Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

National Register of Electricians

Monday 12 January 2026 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Sonia Kumar raised concerns about the lack of legal enforcement for electricians despite the risks of electrical fires.
  • Jim Shannon inquired about measures to encourage unregistered electricians to register with an electrical organisation.
  • The Minister stressed the importance of electrical safety and mentioned differences in risks between gas and electrical work.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Sonia Kumar Lab Dudley
Employment Energy Environment
Context

Electricians are currently governed by voluntary clubs, with near-zero enforcement for part P regulations. There are approximately 20,000 electrical fires annually.

Question

Gas installers must legally register under a Health and Safety Executive-owned scheme, yet electricians remain governed by voluntary clubs despite the risks of around 20,000 annual electrical fires. The October 2026 rule changes will address qualifications but not enforcement. Does my hon. Friend agree that there must be legal protections for electricians, just as there are for gas installers, to safeguard residents?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Samantha Dixon)

The Government take electrical safety very seriously. However, the risks associated with gas and electrical work are different; circuit breakers can shut down electrical systems in milliseconds to protect people from shock or fire, whereas faulty gas systems could result in an explosion or carbon monoxide poisoning. The health and safety regulations and electricity at work regulations already exist, alongside the IET wiring regulations as a code of practice.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not address the specific ask for legal protections similar to those for gas installers.

How: Risks Are Different, Existing Regulations

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Q2 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
Housing Local Government
Context

Electricians not registered with any organisation can put people's lives at risk.

Question

The House Builders Association covers electricians and their work. Councils also have a role in identifying those who should be registered but are not. What has been done to encourage unregistered electricians to register with an electrical organisation?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Samantha Dixon)

All practitioners should be registered and there should be safety. I will write to the hon. Member with specific details to answer his question.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister avoided giving specific actions taken by the Government and stated she would provide more detail in writing.

How: Will Write To The Hon. Member

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