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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will set out the rationale for the criteria used to accredit Green Energy Providers for the Green Deal.

The Green Deal Framework (Disclosure, Acknowledgement, Redress etc.) Regulations 2012 set out the criteria that are followed in authorising a Green Deal Provider. In particular, a Green Deal Provider must comply with the provisions of the Green Deal Code of Practice which apply to them, and in certain circumstances hold an appropriate consumer credit licence. These criteria are assessed prior to authorisation to determine whether an applicant is a fit person to act as a Green Deal Provider. They seek to ensure that Green Deal Providers operate to a high standard for the benefit of all scheme stakeholders, and that consumers entering Green Deal plans are appropriately protected.

The Green Deal Oversight and Registration Body (GD ORB) undertakes these assessments and submits a recommendation to my rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for a decision to be made. Guidance on the application process is available from the GD ORB website:

http://gdorb.decc.gov.uk/admin/documents/Green%20Deal%20Provider%20Guidance.pdf