Written questions by Morello.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential role of greenhouse gas removal projects in meeting the UK’s net zero targets.

Awaiting answer.

Whether his Department plans to introduce financial incentives for pilot greenhouse gas removal projects.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of export payments for large scale rooftop solar generation.

Awaiting answer.

What steps his Department is taking to support early-stage greenhouse gas removal projects in the UK.

Awaiting answer.

What steps his Department is taking to support households with rooftop solar installations.

Awaiting answer.

Whether his Department plans to introduce a minimum export value for rooftop solar energy exported to the grid.

Awaiting answer.

What recent assessment his Department has made of price disparities between petrol stations in a) rural areas and b) West Dorset.

Fuel Finder is now live, with all petrol filling stations in the UK required to report their latest prices. Increasing price transparency will increase pressure on fuel retailers to compete strongly to attract consumers by lowering their prices, including in areas where competition has historically been weaker, such as rural areas. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) have the power to take enforcement action for non-compliance, including imposing financial penalties. The CMA recent annual report found that competition has not strengthened since 2023, which was consistent with significant price variations within and between local areas. The CMA has statutory information gathering powers to monitor the road fuels market and will use Fuel Finder data to further assess regional pricing.

What recent steps his Department is taking to prevent price gouging by fuel retailers a) rural areas and b) West Dorset following the conflict in Iran.

Fuel markets are governed by competition and consumer protection law, overseen by the Competition Market Authority (CMA). The Government and the CMA are closely monitoring petrol and diesel prices in light of instability in the Middle East, and the Chancellor and Secretary of State recently met with fuel retailers to set out a clear message: unfair practices will not be tolerated.We are also engaging regularly with refiners, importers and distributors to ensure any emerging risks are identified and managed promptly. The government has also introduced the statutory Fuel Finder, which will increase transparency for UK road fuel prices and the CMA have the power to take enforcement action for non-compliance.

What assessment his Department has made of the impact of a) rising diesel and b) rising petrol costs on consumers in West Dorset since the start of the conflict in the Middle East.

Fuel markets are governed by competition and consumer protection law, overseen by the Competition Market Authority (CMA). The Government and the CMA are closely monitoring petrol and diesel prices in light of instability in the Middle East, and the Chancellor and Secretary of State recently met with fuel retailers to set out a clear message: unfair practices will not be tolerated.We are also engaging regularly with refiners, importers and distributors to ensure any emerging risks are identified and managed promptly. The government has also introduced the statutory Fuel Finder, which will increase transparency for UK road fuel prices and the CMA have the power to take enforcement action for non-compliance.

What regulatory measures his Department is considering to improve transparency in fuel pricing in West Dorset following the conflict in Iran.

Fuel markets are governed by competition and consumer protection law, overseen by the Competition Market Authority (CMA). The Government and the CMA are closely monitoring petrol and diesel prices in light of instability in the Middle East, and the Chancellor and Secretary of State recently met with fuel retailers to set out a clear message: unfair practices will not be tolerated.We are also engaging regularly with refiners, importers and distributors to ensure any emerging risks are identified and managed promptly. The government has also introduced the statutory Fuel Finder, which will increase transparency for UK road fuel prices and the CMA have the power to take enforcement action for non-compliance.

What steps his Department is taking to support consumers in West Dorset with a) rising petrol and b) rising diesel costs.

The Government has implemented the statutory open data scheme Fuel Finder, with all UK petrol filling stations now required to report their prices for petrol and diesel within 30 minutes of a change. Increasing price transparency will increase pressure on fuel retailers to compete strongly to attract consumers by lowering their prices. Fuel Finder data is made available to data services such as mapping software and price comparison apps to enable consumers to compare petrol and diesel prices more easily and to shop around for the cheapest fuel.

What steps his Department is taking to address regional variations in petrol prices.

Fuel Finder is now live, with all petrol filling stations in the UK required to report their latest prices. Increasing price transparency will increase pressure on fuel retailers to compete strongly to attract consumers by lowering their prices, including in areas where competition has historically been weaker, such as rural areas. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) have the power to take enforcement action for non-compliance, including imposing financial penalties. The CMA recent annual report found that competition has not strengthened since 2023, which was consistent with significant price variations within and between local areas. The CMA has statutory information gathering powers to monitor the road fuels market and will use Fuel Finder data to further assess regional pricing.

What regulatory measures his Department is considering to improve consistency in fuel pricing in West Dorset.

The Government has implemented the statutory open data scheme Fuel Finder, with all UK forecourts now required to report their latest fuel prices, helping to improve transparency and increase competitive pressure on fuel retailers. The Motor Fuel Price (Open Data) Regulations 2025, which provide the legal framework for the scheme, came into force in early 2026. These measures apply nationally, including in West Dorset.The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) have the power to take enforcement action for non-compliance, including imposing financial penalties. The CMA also has statutory information gathering powers to monitor the road fuel market and advise the Government if further intervention is required.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of a national energy debt relief scheme on energy affordability and consumer protection.

