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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department has taken to prevent overselling of the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme to unsuitable properties; and what protections are in place for (a) the elderly and (b) other vulnerable people.

One of the eligibility requirements of the Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive scheme is certification of products and installation companies under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS). As part of the MCS scheme, the installation company must also be a member of a Chartered Trading Standards Institute approved consumer code which sets out the standards that installers must meet in contracting with consumers.

The codes cover advertising and promotion, behaviour of sales staff, proposals, estimates and quotes, terms of business, cancellation rights, deposits and prepayments, guarantees, maintenance and service agreements and service and repair. The consumer codes also include specific provisions on dealing with vulnerable consumers.