Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of annual re-validation requirements for priority services register customers on retention of vulnerable households; and if she will consider introducing an (a) opt-out and (b) auto-renewal model for customers (i) aged 75+, (ii) on disability benefits and (iii) with clinically significant needs.

Defra does not regulate the priority services register. Ofwat, as the economic regulator, has made clear in their priority services register guidance that companies should achieve actual contact with 35% of households on their priority services register every two years, and attempt contact with 90% of households on the register every two years.