MP/MSP Support for SCOPHRA August 2022

List of Replies from MSPs & MPs regarding £400 Energy Grant

Alexander Burnett MSP

Dear Bill,

Thank you for writing to Alexander requesting support for these issues. I would like to let you know that the following five questions were asked to the Scottish Government on the 22^nd of July by Alexander and we are currently awaiting a response:

1. To ask the government when data will be gathered from local authorities on park home residential licences.

2. To ask the government what plans there are to amend the Mobile Homes Act 1983 (Amendment of Schedule 1) (Scotland) Order 2013 to use CPI rather than RPI as the measure of inflation for the purposes of annual reviews of pitch fees for park homes.

3. To ask the government what steps will be taken to ensure that park home residents receive the full benefit of the support available to households to help meet the rise in the cost of energy, rather than site owners.

4. To ask the government when a Fit and Proper Person Test for park owners and managers will be introduced.

5. To ask the government when there will be a review into the 10 per cent maximum commission of the price of a mobile home upon sale.

Once a response has been received from the Scottish Government, we will forward it on to you.

Kind regards,

Sam

Samuel Payne

Parliamentary Assistant

Office of Alexander Burnett MSP

Constituency MSP for Aberdeenshire West

www.alexanderburnett.com

Jim Fairlie MSP 

Wed 27/07/2022 15:12

SENT ON BEHALF OF FINLAY CARSON MSP

Wed 27/07/2022 12:09

Dear Bill,

My thanks for your recent correspondence regarding park home sales commissions and energy support.

Thank you for highlighting the recent study undertaken by The University of Liverpool and Sheffield Hallam University into the commission on park home sales in England. While Scotland’s charge is set independently of both England and Wales, it is clearly a study of interest given its analysis of the potential positive and negative impacts of changes to the park home sales commission.

As I understand it, the Scottish Government last reviewed this charge in 2011 and I have not been made aware of any plans to undertake a new review. If you wish, I would be happy to enquire with the Scottish Government if they are seeking to review this charge in the near future.

In regard to the support for Energy Bills by the UK Government, this is an important and timely question to which we are awaiting a full answer from the UK Government for park home residents. I have previously been informed that the UK Government will seek to clarify this matter in the near future and I await this clarification with interest. This issue has previously been raised to me by constituents in a similar situation where a third party provides domestic electricity billing and so I am keeping an active interest in the matter.

I trust that the above is of assistance.

Kind Regards,

Finlay Carson MSP

Member of the Scottish Parliament for Galloway & West Dumfries

107 King St, Castle Douglas, DG7 1LZ

01556 504991

Colin Beatie  MSP colin.beattie.msp@parliament.scot

Tue 26/07/2022 15:3

Dear Bill, 

Thank you for contacting me recently with your letter. I have made representation to the Scottish Government in relation to the issues outlined in your correspondence and I will be back in touch as soon as I have received a response.

Kind regards
Colin

Colin Beattie MSP
Midlothian North and Musselburgh
 

______________________________________________________________________________

PATRICIA GIBSON MP       Patricia 

Fri 22/07/2022 15:43

Dear Mr Gray

Thank you for your email regarding the two important matters pertaining to park homes causing concern.

First of all, in relation to the £400 energy grant which will be paid to all householders but may not be paid to park homes residents, I am acutely aware of this and have raised it numerous times in the House of Commons on behalf of my constituents who understandably fear they may miss out on this vital support simply because they live in a park home.  This would be unjust and unacceptable.

I understand this is a worrying situation for those who do not have a direct and personal energy account with an energy supplier and I have been assisting a number of those in my constituency who live in park homes and harbour the same fears that you do, that you will be omitted from this support which will go to every household save those in  your situation or those in park homes.  This would be most unfair.

