Asked by: Sarah Dyke (Liberal Democrat - Glastonbury and Somerton)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if her Department will explore basing electricity standing charges paid by the farming sector upon an annualised average instead of peak demand to prevent (a) occasional and (b) seasonal high demand from disproportionately impacting bills and the cost of food production.
Answered by Polly Billington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises the importance of fair energy costs for farming and other businesses. Ofgem’s Cost Allocation and Recovery Review is considering how fixed energy-system costs, including those commonly recovered through standing charges, could be allocated across consumers, including businesses, in fairer and more efficient ways. The Government is working constructively with Ofgem to ensure that the longer-term recovery of energy-system costs is fair. Ofgem intends to consult on a direction of travel by the end of 2026.
Asked by: Sarah Dyke (Liberal Democrat - Glastonbury and Somerton)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether she would consider the potential merits of providing a proportion of the resources being made available under the Warm Homes Plan to fund research into addressing the challenges for individuals in rural communities to decarbonise their homes.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Through the Warm Homes Plan, we will put communities at the centre of delivery, devolving funding so regional and local government can accelerate home and building upgrades according to their needs.
The Government does recognise the particular challenges for rural areas and is currently undertaking specific research to improve understanding of the costs and practicalities of decarbonising more complex housing archetypes. Results will be available soon and will help inform future policy decisions.
In the meantime, the Government is already taking action, recently increasing the grant amount available for heat pump installations through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to £9,000 for homes heated by oil or LPG.
Real-world trials have shown that heat pumps work well across different property types. This is reflected in strong uptake in rural areas, with 50% of BUS grants awarded to rural properties and 39% to homes off the gas grid.
Asked by: Sarah Dyke (Liberal Democrat - Glastonbury and Somerton)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what progress her Department is making in developing policies that will offer rural residents who are off the gas grid similar levels of protection from energy price rises to those available to households who are on the gas grid.
Answered by Polly Billington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
This Government is determined to ensure that consumers in rural communities who are reliant on heating oil are treated fairly and better protected, including during times of international volatility.
The CMA found that recent increases in heating oil prices were largely driven by higher wholesale costs rather than a lack of competition or excessive profits.
The Government published its formal response to the CMA heating oil report on 13 October, confirming it will take forward proposals to introduce stronger regulations for the first time, and agreeing with the CMA that we will not be replicating the gas and electricity price cap. Instead, we will focus on a programme of reform to strengthening consumer protections.
A Written Ministerial Statement can be found here: Written statements - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament
The full response can be found here: Government response to the CMA heating oil market study - GOV.UK
Asked by: Sarah Dyke (Liberal Democrat - Glastonbury and Somerton)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will consider allocating a proportion of the resources being made available under the Warm Homes Plan to fund research into tackling issues preventing people in rural communities who are off the gas grid from decarbonising their homes.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Through the Warm Homes Plan, we will put communities at the centre of delivery, devolving funding so regional and local government accelerate home and building upgrades according to their needs.
For off-grid homes in particular, the Government recently increased the grant amount available for heat pump installations through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to £9,000 for homes heated by oil or LPG, in direct response to the situation in the Middle East.
It’s worth noting that heat pumps work well across different property types and there is already strong uptake in rural areas, with 50% of grants awarded to rural properties and 39% to homes off the gas grid.
The Government does however recognise the particular challenges, and we are currently undertaking specific research to improve understanding of the costs and practicalities of decarbonising more complex housing archetypes. Results will be available soon and will help inform future policy decisions.
Asked by: Sarah Dyke (Liberal Democrat - Glastonbury and Somerton)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what her Department’s timetable is for introducing regulation of the heating oil sector; and how she plans to engage with rural residents who are off grid and dependent on heating oil on regulatory proposals.
Answered by Polly Billington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The government published its formal response to the CMA heating oil report on 13 October, confirming it will take forward proposals to introduce stronger regulations for the first time.
