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1507568

registered interest
date	22/09/2022
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Energy: Billing
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to support individuals whose direct debit for energy bills has been significantly increased by their energy providers (a) at short notice and (b) by more than the corresponding increase to the energy price cap.
tabling member constituency	Southampton, Itchen
tabling member printed	Royston Smith
uin	54601
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/10/2022 answer text <p>Ofgem requires energy suppliers to take all reasonable steps to ensure their customers’ direct debit payments are based on the best available information. For existing customers, the direct debit payments should be based on energy used over the previous year plus any price changes. Customers should receive notice of a payment increase at least 10 days in advance of the change taking place. If a customer does not receive prior notice, they can make a complaint to the energy supplier.</p><p> </p><p>The energy price cap and the new energy price guarantee apply to the amount customers are charged per unit of gas or electricity, so customers’ exact bill amounts will continue to be influenced by how much energy is used.</p> answering member constituency Beverley and Holderness answering member printed Graham Stuart grouped question UIN 54602 question first answered 17/10/2022 13:49:58 answering member 1482 label Biography information for Graham Stuart
tabling member	4478 label Biography information for Royston Smith

1507569

registered interest
date	22/09/2022
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Energy: Billing
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what mechanisms are available to help support individuals whose direct debit for energy bills has been increased by their energy provider (a) at short notice and (b) by more than the corresponding increase in the energy price cap.
tabling member constituency	Southampton, Itchen
tabling member printed	Royston Smith
uin	54602
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/10/2022 answer text <p>Ofgem requires energy suppliers to take all reasonable steps to ensure their customers’ direct debit payments are based on the best available information. For existing customers, the direct debit payments should be based on energy used over the previous year plus any price changes. Customers should receive notice of a payment increase at least 10 days in advance of the change taking place. If a customer does not receive prior notice, they can make a complaint to the energy supplier.</p><p> </p><p>The energy price cap and the new energy price guarantee apply to the amount customers are charged per unit of gas or electricity, so customers’ exact bill amounts will continue to be influenced by how much energy is used.</p> answering member constituency Beverley and Holderness answering member printed Graham Stuart grouped question UIN 54601 question first answered 17/10/2022 13:49:59 answering member 1482 label Biography information for Graham Stuart
tabling member	4478 label Biography information for Royston Smith

1507570

registered interest
date	22/09/2022
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Energy: Billing
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent discussions he has had with energy firm representatives on increases to energy bill direct debits.
tabling member constituency	Southampton, Itchen
tabling member printed	Royston Smith
uin	54603
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/10/2022 answer text <p>BEIS Ministers regularly meet with stakeholders, including energy suppliers, to discuss range of energy retail market issues.</p><p> </p><p>Energy suppliers should not increase their customers’ direct debits by more than is necessary. Customers may challenge a proposed increase and renegotiate the direct debit payment. They can also review their direct debit payments at any time by taking a meter reading and contacting their supplier. The Government welcomed Ofgem’s announcement on 13 July 2022 of strict supervision of direct debits payments.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Beverley and Holderness answering member printed Graham Stuart question first answered 17/10/2022 13:50:29 answering member 1482 label Biography information for Graham Stuart
tabling member	4478 label Biography information for Royston Smith

1507571

registered interest
date	22/09/2022
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Energy: Billing
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the press release entitled Ofgem requires improvements from energy suppliers on customer direct debits published on 13 July 2022, what discussions he has had with Ofgem on the steps it is taking to monitor energy suppliers that it found to have weaknesses in their direct debit and charging processes.
tabling member constituency	Southampton, Itchen
tabling member printed	Royston Smith
uin	54604
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/10/2022 answer text <p>BEIS Ministers regularly have discussions with Ofgem on a range of issues relating to the energy market.</p><p>Having completed a review on whether energy suppliers are setting customers’ direct debit payments appropriately, Ofgem is working with seven suppliers found to have minor weaknesses in their processes. The five suppliers found to have moderate to severe weaknesses are required to implement rapid and robust improvements to their processes and reassess customer direct debits where necessary. Failure to act fast enough may result in Ofgem taking enforcement action. Ofgem intends to strengthen direct debit rules in the supply licence. Details available at <a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ofgem.gov.uk%2Fpublications%2Fstatutory-consultation-strengthening-fixed-direct-debit-rules&amp;data=05%7C01%7CParliamentary.PQ%40BEIS.gov.uk%7Cc55b449b1ab04948397f08dab03403da%7Ccbac700502c143ebb497e6492d1b2dd8%7C0%7C0%7C638016034685391777%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=WYjj3uAVzdaPTD%2F49b50XVV4cLTb4on6L8DKWF6hGX8%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/statutory-consultation-strengthening-fixed-direct-debit-rules</a>.</p> answering member constituency Beverley and Holderness answering member printed Graham Stuart grouped question UIN 54605 question first answered 17/10/2022 13:51:24 answering member 1482 label Biography information for Graham Stuart
tabling member	4478 label Biography information for Royston Smith

