Social Energy Tariff
(Glasgow South West)
(SNP)
1. What recent assessment her Department has made of the
potential merits of introducing a social energy
tariff.(901660)
(Dundee West) (SNP)
23. What recent assessment her Department has made of the
potential merits of introducing a social energy
tariff.(901682)
The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero ()
Energy prices are now at their lowest level for two years, with a
typical bill set to drop by £238 by April. Our cost of living
package totals over £104 billion, or £3,700 per household on
average, over 2022 to 2025. We are supporting those most in need,
with millions of vulnerable households receiving up to £900 in
cost of living payments.
Some of us believe in preventative spending. A House of Commons
Library briefing last year estimated that the annual cost to the
national health service of treating illnesses associated with
living in cold or damp housing is £1.4 billion. When wider
societal costs are considered, that figure rises to £15.4
billion. Will the Secretary of State confirm whether the
introduction of a social energy tariff would cost less than £15.4
billion?
A social tariff means lots of things to different people, but we
are supporting vulnerable people with the cost of their energy
bills. We supported them last winter, paying on average a half of
everybody’s energy bills, and we have made additional payments of
£900 to support people. Since 2010, we have increased the
proportion of homes that are energy-efficient and insulated to
50%, up from 14%.
Mr Speaker
I call Chris Law—not here.
(Ynys Môn) (Con)
On energy tariffs, what assessment has the Secretary of State
made of the merits of providing residents who are local to energy
and nuclear plants with discounts on their energy bills?
I thank my hon. Friend for her doughty campaigning for
nuclear—she is our very own atomic kitten. We are very positive
about nuclear and have set out plans for the largest expansion of
nuclear for 70 years. Overall that will be a good thing for
people’s energy bills and the energy security of this
country.
Fuel Poverty
(Blackburn) (Lab)
2. What estimate she has made of the number of households in fuel
poverty in winter 2023-24.(901661)
(Sheffield Central)
(Lab)
6. What estimate she has made of the number of households in fuel
poverty in winter 2023-24.(901665)
(Motherwell and Wishaw)
(SNP)
8. What steps she is taking to support households in fuel poverty
during winter.(901667)
(Blaydon) (Lab)
10. What estimate she has made of the number of households in
fuel poverty in winter 2023-24.(901669)
(Manchester, Gorton) (Lab)
13. What estimate she has made of the number of households in
fuel poverty in winter 2023-24.(901672)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security
and Net Zero ()
Fuel poverty is a devolved matter. The latest figures, published
on 15 February 2024, showed that 3.17 million households were in
fuel poverty in 2023. The Government continue to deliver
financial support to low-income homes and vulnerable households
through the warm home discount scheme and cost of living
payments.
As I am sure you are aware, Mr Speaker, the cost of living crisis
is far from over for constituents in our area. The Government’s
latest energy efficiency policy, the Great British insulation
scheme, was supposed to insulate 100,000 homes a year, but so far
just 3,000 families have been helped in eight months, including
only 35 homes in Lancashire and just six in Blackburn. Will the
Minister explain why currently it will take 60 years to meet
their three-year target?
Energy efficiency is incredibly important to this Government and
we have many schemes available. The Great British insulation
scheme alone has committed £592 million.
I hear what the Minister says about the Great British insulation
scheme. It comes after the green deal and the green homes grant,
but frankly it looks like another failure. There are 1.4 million
people living in South Yorkshire, but just 137 of their homes
have been upgraded under the GBIS. My constituents want their
bills cut, emissions reduced and their homes insulated, but
Government incompetence is standing in the way. When will the
Minister get a grip?
We are spending £6 billion in this Parliament and a further £6
billion up to 2028 to make buildings, including private rented
properties, cleaner and warmer. That is in addition to the
estimated £5 billion that will be delivered for ECO4—the energy
company obligation—and the Great British insulation scheme up to
March 2026.
Over the past two years, my constituents in Motherwell and
Wishaw, as well as the disability groups that I engage with, have
told me harrowing tales of dire fuel poverty and energy debt,
while the energy giants post record profits. Even with the new
price cap, National Energy Action estimates that there will be 6
million UK households in fuel poverty, with energy debt sitting
at £6 billion. After April, the only support available will be
the £150 warm home discount, which has barely been increased in a
decade. When will the Government take meaningful action and
finally consult on an energy social tariff?
Last winter, this Government delivered £40 billion for households
and businesses. We also have the warm home discount, the winter
fuel payment and the disability cost of living payment. We are
committed to ensuring that affordability is top of our list in
relation to energy security.
We have had 14 years of fiasco after fiasco with energy saving
schemes from this Government. Frankly, my constituents are fed up
with it. In Gateshead, just seven homes have been upgraded under
the Government’s latest energy efficiency scheme. Can the
Minister say why this is such a disaster and why progress is so
slow?
We continue to drive energy efficiency improvements for
lower-income and fuel-poor households, through schemes including
the energy company obligation, the social housing decarbonisation
scheme and the homes upgrade grant.
A recent report from the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit
exposes the Government’s record on insulation and says that the
Government’s false claims about their success mostly involved
taking credit for schemes that were a legacy of the last Labour
Government. A record low of around 80,000 measures were installed
in total under the Government’s programmes in 2022. Is not the
truth that this Government are failing millions of people in fuel
poverty?
This Government have provided unprecedented support for people in
this country. I have regular meetings with stakeholders,
charities and different organisations. Undoubtedly, we are making
sure that people have support through, as I have mentioned, the
warm home discount, the energy price cap and lots of other
payments, such as the cost of living payment of £900 per
annum.
Dame (Morley and Outwood)
(Con)
Talking of fuel poverty, the boiler tax results in consumers
paying an extra £150 when they purchase a new boiler. Does the
Minister agree that it is now time to ditch these unworkable and
unaffordable net zero policies and let the British people decide
how to heat their homes and what cars to drive so that they can
keep more of their own money?
No decision has yet been taken on that, but we have a commitment
to ensure that we get the very best deal for all our
constituents.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Minister.
(Bristol East) (Lab)
A year ago, the then Energy Secretary said that if suppliers had
wrongly installed prepayment meters in any home, they would have
to recompense their customers for the way they had behaved. One
year later, can the Minister tell the House how many individuals
who had a prepayment meter wrongly installed have had
compensation, how many are yet to receive it and, of those still
waiting, when they will get the compensation?
