Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what mechanisms were in place to ensure that Feed‑in Tariff registrations were correctly assigned to homeowners at commissioning; and what support is available to consumers where feed-in tariffs were not correctly assigned.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Ofgem administers the Feed-in Tariff (FIT) scheme and maintains the Central FIT Register (CFR), which records accredited installations and their recipient, supporting correct assignment of payments. Suppliers must maintain accurate records on the CFR, which is subject to regular audit activity.

In some cases, payments may be assigned to a third party under separate contractual agreements. Such arrangements are commercial in nature and fall outside the FIT framework.

To confirm the recipient, homeowners may request information from Ofgem via an Ownership Register Query. Where appropriate, they may raise the matter with the relevant supplier, with unresolved complaints escalated to the Energy Ombudsman.

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 consumer transparency, accountability and protection in complex supply chains involving sales agents, installers, finance companies, insurers and certification bodies in government‑supported energy efficiency schemes.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

As set out in the Warm Homes Plan, our assessment is that the current consumer protection system is too fragmented and lacks sufficient oversight of the various actors involved in the delivery of government‑supported domestic retrofit schemes.

The Department is reforming the consumer protection system to simplify delivery and bring oversight under closer government control, and will consult on options for reform this year. This includes clearer accountability across supply chains, strengthened assurance arrangements, and improved monitoring and escalation processes.

We are working across Government, including MHCLG, and consumer experts from industry to develop and stress test plans.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many domestic Green Deal installations have been identified where MCS certificates were not issued in the name of the homeowner; and what steps his Department is taking to deal with those cases.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Department does not have an estimate for the scale of the issue as we do not hold details of all Green Deal loans issued. Lack of an MCS certificate has appeared as an element in some Green Deal complaints the Department has reviewed, though this has been uncommon. Officials are investigating complaints referred to the Secretary of State in accordance with the Green Deal Framework Regulations, and may issue decisions cancelling or reducing a Green Deal loan where they find breaches of said regulations or the Green Deal Code of Practice. This may include issues related to MCS certificates.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment has been made of the potential impact of the system of installer self‑certification through Competent Person schemes on consumer protection for Green Deal participants.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Both the Green Deal and the competent person schemes contain consumer protections but they work independently of each other. Therefore, work paid for through the Green Deal and carried out by a competent person scheme installer will benefit from both sets of consumer protections. The Department has done no recent research of the effects of competent person schemes on consumer protection for Green Deal participants.

The Green Deal is a Department for Energy Security and Net Zero policy. It was a loan scheme that existed to help people make energy saving improvements to their home that was mostly active during 2013-2015. The Green Deal has its own consumer protection system provided for by the Green Deal Framework Regulations and Code of Practice, and its own system of participant authorisation requiring certification of installers by the Green Deal Oversight and Registration Body.

Competent person scheme operators register and oversee installers who can self-certify that their work meets the building regulations. These schemes have existed for more than 20 years and cover small building work such as plumbing and electricity. The scheme operators offer consumer protections such as ensuring registered installers are properly qualified and dealing with complaints.

Found: Current members Attendance Jessica Morden (Labour, Newport East) (Chair) (added 30 Jul 2024) 48 of