Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many complaints his Department has received relating to the Green Deal scheme in each of the last 12 months that do not reference the practices of Home Energy and Lifestyle Management Ltd.
Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng
The following table lists the numbers of appeals made, in each of the last 12 complete months, to the Secretary of State under the Green Deal Framework Regulations, regarding complaints not relating to the practices of Home Energy and Lifestyle Management Ltd.
Month | Appeals received |
September 2019 | 4 |
October 2019 | 3 |
November 2019 | 19 |
December 2019 | 1 |
January 2020 | 2 |
February 2020 | 8 |
March 2020 | 4 |
April 2020 | 0 |
May 2020 | 1 |
June 2020 | 2 |
July 2020 | 9 |
August 2020 | 4 |
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many new complaints, by parliamentary constituency, his Department received on the mis-selling of Green Deal loans by Home Energy and Lifestyle Management Ltd in each month since 1 January 2020.
Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng
The following table lists the numbers of appeals made, by month and constituency, to the Secretary of State under the Green Deal Framework Regulations regarding mis-selling of Green Deal Plans by Home Energy and Lifestyle Management Ltd.
January 2020 | |
Constituency | Appeals received |
Thornbury and Yate | 1 |
Colchester | 1 |
Inverclyde | 1 |
Paisley and Renfrewshire North | 1 |
Kilmarnock and Loudoun | 2 |
February 2020 | |
Constituency | Appeals received |
Rutherglen and Hamilton West | 1 |
East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow | 1 |
Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East | 1 |
Glasgow North East | 1 |
West Dunbartonshire | 2 |
Torfaen | 2 |
March 2020 | |
Constituency | Appeals received |
Rutherglen and Hamilton West | 1 |
Central Ayrshire | 1 |
Paisley and Renfrewshire North | 1 |
Perth and North Perthshire | 1 |
Clacton | 1 |
Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath | 1 |
Livingston | 1 |
April 2020 | |
Constituency | Appeals received |
Central Ayrshire | 1 |
Glasgow East | 1 |
May 2020 | |
Constituency | Appeals received |
Paisley and Renfrewshire North | 1 |
June 2020 | |
Constituency | Appeals received |
Ipswich | 1 |
Rutherglen and Hamilton West | 1 |
Paisley and Renfrewshire South | 1 |
East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow | 1 |
July 2020 | |
Constituency | Appeals received |
Paisley and Renfrewshire North | 2 |
Central Ayrshire | 1 |
| |
August 2020 | |
Constituency | Appeals received |
Motherwell and Wishaw | 1 |
Cardiff South and Penarth | 1 |
Jarrow | 1 |
Kilmarnock and Loudoun | 1 |
Newport East | 1 |
Gloucester | 1 |
Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East | 1 |
East Dunbartonshire | 1 |
Rutherglen and Hamilton West | 1 |
North Ayrshire and Arran | 1 |
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many initial intention notices proposing reduction of a Green Deal loan mis-sold by Home Energy and Lifestyle Management Ltd have been accepted by individual complainants.
Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng
The figures provided below are as at 7 September, except where otherwise specified.
A total of 218 appeals about the mis-selling of Green Deal Plans by the company Home Energy & Lifestyle Management Ltd (HELMS) have been referred to the Secretary of State. At the [end of June 2020] (the latest date for which this data is available), the total value of loans, including interest and fees, that are the subject of the appeals was £1,700,338.
The Green Deal Framework Regulations require that, before imposing any sanction, the Secretary of State gives notice to affected parties of his intention to impose a sanction (an initial notice, referred to as an Intention Notice) and provides them with an opportunity to make representations before it is made final.
Complainants are not required to indicate acceptance or otherwise in response to Intention Notices or final Sanction Notices. Affected parties, including complainants, may make representations in response to Intention Notices and can appeal final decisions (set out in final Sanction Notices) to the General Regulatory Chamber of the First–tier Tribunal.
One hundred and twenty-one HELMS complainants have yet to receive an Intention Notice. One hundred and seventy-four HELMS complainants have yet to receive a final decision.
