Asked by: Tom Gordon (Liberal Democrat - Harrogate and Knaresborough)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make reforms to TrustMark to ensure it can prevent substandard contractors operating under Government-endorsed schemes; and whether an independent review of TrustMark has been commissioned.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
TrustMark operates under a Master Licence Agreement with the Department for Business and Trade and sets requirements for scheme providers who in turn oversee registered businesses delivering work under government schemes.
The Department holds an observer seat on TrustMark’s board to maintain close oversight but has not commissioned a separate independent review.
We are committed to reforming the consumer protection system and are currently consulting on proposals to reform consumer protection for home upgrade schemes to support delivery of the Warm Homes Plan (link to the consultation on GOV.UK here).
Asked by: Tom Gordon (Liberal Democrat - Harrogate and Knaresborough)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether the Government plans to establish a mandatory single quality scheme for the low carbon home upgrades market.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is committed to ensuring high standards and strong consumer protections in the delivery of low carbon home upgrades. We recognise that the current system can be complex, with multiple organisations involved, which can create confusion for both consumers and installers.
We are currently consulting on proposals to strengthen consumer protections for home upgrades delivered through government schemes and the wider market. A core objective is to reduce fragmentation and streamline the system for consumers, installers and professionals. The consultation, published on Gov.uk, will close on 10 September.
Asked by: Tom Gordon (Liberal Democrat - Harrogate and Knaresborough)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many homes had spray foam insulation installed under (a) the Green Homes Grant, (b) the ECO4 scheme and (c) the Great British Insulation Scheme; and of those, how many have been identified as having been incorrectly or inappropriately installed.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department publishes statistics on measures installed under the Green Homes Grant, ECO4 and the Great British Insulation Scheme, but does not hold specific data on properties with spray foam insulation.
We are aware of a small number of cases where spray foam has caused issues and are taking action. Where poorly installed under government schemes, customers can use TrustMark’s dispute resolution process or their guarantee. For work outside these schemes, homeowners should seek remediation via their installer, relevant quality mark, or guarantee provider.
Asked by: Tom Gordon (Liberal Democrat - Harrogate and Knaresborough)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of a single Ombudsman for the retrofit and low carbon home improvements market, to provide homeownersan accessible and independent route to redress.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We are currently consulting on proposals to strengthen consumer protections for home upgrades delivered through government schemes.
This includes proposals for a single complaints and case-management function to oversee remediation processes and outcomes, with an independent ombudsman as a final safeguard for unresolved disputes.
We are seeking views on which features of the proposed redress system are most important for delivering effective outcomes, including as part of that, access to an independent ombudsman.
The consultation closes 10 September 2026.
Asked by: Tom Gordon (Liberal Democrat - Harrogate and Knaresborough)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what the timeline is for his Department bringing forward proposals on remediation and support for homeowners adversely affected by incorrectly installed spray foam insulation.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
I have held extensive discussions with the spray foam industry to support homeowners affected by sales difficulties or rogue removal companies. Independent guidance has been published by the Property Care Association, and the Government will continue engaging mortgage lenders to support affected households.
A wider package of measures to protect consumers and strengthen oversight of the home retrofit sector was announced in a Written Ministerial Statement on 17 June 2026. This includes a consultation on reforms to consumer protection and options to improve redress and remediation, which closes on 10 September.
Asked by: Tom Gordon (Liberal Democrat - Harrogate and Knaresborough)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what information his Department holds on when the Competition and Markets Authority plans to publish its assessment of regional road fuel pricing.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) addressed variation in regional road fuel pricing as part of their Road Fuel Market Study which was published in July 2023. The CMA published its latest report on 31 March 2025 and plans to release a more comprehensive report in the future, which will focus extensively on regional pricing differences.
Asked by: Tom Gordon (Liberal Democrat - Harrogate and Knaresborough)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department plans to take steps to help reduce variations in fuel prices between regions.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
The Government will implement Fuel Finder, a statutory open data scheme for fuel prices, to increase price transparency and help drivers make more informed decisions on where to buy petrol and diesel. This will increase pressure on retailers to compete strongly to attract consumers by lowering prices. Subject to legislation and Parliamentary time, we aim to launch Fuel Finder by the end of 2025.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) received statutory information gathering powers on 1 January 2025 through the Digital Markets, Competition & Consumer Act 2024 so it can monitor and scrutinise fuel prices. Once launched, Fuel Finder will provide the CMA with the appropriate data to adequately consider issues such as regional pricing variations.
Asked by: Tom Gordon (Liberal Democrat - Harrogate and Knaresborough)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he is taking steps to help increase (a) competition and (b) the transparency of road fuel pricing.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
The Government will implement Fuel Finder, a statutory open data scheme for fuel prices, to increase price transparency and help drivers make more informed decisions on where to buy petrol and diesel. This will increase pressure on retailers to compete strongly to attract consumers by lowering prices. Subject to legislation and Parliamentary time, we aim to launch Fuel Finder by the end of 2025.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) received statutory information gathering powers on 1 January 2025 through the Digital Markets, Competition & Consumer Act 2024 so it can monitor and scrutinise fuel prices. Once launched, Fuel Finder will provide the CMA with the appropriate data to adequately consider issues such as regional pricing variations.
Asked by: Tom Gordon (Liberal Democrat - Harrogate and Knaresborough)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he will take steps to provide redress to people whose (a) property values or (b) access to mortgage finance has been impacted by spray foam insulation installed using a Green Homes Grant Voucher.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
The Department has worked with the insulation industry and lending community to address concerns relating to spray foam. Protocols were published in March 2023 to support surveyors to assess spray foam, provide reassurance to lenders, and inform consumers.
While the Department cannot comment on the decisions made by individual lenders, the presence of spray foam should not automatically prevent lending. Decisions should be made on a case-by-case basis following a survey. Recent indications are that most mortgage lenders no longer have blanket policies on spray foam insulation.
Any borrower seeking to take out a mortgage may find it useful to shop around and speak to a mortgage broker to find the best possible product for them.
Asked by: Tom Gordon (Liberal Democrat - Harrogate and Knaresborough)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what data his Department holds on the number of homes that used Green Homes Grant vouchers for spray foam insulation.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
A breakdown of measures installed under the Green Homes Grant voucher scheme can be found in the Green Homes Grant evaluation report: www.gov.uk/government/publications/green-homes-grant-voucher-scheme-evaluation.