Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps his Department is taking to identify and tackle companies who falsely claim to be providing work as part of the Green Deal.

I am determined to tackle Green Deal fraud and have been in regular contact with Trading Standards, as the responsible body for investigating any practising companies who are suspected of falsely claiming to be Green Deal authorised.

I also recently issued a joint communication with the Chairman of the Association of Chief Trading Standards Officers (ACTSO), the Green Deal participants, to remind them of their responsibilities. Under both framework regulations and the Green Deal Code of Practice, Green Deal participants have a duty to adhere to rules regarding the the practice of generating ‘leads’ through cold-calling and the promotion of incorrect or exaggerated information regarding the nature or benefits of the Green Deal.