Ninety-one Intention Notices in respect of mis-selling by HELMS proposed a reduction in loan amount. Of these, complainants have made representations in 37 cases. As complainants are not required to indicate acceptance of a proposed reduction the Department does not hold such records.
The total value of proposed reductions set out in Intention Notices and final Sanction Notices relating to mis-selling of Green Deal Plans by HELMS to date is £376,628.
Where Intention Notices have proposed reductions in loan amounts, the highest reduction to date has been 68%, the lowest reduction, 30%, and the average reduction, 50%.
Six Intention Notices in respect of mis-selling by HELMS have proposed cancellation. To date, there have been 4 cases where Intention Notices proposed cancellation but the Secretary of State’s decision, set out in the subsequent final Sanction Notices, was to impose reduction following representations.
No complainants who have received Intention Notices proposing cancellation have made representations in response to those Notices.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many initial intention notices proposing cancellation of a Green Deal loan mis-sold by Home Energy and Lifestyle Management Ltd have been accepted by individual complainants.
Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng
The figures provided below are as of 7 September, except where otherwise specified.
A total of 218 appeals about the mis-selling of Green Deal Plans by the company Home Energy & Lifestyle Management Ltd (HELMS) have been referred to my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State. At the end of June 2020 (the latest date for which this data is available), the total value of loans, including interest and fees, that are the subject of the appeals was £1,700,338.
The Green Deal Framework Regulations require that, before imposing any sanction, the Secretary of State gives notice to affected parties of his intention to impose a sanction (an initial notice, referred to as an Intention Notice) and provides them with an opportunity to make representations before it is made final.
Complainants are not required to indicate acceptance or otherwise in response to Intention Notices or final Sanction Notices. Affected parties, including complainants, may make representations in response to Intention Notices and can appeal final decisions (set out in final Sanction Notices) to the General Regulatory Chamber of the First–tier Tribunal.
One hundred and twenty-one HELMS complainants have yet to receive an Intention Notice. One hundred and seventy-four HELMS complainants have yet to receive a final decision.
Ninety-one Intention Notices in respect of mis-selling by HELMS proposed a reduction in loan amount. Of these, complainants have made representations in 37 cases. As complainants are not required to indicate acceptance of a proposed reduction the Department does not hold such records.
The total value of proposed reductions set out in Intention Notices and final Sanction Notices relating to mis-selling of Green Deal Plans by HELMS to date is £376,628.
Where Intention Notices have proposed reductions in loan amounts, the highest reduction to date has been 68%, the lowest reduction, 30%, and the average reduction, 50%.
Six Intention Notices in respect of mis-selling by HELMS have proposed cancellation. To date, there have been 4 cases where Intention Notices proposed cancellation but the Secretary of State’s decision, set out in the subsequent final Sanction Notices, was to impose reduction following representations.
No complainants who have received Intention Notices proposing cancellation have made representations in response to those Notices.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many complaints on the mis-selling of Green Deal loans by Home Energy and Lifestyle Management Ltd his Department has received since that scheme was established; and how many of those complainants have yet to receive (a) an initial and (b) final intention notice in response to their complaint.
Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng
The figures provided below are as of 7 September, except where otherwise specified.
A total of 218 appeals about the mis-selling of Green Deal Plans by the company Home Energy & Lifestyle Management Ltd (HELMS) have been referred to my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State. At the end of June 2020 (the latest date for which this data is available), the total value of loans, including interest and fees, that are the subject of the appeals was £1,700,338.
The Green Deal Framework Regulations require that, before imposing any sanction, the Secretary of State gives notice to affected parties of his intention to impose a sanction (an initial notice, referred to as an Intention Notice) and provides them with an opportunity to make representations before it is made final.
Complainants are not required to indicate acceptance or otherwise in response to Intention Notices or final Sanction Notices. Affected parties, including complainants, may make representations in response to Intention Notices and can appeal final decisions (set out in final Sanction Notices) to the General Regulatory Chamber of the First–tier Tribunal.
One hundred and twenty-one HELMS complainants have yet to receive an Intention Notice. One hundred and seventy-four HELMS complainants have yet to receive a final decision.
