Draft Electricity and Gas (Energy Company Obligation) (Amendment) (Specified Period) Order 2026

Sadik Al-Hassan Excerpts

Monday 23rd March 2026 General Committees

[Sadik Al-Hassan (North Somerset) (Lab)]

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mrs Barker. I am glad to see that there is likely to be no impact on consumers or energy bills as a result of this amendment, particularly in the light of the current hostilities in the middle east. At a time when prices are rising and energy bills are due to be affected, it is reassuring to know that residents in North Somerset and across the country, who are simply trying to heat their homes, will not be impacted.

For low-income and vulnerable households already struggling with the cost of living, schemes such as ECO4 are more vital than ever. The extension will ensure that suppliers have the time they need to complete installations and, critically, remediate non-compliant works, so that households who need help the most actually receive it in full.

Oral Answers to Questions

Sadik Al-Hassan Excerpts

Tuesday 12th November 2024 Commons Chamber

[Peter Swallow (Bracknell) (Lab)]

10. What steps he is taking to introduce a warm homes plan.

[Sadik Al-Hassan (North Somerset) (Lab)]

13. What steps he is taking to introduce a warm homes plan.

[Anna Dixon (Shipley) (Lab)]

19. What steps he is taking to introduce a warm homes plan.

--- Later in debate ---

[Miatta Fahnbulleh]

Yes, absolutely. Raising standards in the social housing sector will be a critical part of our warm homes plan. We have already announced plans to lift 1 million renters out of fuel poverty by raising the minimum energy efficiency standard in both the private and the social-rented sector, which will ensure that renters no longer have to live in cold, drafty homes. We will also unlock £1 billion-worth of investment to the national wealth fund in partnership with leading banks to upgrade more social homes, and we will set out more detail to build on that in due course.

[Sadik Al-Hassan]

I thank the Minister for her commitment to the warm homes plan. Many of my constituents in North Somerset have written to me in recent weeks, detailing their concerns that the scheme does not take sufficient account of higher energy usage due to long-term illnesses. Will the Minister share whether the Department has any plans to look into uplifting the warm home discount for participants with relevant long-term illnesses?