One thing on which we can all agree across the House is that it
was absolutely abhorrent that people had prepayment meters forced
on them. We are working our way through the compensation, but I
can assure Members that we are doing everything we can to ensure
that, when prepayment meters are installed, we are doing exactly
the right thing to make sure that everybody is kept safe.
I asked the Minister three questions but did not get an answer to
any of them. Perhaps she can put the figures in the House of
Commons Library, because she clearly does not have a clue what
they are.
More than 3 million households are in debt to their energy
suppliers and almost 10 million households are living in cold,
damp and poorly insulated homes. The Great British insulation
scheme is proving to be a great Tory insulation fiasco. Will the
Minister tell me why the insulation scheme is proving to be such
a disaster?
We have taken great steps to support people. For example, last
winter we gave unprecedented support to households and
businesses. Of course, debt is a major concern, and I have
regular meetings with stakeholders to ensure that we are doing
the very best not only to get people out of debt, but to prevent
them getting into debt in the first place.
New Nuclear
(Torbay) (Con)
3. What recent discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on
delivering new nuclear power stations.(901662)
(Copeland) (Con)
12. What steps she is taking to increase nuclear energy
capacity.(901671)
Karl MᶜCartney (Lincoln) (Con)
18. What steps she is taking to increase nuclear energy
capacity.(901677)
(Stroud) (Con)
24. What steps she is taking to increase nuclear energy
capacity.(901683)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security
and Net Zero ()
The civil nuclear road map reconfirmed the Government’s ambition
to deploy up to 24 GW of nuclear power by 2050. It sets out plans
to make investment decisions about 3 GW to 7 GW every five years
between 2030 and 2044.
I thank the Minister for his answer. New nuclear holds the key
not only to ensuring energy security but to creating thousands of
high-skilled, well-paid jobs in the areas where it is located,
but too often the planning process can take years, even on sites
where there is long-established nuclear use. Has he discussed
with ministerial colleagues what can be done to shorten that
process significantly?
I can confirm that I have had those conversations, and the
Government are exploring the potential for reducing regulatory
burdens for the consenting and licensing of new nuclear power
stations without impacting safety, security or environmental
protections. We are also looking to introduce a range of other
streamlining measures, including the action plan for reform,
which sets out reforms to the nationally significant
infrastructure projects regime.
Will the Minister confirm that Nuclear Decommissioning
Authority-owned land adjacent to Sellafield will be made
available for new nuclear? More specifically, will enough land be
made available to accommodate two 470 MW Rolls-Royce power
stations and their ancillary buildings and spaces?
I can confirm that Moorside is indeed a candidate for new
nuclear, and it is one of a number of potential sites for hosting
civil nuclear projects. Great British Nuclear is currently
running a competitive process to select those small modular
reactor technologies best able to facilitate operational projects
in the 2030s. That said, the project needs to run its course, and
I know my hon. Friend will understand that no decision on sites
has yet been made.
Karl MᶜCartney
The UK’s first nuclear fusion power plant is due to be built a
short 45-minute drive from Lincoln. It will increase energy
generation and hopefully limit the amount of agricultural land
being used to house solar farms. Will my hon. Friend update the
House on the role that institutions such as the University of
Lincoln will have in providing research and training for these
types of power plants and their associated advanced jobs of the
future?
It is indeed a very exciting time for fusion in this country. Our
Fusion Futures programme will provide up to £55 million over five
years to train more than 2,200 people, helping meet the demands
of our growing fusion sector. That will expand our existing
fusion training programmes through work with universities such as
the University of Lincoln, colleges and employers, and provide a
pipeline of highly skilled scientists, engineers and technicians
at all career levels, from apprentice to post-doctoral
fellow.
Berkeley has secured incredibly exciting investment in nuclear
innovation with a consortium involving Rolls-Royce and the
University of Bristol. A low-carbon energy park with
international status at Berkeley and Oldbury, next door, go hand
in hand as the Severn Edge project. The Government have a good
opportunity to meet their energy security ambitions and lead the
way. Will my hon. Friend provide assurances that he will work
with Western Gateway on Severn Edge? I heard him say that the
competition has to run its course, but will the course be run
ahead of the summer recess?
My hon. Friend is tempting me. Oldbury is a candidate for new
nuclear, and one of a number of potential sites that could host
civil nuclear projects. It is exciting and encouraging to see the
number of sites and projects coming forward for investment. As I
said, the competition has to run its course, and no decision on
sites has been made, but it is very encouraging to see such
interest across the country in our great nuclear future.
(North West Leicestershire)
(Ind)
Nuclear power plants come with a huge up-front capital cost. Even
small modular reactors have a considerable price tag, so it is
important that the Government get their procurement right for
once. Does the Minister agree that SMRs offer possibilities for
economies of scale? A large number could be commissioned at once,
giving potential savings to the taxpayer while delivering
reliable baseload supply to the national grid.
Yes, of course I agree. That is one of the huge benefits, along
with many others, of small modular reactors, which is why we are
running our down selection programme, and supporting exports from
this country to across the world so that other countries can join
us on our nuclear journey, investing in small modular, advanced
modular and gigawatt-scale projects over the next few years.
(Strangford) (DUP)
The delivery of nuclear power stations for Northern Ireland is
something that I would welcome, but other parties in Northern
Ireland might have concerns about it. The one thing that we in
Northern Ireland can all agree on is that, as part of this great
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, we must be
part of the manufacturing base and procurement process. Can the
Minister confirm that the people of Northern Ireland will have
that opportunity?
Not only can I confirm that, but I put on record my support to
all the companies in Northern Ireland that are already integral
to the supply chain for our nuclear sector. Our nuclear revival
not only will deliver a more secure, robust and clean energy
baseload, but has the potential to create thousands of new
manufacturing and supply chain jobs across the country, and I
want that to impact positively on every corner of our United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Minister.
(Southampton, Test)
(Lab)
Contrary to propaganda from the Conservative side, the last
Labour Government handed over a detailed nuclear development plan
that ran up to 2025, with 10 sites identified for nuclear
development, early discussions with nuclear developers, and a
plan for a deep and secure nuclear repository. Since then, over
14 years, not one electron of new nuclear power has been
produced, Hinkley C is now at risk of further delays and no
progress at all has been made on the establishment of a secure
storage site for nuclear waste. What assurances can the Minister
give that lessons have been learned from that frankly fairly
lamentable stewardship of the previous plan, and that the latest
plan is set up to deliver?
