Business of the House

Bobby Dean Excerpts

Thursday 26th March 2026 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I call the Liberal Democrat spokesperson.

[Bobby Dean (Carshalton and Wallington) (LD)]

Mr Speaker, I echo your tribute to the late David Winnick.

I join Members from all parts of the House in condemning the attack in north London—this House stands united against antisemitism. I am grateful for the Government’s swift commitment to replace the ambulances, which was an important gesture.

I welcome the confirmation of the date for the King’s Speech. As the Leader of the House knows, I will not be present as my first baby is due in a few weeks’ time so I will be on leave, but I hope it all goes well—[Interruption.] Well, as well as it can.

On Iran, it is clear that Trump’s reckless war is causing death and destruction in the region, and that it is having repercussions for everybody across the world. I welcome the fact that the Chancellor has made a couple of statements on this issue already. She addressed the particular problem facing heating oil customers and has offered some reassurances that there will be broader targeted support in the weeks to come, but may I bring the House’s attention to another group who have not yet been spoken about: district heat network customers?

Community-based district heat networks are often tied to a single supplier. Customers often live in blocks of flats, usually in cities, and at the moment they are not covered by the Ofgem price cap. Having been a district heat network customer myself, I know that customers are sometimes protected from global supply shocks, but that depends on the network, where the heat comes from and the contracts that the supplier has signed up to. Because they are not protected by the Ofgem price cap, those customers will be extremely worried about what the latest events mean for them, so will the Leader of the House organise for the relevant Minister to come to the House to reassure those customers about what support will be put in place for them in the forthcoming energy crisis?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I am grateful for the hon. Gentleman’s comments about the Government’s response to what happened in Golders Green.

The hon. Gentleman raises the issue of heat network suppliers that commercially contract for fuel that powers heat network. As he said, they are not subject to the domestic energy price cap. New regulations came into force in January to allow Ofgem to regulate heat networks, giving it the power to investigate and intervene where heat network prices charged to consumers appear to be disproportionate or unfair. We are committed to supporting those who need help most with energy bills during the crisis, and the Chancellor outlined our early steps on that, but I will draw his remarks to the attention of the relevant Minister.

On a personal level, I wish the hon. Gentleman and his partner well over the next few weeks—we look forward to hearing good news. May I also say that it is something of a mystery that the names Alana and Alan have not made a comeback as a popular child’s name? I leave that with him.