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 is taking to ensure that the net zero strategy includes sound protections for consumers.

The Government remains committed to ensuring that installations meet high standards and provide appropriate consumer protection. The Government strengthened consumer rights through the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (CRA), including home installations of green efficiency products.

The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (CPRs) protects consumers, from mis-selling of goods and services and prohibits unfair commercial practices by businesses against consumers. Consumers can seek free advice on their rights through the Citizens Advice Consumer Service.

The PAS 2030 and 2035 standards were developed by an industry-led steering group in response to the recommendations of the independent 2016 Each Home Counts review. These standards indicate an industry-led approach to ensuring quality in the retrofit of people’s homes and were designed to improve both quality and consumer protection.

Contractors delivering energy efficiency or whole house retrofit works within Government schemes must be TrustMark registered, and heat pump installers must be certified by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) or equivalent. Both schemes take steps to ensure that installers demonstrate technical competence, good trading practices and good customer service. These requirements are being kept under review and further consumer protection measures will be considered if necessary.