I have never been accused of propagandising before. It is a
matter of pride on the Conservative Benches that every single
nuclear project that has ever been completed in this country has
been completed under a Conservative Government—it does not look
as though that is likely to change any time soon, despite the
protestations and near-Damascene conversion of Labour Front
Benchers on nuclear over the past few years. We are carrying on
with our nuclear revival; we have set out our nuclear road map;
and we are encouraging, enthusing and investing in our civil
nuclear sector. I am very excited about the progress that we have
made and what will take place in the sector over the next few
years.
Use of Agricultural Land for Solar
(Buckingham) (Con)
4. What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help
ensure that land used for food production is not used for solar
installations.(901663)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security
and Net Zero ()
The planning policy priority is the effective use of land by
directing solar projects to locate on previously developed
low-grade land, and it is designed to avoid, mitigate and, where
necessary, compensate for impacts on the best agricultural
land.
The Prime Minister was very clear that vast swathes of
agricultural land would not be lost to solar on his watch, yet I
am seeing thousands of acres across my constituency being built
out or proposed for solar—from Kimble Wick to Dinton, Ford to
Beachampton, and more—including the latest 2,100 acre abomination
in the Claydons known as Rosefield. Good agricultural land that
regularly produces wheat harvests of 10 tonnes per hectare, for
example, is often falsely graded as 3b because the readings are
taken from the headland, not the field. When will my hon. Friend
ensure that energy policy does not trump food security, and stop
the mass proliferation of agricultural land being used for
inefficient solar?
I understand the concern and frustration of my hon. Friend and
his constituents. That particular project is at the
pre-application planning stage. The application is expected to be
submitted to the Planning Inspectorate between January and March
2025. However, as I know he understands, owing to the
quasi-judicial role of Ministers in determining applications, it
would not be appropriate for me to comment on any specific
matters in relation to that project, but I can reassure him that
all applications are judged on their individual merits, and I
encourage him and all his affected constituents to engage with
the planning process at every stage as it continues.
(Bath) (LD)
With all due respect to Conservative Members, who always
represent the farming industry, as do we in the Liberal
Democrats, farmers are not stupid. They will not take
high-quality agricultural land out of production, and that is not
happening, so I really worry about the argument being made here.
We are far behind our renewable targets for solar, so what
incentive can the Government provide to get more, not less, UK
solar off the ground?
I can reassure the hon. Lady that the solar taskforce will
publish its recommendations imminently, and we have an ambitious
target of deploying 70 GW of solar across the UK by 2035.
Dame (Staffordshire Moorlands)
(Con)
Residents in Staffordshire Moorlands are very concerned about a
number of planning applications for solar farms and battery
storage plants on farmland. They have a number of questions, so
can my hon. Friend ensure that small district councils have the
appropriate expertise to look at those applications? Can he make
sure that proximity to the national grid is taken into
consideration, and that when there are a number of applications
relating to adjoining pieces of land, those applications are
considered as a whole, rather than looked at individually?
I thank my right hon. Friend for her question, and reassure her
that we take all those concerns incredibly seriously. I am very
happy to meet her and any other Member of Parliament who has
concerns about the plans being put forward in their constituency.
As I have said, it is really important that everybody—from
Members of Parliament through to those in the community who are
affected by or have concerns about plans—can engage with the
planning process at every stage. We will do what we can to
address those concerns while meeting our ambitious target of
deploying 70 GW of solar by 2035.
Mr (East Londonderry)
(DUP)
I am delighted to see you in your place, Mr Speaker. Some people
have short memories.
Bearing in mind the difficulties that farmers are facing,
particularly those with rocky or infertile land, will the
Minister have discussions with his colleagues in the Department
of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to ensure that some
of that land is used in ways that maximise the benefit to the
farming community, as well as contributing to net zero?
I thank the hon. Member for his question. I can assure him that
we are already engaging with the National Farmers Union; indeed,
it has been working with the solar taskforce to enable us to work
with farmers and understand their concerns. I am very happy to
meet farming representatives from all parts of the United Kingdom
to determine how we can best support them and reach our net zero
objectives by the date we have set ourselves.
(North East Bedfordshire)
(Con)
One of the arguments put forward for a large solar farm on
agricultural land in my constituency is that there are limited
points of interconnection with the national grid for large solar
farm developers wishing to contract with it. Could my hon. Friend
the Minister advise me on whether that is the case, and if it is,
could he follow up on that, and advise all Members of Parliament
on where those limitations exist?
I thank my hon. Friend for his question. Obviously, I do not know
the detail of the case he raised, but I am very happy to meet him
following questions to look at it in more detail. Despite what I
said about the quasi-judicial role of Ministers in planning
applications, it is really important that all concerns are
addressed and looked at, and that the planning application system
is thorough, robust and transparent.
(Westmorland and Lonsdale) (LD)
On land use for food production and achieving net zero, has the
Minister done an impact assessment of the rising carbon emissions
from the UK Government carrying on with their agricultural
policy, which is reducing incentives for farmers to produce food?
As a consequence, we will import more food. As things stand, we
produce only 60% of the food we eat; importing more and more food
will surely increase carbon emissions. Has the Minister looked
into that, and done an impact assessment of it?
At the National Farmers Union conference just last week, the
Prime Minister reiterated this Government’s commitment to
supporting British farmers in their primary role of delivering
food for the nation. It would be good to see the Liberal
Democrats give their support to British farmers in so forceful a
manner. We are absolutely determined to do what we can to support
British farmers in continuing to deliver that food—and, indeed,
to support the technologies that we need to reach our net zero
commitments, which I am led to believe the Liberal Democrats
still support.
Energy Standing Charges
(Easington) (Lab)
5. Whether she has had discussions with energy providers on
reducing energy standing charges for charities and
businesses.(901664)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security
and Net Zero ()
The setting of tariffs, including standing charges, in the
non-domestic market is a commercial matter for suppliers. The
Secretary of State and I have met suppliers and Ofgem multiple
times over the past year to urge them to support businesses and
keep bills down, and Ofgem has recently called for input and
views on standing charges.
