Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what consideration is being given to animal welfare in the Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement being negotiated between the UK and the European Union.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government is currently negotiating a Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement to make agrifood trade with our biggest market cheaper and easier, cutting costs and regulatory barriers for British producers and retailers.

The details of this are subject to negotiation, but the Government has been clear about the importance of being able to set high animal welfare standards. While those negotiations are ongoing, Defra cannot comment further however parliament will be informed when they are concluded.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what transitional measures her Department is considering to mitigate the impact of new rules that British citizens with dual nationality must enter the UK with their British passport.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

We recognise the potential impact of changing travel requirements on dual British nationals who are seeking to travel to the UK without a valid British passport. We have therefore issued temporary operational guidance to carriers, who may at their own discretion accept some expired British passports as alternative documentation. Individuals who have previously had a British passport can apply for an emergency travel document if they urgently need to enter the UK.

Beneficiaries of the EU Withdrawal Agreement may enter the UK on production of a valid EU passport or (in the case of EEA and Swiss nationals) a national identity card and their valid EUSS status.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of building regulations in ensuring the quality, efficiency, and resilience of installed heat network systems.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Building Regulations set performance requirements for buildings, including buildings connected to heat networks, but they are not responsible for regulating the detailed design or operation of heat network systems themselves. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is also consulting on mandatory technical standards for heat networks, that include proposals to ensure new and existing heat networks are designed, built, and operated to a standard, that will deliver good outcomes for consumers.

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 leaseholders and tenants in buildings served by heat networks are protected from excessive service charges and poor service delivery.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Ofgem was introduced as the heat network regulator in January 2026. While many leaseholders can benefit from the new consumer protections, including protection against poor service standards, we are aware that there are still some challenges where heat charges are ‘bundled’ with service charges and subject to the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985.

Ofgem have issued guidance on how suppliers should consider interactions between housing legislation and heat network regulation and we will continue to work with MHCLG to explore options to address these challenges.

Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Solicitor General, what steps she is taking to ensure that appropriate oversight is given to the decision by the Serious Fraud Office to not open an investigation into the Vashi diamonds case.

Answered by Ellie Reeves - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)

The SFO is a relatively small, highly specialised government department that is permitted by law to investigate only the most serious and complex cases of fraud, bribery and corruption affecting the UK. Decisions on which cases to investigate are taken independently by the SFO, with the Director determining whether to authorise an investigation in accordance with the criteria set out in the Director’s Statement of Principle.

To assist with my oversight of the Serious Fraud Office, I hold regular superintendence meetings with the SFO’s executive team to keep me appraised of relevant SFO casework matters.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that operators of heat networks provide transparent billing and fair pricing to consumers.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

In January, we introduced Ofgem as the market regulator for heat networks. Heat network operators and suppliers are now required to demonstrate compliance with Ofgem’s Authorisation Conditions, including those on billing transparency and fair pricing.

Ofgem will be collecting data in the first year of regulation which will then be used to inform pricing benchmarks in 2027.

We are currently consulting on mandating minimum technical standards, including proposals to extend heat network metering to enable accurate and transparent billing to more consumers.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the Vashi diamonds case on investor confidence in the UK.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government has not made a formal assessment of this case; however, the UK continues to be regarded internationally as a strong and attractive destination for investment, underpinned by a robust rule of law, transparent insolvency processes, and a longstanding pro business environment. These fundamentals provide investors with confidence that commercial disputes are handled fairly and predictably.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent assessment his Department has made of the performance and reliability of heat networks operating in residential developments in England; and what steps he is taking to ensure consistent service standards for consumers.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

We are aware that some existing heat networks are not delivering to the standard they should be. We have and will continue to take steps to protect consumers: We have already taken action by introducing Ofgem as the market regulator who have the powers to tackle poor service standards. In the first year of regulation, they will be collecting performance data and consulting on Guaranteed Standards of Performance.

Heat network consumers who suffer a service outage can also seek redress through the Energy Ombudsman.

DESNZ is also consulting on mandatory technical standards for heat networks, that include proposals to ensure new and existing heat networks are designed, built, and operated to a standard, that will deliver good outcomes for consumers.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department holds data on the frequency and duration of outages affecting heat network customers.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Historically, heat network performance, including outage duration and frequency has been unregulated in Great Britain, and as such the Department does not hold this data.

As the newly appointed market regulator for heat networks, Ofgem now have powers to collect performance data, and they will be consulting on introducing Guaranteed Standards of Performance.

The Heat Trust operate a voluntary scheme for heat networks, and participating heat networks are required to submit data to demonstrate their compliance with the scheme’s service standards.

The most recent report is available on their website.

Found: March 2026 at 10.00 am Meeting in the Speaker’s Study Present: The Speaker, in the Chair Rachel Blake

Found: Labour, Earley and Woodley) (added 21 Oct 2024) 66 of 83 (79.5%) Former members Attendance Rachel Blake