Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has had recent discussions with (a) representatives of rural communities and (b) third party bodies on including the energy needs of rural communities within the Warm Homes Plan.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The then Minister for Energy Consumers (Miatta Fahnbulleh) had discussions with industry, local government and devolved governments in the development of the Warm Homes Plan.
The Warm Homes Plan will help households, including rural off-gas grid households, take up measures like solar panels, heat pumps, batteries and insulation, helping them save money on their bills and benefit from cleaner, cheaper heating. The Department has partnered with combined authorities and local and devolved governments to roll out this plan.
The plan will be published by October and will set out our strategy for decarbonising homes, including in rural settings, in more detail.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has had recent discussions with (a) representatives of rural communities and (b) third party bodies on including the energy needs of canal boat owning communities within the Warm Homes Plan.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The then Minister for Energy Consumers (Miatta Fahnbulleh) had discussions with industry, local government and devolved governments in the development of the Warm Homes Plan.
Boat dwellers will not qualify for government energy efficiency schemes as a valid domestic Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating is required to access this support. The Reduced data Standard Assessment Procedure (RdSAP) method does not support the creation of domestic EPCs for houseboats.
However, the Warm Homes Plan will help households, including off-gas grid rural households, take up measures like solar panels, heat pumps, batteries and insulation, helping them save money on their bills and benefit from cleaner, cheaper heating.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has had recent discussions with (a) representatives of rural communities and (b) third party bodies on including the energy needs of off grid communities within the Warm Homes Plan.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The then Minister for Energy Consumers (Miatta Fahnbulleh) had discussions with industry, local government and devolved governments in the development of the Warm Homes Plan.
The Warm Homes Plan will help households, including rural off-gas grid households, take up measures like solar panels, heat pumps, batteries and insulation, helping them save money on their bills and benefit from cleaner, cheaper heating. The Department has partnered with combined authorities and local and devolved governments to roll out this plan.
The plan will be published by October and will set out our strategy for decarbonising homes, including in rural settings, in more detail.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will (a) raise the progress of OFGEM's Consumer Confidence Review and (b) determine a clear timetable for the Review to conclude with published findings and recommendations at his next meeting with OFGEM.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Ofgem have kept the Government updated on the progress of the review and the timetable for publication, and the findings of the review are due to be published shortly.
DESNZ Ministers regularly meet with Ofgem, including to discuss progress on key Ofgem initiatives such as its Consumer Confidence programme.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what progress he has made on considering the transfer the investment reserve to the members of the British Coal Superannuation Scheme.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The then Minister for Industry (Sarah Jones) met the BCSSS Trustees on 22 April, 11 June and 22 July and confirmed the Government’s commitment to considering their proposals regarding the reserve and the future of the scheme. DESNZ will now engage HM Treasury with a view to agreeing a way forward on the transfer of the reserve to members.
The Government is aiming to reach agreement on an outcome that can be implemented later this year which will benefit scheme members.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
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 adequacy of the compliance by energy companies with their standard licence conditions in the context of ensuring people understand the costs that constitute their energy bills.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Supplier Licence Conditions (SLCs) were put in place by the industry regulator Ofgem, so it is for them to make any assessment of supplier compliance to these rules. However, this Government does take the issue of clear, accurate billing very seriously.
According to the SLCs set by Ofgem, suppliers must take all reasonable steps to reflect accurate meter readings in bills or statements sent to customers where these have been provided by a customer or obtained by the supplier.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
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 feasibility of introducing solar canopies in public car parks.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Solar canopies on outdoor carparks provide clean electricity, the potential for electric vehicle charging and shelter for cars. A comprehensive assessment of the carbon savings, deployment feasibility, and cost-effectiveness of different intervention options, including mandates and incentives, in both the public and private sector, requires input from stakeholders, including local authorities and commercial owners. The Secretary of State published a call for evidence earlier this year to assess the potential to drive the construction of solar canopies on outdoor car parks. A government response will be published this year.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
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 ensure that decision making about the return of the BCSSS investment reserve can be made as swiftly as possible.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
I met the BCSSS Trustees on 22 April, 11 June and 22 July and confirmed the Government’s commitment to considering their proposals regarding the reserve and the future of the scheme. DESNZ will now engage HM Treasury with a view to agreeing a way forward on the transfer of the reserve to members.
I am aiming to reach agreement on an outcome that can be implemented later this year which will benefit scheme members.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions he is having with retailers on fuel prices for drivers, the context of progress on (a) implementing Fuel Finder and (b) the Competition and Markets Authority's monitoring of that market.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government aims to implement Fuel Finder by the end of 2025, subject to passage of the Data (Use and Access) Bill, which will provide the legislative basis to set up the scheme. Fuel Finder will increase price transparency and drive down prices by encouraging greater retailer competition.
Following an in-depth procurement process, we have appointed VE3 Global as the aggregator of Fuel Finder. Appointing the aggregator is an important milestone to launching by the end of 2025, and we will work closely with VE3 as it engages with retailers throughout Fuel Finder’s development.
The CMA continues to monitor and scrutinise fuel prices using the statutory information gathering powers it received on 1 January 2025 through the Digital Markets, Competition & Consumer Act 2024.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has had recent discussions with his officials on the potential merits of transferring the British Coal Superannuation Scheme to its members.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
I have asked my officials to consider the impacts of proposals put forward by the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme Trustees.