Asked by: Uma Kumaran (Labour - Stratford and Bow)
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 regulate communal heating systems.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department is introducing heat network regulation in January 2026 which aims to provide consumers with comparable protections to existing gas and electricity regulations.
Ofgem will be appointed heat network regulator, and they will administer the Market Framework which will introduce consumer protections and a licensing regime for operators. Ofgem’s powers will include the ability to investigate unfair pricing and ensure that consumers’ heat supply is maintained if their supplier goes out of business.
Regulatory oversight will be supplemented by statutory redress through the Energy Ombudsman who will have the same powers to hear complaints and make legally binding decisions as they do in gas and electricity markets. Citizens Advice and Consumer Scotland will also be empowered to provide advice and advocacy on behalf of heat network consumers.
Asked by: Uma Kumaran (Labour - Stratford and Bow)
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 with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to integrate the Government's Nationally Determined Contribution under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change with the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan.
Answered by Kerry McCarthy - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The UK will announce a 1.5°C aligned 2035 Nationally Determined Contribution at COP29 and will submit the Information to facilitate Clarity, Transparency and Understanding to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change before 10 February 2025. The UK is committed to meeting all 23 Global Biodiversity Framework targets and will publish the full National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) in due course. The Departments for Energy Security and Net Zero and Environment, Food and Rural Affairs are working closely on these publications - recognising the importance of a joined-up approach to tackling the climate and biodiversity crises across NDCs and NBSAPs.
Asked by: Uma Kumaran (Labour - Stratford and Bow)
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 with his international counterparts to tackle climate change.
Answered by Ed Miliband - Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
This Government believes that we can only ensure climate security for further generations in the Uk if we lead globally.
And that was the message of the Prime Minister at the United Nations General assembly with our:
And next month I will be attending the cop29 talks in Azerbaijan to stand up for Britain's interests.