Mr Speaker, I associate myself with your earlier remarks about
the sad passing of my dear friend , and indeed .
For months now, East Durham Trust in my constituency has been in
dispute with its supplier, TotalEnergies, after TotalEnergies
raised its standing charge from 40p a day to £20 a day—an
increase of over 4,000%. Remarkably, after making complaints to
the Department, Ofgem, Northern Powergrid and TotalEnergies, I
found out just yesterday that TotalEnergies has agreed to
remotely reconfigure the meter in question. Can the Minister
explain why energy companies and distributors do not seek to
address customer issues sooner, and does she agree that we have a
failing regulator and an energy system that seeks to maximise
profits?
I am pleased to hear from the hon. Gentleman that the situation
has been resolved, and I suggest that exactly the right recourse
is to contact the relevant parties. We are now launching the
ability of the ombudsman to help small businesses as well, which
reassures me that such cases will be seen to more quickly and
resolved sooner.
Mr Speaker
I call the SNP spokesperson.
(Angus) (SNP)
In the UK, electricity standing charges will balloon by 12%,
meaning that people in Scotland who were paying £90 a year in
2021-22 will soon need to find £216 a year—a 138% increase under
this Tory Government. That removes the incentive to curb
excessive use, and presents a disincentive to economise on energy
usage. If costs and charges were redistributed to the unit price,
consumers would be empowered to pursue reduced usage, knowing
that that would translate into lower bills. What assessment has
the Minister made of the savings that would be made, in terms of
both carbon emissions and the need for vast pieces of new energy
infrastructure, if the standing charges were rolled into unit
prices?
Standing charges, as I mentioned, are a matter for Ofgem.
However, Ofgem has listened to public sentiment, and it has
recently launched a call for input on standing charges. My
understanding is that to date, it has had over 40,000 responses.
The call for input closed on 19 January, and Ofgem’s paper aims
to ensure a greater understanding of how standing charges are
applied to energy bills and what alternatives should be
considered.
Green Technologies: Private Investment
(Harrogate and Knaresborough)
(Con)
7. What steps she is taking to help increase private sector
investment in green technologies.(901666)
(Stoke-on-Trent South)
(Con)
16. What steps she is taking to help increase private sector
investment in green technologies.(901675)
The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero ()
The UK has already made tremendous progress in securing
investment in green technologies; recent figures indicate that
there was £60 billion of investment in the UK in 2023, meaning
that since 2010, the UK has had £300 billion of public and
private investment in low-carbon sectors. Since I took office in
September, we have put in place new policies and signed deals
with different countries, and the investment has continued to
flow, with plans for around £24 billion of new investment in
low-carbon sectors announced by the private sector.
I thank my right hon. Friend for that answer. Harmony Energy
based in Knaresborough opened Europe’s largest battery farm in
Yorkshire in 2022. It has raised the issue of connectivity
challenges being a blockage to investment, so I welcome the
connections action plan, which aims to cut connection times by up
to 90%. Battery farms are critical for energy retention and
storage, and are particularly helpful for renewables, so may I
ask my right hon. Friend for an update on how the plan is being
implemented?
We have set out the most radical reforms to the grid since the
1950s. As the action plan sets out, we are taking action with
Ofgem and network companies to accelerate those really important
network connections. Network companies are offering earlier
connection to battery storage and generation projects. For
example, 10 GW of battery storage projects are already being
offered connection dates to the transmission network that are on
average four years earlier than was originally agreed.
The UK’s ceramics sector has invested heavily in energy
efficiency technologies, and it is committed to going further,
but many of the alternative green technologies are not yet
viable, and there are serious risks that too stringent net zero
targets will result in carbon leakage, and in offshoring an
industry and skilled jobs to countries that have a far worse
environmental record. Will my right hon. Friend look seriously at
exempting the ceramics sector from the emissions trading scheme,
to give the sector the breathing space that it needs to
invest?
I commend my hon. Friend’s unwavering commitment to advocating
for the ceramics sector in his constituency. The UK Government
remain steadfast in safeguarding sectors deemed at risk of carbon
leakage, and I strongly encourage the ceramics sector in his
constituency to actively participate in the consultation on free
allocation policy, which is open.
(Brighton, Pavilion)
(Green)
A new report from the Green Finance Institute and the Institute
for Public Policy Research notes that a lack of public investment
and strategy is holding back progress on unlocking private
investment, and that the chopping and changing of policy pathways
has damaged investor confidence. The Secretary of State likes to
say that she has a clear strategy, so will she tell investors
what it is? Will she call on the Chancellor to deliver the scale
of public investment that we so urgently need to restore investor
confidence and lift the UK off the bottom of the G7 league table
for private investment, where we currently languish?
I thank the hon. Lady for that question, but I am surprised that
she did not welcome the recent news that the UK was the first
country in the G20 to halve its emissions since the 1990s, as I
know that subject is dear to her heart. As I have said, in 2023,
the UK saw around £60 billion of low-carbon private and public
investment. We got that extraordinary success by encouraging
private investment. Whether through the contracts for difference
scheme, our new policies on capital allowances, or the effect of
the green industries growth accelerator on the supply chain, the
UK is doing everything it can to attract investment, and that is
exactly why we have made those achievements.
(East Renfrewshire)
(SNP)
Last week, the Scottish Government announced £24.5 million of
public investment in a new cable factory, which will attract a
further £350 million of inward investment. Does the Secretary of
State agree that the best way to increase private investment is
for the Government to increase public investment, to signal that
the UK is open to green investment? Should not the UK Government
therefore invest at least £28 billion a year, so that we can
maximise private investment, and so that economic growth from the
green transition is also maximised?
As I said, our record on net zero investment is incredibly
strong. In fact, I believe the CBI had a report out this morning
showing that our net zero sectors have been growing by 9% in the
last year. We have set out plans for further investment, whether
that is in grid connections, supply chain investment through our
Gigafund, or reforming capital allowance. All those things, and
not public sector investment alone, attract private investment to
this country.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Minister.
(Croydon Central) (Lab)
This Government are locked in a doom loop of inertia, and
everyone is talking about it. Just this week, the National
Infrastructure Commission said that the Government are taking too
long, need to move faster, and that greater urgency is required.
