Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, which legislation protected HELMS customers from Green Deal loan mis-selling; and whether there are time restrictions for those consumers raising complaints to either (a) his Department or (b) the Green Deal Finance Company.

The legislative context within which redress can be sought in regard to mis-selling under the Green Deal is set out in The Green Deal Framework, based on provisions in the Energy Act 2011, Framework Regulations and Code of Practice.

Section 4.9 of the Green Deal Code of Practice lays out the time provisions within which a complaint must be made to be considered eligible. This confirms that a complaint must be made, by any category of person identified in the provisions, within six years of the date on which the alleged breach occurred. There are separate considerations where a complaint concerns matters relevant to specific Guarantees.

The Green Deal Finance Company, as a private company, have their own complaints procedure.