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 make an assessment of the potential effect of the absence of an opt-out mechanism for the Energy Bills Rebate scheme on residents in Birmingham, Selly Oak constituency.

The Energy Bills Support Scheme, as announced by my rt. hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer on 3 February, is currently the subject of a Government consultation issued on 11 April.

The implementation of the policy will be reviewed following the conclusion of the consultation. Allowing consumers to opt out of receiving the reduction on their bills would likely increase the administrative costs of the scheme. This applies equally to the constituents of Birmingham, Selly Oak.