which set rules for the sector.
This is a clear indication of the Government’s commitment to create a fairer, more resilient and trusted heating oil market, which delivers stronger consumer protections while preserving competition and security of supply.
A Written Ministerial Statement can be found here: Written statements - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament
The full response can be found here: Government response to the CMA heating oil market study - GOV.UK
Asked by: Julian Smith (Conservative - Skipton and Ripon)
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 support farmers with increased electricity standing charges.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Network charges are set by the independent energy regulator, Ofgem, in line with the Connection and Use of System Code. As part of setting electricity transmission price controls under its RIIO‑T3 (ET3) Final Determinations, Ofgem carried out an impact assessment considering the overall effect of its decisions on domestic and non-domestic consumers. Details of Ofgem's impact assessment can be found through the following link: RIIO-3 Final Determinations – Impact Assessment
The Government and Ofgem closely monitor the impact of energy prices on businesses and communities and are committed to ensuring that energy costs are recovered fairly, including considering the ongoing role of standing charges.
This Government is taking decisive action to support farmers and fishers by cutting the duty on red diesel to its lowest rate in over 20 years, reducing the rates on red diesel by a third. Government has acted to prevent unfair practices like price-gouging, help those who rely on heating oil, and ensure businesses get a fair deal on their bills.
Asked by: Julian Smith (Conservative - Skipton and Ripon)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing support to park home residents for energy efficiency upgrades to their homes, in the context of eligibility challenges of park homes for the Warm Homes Local Grant.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Park homes are eligible for support under the Warm Homes: Local Grant - provided they are:
As park homes do not have Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), eligibility is determined through an assessment of their Energy Performance Rating (EPR), which can evidence equivalence to the required EPC bands.
The Government has therefore ensured that park home residents can access support where they meet the scheme's eligibility criteria.
Asked by: Julian Smith (Conservative - Skipton and Ripon)
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 Local Power Plan on local jobs and supply chain opportunities for small businesses in the clean energy sector.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Local ownership keeps economic benefits local, supporting local labour markets directly and indirectly. Community-led projects tend to create more local jobs due to local ownership and reinvestment of revenue.
More broadly, our Clean Energy Industries Sector Plan set out Government’s approach to creating investment, growth and jobs in clean energy industries, including supply chains.
Asked by: Julian Smith (Conservative - Skipton and Ripon)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will take steps under the Local Power Plan to accelerate grid connections for small business-led renewable energy projects.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department continues to work closely with Ofgem, NESO and DNOs to ensure wider grid connections reforms benefit community and local energy projects, including: Ofgem starting to implement proposals in the End‑to‑End Review, a systematic review of Transmission Impact Assessment thresholds in Scotland, and ongoing work to explore remaining policy and regulatory issues.
Projects connecting to distribution networks in England and Wales (including the majority of community projects) have benefited from a Transmission Impact Assessment (TIA) threshold increase from 1MW to 5MW in May 2025, meaning more projects can now avoid the more complex, lengthy and costly transmission connection process.
The Department is committed to improving the grid connection experience for all connecting customers, including community and local energy projects.
Asked by: Julian Smith (Conservative - Skipton and Ripon)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will ensure that small and medium-sized enterprises are directly impacted by the Local Power Plan, including hosting renewable energy installations and participating in shared ownership models.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
This year Government will consult on detailed plans for a possible mandatory shared ownership scheme and Great British Energy (GBE) will develop a Local Energy Platform to provide an end-to-end business solution for onsite renewable generation. This will be available to small and medium sized enterprises.
Great British Energy will set out further funding options in summer 2026. Projects are encouraged to engage early through the EOI form available at https://www.gbe.gov.uk/express-your-interest