The CBI report that the Secretary of State mentioned says
that
“strong future growth from green businesses is being put at
risk”.
Labour’s national wealth fund will crowd in private investment
and create thousands of good jobs for plumbers, engineers,
electricians and welders. Is blowing our advantage and losing the
race for the industries of the future part of the Government’s
plan, or do they just not have one?
I thank the hon. Lady for having the chutzpah to attempt that
question. If she would like to talk about uncertainty on
investment plans, she need only look at those on the Benches
behind her, who have performed the most extraordinary flip-flop
on that. We have delivered the second highest cumulative amount
of recorded low-carbon investment across Europe over the past
five years.
High-carbon Advertising
(Huddersfield)
(Lab/Co-op)
9. If she will meet representatives of Adfree Cities to discuss
high-carbon advertising.(901668)
The Minister for Energy Security and Net Zero ()
The Advertising Standards Authority is responsible for regulating
advertising in the UK across traditional forms of media, and it
takes environmental issues seriously. I encourage the hon.
Gentleman to approach the ASA directly with that request, as it
operates independently of Government.
Mr Speaker
I call .
Mr Sheerman
Thank you for waking me up, Mr Speaker. The Adfree Cities
campaign is very significant. Most of us have seen flashing
coloured screens proliferate in our towns and cities, and much
more densely in other countries, such as France and Germany. Not
only do these screens use a lot of energy and electricity, but
they are very invasive of people’s dwellings. Can we be very
careful about the proliferation of those screens?
As I said, the ASA would be the key people to go to. Companies in
the sector are, and should be, mindful of their net zero
obligations. They are looking into making commitments to source
all their electricity from renewable sources, which is a solid
thing to do, as well as using digital technologies to minimise
energy usage. The Net Zero Council is producing road maps for all
industry sectors across the economy, to encourage businesses to
do everything they can to minimise their environmental
impact.
Petrol Prices
(Stafford) (Con)
11. What steps she is taking to help reduce the price of fuel at
petrol stations.(901670)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security
and Net Zero ()
Last week, we launched a consultation, closing on 12 March, on
requiring petrol stations to report a change in price within 30
minutes. Pumpwatch will enable drivers to make informed decisions
on where to buy fuel and will reignite competition.
I thank the Minister for her answer, but my constituents in
Stafford remain concerned about the price of fuel, particularly
given the pressures on their household budgets. I welcome the
fact that the price of a tank of fuel is lower than it was when
prices were at their peak, but what is she doing to ensure that
my constituents get the best price for their fuel?
We are committed to making sure that consumers get a fair deal.
That is why fuel retailers must remain transparent and not
overcharge drivers. The Pumpwatch consultation will require all
petrol stations to report prices within 30 minutes of their
changing. That will enable tech companies to develop new ways for
UK drivers to search for the cheapest fuel.
(Tiverton and Honiton)
(LD)
In rural communities across Devon, people feel the pressure of
high fuel costs. The cost of fuel in towns such as Honiton is
almost 20p a litre higher than at petrol stations just 30 miles
away. What steps will the Government take to ensure fairness, and
to introduce rural fuel duty relief of the sort that we already
have in some parts of north Devon?
Pumpwatch will help with those things, but it is unacceptable for
any fuel retailer to overcharge drivers. That is why the
Secretary of State held a roundtable in December with fuel
retailers to make it clear that we expect them to pass on savings
to consumers when prices fall.
Home Energy Efficiency
(North Shropshire) (LD)
14. What recent steps she has taken to help improve the energy
efficiency of homes.(901673)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security
and Net Zero ()
I pay tribute to the hon. Member for her committed work to
support her constituents living in rural areas. We have a proud
record of energy efficiency. We are encouraging, rather than
forcing, people to make the right choices, and we pushed back the
ban on gas boilers while increasing the boiler upgrade scheme to
£7,500, which is one of the most generous grants in Europe.
There are 1,858 listed properties in North Shropshire, according
to the Listed Property Owners Club, and 24 conservation areas
across our historical market towns and villages. That means that
there is a large number of buildings that owners find it
difficult to upgrade to make them energy-efficient. What
conversations has the Minister had with her colleagues in the
Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and the
Department for Culture, Media and Sport on enabling people to
bring those homes into the 21st century and make them
energy-efficient?
The hon. Member makes a good point. We have those consultations
across Departments, and local authorities in rural areas in
England are eligible for grants. I can give my assurance that we
have those cross-government meetings.
(St Austell and Newquay)
(Con)
Many off-grid homes across Cornwall cannot convert to
energy-efficient heating schemes without incurring huge costs.
One option for them is to use hydro-treated vegetable oil. Can
the Minister lay out what plans the Government have to support
those using renewable liquid heating fuels, and will she back the
campaign by our excellent candidate for Camborne and Redruth,
, to axe the tax on
HVOs?
I thank my hon. Friend for raising that point. We have begun
developing a consultation on the role of renewable liquid fuels
in heat. We expect Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
Ministers to receive detailed information on the shape of the
consultation in the coming weeks, and aim to publish in the
summer of 2024.
Electricity Market Review
(South West Bedfordshire)
(Con)
15. When she plans to publish the second consultation on the
review of electricity market arrangements.(901674)
The Minister for Energy Security and Net Zero ()
The Government plan to publish the second consultation
imminently. It will set out a clear direction on how the GB
electricity market arrangements will evolve to keep electricity
bills as low as possible for consumers of all types.
There are two questions that my constituents ask me most
frequently: when will we see cheaper electricity from renewables,
and when people in areas such as mine, which host a lot of
renewable production, benefit from cheaper prices, as a result of
hosting that infrastructure?
The Government are moving on from our appalling inheritance in
2010 of less than 7% of our electricity coming from renewables,
with that figure today up to well over 40%. Every day we add to
that, we displace gas and other fossil fuels and lower bills for
people, and we plan to keep that going. We already have solar,
onshore wind and other developers providing benefits to
consumers, and we will come forward with plans for those
hosting—
Mr Speaker
Order. I call .
(Knowsley) (Lab)
People who are considering changing their boiler struggle to find
accurate information about the benefits and the costs. Will the
Minister consider issuing new guidance that makes clear both the
costs and the benefits of switching to a heat pump?
