Committee publication · Correspondence · 14 July 2026
Correspondence to Minister for Digital Government and Data re. Digital Government (Disclosure of Information) Regulations 2026, 6 July
Summary
Minister Ian Murray writes to the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee about the Digital Government (Disclosure of Information) Regulations 2026, being laid before Parliament under affirmative procedure. The regulations expand information-sharing powers under the Digital Economy Act 2017 to enable data sharing between public authorities and energy suppliers for fuel poverty relief and debt support, including via the National Data Library Household Income Kickstarter initiative.
Key findings
- Regulations enable data sharing between specified public authorities and energy suppliers to support Ofgem's Debt Relief Scheme and fuel poverty work
- Departments for Energy, Security and Net Zero and Science, Innovation and Technology designated as public authorities permitted to share data under the Fuel Poverty Objective
- Initiative aims to link public sector data to identify households in energy debt and target support more effectively
- Government framed the measure as addressing fuel poverty amid potential winter price rises and identifying at-risk households for timely, coordinated assistance
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Ian Murray MP, Dame Chi Onwurah MP, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Department for Energy, Security and Net Zero, Ofgem, Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
Notable line
“These Regulations will enable specified public authorities to share information to support the delivery of Ofgem's Debt Relief Scheme, as well as wider fuel poverty related work …”
Key Quotes
“These Regulations use powers under the Digital Economy Act 2017 and contain two measures in relation to information sharing for the purpose of assisting people living in fuel poverty.”
“As the potential for price rises looms this winter, these powers will support efforts to identify those most at risk, and ensure that appropriate, targeted assistance can be provided in a timely and coordinated manner.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