The Government knows that more needs to be done to tackle the problem of energy debt. Too many families paid the price of our dependence on fossil fuels during the energy price crisis, and its impacts are still being felt – both by consumers who are in debt and those who are not. In November 2025, Ofgem published an update of its Debt Strategy, setting out its near-term actions and priorities to support suppliers to reduce the level of debt in the sector and drive better engagement between consumers and suppliers to ensure that consumers in payment difficulty receive adequate support. This included an update on its proposals for introducing a Debt Relief Scheme, which aims to tackle around £1bn of debt built up by some consumers during the energy crisis. Ofgem is currently considering responses to its latest consultation on the scheme.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of recent increases in domestic heating oil prices on people living in rural areas including West Dorset.

The Government understands that many households, particularly in rural and off‑gas‑grid areas, rely on heating oil as their primary source of heat. Unlike gas and electricity, heating oil is bought on the spot market, making it more exposed to short-term volatility in global oil prices, which we recognise is a significant concern for those reliant on it. The Chancellor has announced £53m for low income families, who heat their homes with oil to help tackle surging prices. This funding is allocated as part of the Crisis Resilience fund, and will be distributed by Local Authorities. More information can be found here: Over £50 million to help families struggling with soaring heating oil costs - GOV.UK. In addition, the measures taken in the Autumn Budget reduce the cost of electricity and therefore benefit all households with a domestic electricity meter, including those not on the gas grid. On 30 January, we also announced the continuation of the Warm Home Discount scheme until 2030/31, providing around 6 million eligible households with the £150 rebate on their energy bills each winter.

What progress his Department has made on (a) developing and (b) implementing a debt relief scheme for households experiencing energy debt.

The Government knows that more needs to be done to tackle the problem of energy debt. Too many families paid the price of our dependence on fossil fuels during the energy price crisis, and its impacts are still being felt – both by consumers who are in debt and those who are not. In November 2025, Ofgem published an update of its Debt Strategy, setting out its near-term actions and priorities to support suppliers to reduce the level of debt in the sector and drive better engagement between consumers and suppliers to ensure that consumers in payment difficulty receive adequate support. This included an update on its proposals for introducing a Debt Relief Scheme, which aims to tackle around £1bn of debt built up by some consumers during the energy crisis. Ofgem is currently considering responses to its latest consultation on the scheme.

What steps his Department is taking to support households reliant on heating oil in (a) West Dorset constituency and (b) rural constituencies.

The Government understands that many households, particularly in rural and off‑gas‑grid areas, rely on heating oil as their primary source of heat. Unlike gas and electricity, heating oil is bought on the spot market, making it more exposed to short-term volatility in global oil prices, which we recognise is a significant concern for those reliant on it. The Chancellor has announced £53m for low income families, who heat their homes with oil to help tackle surging prices. This funding is allocated as part of the Crisis Resilience fund, and will be distributed by Local Authorities. More information can be found here: Over £50 million to help families struggling with soaring heating oil costs - GOV.UK. In addition, the measures taken in the Autumn Budget reduce the cost of electricity and therefore benefit all households with a domestic electricity meter, including those not on the gas grid. On 30 January, we also announced the continuation of the Warm Home Discount scheme until 2030/31, providing around 6 million eligible households with the £150 rebate on their energy bills each winter.

What recent discussions he has had with energy suppliers on stabilising the level of heating oil prices for off-grid households in the South West of England.

The Government is aware that off-grid households have seen a sharp increase in heating oil prices due to volatility in international markets. Suppliers often have limited storage, buying daily on the spot market. These changes are then reflected immediately in the price consumers pay. The Secretary of State has written to the industry reminding heating oil suppliers of their commitments under the UKIFDA Code of Practice, including the need for fair, transparent and justifiable pricing. Following discussions with the Competition and Markets Authority, the CMA are launching a comprehensive examination of the heating oil industry. We will work closely with the CMA to understand findings and develop options to increase consumer protections in this sector. The chancellor has announced £53m for low-income families, who heat their homes with oil to help tackle surging prices. £27 million of this support is being provided to England, which will be distributed by Local Authorities via the Crisis and Resilience Fund.

What steps he is taking to support consumers in West Dorset constituency with a) petrol and b) diesel costs.

Fuel price trends are monitored nationally and published in the Department’s weekly statistics on GOV.UK . The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) oversees market transparency and compliance and publish quarterly and yearly reports on Gov.UK. To support consumers, the Government introduced a voluntary scheme for retailers to share real-time price data, improving visibility for motorists. Building on this, UK consumers will also be able to compare prices more easily through DESNZ’s upcoming open data Fuel Finder scheme, encouraging competitive pricing among retailers, and helping households who own a car save an average of around £40 a year.

What assessment his Department has made of recent trends in levels of (a) petrol and (b) diesel prices in West Dorset.

Fuel price trends are monitored nationally and published in the Department’s weekly statistics on GOV.UK . The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) oversees market transparency and compliance and publish quarterly and yearly reports on Gov.UK. To support consumers, the Government introduced a voluntary scheme for retailers to share real-time price data, improving visibility for motorists. Building on this, UK consumers will also be able to compare prices more easily through DESNZ’s upcoming open data Fuel Finder scheme, encouraging competitive pricing among retailers, and helping households who own a car save an average of around £40 a year.