To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent assessment has she made of the impact of standing charges in Wales on levels of poverty in Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent assessment has she made of the impact of standing charges in Wales on levels of poverty in Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 10 September 2026 to Question 27788, (i) which target does her Department aim to reduce standing charges by for households and (ii) by which timeframe.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 10 September 2026 to Question 27788, (i) which target does her Department aim to reduce standing charges by for households and (ii) by which timeframe.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether she plans to take steps to change the rules governing gas and electricity standing charges so that bereaved families are not required to pay standing charges on unoccupied properties while probate and the legal processes required for...

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether she plans to take steps to change the rules governing gas and electricity standing charges so that bereaved families are not required to pay standing charges on unoccupied properties while probate and the legal processes required for...

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the impact of standing charges on household bills in Scotland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the impact of standing charges on household bills in Scotland.

What are standing charges? How have they changed over time? How and why do they vary? What proposals does the regulator Ofgem have for lowering them?

What are standing charges? How have they changed over time? How and why do they vary? What proposals does the regulator Ofgem have for lowering them?

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to support farmers with increased electricity standing charges.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to support farmers with increased electricity standing charges.

Lords motion to consider. Agreed to on question.

Lords motion to consider. Agreed to on question.

My Lords, these draft regulations were laid before the House on 8 June and, in case noble Lords think we are suffering from a small dose of déjà vu, similar regulations, which we debated at the time, were laid months ago for reasons that I will come to in a...

My Lords, these draft regulations were laid before the House on 8 June and, in case noble Lords think we are suffering from a small dose of déjà vu, similar regulations, which we debated at the time, were laid months ago for reasons that I will come to in a...

I thank the Minister for presenting the regulations before us. I express the hope that he stays in his position, as indeed does the Whip. We do not like changes in the House of Lords.

I will make a couple of comments. Eons ago, I served as the shadow Environment Minister...

I thank the Minister for presenting the regulations before us. I express the hope that he stays in his position, as indeed does the Whip. We do not like changes in the House of Lords.

I will make a couple of comments. Eons ago, I served as the shadow Environment Minister...

I think that, in fact, our government lectern is higher than the opposition lectern.

I think that, in fact, our government lectern is higher than the opposition lectern.

For very good reason.

For very good reason.

As we are all about the same height at this end, we do not need it. We should not worry about that.

Can the noble Lord write to me—I have asked this on more than one occasion—to tell me whether he, the department and the Government are inclined to look into...

As we are all about the same height at this end, we do not need it. We should not worry about that.

Can the noble Lord write to me—I have asked this on more than one occasion—to tell me whether he, the department and the Government are inclined to look into...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for the way in which he introduced these regulations. It is almost like double déjà vu because we have considered the Northern Ireland regulations and we considered these ones very recently. We had a good debate on them last time, so I will be...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for the way in which he introduced these regulations. It is almost like double déjà vu because we have considered the Northern Ireland regulations and we considered these ones very recently. We had a good debate on them last time, so I will be...

My Lords, I declare my interest as chairman of both Amey and of Acteon subsea engineering company, which works on offshore wind and oil and gas around the world, and as chairman of Buckthorn Partners, all of which are involved with energy transition.

I am very grateful to the Minister for...

My Lords, I declare my interest as chairman of both Amey and of Acteon subsea engineering company, which works on offshore wind and oil and gas around the world, and as chairman of Buckthorn Partners, all of which are involved with energy transition.

I am very grateful to the Minister for...

My Lords, I apologise for the interruption due to the vote. I was simply going to give the Committee one example of the consequences of overreliance on renewables.

On 23 June this year, NESO, the National Energy System Operator, faced severe supply constraints caused by high electricity demand for cooling during...

My Lords, I apologise for the interruption due to the vote. I was simply going to give the Committee one example of the consequences of overreliance on renewables.

On 23 June this year, NESO, the National Energy System Operator, faced severe supply constraints caused by high electricity demand for cooling during...

I thank noble Lords for their constructive contributions and hope they will forgive me if I do not tarry too long in my closing speech and try to give a detailed response to everything that has been put forward. They are all very valid points but, among other things, we...

I thank noble Lords for their constructive contributions and hope they will forgive me if I do not tarry too long in my closing speech and try to give a detailed response to everything that has been put forward. They are all very valid points but, among other things, we...

In the interests of transparency, will the Minister write to us with the outcome of that report, so that this Committee, and indeed the House, are fully apprised of what happened that day and the actions being taken?

In the interests of transparency, will the Minister write to us with the outcome of that report, so that this Committee, and indeed the House, are fully apprised of what happened that day and the actions being taken?

Yes, I am very happy to do that, but I anticipate—I do not know whether the noble Lord has this actively in mind—that we may have an Urgent Question coming on this, so we may be able to start talking about it at that point.

On the wider question of frequency...

Yes, I am very happy to do that, but I anticipate—I do not know whether the noble Lord has this actively in mind—that we may have an Urgent Question coming on this, so we may be able to start talking about it at that point.

On the wider question of frequency...