Clean Energy Projects 2026-01-21
2026-01-21
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
Consumer Energy Solutions went into administration on January 9, leading to the loss of jobs and leaving many households without heating or hot water. The situation is particularly concerning for elderly or ill individuals.
On 9 January, Consumer Energy Solutions went into administration, and 300 people across Wales lost their jobs. In my constituency alone, more than 40 households have told me that they have been left in limbo, often without heating or hot water, and many of these people are elderly or ill. Given that the right hon. Member’s Government scrapped the energy company obligation 4 scheme abruptly, what support will be provided to make sure that householders are not left to pay after CES walks away?
I thank the right hon. Lady for raising the matter, and I really do feel for people who have found themselves in this situation, including her constituents, through absolutely no fault of their own. She will know that we inherited this scheme from the Conservative Government, and both ECO and the Great British insulation schemes had well-documented problems, which is why we took decisive action to end them. We are urgently working with scheme providers to ensure that customers of Consumer Energy Solutions are supported, and we will provide further updates as soon as possible.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific support for customers of CES was not detailed, only mentioned in general terms.
Inherited The Scheme
Well-Documented Problems
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
There have been issues with the energy company obligation scheme, including fraud and shoddy work as revealed by an NAO investigation.
We are expecting an announcement on the warm homes plan, which is of course to be welcomed, but we cannot rerun the errors of ECO4. An investigation by the National Audit Office into wall insulation revealed fraud and shoddy work. Will the Secretary of State therefore join me in calling for a public investigation into ECO4 air source heat pumps and solar panels, so we get a full, independent evaluation of the incidence of bad practice, questionable profits and fraud?
I simply say what I have already said to the right hon. Lady, which is that we inherited these schemes; they had well-documented problems, and that is why we have taken decisive action to end them. She will have seen our announcement today on the warm homes plan and the £15 billion fund to help people across the country.
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Assessment & feedback
The request for a public investigation was not addressed, instead repeating that the scheme had problems inherited from previous governments.
Well-Documented Problems
Decisive Action
Response accuracy