I have been pressing this matter in the House of Commons with the UK Government for some time now and you can see the Written Questions I lodged with the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy as below in May:

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (11730):

Question:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on ensuring that people living in park homes, including those who are elderly and vulnerable, can access recently announced Government support for energy bills. (11730)

Tabled on: 30 May 2022

This question was grouped with the following question(s) for answer:

1. To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to ensure that people who purchase off-grid gas supplies, including those who are live in park homes and are elderly and vulnerable, are able to access Government support for energy bills. (11731)
   Tabled on: 31 May 2022
2. To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to ensure that people with off-grid energy supplies will receive the energy bills grant announced on 26 May 2022. (11732)
   Tabled on: 31 May 2022

Answer:
Greg Hands:

The Government is aware that not all households have electricity provided through a domestic electricity supply contract, such as park home residents. The Government raised this in its technical consultation on the Energy Bills Support Scheme. The responses to this consultation are being analysed and a response will be published later in the summer.

Vulnerable consumers, including park home residents will be eligible for £140 contribution towards their energy bills each winter through the Government’s Warm Home Discount Scheme. It is anticipated that the Park Homes Warm Home Discount scheme will re-open again in September 2022. Other support available includes the Winter Fuel Payments and Cold Weather Payments.

From: Written Parliamentary Questions and Answers
Sent: 08 June 2022 15:29
To: GIBSON, Patricia patricia.gibson.mp@parliament.uk
Subject: Written answer to your WPQ 11732 received from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (11732):

Question:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to ensure that people with off-grid energy supplies will receive the energy bills grant announced on 26 May 2022. (11732)

Tabled on: 31 May 2022

This question was grouped with the following question(s) for answer:

1. To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on ensuring that people living in park homes, including those who are elderly and vulnerable, can access recently announced Government support for energy bills. (11730)
   Tabled on: 30 May 2022
2. To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to ensure that people who purchase off-grid gas supplies, including those who are live in park homes and are elderly and vulnerable, are able to access Government support for energy bills. (11731)
   Tabled on: 31 May 2022

Answer:
Greg Hands:

The Government is aware that not all households have electricity provided through a domestic electricity supply contract, such as park home residents. The Government raised this in its technical consultation on the Energy Bills Support Scheme. The responses to this consultation are being analysed and a response will be published later in the summer.

Vulnerable consumers, including park home residents will be eligible for £140 contribution towards their energy bills each winter through the Government’s Warm Home Discount Scheme. It is anticipated that the Park Homes Warm Home Discount scheme will re-open again in September 2022. Other support available includes the Winter Fuel Payments and Cold Weather Payments.

From: Written Parliamentary Questions and Answers
Sent: 08 June 2022 15:29
To: GIBSON, Patricia patricia.gibson.mp@parliament.uk
Subject: Written answer to your WPQ 11731 received from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (11731):

Question:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to ensure that people who purchase off-grid gas supplies, including those who are live in park homes and are elderly and vulnerable, are able to access Government support for energy bills. (11731)

Tabled on: 31 May 2022

This question was grouped with the following question(s) for answer:

1. To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on ensuring that people living in park homes, including those who are elderly and vulnerable, can access recently announced Government support for energy bills. (11730)
   Tabled on: 30 May 2022
2. To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to ensure that people with off-grid energy supplies will receive the energy bills grant announced on 26 May 2022. (11732)
   Tabled on: 31 May 2022

Answer:
Greg Hands:

The Government is aware that not all households have electricity provided through a domestic electricity supply contract, such as park home residents. The Government raised this in its technical consultation on the Energy Bills Support Scheme. The responses to this consultation are being analysed and a response will be published later in the summer.

Vulnerable consumers, including park home residents will be eligible for £140 contribution towards their energy bills each winter through the Government’s Warm Home Discount Scheme. It is anticipated that the Park Homes Warm Home Discount scheme will re-open again in September 2022. Other support available includes the Winter Fuel Payments and Cold Weather Payments.

