Asked by: Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru - Dwyfor Meirionnydd)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the Policy Paper published on 11 February 2026 entitled Local Power Plan, when the route to market for unlocking SLES will be operational.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department recognises requests to take steps to better enable local energy markets and trading to lower bills and increase the resilience of the electricity networks. The Department is investigating barriers to local supply and is working with Ofgem, Great British Energy and relevant stakeholders to find solutions that work in the best interests of local generators and consumers.
The Department is also actively exploring policy options that will unlock Smart Local Energy Systems, including working with Innovate UK, local government and communities to develop opportunities for place‑based approaches.
Ofgem and Elexon’s work on code modifications, like P441, will help more community energy groups identify and understand the different routes to market in order to sell their energy. Industry feedback informed the Draft Modification Report considered by the Panel on the 12 March leading to the Final Modification Report submitted to Ofgem on the 17 March.
Asked by: Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru - Dwyfor Meirionnydd)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he refer the issue of fraud within ECO4 and Great British Insulation Scheme to the Serious Fraud Office as recommended by the Public Account Committee report on Faulty Energy Efficiency Installations, published on 23 January 2026.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department will be responding to the Public Accounts Committee via Treasury Minute as is the standard process.
Asked by: Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru - Dwyfor Meirionnydd)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when his Department plans to respond in full to the Public Account Committee report on Faulty Energy Efficiency Installations, published on 23 January 2026.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department will be responding to the Public Accounts Committee via Treasury Minute as is the standard process.
Asked by: Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru - Dwyfor Meirionnydd)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if his Department will publish an annual report on (a) its retrofit schemes, (b) their level of compliance, (c) estimated fraud and (d) their effectiveness.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department will publish monitoring statistics and evaluation of policies announced in the Warm Homes Plan. DESNZ currently publishes statistics covering the uptake and impacts of energy efficiency measures on GOV.UK.
Asked by: Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru - Dwyfor Meirionnydd)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to page 88 of the Department's policy paper entitled Warm Homes Plan, published on 21 January 2026, when he plans to publish the consultation on (a) options for bringing the oversight of energy efficiency and microgeneration installations for government schemes under closer control and (b) the role of the Warm Homes Agency.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
As set out in the Warm Homes Plan, we will consult this year on options for bringing the oversight of energy efficiency and microgeneration installations for government schemes under closer government control and the role of the Warm Homes Agency.
Asked by: Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru - Dwyfor Meirionnydd)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will release annual reports estimating the level of fraud and non‑compliance in retrofit schemes.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We have received similar recommendations from both the NAO and the PAC. We are considering these reports and the recommendations and will be responding to these in full in due course.
Asked by: Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru - Dwyfor Meirionnydd)
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 introducing a social energy tariff.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government understands the need to target support to those who need it most. That is why on 30 January, we announced the continuation of the Warm Home Discount scheme, providing around 6 million eligible households with the £150 rebate on their energy bills every winter until 2030/31. This means that millions of households every year who need support with their energy bills will receive the Warm Home Discount for the rest of the decade.
We also committed to exploring additional improvements to the scheme. While we consider options for future bill support, we are working across Government to improve access to and sharing of data to target support more effectively in the future. Specifically, the ‘Kickstarter’ programme under the National Data Library will test how public sector data can be better joined up to improve access to government programmes.
Asked by: Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru - Dwyfor Meirionnydd)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the availability of energy support for (a) ill and (b) other vulnerable people.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government understands the need to target support to those who need it most. That is why on 30 January, we announced the continuation of the Warm Home Discount scheme, providing around 6 million eligible households with the £150 rebate on their energy bills every winter until 2030/31. This means that millions of households every year who need support with their energy bills will receive the Warm Home Discount for the rest of the decade.
We also committed to exploring additional improvements to the scheme. While we consider options for future bill support, we are working across Government to improve access to and sharing of data to target support more effectively in the future. Specifically, the ‘Kickstarter’ programme under the National Data Library will test how public sector data can be better joined up to improve access to government programmes.
Asked by: Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru - Dwyfor Meirionnydd)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what support is available to households that have paid to rectify non-compliant works under the ECO4 scheme.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We have been clear that the original installer is responsible for remediating issues with their work and for the costs of doing so. Where an installer ceases to trade or in some cases fails to rectify an issue, protections under the guarantee should be invoked. TrustMark require a guarantee to have been issued, which for Solid Wall Insulation will cover up to £20k.
If consumers have a separate complaint about their installation, they can follow the steps set out in the TrustMark complaints process here. This includes the Dispute Resolution Ombudsman if the consumer wishes to progress with legal actions.
Asked by: Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru - Dwyfor Meirionnydd)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions his Department has had with the Welsh Government on the the Warm Homes Agency; and if he will set out how the Agency will operate in Wales.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government has been actively engaging with the Welsh Government on the Warm Homes Agency since Spring 2025, including discussions on how future arrangements of the Agency would work with Devolved Governments. The Agency will only operate in Wales with agreement from the Welsh Government, and discussions to secure this agreement are ongoing.