It can be a complex matter. That is why the Government have
committed to looking at rebalancing the system costs across
electricity and gas, as well as to ensure that people can
benefit, as I do, from a heat pump, which provides a warm home
and low bills.
Energy Costs
(Stirling) (SNP)
17. What steps her Department is taking to help reduce energy
costs for households.(901676)
(Carshalton and Wallington)
(Con)
20. What steps she is taking to provide support with energy
bills.(901679)
The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero ()
Ofgem’s new price cap means that from April, the average bill is
set to drop by £238. This shows that our plan is working: we have
halved inflation and energy prices are at their lowest level in
two years. Alongside that, we have taken the number of homes that
are well insulated up from 14% in 2010 to 50% now. We have
recently set out plans to help more customers access smarter
energy tariffs, which could save them up to £900 a year.
I am grateful for the answer, but one thing my constituents in
Stirling do not understand is electricity standing charges. As we
have heard, according to Ofgem’s figures, they have rocketed by
138% from £90.84 in 2021-22 to £216.23 in 2023-24. Ofgem has
issued a call for evidence, which is to be welcomed, but Ofgem is
clearly not fit for purpose on this. Does the Secretary of State
agree that it is high time the UK Government stepped in?
The hon. Gentleman is right that Ofgem regulates standing charges
and has issued a call for evidence. I think about 40,000 people
have given input, and we look forward to seeing the results.
However, if he was really worried about the cost of living for
families in the country, the SNP would not have taken taxes in
Scotland to the highest level in the UK.
The fall in the energy price cap is certainly welcomed by
Carshalton and Wallington residents, as is the support for
households, but many small and medium-sized businesses in my
constituency are still struggling to absorb higher costs. Will
the Secretary of State outline in a bit more detail the support
that those businesses can access to help with energy bills?
I thank my hon. Friend for recently welcoming me to Carshalton
and Wallington. Wholesale energy prices have fallen significantly
since last winter, but we are committed to supporting businesses
with their energy bills. Last winter alone, we delivered about
£7.4 billion to support businesses, covering nearly half of many
businesses’ wholesale energy costs. We are continuing the energy
bills discount scheme to support eligible businesses with high
energy costs until they can take advantage of lower wholesale
prices.
Topical Questions
Simon Baynes (Clwyd South) (Con)
T1. If she will make a statement on her departmental
responsibilities.(901685)
The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero ()
A lot has happened since I was last at the Dispatch Box. Not only
have energy bills fallen to their lowest level in two
years—welcome news for families up and down the country—but
Britain has become the first major economy to halve our
emissions, which is a huge milestone on our journey to net zero,
our Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill has completed its Commons
stages, and we are supporting the North sea by protecting 200,000
jobs and using our own gas to heat our homes.
I have signed a new partnership with Canada on fusion energy,
which is a technology that could give us limitless energy and one
on which Britain is leading the world. We have confirmed the UK’s
departure from the energy charter treaty, which was holding back
our transition to cleaner, cheaper energy. We have launched a
consultation on smart energy tariffs, which could see £900 taken
off people’s bills, and today we host our hydrogen investor
forum, announcing eight successful projects to make low-carbon
hydrogen, with over £27 million of Government support.
Residents in Esclusham in my constituency are alarmed by Innova’s
plans for the UK’s largest lithium-ion battery storage facility
near Bersham. Can my right hon. Friend give any reassurance about
the safety of this technology to my constituents, who are
concerned about the dangers of pollution, given the noise emitted
by such equipment, and by reports of similar facilities elsewhere
exploding, catching fire and emitting toxic fumes?
Electricity storage allows us to use energy more flexibly and to
minimise energy bills. Grid-scale lithium-ion battery energy
storage systems are covered by a robust regulatory framework that
is principally over- seen by the Health and Safety Executive.
Planning guidance encourages developers and local authorities to
consult relevant fire and rescue services on aspects such as
location, ahead of any planning decisions being made.
Mr Speaker
I call the SNP spokesperson.
(Angus) (SNP)
Some 23% of households in Scotland are living in extreme fuel
poverty. Energy debt across the United Kingdom has reached £3.1
billion. Age UK estimates that, had the UK Government implemented
a social tariff this winter, 2.2 million households would have
been lifted out of poverty. The latest costs of unpayable energy
debt have once again been heaped on to ordinary taxpayers by
Ofgem through the unit rate. What assessment has the Secretary of
State made of how much energy debt could be reduced by through
the introduction of a social tariff to mitigate totally
unaffordable energy bills?
The fact that energy prices are at the lowest level in two years
is good news for families up and down the country. We have put in
place support, including a package of more than £104 billion to
support families—that is £3,700 per household on average. As part
of that, we have made £900 cost of living payments to help people
in the last year.
(Torbay) (Con)
T2. Energy is a vital purchase for the hospitality sector, and
can make up a large part of the overall costs. What steps is the
Secretary of State taking to ensure that the energy costs faced
by pubs, hotels and food businesses do not put them out of
business?(901686)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security
and Net Zero ()
I thank my hon. Friend for that important question. Wholesale
energy prices have fallen compared with last year. The Government
have been supporting eligible businesses locked into high
contracts through the energy bills discount scheme, until they
can take advantage of lower fixed-price rates. My hon. Friend
will be interested to hear that the Government delivered more
than £7.4 billion to non-domestic energy users last winter,
covering around half of many businesses’ energy bills.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Secretary of State.
(Doncaster North) (Lab)
Last September, the Energy Secretary claimed she was lifting the
onshore wind ban, but in the whole of 2023 and so far in 2024
there have been zero applications for new onshore wind farms
designed for domestic electricity supply in England. She said
that her decision would speed up the delivery of projects. Why
does she think it has not worked?
Let me be clear about our record on onshore wind. Energy
production has quadrupled since 2010, when we had 3.9 GW of
onshore wind, to 15.4 GW in 2023. We have connected the second
highest amount of renewables anywhere in Europe, whereas the
right hon. Gentleman’s plans have been widely discredited by
industry and would deter billions of pounds of investment in
clean energy.
The right hon. Lady did not answer the question. I will tell her
why it has not worked: because she has left a uniquely
restrictive planning regime in place for onshore wind. Her
failure is costing families across this country £180 a year on
their bills. We know that her policy has failed. She could dump
the ban at the stroke of a pen. If she is vaguely serious about
clean energy, why does she not face down the headbangers on her
Back Benches and lift the ban?
