Heat Networks: Price Caps
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department is considering regulating the non-domestic gas and electricity tariffs charged to heat network operators, in order to reduce costs passed on to their domestic consumers
The Department has provided the heat network regulator, Ofgem, with broad powers relating to heat network price regulation. These include powers to investigate and intervene where heat network prices charged to consumers are disproportionate or unfair. Of...
Social Media: Artificial Intelligence
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions she has had with social media platforms, such as TikTok, on compliance with UK GDPR regarding the use of default opt-in settings for training generative AI models on us
The Government regularly engages with social media platforms but has not discussed this particular issue with TikTok.The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), as the UK’s independent data protection regulator, is responsible for monitoring and enforcin...
Heat Networks: Price Caps
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when he expects to launch the proposed call for evidence on heat network price protections; and what the intended scope of that review will include.
Heat network suppliers and operators have until January 2027 to register with Ofgem and supply data, including information about pricing. Ofgem will use this to further inform their approach to pricing rules and guidance. The Department is working with Of...
Royal Parks: Speed Limits
To ask His Majesty's Government what progress has been made on the Royal Parks' request of October 2024 to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport that the Royal Parks and Other Open Spaces Regulations 1997 be amended to ensure the current maximum spe
Heat Networks: Price Caps
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he is considering reintroducing or adapting the Energy Bills Discount Scheme for households supplied via heat networks; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of previou
The Department and Ofgem are actively monitoring the contract prices paid by heat network operators since the Middle Eastern crisis started and considering all options available to mitigate higher prices.
Heat Networks: Standards
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the extent to which current regulation of heat networks provides equivalent protections to those available to domestic gas and electricity consumers, including
The introduction of Ofgem’s regulatory powers in January 2026 aimed to introduce similar protections for heat network customers to domestic gas and electricity customers. However, there are some important differences between these sectors, for example: th...
Heat Networks: Price Caps
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what legislative timetable he has set for introducing further regulation of heat networks, including any provisions relating to price protections for consumers.
Government legislated to introduce statutory redress, advice and advocacy from April 2025 and Ofgem regulation of heat networks from January 2026. Government has provided Ofgem with broad powers to protect consumers, including on price. Heat network suppl...
Shipping: English Channel
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of unchallenged sanctioned vessels travelling in either direction through the English Channel in each month so far this year.
Egypt: Christianity
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the freedom of worship of (1) Christian UK citizens, and (2) Copts, in Egypt.
I refer the Noble Lord to the answer provided on 27 April in response to Question HL16168.
Fire and Rescue Services: Water Supply
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that new housing developments have adequate water supply for local Fire and Rescue services.
Housing: Water Supply
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions he has had with water companies on water supply to new housing developments.
Heat Networks: Prices
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to ensure that households connected to heat networks are not disadvantaged compared to those using individual gas boilers as part of the transition to a low-carbon ene
The Government is committed to heat network consumers receiving a fair deal as we transition to a low-carbon energy system. WwWe have therefore introduced heat network regulation, including price protections, consumer standards and access to redress. The ...
Heat Networks: Price Caps
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing a price protection mechanism for domestic consumers connected to heat networks, comparable to that provided by the Price Cap
Heat networks buy the energy they need through commercial contracts and the price they charge domestic consumers reflects these individual contract prices and the energy efficiency of each heat network. Applying a price cap therefore risks being ineffecti...
Heat Networks: Prices
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to mitigate the exposure of heat network consumers to volatility in wholesale gas markets, given they are not protected by a domestic price cap.
Heat network operators buy the energy they need to provide heat to domestic consumers through commercial contracts. The Department and Ofgem are actively monitoring the contract prices paid by heat network operators since the Middle Eastern crisis started...
Fire and Rescue Services: Water Supply
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions he has had with water companies on timely (a) maintenance and (b) repair of fire hydrants.
Tobacco: Community Interest Companies
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department considers that the Community Interest company Clean Streets is part of the tobacco industry.
We are considering this matter very carefully and will write to the honourable member for the City of Durham when we are in a position to do so.
Durham University: Astronomy
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of funding for the Institute for Computational Cosmology.
Universities: Finance
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the number of universities at risk of insolvency in each of the last five years, broken down by Russell Group and non-Russell Group institutions.
Gaza: Humanitarian Aid
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure the delivery of aid to Gaza.
Special Educational Needs: Appeals
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that the proposed Education for All Bill does not adversely impact (a) parents and (b) guardians' legal recourse to appeal the details of a child’s individual Special Educatio
Special Educational Needs: Speech and Language Therapy
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that the proposed Education for All Bill does not adversely impact (a) parents and (b) guardians’ legal recourse to challenge the number of hours of speech and language therap
Special Educational Needs: Occupational Therapy
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that the proposed Education for All Bill does not adversely impact (a) parents and (b) guardians’ legal recourse to challenge the number of hours of occupational th
Special Educational Needs: Classroom Assistants
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that the proposed Education for All Bill allows children in Yeovil constituency with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities to receive support from a teaching assistant wh
Digital Technology
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to ensure (a) Government departments and (b) public bodies are not reliant on ageing digital infrastructure.
Gaza: Humanitarian Aid
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to secure the release of British Nationals detained by Israel as a result of their participation in the Global Sumud Flotilla.