Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate he has made of the effect of delays to the DCC go-live date.

The Data and Communications Company has made significant progress and is undertaking final preparations for live services.

In the meantime, consumers are able to receive smart meters and more than 4.2 million are already operating in homes and small businesses across the country. This allows consumers the opportunity to start accessing the benefits of smart metering early, and helps suppliers learn important lessons ahead of the main phase of the Programme when most consumers will receive their smart meters.