1507572

registered interest
date	22/09/2022
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Energy: Billing
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the press release entitled Ofgem requires improvements from energy suppliers on customer direct debits published on 13 July 2022, what discussions he has had with Ofgem on the steps it is taking to secure improvements from the twelve energy suppliers found to have weaknesses in their direct debit and charging processes.
tabling member constituency	Southampton, Itchen
tabling member printed	Royston Smith
uin	54605
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/10/2022 answer text <p>BEIS Ministers regularly have discussions with Ofgem on a range of issues relating to the energy market.</p><p>Having completed a review on whether energy suppliers are setting customers’ direct debit payments appropriately, Ofgem is working with seven suppliers found to have minor weaknesses in their processes. The five suppliers found to have moderate to severe weaknesses are required to implement rapid and robust improvements to their processes and reassess customer direct debits where necessary. Failure to act fast enough may result in Ofgem taking enforcement action. Ofgem intends to strengthen direct debit rules in the supply licence. Details available at <a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ofgem.gov.uk%2Fpublications%2Fstatutory-consultation-strengthening-fixed-direct-debit-rules&amp;data=05%7C01%7CParliamentary.PQ%40BEIS.gov.uk%7Cc55b449b1ab04948397f08dab03403da%7Ccbac700502c143ebb497e6492d1b2dd8%7C0%7C0%7C638016034685391777%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=WYjj3uAVzdaPTD%2F49b50XVV4cLTb4on6L8DKWF6hGX8%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/statutory-consultation-strengthening-fixed-direct-debit-rules</a>.</p> answering member constituency Beverley and Holderness answering member printed Graham Stuart grouped question UIN 54604 question first answered 17/10/2022 13:51:24 answering member 1482 label Biography information for Graham Stuart
tabling member	4478 label Biography information for Royston Smith

1506604

registered interest
date	20/09/2022
answering body	Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept id	211
answering dept short name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept sort name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
hansard heading	Housing: Insulation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact on the housing market of the guidance note produced by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors on 5 April 2021 entitled Valuation of properties in multi-storey, multi-occupancy residential buildings with cladding.
tabling member constituency	Southampton, Itchen
tabling member printed	Royston Smith
uin	51832
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/09/2022 answer text <p>The Department has been consistently clear that the lending and valuation industries have taken an overly cautious and risk-averse approach to building safety across the sector which has in turn impacted a sub-sector of the housing market. RICS are developing new guidance to support the valuation of properties with cladding, which they intend to consult on shortly, and which will reflect the protections contained within the Building Safety Act.</p> answering member constituency Sutton and Cheam answering member printed Paul Scully question first answered 28/09/2022 16:44:51 answering member 4414 label Biography information for Paul Scully
tabling member	4478 label Biography information for Royston Smith

1506605

registered interest
date	20/09/2022
answering body	Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept id	211
answering dept short name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept sort name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
hansard heading	Housing: Insulation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to the Government’s proposals to ask developers who have pledged to remediate life critical fire safety works to sign a legally binding contract in relation to that remediation, what recent discussions he has had with (a) the Home Builders Federation and (b) developers on the (i) scope and (ii) standard that contract will set for developer-funded remediation for unsafe buildings.
tabling member constituency	Southampton, Itchen
tabling member printed	Royston Smith
uin	51833
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/09/2022 answer text <p>The Government published a draft of the remediation contract on 13 July 2022 and has received comments and held discussions about the draft with various parties including the Home Builders Federation and individual developers. We are working to finalise the wording of the contract, including with respect to the scope and standard of works to be performed. We will publish the final draft of the contract and have made clear that it will not deviate from the principles set out in the pledge.</p> answering member constituency Sutton and Cheam answering member printed Paul Scully question first answered 28/09/2022 16:46:07 answering member 4414 label Biography information for Paul Scully
tabling member	4478 label Biography information for Royston Smith

