Asked by: Sonia Kumar (Labour - Dudley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the Health and Safety Executive has assessed the potential merits of establishing a single mandatory national register of electricians under its statutory oversight, modelled on the Gas Safe Register, to improve public safety and create a clear standard of professional accountability.
Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the hon. Member to the answers to Questions UIN 101292 and 101294 on 6 January 2026. The Government takes electrical safety very seriously but has seen no need to establish a mandatory national register of electricians modelled on the Gas Safe Register. Any individual or organisation carrying out building work must demonstrate that they are competent to do so. The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 already require that people carrying out electrical work of any sort must be competent to prevent danger and injury, or must be under a degree of supervision that is appropriate to the nature of the work.
The Building Regulations require work to the fixed electrical system in the home to be carried out safely to protect people from fire and injury. In domestic situations, competent electricians can self-certify that their work is compliant with Part P of the Building Regulations, in line with statutory guidance set out in Approved Document P Electrical Safety – Dwellings. All electricians that have been authorised by a government approved Competent Person Scheme are listed on the Registered Competent Person Electrical Register. The department is working with the Building Safety Regulator on reforms of the Competent Person Schemes to improve public and building safety.
Asked by: Sonia Kumar (Labour - Dudley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that people are adequately protected from unsafe or unregulated electrical work in homes, particularly where such work is carried out by non-registered or unqualified persons.
Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the hon. Member to the answers to Questions UIN 101292 and 101294 on 6 January 2026. The Government takes electrical safety very seriously but has seen no need to establish a mandatory national register of electricians modelled on the Gas Safe Register. Any individual or organisation carrying out building work must demonstrate that they are competent to do so. The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 already require that people carrying out electrical work of any sort must be competent to prevent danger and injury, or must be under a degree of supervision that is appropriate to the nature of the work.
The Building Regulations require work to the fixed electrical system in the home to be carried out safely to protect people from fire and injury. In domestic situations, competent electricians can self-certify that their work is compliant with Part P of the Building Regulations, in line with statutory guidance set out in Approved Document P Electrical Safety – Dwellings. All electricians that have been authorised by a government approved Competent Person Scheme are listed on the Registered Competent Person Electrical Register. The department is working with the Building Safety Regulator on reforms of the Competent Person Schemes to improve public and building safety.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many homes occupied by families from (a) RAF Shawbury, (b) RAF Cosford and (c) Clive Barracks do not have up to date electrical safety certificates.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The number of occupied Service Family Accommodation (SFA) homes at RAF Shawbury, RAF Cosford and Clive Barracks (Ternhill) that do not have up to date gas safety certificates or electrical safety certificates as at 18 June 2025, is shown in the following table:
| Number of occupied SFA with Expired Gas Safety Certificates | Number of occupied SFA with Expired Electrical Safety Certificates |
Shawbury | 0 | 0 |
Cosford | 4 | 0 |
Ternhill (Clive Barracks) | 0 | 1 |
The safety of Service personnel and their families is the Departments highest priority, and it is unacceptable for any family to be living in a home without the necessary checks.
It remains a top priority to gain access to these homes to carry out this work. Access has been attempted to all of these properties at least three times, and the Chain of Command has been asked to assist.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many homes occupied by families from (a) RAF Shawbury, (b) RAF Cosford and (c) Clive Barracks do not have up to date gas safety certificates.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The number of occupied Service Family Accommodation (SFA) homes at RAF Shawbury, RAF Cosford and Clive Barracks (Ternhill) that do not have up to date gas safety certificates or electrical safety certificates as at 18 June 2025, is shown in the following table:
| Number of occupied SFA with Expired Gas Safety Certificates | Number of occupied SFA with Expired Electrical Safety Certificates |
Shawbury | 0 | 0 |
Cosford | 4 | 0 |
Ternhill (Clive Barracks) | 0 | 1 |
The safety of Service personnel and their families is the Departments highest priority, and it is unacceptable for any family to be living in a home without the necessary checks.
It remains a top priority to gain access to these homes to carry out this work. Access has been attempted to all of these properties at least three times, and the Chain of Command has been asked to assist.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to improve the safety of cooking appliances in order to reduce the number of home fires.
Answered by Justin Madders
Regulations require manufacturers to place only safe gas-fuelled and electric powered cookers and ovens on the market. Regulations require gas-fuelled cookers to be installed by a competent and Gas-Safe registered engineer. Landlords must ensure gas safety checks are carried out annually and have a Gas Safety Certificate for their property, and that electrical checks are carried out every five years, and that they obtain an Electrical Installation Condition Report.
The current Product Regulation and Metrology Bill will give the Government powers to amend and update existing product safety legislation should this be needed.