The responses I received to these Written Questions, as you will see, shows all reference to the £400 available for every other household in the UK is pointedly ignored whilst the response diverts into other areas such as the Winter Fuel Allowance and the Warm Homes Scheme which is not what I ask about. 

However, I am pleased to say that my persistence seems to be paying off since on 1^st July I raised this in Treasury Questions and was told by the Treasury Minister that:

“The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has been consulting on how we deliver support to people living in places such as park homes that do not have the same electricity or energy supply as others.”

You can watch this exchange by clicking the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnCf773inFQ

I raised this issue  previously and of park home residents accessing the £400 of help with energy bills available to every other household and you can see me doing so by clicking the link below:

https://youtu.be/OnN25veEJh4

This response, as you can see,  was not reassuring, as I am sure you will agree so I have continued to pursue this and I believe the UK Government is coming round but I will continue to apply pressure for this.

In order to keep up the pressure on this, I lodged two Written Questions with the Treasury and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy as follows:

To ask what progress his Department is making in ensuring that those who do not do not have a personal account with an energy provider such as those living in park homes and those who live in managed independent living retirement complexes receive the same support with energy costs on the same basis as every other household across the UK.

The date for answer for these questions was 7^th July and you can see the response as below:

From: Written Parliamentary Questions and Answers  
Sent: 07 July 2022 13:19
To: GIBSON, Patricia <patricia.gibson.mp@parliament.uk>
Subject: Written answer to your WPQ 30050 received from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (30050):

Question:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what progress his Department has made on ensuring that people who do not have a personal account with an energy provider, including those (a) living in park homes and (b) who live in managed independent living retirement accommodation, receive support with energy costs on the same basis as other households. (30050)

Tabled on: 04 July 2022

Answer:
Greg Hands:

All domestic electricity customers who have a direct relationship with a licensed electricity supplier will be automatically eligible for this Scheme.

Households without a domestic electricity supply contract are not eligible for the Scheme and we are exploring options for other ways in which they might receive similar support. This was raised in our technical consultation (Energy Bills Support Scheme – Managing the impact of the energy price shock on consumer bills) which closed on the 23 May. Responses to the consultation are being analysed and the Government response will be published in the summer.

With 200,000 park home residents across the UK, it would be a foolish government – as well as an unjust one – which simply left park home residents out of the energy grant scheme.

I have now been told several times by the UK Government  that it will decide over the summer how to extend this support to park home residents.  If this does not happen, I assure you I will continue to pursue this. All they need to do is issue a cheque to those who are park home residents, verified by state pension payments.  It is not difficult.

It is fair to say that at the moment the Tory Government is in a state of paralysis, which is disgraceful during a cost of living crisis.  However, please be assured I will pick this up if the promised announcement over summer does not materialise.

Regarding the issue of 10% paid to site owners by those selling their park homes, this is an issue of which I am aware and have raised before.

I have now raised it again with Shona Robison MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government in the Scottish Government.  Please see attached.

As soon as I have a response from her I will update you.  Please note that it can take up to six weeks for a response to be received from members of the Government in any part of the UK.

I hope the information above is helpful to you.

Please let me know if I can assist you in any other way.

Best wishes

Patricia Gibson MP

North Ayrshire & Arran

Unit 1 | 78 Princes Street | Ardrossan | KA22 7DF

Tel: 01294 603774

Email: patricia.gibson.mp@parliament.uk

____________________________________________________________________________

Colin Beattie MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh

Cunningham L (Laura) 

Fri 22/07/2022 13:41

Dear Bill,

Many thanks for the below correspondence. Colin would like to give you’re his support and is minded to write to the Scottish Government to highlight these issues. I will let you know once he has done this.

Kind regards

Laura

Laura Cunningham                       Parliamentary Assistant

Constituency Tel: 0131 454 0204         Scottish Parliament Tel: 0131 348 6374

M: 07825 903461

E: Laura.Cunningham@Parliament.Scot

Kenneth Gibson MSP 

Sun 24/07/2022 17:15

Dear Mr Gray,

Thank you for your letter regarding the two issues currently impacting on residents of park homes.