1506606

registered interest
date	20/09/2022
answering body	Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept id	211
answering dept short name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept sort name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
hansard heading	Buildings: Safety
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment his Department made of the effectiveness of the implementation of the leaseholder deed of certificate.
tabling member constituency	Southampton, Itchen
tabling member printed	Royston Smith
uin	51834
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/09/2022 answer text <p>The Department engaged with leaseholder groups and lenders on the leaseholder deed of certificate. This helped to ensure that the leaseholder deed of certificate is fit for purpose; the information requirements were designed to present a minimal burden to leaseholders, whilst being sufficiently robust to demonstrate their qualifying status and to also prevent fraud.</p><p>We have worked closely with leaseholder groups to produce guidance on the leaseholder deed of certificates and the overall leaseholder protections. This guidance can be found <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fguidance%2Fbuilding-safety-leaseholder-protections-guidance-for-leaseholders&amp;data=05%7C01%7CBSP_PQ%40levellingup.gov.uk%7Cbf8d40ca013e4b2176b808da9caba397%7Cbf3468109c7d43dea87224a2ef3995a8%7C0%7C0%7C637994558234435222%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=Z3mt1STMfc1fkpfClyPZE8xp7k8gm02V5A8O8vpJIK4%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p>The leaseholder deed of certificate is an essential tool in the protection of leaseholders from unaffordable bills for historical building safety defects. This deed of certificate enables leaseholders to self-determine whether or not they benefit from the protections with regard to remediation costs for unsafe cladding and non-cladding building safety defects, as well as costs for interim safety measures for their leasehold property. The leaseholder deed of certificate is an essential part of the protections as it allows leaseholders to demonstrate their ‘qualifying leaseholder’ status.</p> answering member constituency Sutton and Cheam answering member printed Paul Scully question first answered 28/09/2022 16:47:46 answering member 4414 label Biography information for Paul Scully
tabling member	4478 label Biography information for Royston Smith

1506607

registered interest
date	20/09/2022
answering body	Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept id	211
answering dept short name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept sort name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
hansard heading	High Rise Flats: Mortgages
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what progress his Department has made on helping to secure mortgage lending for buildings where cladding remediation work has been agreed upon but not yet begun.
tabling member constituency	Southampton, Itchen
tabling member printed	Royston Smith
uin	51835
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/09/2022 answer text <p>The Building Safety Act confirms that those at fault, not blameless leaseholders, will be the ones who pay to fix unsafe cladding. This removes risk for lenders and help restore common sense to the market. There should be no remaining barriers to lending on remediated buildings.</p><p>On 15 July the largest mortgage lenders confirmed that, subject to their normal policy requirements, they will be able to lend on any property that is part of a developer or government remediation scheme or properties that are protected by the new statutory protections, as evidenced by a qualifying lease certificate. This statement can be found <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ukfinance.org.uk%2Fpolicy-and-guidance%2Fguidance%2Fstatement-industry-support-leaseholder-protections-within-building&amp;data=05%7C01%7CParliamentary%40levellingup.gov.uk%7C00f86e1c3bc245abe10f08daa092d85a%7Cbf3468109c7d43dea87224a2ef3995a8%7C0%7C0%7C637998849792578593%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=glzlk8lNHitxTNqy929SqWLfdYsmAb55QFZSdJUuk7Y%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">here.</a></p><p>We continue to work with the industry to quickly operationalise these changes and expect the challenges faced by those struggling to buy and sell, including for those in flats where remediation has not yet begun, will be eased.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Sutton and Cheam answering member printed Paul Scully grouped question UIN 51836 question first answered 28/09/2022 16:48:56 answering member 4414 label Biography information for Paul Scully
tabling member	4478 label Biography information for Royston Smith

1506608

registered interest
date	20/09/2022
answering body	Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept id	211
answering dept short name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept sort name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
hansard heading	High Rise Flats: Mortgages
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the lending and valuation process undertaken by mortgage lender's on flats where (a) unsafe cladding has been remediated and (b) remediation work has been agreed but not yet begun.
tabling member constituency	Southampton, Itchen
tabling member printed	Royston Smith
uin	51836
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/09/2022 answer text <p>The Building Safety Act confirms that those at fault, not blameless leaseholders, will be the ones who pay to fix unsafe cladding. This removes risk for lenders and help restore common sense to the market. There should be no remaining barriers to lending on remediated buildings.</p><p>On 15 July the largest mortgage lenders confirmed that, subject to their normal policy requirements, they will be able to lend on any property that is part of a developer or government remediation scheme or properties that are protected by the new statutory protections, as evidenced by a qualifying lease certificate. This statement can be found <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ukfinance.org.uk%2Fpolicy-and-guidance%2Fguidance%2Fstatement-industry-support-leaseholder-protections-within-building&amp;data=05%7C01%7CParliamentary%40levellingup.gov.uk%7C00f86e1c3bc245abe10f08daa092d85a%7Cbf3468109c7d43dea87224a2ef3995a8%7C0%7C0%7C637998849792578593%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=glzlk8lNHitxTNqy929SqWLfdYsmAb55QFZSdJUuk7Y%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">here.</a></p><p>We continue to work with the industry to quickly operationalise these changes and expect the challenges faced by those struggling to buy and sell, including for those in flats where remediation has not yet begun, will be eased.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Sutton and Cheam answering member printed Paul Scully grouped question UIN 51835 question first answered 28/09/2022 16:48:56 answering member 4414 label Biography information for Paul Scully
tabling member	4478 label Biography information for Royston Smith