Asked by: Andrew Mitchell (Conservative - Sutton Coldfield)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust will receive funding for new batteries and solar panels as part of the Clean Energy Upgrades for Hospitals and Military Sites scheme.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
In 25/26 the Great British Energy Solar scheme invested £130m in solar and battery storage projects across NHS trusts in England. This included funding for two projects at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust.
In 2026/27, a further £25m is available to NHS Trusts in England under the scheme. The application window closes on the 22 June. Successful applicants will be informed over the summer.
Asked by: Andrew Mitchell (Conservative - Sutton Coldfield)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the resilience of the national grid infrastructure in the West Midlands to withstand disruption.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Energy resilience is a top priority for Government. Government works continuously with industry to improve and maintain the resilience and security of energy infrastructure to a range of evolving risks and future system changes.
The National Energy System Operator, an independent technical body, delivers resilience functions including understanding and planning system resilience, preparing for emergencies and learning lessons from past incidents. These arrangements apply nationally, including to electricity grid infrastructure in the West Midlands.
The Government has also embarked on one of the biggest upgrades to Britain's electricity grid since it was created to ensure it can meet the country's future electricity demands and remain as resilient as possible.
Asked by: Andrew Mitchell (Conservative - Sutton Coldfield)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to support vulnerable low energy users who find switching energy suppliers difficult.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Vulnerable consumers who wish to switch energy supplier should contact their current supplier in the first instance who will be able to provide further information and support them through the process.
Vulnerable consumers can also contact Citizens Advice by phone or via their website for additional support with switching suppliers.
Those who need extra support are also able to sign up for the Priority Services Register for free. Those on the PSR receive extra help from suppliers, such as help taking their meter readings, advanced notice of power cuts, and making sure their phone calls are a priority.
Eligible individuals include those at or above State Pension age, those with a disability or medical condition, and people with children under the age of 5.
Detailed information on switching energy supplier can be found on Ofgem’s website: Switch energy supplier | Ofgem.
Asked by: Andrew Mitchell (Conservative - Sutton Coldfield)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent steps his Department has taken to ensure energy security in Sutton Coldfield constituency.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is strengthening energy security by reducing dependency on volatile global fossil fuel markets and delivering a diverse, secure and clean energy system based on renewables and nuclear, backed up by a strategic reserve of gas supply to be used only when essential, which will benefit the country and the Hon. Member’s constituency.
For further detail I refer the Rt hon. Member to the answer I gave on 2 March to Question UIN 113858.
Asked by: Andrew Mitchell (Conservative - Sutton Coldfield)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how much the Boiler Upgrade Scheme paid out for heat pumps in the West Midlands over the past year.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
In the financial year 2024/25 the Boiler Upgrade Scheme paid out £14.44 million for heat pumps installed in the West Midlands.
Further details on the number of applications by status, region and technology type, broken down by financial year, are provided in table A1.1A here.
Asked by: Andrew Mitchell (Conservative - Sutton Coldfield)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will estimate the number of households with a non-working smart meter in the West Midlands.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department collects data on smart meters not operating in smart mode at a national level. The latest statistics on smart meters in operation across GB are available here:
Energy suppliers are obligated to take all reasonable steps to ensure their customers’ smart meters are operating in smart mode. The Department is continuing to work closely with industry and Ofgem to reduce the proportion of smart meters not operating in smart mode, which has been steadily decreasing. Smart meters not operating in smart mode continue to record energy usage accurately but do not send automatic readings to energy suppliers.
Asked by: Andrew Mitchell (Conservative - Sutton Coldfield)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions his Department has had with (a) Ofgem and (b) energy suppliers on ensuring enough engineer appointments are available to complete the replacement of radio teleswitch service meters before the forthcoming switch-off in the West Midlands.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh
Details of Ministers' and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.