Asked by: Lord Foster of Bath (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that those permanently living in alternative housing (such as caravans, houseboats, tiny homes, and other non-traditional housing) are as safe from electricity in their homes as people living in traditional properties.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Everyone deserves to feel safe and secure in their homes, regardless of tenure or agreement type.
Non-permanent structures separate from the land, such as mobile homes and houseboats, are legally defined as chattels rather than buildings. They are not subject to the legal framework in the Building Regulations which covers electrical installation work. They are, however, subject to consumer protection legislation in the same way as any other consumer goods. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (CRA), goods should be as described, of a satisfactory quality, and fit for a particular purpose when they are purchased. The CRA 2015 applies to contracts entered into after the 1st October 2015 when the Act came into force.
As most non-traditional homes are owner-occupied there is no legal requirement for the owner to have the electrics checked in their property on a regular basis, though we would recommend they do so.
On mobile home sites, the owner must ensure they comply with the conditions of their licence provided by the local authority, to ensure that proper health, safety and amenity standards are maintained.
The Government has no plans to introduce any specific schemes relating to electrical safety in non-traditional homes at this time.
Asked by: Lord Foster of Bath (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to provide consumer information to improve the electrical safety of those living in alternative housing such as caravans, houseboats, tiny homes, and other non-traditional housing.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Everyone deserves to feel safe and secure in their homes, regardless of tenure or agreement type.
Non-permanent structures separate from the land, such as mobile homes and houseboats, are legally defined as chattels rather than buildings. They are not subject to the legal framework in the Building Regulations which covers electrical installation work. They are, however, subject to consumer protection legislation in the same way as any other consumer goods. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (CRA), goods should be as described, of a satisfactory quality, and fit for a particular purpose when they are purchased. The CRA 2015 applies to contracts entered into after the 1st October 2015 when the Act came into force.
As most non-traditional homes are owner-occupied there is no legal requirement for the owner to have the electrics checked in their property on a regular basis, though we would recommend they do so.
On mobile home sites, the owner must ensure they comply with the conditions of their licence provided by the local authority, to ensure that proper health, safety and amenity standards are maintained.
The Government has no plans to introduce any specific schemes relating to electrical safety in non-traditional homes at this time.
Asked by: Lord Foster of Bath (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government how they intend to regulate installers of electrical systems working in non-traditional housing, to ensure quality and parity with approved installer registration schemes.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Everyone deserves to feel safe and secure in their homes, regardless of tenure or agreement type.
Non-permanent structures separate from the land, such as mobile homes and houseboats, are legally defined as chattels rather than buildings. They are not subject to the legal framework in the Building Regulations which covers electrical installation work. They are, however, subject to consumer protection legislation in the same way as any other consumer goods. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (CRA), goods should be as described, of a satisfactory quality, and fit for a particular purpose when they are purchased. The CRA 2015 applies to contracts entered into after the 1st October 2015 when the Act came into force.
As most non-traditional homes are owner-occupied there is no legal requirement for the owner to have the electrics checked in their property on a regular basis, though we would recommend they do so.
On mobile home sites, the owner must ensure they comply with the conditions of their licence provided by the local authority, to ensure that proper health, safety and amenity standards are maintained.
The Government has no plans to introduce any specific schemes relating to electrical safety in non-traditional homes at this time.
Asked by: Beccy Cooper (Labour - Worthing West)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will take steps with technology and communications companies to mitigate harm to people with electromagnetic hypersensitivity.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published advice on exposure to electromagnetic fields in the everyday environment, including electrical appliances in the home and mobile phones. You can find this information and the relevant fact sheets on the government website here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/electromagnetic-fields.
A robust regulatory framework exists to ensure that exposure to electromagnetic fields remains well within safe levels. In the UK, the control of exposures occurs through product safety legislation, health and safety legislation and planning policy.
The ongoing transition from analogue to digital landlines (“the PSTN migration”) will not change the regulatory obligations on telecommunications companies to keep their users safe. We expect telecoms companies to follow guidance on product safety in relation to radio waves, as set out by the UKHSA.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his Department is taking steps to help the London Fire Brigade tackle electrical vehicle fires.
Answered by Chris Philp - Shadow Home Secretary
To help reduce the fire risks associated with lithium-ion batteries in personal light electric vehicles (PLEVs), such as e-bikes and e-scooters, the Home Office has convened a working group of Government departments, the National fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) and London Fire Brigade. As part of this group, the Home Office working to raise awareness of safe use, storage and charging of PLEVs within residential buildings. With London Fire Brigade’s permission and cooperation, we have adapted the #ChargeSafe campaign materials for national use and made these available to fire and rescue services to support local engagement activity.
In addition, the Home Office is collaborating with the NFCC, on behalf of all fire and rescue services, to undertake electric vehicle fire safety research to gather scientific evidence on electric vehicle battery fires and associated firefighting tactics.