Written questions by McMurdock.

What recent assessment he has made of trends in the levels CO2 emissions caused by importing foreign steel for British manufacturing projects.

The Department estimates greenhouse gas emissions (including carbon dioxide) on a territorial basis, meaning emissions that occur within UK borders. This is the approach required by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the UK’s Climate Change Act 2008. The latest estimates are published here: UK territorial greenhouse gas emissions statistics - GOV.UK Defra publishes consumption-based emissions statistics, calculated by the University of Leeds, which include emissions associated with imported goods and services. The latest estimates are published here: UK and England's carbon footprint to 2022 - GOV.UK Last year, the Department consulted on measures to accelerate the adoption of low carbon products, including low carbon steel. The consultation is published here: Growing the market for low carbon industrial products: policy framework - GOV.UK

What steps he is taking to support British manufacturing businesses in the production of new energy projects.

The government’s mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower and deliver clean power by 2030 will accelerate deployment of wind, hydrogen, nuclear, CCUS, heat pumps, and related technologies across the UK. The government’s Clean Energy Industries Sector Plan targets at least double current investment levels across our Clean Energy Industries to over £30 billion per year by 2035. These are the industries of the future that can create hundreds of thousands of jobs for engineers, technicians, mechanics, electricians, and welders in every corner of the country. Additionally, the government will provided targeted support to businesses through The National Wealth Fund (NWF) and Great British Energy (GBE). The NWF will deploy £27.8 billion by 2030/31, including £5.8 billion for key clean industry sectors. Energy, Engineered in the UK (EEUK) is GBE’s flagship supply chain investment programme. It will deliver £1 billion of funding to increase UK manufacturing capacity, drive down technology costs, and create and support jobs across the UK.

What mechanisms he has in place to monitor the financial situation of major energy suppliers; and whether any energy supplier has been subject to enhanced monitoring in the last three years.

Ofgem, as the independent regulator, actively monitors the market using both direct and proxy information to identify any risks of supplier failure.Any reporting relating to Ofgem’s enhanced monitoring is a matter for Ofgem to communicate, given the commercial sensitivity of supplier finances. In April 2025, Ofgem implemented the final stage of their capital adequacy regime, which includes measures such as requiring suppliers to hold sufficient capital, as well as having control over material assets needed to run their business and enhanced monitoring and reporting commitments. These measures have strengthened the financial resilience of suppliers and the stability of the retail market. In the event of the failure of a major energy supplier, the Government and Ofgem have robust and well-tested procedures in place to ensure that customers do not experience any disruption to their energy supply. These include the Supplier of Last Resort process, successfully utilised twice in 2025, and the Special Administration Regime (SAR) for a larger supplier failure. In both cases, customers would continue to be supplied by as normal at the lowest reasonably practicable cost.

What contingency plans he has in place for major domestic energy suppliers being unable to meet regulatory obligations.

Ofgem, as the independent regulator, actively monitors the market using both direct and proxy information to identify any risks of supplier failure.Any reporting relating to Ofgem’s enhanced monitoring is a matter for Ofgem to communicate, given the commercial sensitivity of supplier finances. In April 2025, Ofgem implemented the final stage of their capital adequacy regime, which includes measures such as requiring suppliers to hold sufficient capital, as well as having control over material assets needed to run their business and enhanced monitoring and reporting commitments. These measures have strengthened the financial resilience of suppliers and the stability of the retail market. In the event of the failure of a major energy supplier, the Government and Ofgem have robust and well-tested procedures in place to ensure that customers do not experience any disruption to their energy supply. These include the Supplier of Last Resort process, successfully utilised twice in 2025, and the Special Administration Regime (SAR) for a larger supplier failure. In both cases, customers would continue to be supplied by as normal at the lowest reasonably practicable cost.

What monitoring measures his Department employs to assess the risk of market failure in major energy suppliers.