As I said, we have connected the second highest amount of
renewable electricity anywhere in Europe since 2010. Our record
on renewable energy is clear. This is the most extraordinary
deflection that I have seen. In recent weeks, the right hon.
Gentleman’s leader has shredded his policy platform on energy. To
be honest, I feel quite sorry for him, because thanks to the
action of his leader and his shadow Chancellor, he has been
hidden away, his policy has been ripped up and it is now obvious
to everyone that Labour has no plan for energy.
(Weston-super-Mare) (Con)
T3. Further to the question by my hon. Friend the Member for
South West Bedfordshire () about the review of
electricity market arrangements, I welcome the fact that we are,
at last, getting to grips with the clunky old rules that add
potentially hundreds of pounds to everyone’s energy bills. May I
urge the Minister to go faster? This is chugging along at
Whitehall speed, and we need urgent action to reduce energy bills
soon.(901687)
The Minister for Energy Security and Net Zero ()
I thank my hon. Friend for his continuing interest in this issue.
The REMA programme is considering a number of options, including
sending more efficient locational signals, which I know he is
very knowledgeable about, zonal pricing, reform to transmission
charging and changes to network access. The second round of the
consultation is imminent.
(Easington) (Lab)
T4. This Government’s treatment of miners, retired miners and
their widows is nothing short of a national scandal. Since 2021,
the Government have been sitting on the recommendations of the
Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee report, which
recommended reviewing the mineworkers’ pension scheme’s surplus
sharing arrangements in favour of miners and their widows. During
that time, thousands of miners have sadly passed away through the
legacy of industrial disease, while the Government have pocketed
£4.8 billion of the miners’ own money since 1994. When are the
Government going to do the right thing and return the miners’
money?(901688)
The Government are doing the right thing, have done the right
thing and will continue to do the right thing in coming to a fair
settlement between miners, the Government and the taxpayer. That
is what we will continue to do, and I am happy to meet the hon.
Gentleman to discuss it further.
(Harrogate and Knaresborough)
(Con)
T5. Earlier this month, the all-party parliamentary group on
infrastructure, which I chair, launched a joint report with the
Institution of Civil Engineers on the public behavioural changes
needed to achieve our net zero target. I have sent my right hon.
Friend a copy of the report. As part of its production, we
carried out market research, which highlighted public uncertainty
on where to go for accurate information to help people make the
choices required to decarbonise their lives. What is the
Department doing to help fill that information gap?(901689)
Of course, my hon. Friend has a highly distinguished history in
the marketing industry. We agree that it is important that the
public get the information they need to save money on their
bills, as we set out in the net zero growth plan. That is why
last autumn we relaunched the “It All Adds Up” campaign, which
helped British households save an estimated £120 million last
winter. Whether it is elf on the shelf or other such routes, we
will find ways to better communicate with the public, precisely
to allow them to be well informed in doing their bit for net
zero.
(Chesterfield) (Lab)
T6. The Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net
Zero, the hon. Member for Derby North () spoke about the
Government’s approach to differential fuel prices in different
towns. Motorists in Chesterfield remain mystified as to why major
supermarkets are charging them more than they charge customers
just a few miles up the road in Sheffield. It is clear that the
Government’s approach is not working. When I wrote to the major
supermarkets, they admitted that they charge Chesterfield
customers more. There is no reason why customers in Chesterfield
should be charged more than customers in Sheffield, so will the
Minister tell us what she is doing about that?(901690)
I could not agree more that we should not be paying different
prices at different petrol stations. That is one of the reasons
why we have launched a consultation on Pumpwatch, and why we have
very regular meetings with the suppliers to make sure that they
are not doing this. They should not be doing it and we are very
clear about that.
(Waveney) (Con)
T9. Offshore Energies UK’s industry manifesto highlights the
once- in-a-lifetime opportunity that a home-grown energy
transition provides to bring investment and jobs to communities
all around the UK. This requires close collaboration between the
private and public sectors. Can Ministers confirm that the
Government are absolutely committed to such a
partnership?(901693)
I can. What the sector does not need, of course, as OEUK has
itself set out, is the tens of thousands of job losses that would
be driven by the ideological and climate-damaging obsession of
the right hon. Member for Doncaster North () with ending new UK oil and
gas licensing.
Alan Brown (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP)
T7. The last published Government estimate for Sizewell C is £20
billion, but Hinkley Point C, the supposed prototype for Sizewell
C, is now estimated to cost £48 billion. When will the Government
admit that the actual cost of Sizewell C will be a colossal £50
billion noose around bill payers’ necks?(901691)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security
and Net Zero ()
The SNP, blinded by a misplaced belief in its own exceptionalism,
seems almost alone in the world in not recognising the benefits
of new nuclear when it comes to meeting our net zero objectives,
delivering our energy security and improving our baseload. At
last year’s COP, 30 countries around the world came together to
commit to increasing nuclear-generated capacity by 30%. It would
be brilliant if Scotland could be part of that change, but the
SNP and its luddite partners in the Green party are holding
Scotland back. We are determined not to do that for the rest of
the UK.
(North West Norfolk) (Con)
Plans for a new incinerator in Wisbech are strongly opposed by my
constituents and those of my right hon. Friends the Members for
North West Cambridgeshire () and for South West Norfolk
(). With 300 lorry trips a
day and a structure bigger than Ely cathedral, there would be
serious health and environmental concerns for the nearest school.
Will my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State visit the site
to see for herself why the plans are wholly inappropriate?
The Secretary of State will be happy to engage with my hon.
Friend, and I too would be delighted to visit the site to look
into the issues that he has raised.
(Luton South) (Lab)
T8. At last we have heard the excellent news from Stellantis that
it is to build electric vans at Luton’s Vauxhall plant from 2025,
as a result of the tireless efforts of both management and
workforce in pursuit of efficiency and quality. What plans have
the Government to invest in electric vehicle charging
infrastructure to help to stimulate the EV consumer
market?(901692)
The hon. Lady is right to salute the astonishing investments that
we are seeing throughout the automotive sector, and I am
delighted that the Government have been able to help to bring
them about. As she knows, we are committed to spreading more and
more charging across the United Kingdom, not least in motorway
service areas, so that we have the infrastructure to facilitate
the decarbonisation of transport alongside all our other
emitters.
