Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham Edgbaston)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what evidence his Department submitted to the Office for National Statistics' review of the ethnicity harmonised standard, including in relation to the recording of Sikhs and Jewish people as ethnic groups.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
I refer my hon Friend to the answer I gave to Question 117376. The ONS report on the consultation in late summer 2026 will include more detailed information on the departments that responded to the consultation.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham Edgbaston)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether an eligible individual can receive the Warm Homes Discount if there is no name on their energy bill but only the address.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Warm Home Discount (WHD) is a rebate on energy bills, credited directly to the energy account by the energy supplier. A recipient of a means tested benefit (or their partner or nominee) needs to be named on the energy account, on the qualifying date for that winter, to be eligible.
We expect around 6m households to have received a WHD rebate this winter. Someone who is not named on the bill may still receive support through WHD Industry Initiatives, for example through the Warm Home Discount Park Homes scheme.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham Edgbaston)
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 number of people eligible for the Warm Homes Discount who do not have their name on their energy bill.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Warm Home Discount (WHD) is a rebate on energy bills, credited directly to the energy account by the energy supplier. A recipient of a means tested benefit (or their partner or nominee) needs to be named on the energy account, on the qualifying date for that winter, to be eligible.
We expect around 6m households to have received a WHD rebate this winter. Someone who is not named on the bill may still receive support through WHD Industry Initiatives, for example through the Warm Home Discount Park Homes scheme.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham Edgbaston)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department was invited by the Office for National Statistics to provide evidence or input into its review of the ethnicity harmonised standard.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
A review of the harmonised standard for ethnicity data collection is underway by the Government Statistical Service Harmonisation team.
A public consultation between October 2025 and February 2026 sought views from a wide range of users, including Government Departments and public bodies, to understand user needs for ethnic group data. This was supplemented by a programme of engagement activity, including with representatives of all government departments.
ONS have committed to an initial response to the public consultation in April, and a full report in late summer 2026.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham Edgbaston)
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 the growth of community owned energy projects.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Great British Energy will enhance existing support to community energy by partnering with and providing funding and support to Local Government, and community energy groups as well as working with Devolved Governments. This will help to roll out local and community renewable energy projects across the UK.
Great British Energy will also provide commercial, technical and project planning assistance, increasing capability and capacity to build a pipeline of successful projects in local areas.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham Edgbaston)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he will take to ensure community groups are central to the delivery of local power plans.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Local Power Plan will be a joint plan between GBE and Department for Energy Security and Net Zero which will outline our shared vision for the local and community energy sector: to drive the growth of renewable energy projects and support efforts to unlock cleaner, cheaper and more resilient power at the community level.
We are continuing to develop the Local Power Plan with GBE and updates will be provided soon.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham Edgbaston)
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 specific (a) Sikh and (b) Jewish options for a person’s ethnic group in data collection conducted by his Department.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero follows established government standards and guidance when collecting data on ethnicity. At present, there are no plans to introduce specific Sikh or Jewish options for a person’s ethnic group in departmental data collection. For external surveys and research, we generally use the harmonised ethnicity standards developed by the Government Statistical Service (GSS), which currently do not include specific Sikh or Jewish categories. However, it is important to note that these standards are under ongoing review. In addition, while Sikh and Jewish are not included as ethnic categories, they are represented in the harmonised question on religion.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham Edgbaston)
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 with the Chancellor of the Exchequer of the potential impact of trends in the level of inflation on the Government's net zero policies.
Answered by Graham Stuart
My Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State has regular discussions with my Rt hon Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer on a number of issues. The Government has robust monitoring in place across the net zero space and is supporting net zero businesses and investors. The Government monitors the impact of inflation to ensure that its legal commitments are met, while setting out a proportionate, pragmatic approach to delivering net zero that reduces the costs and burdens on British families.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham Edgbaston)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps her Department is taking to support community energy schemes in Birmingham Edgbaston constituency.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Government recognises the role community groups play in efforts to minimise climate change and already offers a range of support to community energy projects. This support is outlined in the Net Zero Strategy and Net Zero Growth plan and is in addition to the new £10m Community Energy Fund, which enables both rural and urban communities across England to access grant funding to develop local renewable energy projects for investment. The Government has also recently committed to publishing an annual report on community energy and to consult on the barriers the sector faces when developing projects.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham Edgbaston)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps her Department is taking to helpthe surface engineering sector to transition to net zero.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy sets out a funding approach to support the deployment of low carbon technologies and the critical shared infrastructure required to deploy these at scale. This includes the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF), and Scottish IETF, for which the surface engineering sector is eligible. Subject to business case approval, IETF Phase 3 will open for applications in early 2024, increasing the total funding available to over £500 million.