Ofgem, as the independent regulator, actively monitors the market using both direct and proxy information to identify any risks of supplier failure.Any reporting relating to Ofgem’s enhanced monitoring is a matter for Ofgem to communicate, given the commercial sensitivity of supplier finances. In April 2025, Ofgem implemented the final stage of their capital adequacy regime, which includes measures such as requiring suppliers to hold sufficient capital, as well as having control over material assets needed to run their business and enhanced monitoring and reporting commitments. These measures have strengthened the financial resilience of suppliers and the stability of the retail market. In the event of the failure of a major energy supplier, the Government and Ofgem have robust and well-tested procedures in place to ensure that customers do not experience any disruption to their energy supply. These include the Supplier of Last Resort process, successfully utilised twice in 2025, and the Special Administration Regime (SAR) for a larger supplier failure. In both cases, customers would continue to be supplied by as normal at the lowest reasonably practicable cost.

Whether he plans to amend competition law for fuel markets.

Competition law for fuel markets was recently amended through the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024. This legislation gave powers to the Competition and Markets Authority in January 2024 to monitor the road fuel retail sector and provide recommendations to government where necessary. The government also introduced separate legislation for Fuel Finder, an open data scheme for fuel prices to improve transparency and increase competition in the fuel retail market which comes into force on 2 February.

What assessment he has made of (a) trends in the level of barriers to entry in the fuel retail market and (b) the potential impact of those barriers on competition.

The Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) 2023 Market Study assessed whether measures making it easier for new or existing retailers to open new petrol filling stations (PFSs) would address competition issues identified in the market. It concluded that removing barriers to opening new PFSs would not have a significant impact on the number of PFSs, or materially affect competition in the market. This government is implementing the CMA’s recommendations to increase competition by launching Fuel Finder, and the CMA road fuels monitoring function.

What steps is he taking to help improve the resilience of electricity networks serving rural areas in South Basildon and East Thurrock constituency.

The Government is taking clear steps to strengthen the resilience of electricity networks serving rural areas, including those in South Basildon and East Thurrock. Following the Storm Arwen Review, network operators have made a significant number of improvements to both customer communications and the resilience of Great Britain’s electricity network during severe weather events. Ahead of winter, the National Energy System Operator (NESO) provided assurance that industry had suitable arrangements in place, and we continue to work closely with them to monitor readiness. The Government will also publish an Energy Resilience Strategy in 2026 to set longterm priorities for maintaining a secure and resilient energy system.

What assessment he has made of trends in the level of households not connected to the main gas grid in South Basildon and East Thurrock constituency, such as (a) Felmores and (b) Langdon Hills.

The Department publishes annual estimates of the number of domestic properties not connected to the gas network in Great Britain by country, English regions, local authority, constituency, middle layer super output area and lower layer super output area.

What steps he is taking to help ensure that rural electricity networks are adequately prepared for (a) extreme weather and (b) future levels of demand.

The Department for Energy Security & Net Zero works extensively with the energy sector to continually improve and maintain the resilience, preparedness and security of energy infrastructure against risks including severe weather events. Ofgem provides a specific Worst Served Customers allowance through the RIIO-ED2 price control to provide funding to electricity Distribution Network Operators to improve the service experienced by those customers who receive the poorest levels of performance. Worst Served Customers are classified as being worst served because they experience interruptions caused by faults on the high voltage network. This often occurs in rural areas where the cost of improving the reliability of this part of the network is particularly high, in part due to the low volume of customers served by that part of the network. We are also taking action to upgrade and expand electricity networks, including in rural areas, to ensure the network is ready to meet increasing demand. We are increasing capacity in the network by accelerating infrastructure build through our reforms to planning, regulation, supply chains regulation and a reformed connections process.

What discussions he has had with local authorities such as Basildon Council on energy infrastructure for communities not connected to the main gas grid.

Details of Ministers' and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.

What estimate he has made of the number of homeowners who installed loft spray foam insulation during the period in which it was eligible under Government-backed energy efficiency schemes.

Schemes run by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero do not have a list of eligible products but require that assessments are made and designs produced for properties individually, with the most appropriate measures installed to the required standard. Official statistics of government schemes are collected by measure rather than product. Under the Green Homes Grant Voucher Scheme there were 6,217 pitched roof loft insulation measures installed. As of August 2025, ECO 4 had installed 1,698, and GBIS 130. Spray foam is not the only product used for this measure, so the precise number will be lower. Official statistics for the schemes can be found here: GHG Vouchers: Green Homes Grant and Home Upgrade Grant statistics - GOV.UKECO: Household Energy Efficiency Statistics - GOV.UKGBIS: Great British Insulation Scheme - GOV.UK

Whether he plans to introduce national compensation for homeowners adversely affected by loft spray foam insulation.