The government will take forward a programme of reform to establish a stronger consumer protection framework for households. Working with Ofgem, the devolved governments and industry and consumer representatives, we will develop options for proportionate regulation that puts consumer rights at its core, while supporting competition, investment and security of supply.
This will be underpinned by a robust evidence base, extensive engagement and the appropriate legislative framework. The Government is regulating the heat oil sector for the first time.
Asked by: Sarah Dyke (Liberal Democrat - Glastonbury and Somerton)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether her Department plans to provide immediate financial support to off grid households dependent on heating oil in winter 2026-27.
Answered by Polly Billington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises the particular challenges faced by households that rely on heating oil as their primary source of heating.
This year, the Government announced £53 million of support for low-income households that use any fuel for domestic heating, cooking or lighting, helping to address rising energy costs.
For those considering alternatives to oil heating, the Government is supporting the installation of low-carbon heating through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, for eligible households in England and Wales. A time-limited higher grant of £9,000 is available for eligible off-gas-grid properties replacing oil or LPG heating systems, helping households and small businesses most exposed to volatile fossil fuel prices to switch to low-carbon heating.
In addition, the government published its formal response to the CMA heating oil report on 13 October, and is taking forward proposals to regulate the heating oil sector for the first time.
Asked by: Sarah Dyke (Liberal Democrat - Glastonbury and Somerton)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what progress her Department has made on developing policies to support rural residents who are off the gas grid with increases in the price of heating oil and Liquid Petroleum Gas in winter 2026-27.
Answered by Polly Billington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises the particular challenges faced by households in rural and remote areas that are not connected to the electricity grid. Many of these households rely on heating oil and LPG as their primary source of heating.
This year, the Government announced £53 million of support for low-income households that use any fuel for domestic heating, cooking or lighting, helping to address rising energy costs.
For those considering alternatives to oil heating, the Government is supporting the installation of low-carbon heating through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, for eligible households in England and Wales. A time-limited higher grant of £9,000 is available for eligible off-gas-grid properties replacing oil or LPG heating systems, helping households and small businesses most exposed to volatile fossil fuel prices to switch to low-carbon heating.
In addition, the government published its formal response to the CMA heating oil report on 13 October, and is taking forward proposals to regulate the heating oil sector for the first time.
Asked by: Sarah Dyke (Liberal Democrat - Glastonbury and Somerton)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what progress her Department has made on developing policies offering rural residents who are off the gas grid similar levels of protection from energy price rises to those available to households on the gas grid.
Answered by Polly Billington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
This government is determined to ensure consumers reliant on heating oil are treated fairly and better protected, including during times of international volatility.
The CMA found that recent increases in heating oil prices were largely driven by higher wholesale costs rather than a lack of competition or excessive profits.
The government published its formal response to the CMA heating oil report on 13 October, confirming it will taking forward proposals to regulate the heating oil sector for the first time, and agreeing with the CMA that we will not be replicating the gas and electricity price cap. Instead, we will focus on a programme of reform to strengthening consumer protections.
However, this government does recognise the impact that heating oil price increases has had on households, which is why we took action to introduce over £50m of support to help with costs. Households in England can access immediate support from their local authority through the Crisis & Resilience Fund.
Asked by: Sarah Dyke (Liberal Democrat - Glastonbury and Somerton)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate his Department has made of the volume of red diesel held in storage in the UK.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Data on oil stocks are published monthly in Energy Trends Table 3.11: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/oil-and-oil-products-section-3-energy-trends.
Asked by: Sarah Dyke (Liberal Democrat - Glastonbury and Somerton)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate his Department has made of the number of days of supply of red diesel available based on storage levels and usage rates.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Data on monthly red diesel stocks and demand are published in Energy Trends Tables 3.11 and 3.13, respectively: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/oil-and-oil-products-section-3-energy-trends.
The Department does not publish estimates of days consumption.