(Truro and Falmouth)
(Con)
Earlier this month we welcomed the Prime Minister to A&P
Falmouth to meet its workforce and talk about its fantastic
submission for funding under the floating offshore wind
manufacturing investment scheme to enable the port of Falmouth to
support the emerging floating offshore wind sector in the Celtic
sea. Can the Minister reassure my constituents that the
Government are looking at all the applications with a
scrutinising eye to ensure that the supply chain can be built up
throughout the south-west?
I can indeed confirm that the supply chain and the manufacturing
jobs that will be created through our investment in floating
offshore wind will benefit every community in the United Kingdom.
No decision has yet been made on FLOWMIS, but one will be made
imminently.
(Preston) (Lab/Co-op)
T10. Government statistics released last week show that 469,000
low-income households in the north-west live in
energy-inefficient properties. Hundreds of households in the
Fishwick area of Preston are still struggling with cold, damp
homes after the failed installation of insulation more than a
decade ago. Will the Minister commit his Department to future
fuel poverty schemes that will prioritise the fixing of past
mistakes, as well as renewed support for good insulation to be
fitted in older terrace properties around the
country?(901694)
The Government are already committed to ensuring that households
have the necessary energy efficiency. We have introduced the
social housing decarbonisation boiler upgrade scheme, the home
upgrade grant and many other initiatives, and we are of course
helping all our constituents with affordability.
(Copeland) (Con)
We have made huge progress in decarbonising our electricity
sector, but decarbonising transport and heat is much more tricky.
Will the Minister encourage our plans in Copeland to harness any
power that can be obtained from new nuclear for that purpose, and
will he meet us so that we can discuss those plans?
I should, as ever, be delighted to meet my hon. Friend, and very
happy to discuss the opportunities that are opening up for her
community and others throughout the United Kingdom. Indeed, I
have visited her constituency and observed for myself the huge
enthusiasm for new nuclear, as well as the additional benefits
that it can bring to the wider energy sector.
Dame (Llanelli) (Lab)
The potential loss of 2,800 jobs at Tata Steel in Port Talbot is
devastating for workers and their families, with possible
knock-on effects for Trostre in Llanelli. As well as investing in
the electric arc furnace, will the Government commit themselves
to primary green steelmaking in the UK to preserve our security
and our jobs?
The hon. Lady should, alongside us, celebrate the £500 million
that the Government are contributing as part of an overall £1.25
billion investment in the modernisation of steel production at
Port Talbot through, for instance, the electric arc furnace.
Government and industry will also invest £100 million in skills
to ensure that there are thousands of jobs for the future, and
that we reduce emissions as well.
(Banff and Buchan) (Con)
Will my hon. Friend reaffirm the Government’s commitment to
develop four operational CCUS clusters, including Acorn in my
constituency, by the end of the decade? Will my colleagues in the
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero make representations
to His Majesty’s Treasury to bring forward the financial
investment decisions at the soonest opportunity?
I am grateful to my hon. Friend, and he is absolutely right: CCUS
has such an important role, and we are committed to those four
clusters. As we announced in March last year, we have delivered
£20 billion of investment to make sure that we carry on with the
transformation and decarbonisation of this country that was so
woefully lacking when we took power in 2010.
(Ilford South) (Lab)
Last week the former Prime Minister, the right hon. Member for
South West Norfolk (), shared a platform with an
extremist, far-right, climate change-denying conspiracy theorist
called Steve Bannon, who claimed that man-made global warming is
a “manufactured crisis”. Will the Secretary of State condemn
those crazy comments and perhaps distance herself from the former
Prime Minister?
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. What he should look
at carefully is that the UK is the first country in the G20 to
halve emissions. If he wants to look at our record, he should
look at that. It is absolutely extraordinary that no one on the
Opposition Benches has welcomed that news today.
(Boston and Skegness)
(Con)
National Grid’s Grimsby to Walpole project will see pylons driven
across Lincolnshire’s beautiful landscapes and will take major
chunks of some of this country’s best agricultural land out of
production. Does the Secretary of State agree that it is vital
that residents respond to the consultation that is currently
going on, and that National Grid should be told to take into
consideration food security as well as energy security when it
considers such applications?
I thank my hon. Friend for his question. As he will know, I
cannot comment on a specific proposal. We need to rewire this
country in order to have homegrown energy. That means hosting new
infrastructure, with the presumption that it is above ground and
done in a way that minimises negative impacts on food security,
which I am confident that any proposals that come forward will
do. Let us make no mistake: we must rewire this country. We must
power the UK more from this country, clean up our energy and
reduce our dependence on foreign fossil fuels.
(Caithness, Sutherland and
Easter Ross) (LD)
Every single winter, the village of Altnaharra in Sutherland is
the coldest community in the whole of the United Kingdom. Some
parts of the United Kingdom are colder than others—that is
geography. May I ask that this fact be taken into consideration
when the Government look at schemes to help people with the cost
of paying their electricity bills?
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. As he will know, the
Government delivered over £40 billion in support last winter. We
expect the warm home discount to support around 3 million
households this winter, with the final figures to be published
later. Since 2011, the warm home discount has delivered over £3.5
billion in support for eligible low-income households.
(Bosworth) (Con)
I welcome the news that Ofgem has put the price cap down by 12%,
which represents a discount of about £20 for every average home.
There is one problem, though: the standing charge is still
relatively high. I know there is an open consultation, but would
the Government consider transparency about the standing charge on
bills so that the public understand exactly what it does?
I thank my hon. Friend for his question. Clearly, it is vital
that we had the call for input on the standing charges, and we
await with anticipation how we will react to the over 40,000
responses that we have had so far.
(Bradford East) (Lab)
I have recently been inundated with correspondence following the
collapse of SSB Law, a legal firm that took thousands of
defective cavity wall insulation cases to court. It has left
constituents with tens of thousands of pounds in costs that they
cannot afford during an unprecedented cost of living crisis. Can
the Minister assure me that the Government have a plan to address
this scandal? What compensation will my constituents be offered
to remove faulty cavity wall insulation so that they can finally
be free of its devastating consequences?
It is always awful to hear of these cases. I will write to the
hon. Gentleman on the issue.
