To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the prevalence of deemed rates being charged to businesses without fixed-term energy contracts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the prevalence of deemed rates being charged to businesses without fixed-term energy contracts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to help prevent energy brokers from charging excessive hidden commissions to business clients.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to help prevent energy brokers from charging excessive hidden commissions to business clients.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of trends in the cost of business parking permits introduced by local authorities in car parks.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of trends in the cost of business parking permits introduced by local authorities in car parks.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to take steps to prevent local authorities from charging disproportionately high businesses parking permits in car parks.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to take steps to prevent local authorities from charging disproportionately high businesses parking permits in car parks.

Lords motion to consider. Agreed to on question.

Lords motion to consider. Agreed to on question.

My Lords, I will speak also to the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (Alternative Dispute Resolution) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2026.

These instruments relate to the alternative dispute resolution, or ADR, chapter in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024—the Act—which received Royal Assent in May 2024. The Act...

My Lords, I will speak also to the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (Alternative Dispute Resolution) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2026.

These instruments relate to the alternative dispute resolution, or ADR, chapter in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024—the Act—which received Royal Assent in May 2024. The Act...

My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend for introducing the statutory instruments. This is not a very complicated issue and I do not have much to say about it, but I do have one or two questions.

First, this emerged from the digital markets Bill, which I was happy...

My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend for introducing the statutory instruments. This is not a very complicated issue and I do not have much to say about it, but I do have one or two questions.

First, this emerged from the digital markets Bill, which I was happy...

My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for his introduction, which was very clear, and to the noble Lord, Lord Stevenson, who asked some of the questions I was going to ask, which is good. I too worked on the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024. It seems...

My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for his introduction, which was very clear, and to the noble Lord, Lord Stevenson, who asked some of the questions I was going to ask, which is good. I too worked on the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024. It seems...

My Lords, I was not involved in the 2024 Act, so—to no doubt universal relief—I shall be very brief. As the Minister explained, the statutory instruments implement Chapter 4 of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, by replacing the voluntary accreditation system for alternative dispute resolution providers with...

My Lords, I was not involved in the 2024 Act, so—to no doubt universal relief—I shall be very brief. As the Minister explained, the statutory instruments implement Chapter 4 of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, by replacing the voluntary accreditation system for alternative dispute resolution providers with...

It is carved in stone.

It is carved in stone.

Paper is not that durable in fire or water, so are we talking stone tablets, or vellum, perhaps? I am very curious to know the answer to the question from the noble Lord, Lord Stevenson.

Obviously, alternative dispute resolution plays an important role in enabling consumers to resolve disputes quickly and...

Paper is not that durable in fire or water, so are we talking stone tablets, or vellum, perhaps? I am very curious to know the answer to the question from the noble Lord, Lord Stevenson.

Obviously, alternative dispute resolution plays an important role in enabling consumers to resolve disputes quickly and...

I thank noble Lords for their contributions to the debate. As I stated in opening, the purpose of these instruments is to place the UK’s ADR framework on a stronger footing and to provide a more effective service for consumers and businesses alike. This feeds into the broader work of...

I thank noble Lords for their contributions to the debate. As I stated in opening, the purpose of these instruments is to place the UK’s ADR framework on a stronger footing and to provide a more effective service for consumers and businesses alike. This feeds into the broader work of...

Before the Minister sits down, perhaps he could take this away: simply putting something up on the website—the “If we build it, they will come” approach—is probably not the best way for consumers to know that they have this service. You have to know it exists before you can find...

Before the Minister sits down, perhaps he could take this away: simply putting something up on the website—the “If we build it, they will come” approach—is probably not the best way for consumers to know that they have this service. You have to know it exists before you can find...

The noble Lord makes a really important point. Let me take that away and consult with the team and I will come back to him with a response on that.

The noble Lord makes a really important point. Let me take that away and consult with the team and I will come back to him with a response on that.

The Minister answered very fully the question about the fees and how they would be monitored, but those were the fees to the consumers. I asked a separate question about why it did not seem to be a cost to the provider of the services, who would also benefit from...

The Minister answered very fully the question about the fees and how they would be monitored, but those were the fees to the consumers. I asked a separate question about why it did not seem to be a cost to the provider of the services, who would also benefit from...

I think I did cover that but, if I did not, I will come back. The accredited providers will charge only a fee that is agreed already with the CTSI. That will be agreed up front and that will be published so that consumers know the charges they will be...

I think I did cover that but, if I did not, I will come back. The accredited providers will charge only a fee that is agreed already with the CTSI. That will be agreed up front and that will be published so that consumers know the charges they will be...

Clauses 15 to 17 and 19 to 23 agreed to. Clause 18, amendments 14 to 18 agreed to. Clause 18, as amended, agreed to. Schedule 1, amendment 19 agreed to. Schedule 2, amendments 20 to 22 agreed to. Schedules 1 and 2, as amended, agreed to. Clause 24 under consideration.

Clauses 15 to 17 and 19 to 23 agreed to. Clause 18, amendments 14 to 18 agreed to. Clause 18, as amended, agreed to. Schedule 1, amendment 19 agreed to. Schedule 2, amendments 20 to 22 agreed to. Schedules 1 and 2, as amended, agreed to. Clause 24 under consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of increases in electricity capacity charges on (a) consumers and (b) businesses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of increases in electricity capacity charges on (a) consumers and (b) businesses.

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to consult the higher education and business sectors on the proposed international student levy.

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to consult the higher education and business sectors on the proposed international student levy.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 28 March 2025 to question 41189, how many private businesses based in Wales paid (a) lease and (b) royalties fees to the Crown Estate in 2024-25.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 28 March 2025 to question 41189, how many private businesses based in Wales paid (a) lease and (b) royalties fees to the Crown Estate in 2024-25.