Ninety-one Intention Notices in respect of mis-selling by HELMS proposed a reduction in loan amount. Of these, complainants have made representations in 37 cases. As complainants are not required to indicate acceptance of a proposed reduction the Department does not hold such records.
The total value of proposed reductions set out in Intention Notices and final Sanction Notices relating to mis-selling of Green Deal Plans by HELMS to date is £376,628.
Where Intention Notices have proposed reductions in loan amounts, the highest reduction to date has been 68%, the lowest reduction, 30%, and the average reduction, 50%.
Six Intention Notices in respect of mis-selling by HELMS have proposed cancellation. To date, there have been 4 cases where Intention Notices proposed cancellation but the Secretary of State’s decision, set out in the subsequent final Sanction Notices, was to impose reduction following representations.
No complainants who have received Intention Notices proposing cancellation have made representations in response to those Notices.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with Tide on its decision to suspend lending under the Bounce Back Loan scheme.
Answered by Paul Scully
The British Business Bank is in regular discussions with Tide and all parties are working to resolve the current situation.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many staff in his Department have formal arrangements to work from home during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
The formal position for all 4,634 staff in the Department (excluding contingent workers) is to work from home. The Department has also made additional funding available to staff for the purchase of equipment to support them to work from home.
Any requirements for essential work to be undertaken in one of the Department’s buildings are considered on a case by case basis, supported by an individual risk assessment and in line with Government guidance. Currently, there are less than 1% of staff working in the Department’s office on any given day.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many complaints about the mis-selling of Green Deal loans have been received by his Department from consumers resident in (a) Scotland, (b) England and (c) Wales in each year since 2013.
Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng
The numbers of complaints about the mis-selling of Green Deal loans, referred to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, from consumers resident in (a) Scotland, (b) England and (c) Wales in each year since 2013 are as follows:
| 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | Total |
Scotland | 3 | 50 | 98 | 4 | 155 |
England | 1 | 15 | 87 | 2 | 105 |
Wales | 5 | 3 | 12 | 0 | 20 |
Total | 9 | 68 | 197 | 6 | 280 |
Under the Green Deal Framework Regulations, the Secretary of State may reduce or cancel a Green Deal Plan, if he is satisfied that there has been a breach of the law or code of practice.
The Regulations require that, before imposing any sanction, the Secretary of State gives notice to affected parties of his intention to impose a sanction and provides them with an opportunity to make representations before it is made final.
To date, 131 Intention Notices have been issued in respect of complaints about mis-selling of Green Deal loans. Of these, four have proposed cancellation from the effective date of the complaint.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many offers of full loan cancellations his Department has made in response to complaints his Department has received about the mis-selling of Green Deal loans.
Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng
The numbers of complaints about the mis-selling of Green Deal loans, referred to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, from consumers resident in (a) Scotland, (b) England and (c) Wales in each year since 2013 are as follows:
| 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | Total |
Scotland | 3 | 50 | 98 | 4 | 155 |
England | 1 | 15 | 87 | 2 | 105 |
Wales | 5 | 3 | 12 | 0 | 20 |
Total | 9 | 68 | 197 | 6 | 280 |
Under the Green Deal Framework Regulations, the Secretary of State may reduce or cancel a Green Deal Plan, if he is satisfied that there has been a breach of the law or code of practice.
The Regulations require that, before imposing any sanction, the Secretary of State gives notice to affected parties of his intention to impose a sanction and provides them with an opportunity to make representations before it is made final.
To date, 131 Intention Notices have been issued in respect of complaints about mis-selling of Green Deal loans. Of these, four have proposed cancellation from the effective date of the complaint.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 11 January 2017 to Question 58548, what sanctions were imposed on Home Energy and Lifestyle Management Ltd for breaches of the Green Deal Code of Practice.
Answered by Jesse Norman
On 27 August 2015, a ‘Notice of intention to impose sanctions’ was issued to Home Energy and Lifestyle Management (HELMS). Having considered the representations received from HELMS and other affected persons, on 19 November 2015, my rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State imposed a sanction on HELMS of a financial penalty of £10,500.