For installations under DESNZ schemes, consumers are entitled to remediation where work has not been up to standard even when an installer has ceased trading. Homeowners should claim through their guarantee where this is the case. However, we understand most spray foam loft insulation has been installed outside of our schemes where the protection available depends on what was agreed at the time between the homeowner and the installer. Poor-quality installations are the result of years of a failed system, and this government is committed to introducing new reforms to drive up quality and protect consumers through the Warm Homes Plan.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of consumer redress available to homeowners where installers of loft spray foam insulation have ceased trading.

For installations under DESNZ schemes, consumers are entitled to remediation where work has not been up to standard even when an installer has ceased trading. Homeowners should claim through their guarantee where this is the case. However, we understand most spray foam loft insulation has been installed outside of our schemes where the protection available depends on what was agreed at the time between the homeowner and the installer. Poor-quality installations are the result of years of a failed system, and this government is committed to introducing new reforms to drive up quality and protect consumers through the Warm Homes Plan.

What steps is he taking to ensure that homeowners are not financially disadvantaged by future changes in market practice following the installation of Government-supported energy efficiency measures.

The Government’s Warm Homes Plan, which will be published soon, represents the biggest ever public investment in home upgrades. This exceeds our manifesto commitment and is a major step forward in the Government’s plans to upgrade up to 5 million homes over this Parliament and cut energy bills for good.

What recent estimate his Department has made of the (a) energy requirement levels in South Basildon and East Thurrock constituency within the next 5 years and (b) adequacy of the energy infrastructure in that constituency to meet that level of demand.

Government outlined the pathways needed to meet the country’s future energy demand in the Clean Power 2030 action plan, building on advice from the National Energy System Operator (NESO). To support a more actively planned approach to energy infrastructure, the governments of Great Britain jointly commissioned the NESO to develop the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP), which will be complemented at a regional level by the Regional Energy Spatial Plans (RESPs), commissioned by Ofgem. It is the responsibility of the NESO to provide long-term forecasting, focusing on balancing supply with demand, in line with the government’s clean power mission.

Whether he has made an estimate of the savings for individual motorists from the Fuel Finder scheme.

Fuel price trends are monitored nationally and published in the Department’s weekly statistics on GOV.UK. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) oversee market transparency and compliance and publish quarterly and yearly reports on GOV.UK. Fuel Finder will increase fuel price transparency for drivers to make more informed choices of where to buy petrol and diesel and will incentivise competition between fuel retailers to lower their prices to attract customers. Once launched, our analysis suggests that households who own a car could save an average of around £40 a year.

What plans he has to improve competition to reduce fuel prices for motorists.

Fuel price trends are monitored nationally and published in the Department’s weekly statistics on GOV.UK. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) oversee market transparency and compliance and publish quarterly and yearly reports on GOV.UK. Fuel Finder will increase fuel price transparency for drivers to make more informed choices of where to buy petrol and diesel and will incentivise competition between fuel retailers to lower their prices to attract customers. Once launched, our analysis suggests that households who own a car could save an average of around £40 a year.

Whether he plans to assess regional disparities in petrol prices.

Fuel price trends are monitored nationally and published in the Department’s weekly statistics on GOV.UK. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) oversee market transparency and compliance and publish quarterly and yearly reports on GOV.UK. Fuel Finder will increase fuel price transparency for drivers to make more informed choices of where to buy petrol and diesel and will incentivise competition between fuel retailers to lower their prices to attract customers. Once launched, our analysis suggests that households who own a car could save an average of around £40 a year.

What enforcement mechanisms he plans to apply to fuel retailers that do not comply with the new Fuel Finder regulations.

We expect the majority of businesses to comply with the Fuel Finder requirements, reflecting the ongoing engagement we have had with industry to ensure accurate and timely fuel price reporting. However, the CMA has statutory powers to enforce compliance, including the ability to investigate and impose financial penalties on motor fuel traders who do not comply. For at least three months from when cost reporting starts on 2 February 2026, the focus of the CMA will however be on supporting businesses to comply with the new regime rather than enforcement action.