Some of these are my own constituents and I am therefore fully supportive of efforts both to remove the 10% commission levy to site owners and secure for each household the £400 energy payment.

I note that you mention the work of Sir Christopher Chope MP, however North Ayrshire & Arran MP Patricia Gibson also raised this matter in the House and continues to work with constituents to secure a solution.

GRAEME DEY MSP 

Thu 28/07/2022 14:10

Dear Bill,

Thank you for getting in touch. I have been engaging closely with residents of Seaton Park in my constituency and am therefore well sighted on all of the issues you raise.

I am sympathetic to the situation park home residents have found themselves in and that is why I wrote to the UK Government just last month to highlight the concern of the £400 grant for utility bills not being passed down to residents.

I wanted to know whether the UK Government were sighted on this issue, and what steps can be taken to ensure park home residents can benefit from this essential financial support.

In their response I was advised that they are exploring options for other ways in which such households might receive similar support.

Although this does not provide much clarity to park home residents it does at least confirm the UK Government’s knowledge of the situation.

I will be sure to continue my engagement with residents in my constituency and offer my support wherever possible.

Kind regards,

Graeme Dey

MSP for Angus South Constituency

+ 282-284 High Street, Arbroath, DD11 1JF / The Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, EH99 1SP

* Graeme.Dey.MSP@parliament.scot

( 01241 873058

Wendy Chamberlain MP

Dear Bill Gray,

Thank you for contacting Wendy and for providing a copy of your letter.

I would like to confirm Wendy has written to the Secretary of State for BEIS about the energy scheme and park homes, as this has been an issue raised by our constituents.

Additionally, we have also written to the Scottish Government about pitch fees (need to move to CPI from RPI) , which I understand is one of SCOPHRA’s aims.

Kind regards,

Douglas Munro

Caseworker for Wendy Chamberlain MP

Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for North East Fife

Unit G1, Granary Business Centre, Coal Road, Cupar, Fife, KY15 5YQ

T: 01334 656361 | E: Wendy.Chamberlain.MP@parliament.uk

______________________________________________________________________________

 Dave Doogan MP
22 July 2022 11:05
To: SCOPHRA@outlook.com
Subject: Re: SCOPHRA Requesting your Support (Case Ref: DD7234)

Dear Bill,

Thank you for your email on behalf of The Scottish Confederation of Park Homes Residents Associations in relation to the 10% commission to site owners and the £400 energy grant.

As you may be aware, parliamentary offices are only permitted to undertake casework raised by constituents of Angus. Therefore, I would be grateful if you could provide with me your full address and postcode to confirm that you are a resident of the Angus constituency.

Our office has already made enquiries regarding the £400 energy grant after concerns were raised by local residents of residential parks with Angus. I have attached the response we received from the for Minister of State for Energy, Clean Growth and Climate Change, Greg Hands MP.

I was very pleased to note that the UK Government are now exploring other options to allow residential park residents to receive support. You will note that the UK Government will be announcing further details of these plans later this summer. I will continue to monitor this situation and, with my SNP colleagues, continue to hold the UK Government to account by ensuring residential park residents receive comparative financial support at this difficult time.

I note from your email that you have raised concerns in relation to the 10% commission paid to the site owner upon the sale of a property. It maybe helpful to know that the topic of housing is devolved to the Scottish Parliament and legislation surrounding this matter may differ to what is reported in the recent UK Parliament report as this only applies to England.

I believe it may be best if any concerns regarding this topic be raised with the local Members of Scottish Parliament (MSP). Local MSPs can be located here - https://www.parliament.scot/msps/ - by entering your postcode in the “Find MSPs by postcode” search box.

I do hope the information provided in this email is helpful and if you require any further assistance with your enquiries, please do not hesitate to respond to this email with your full address and postcode.
 

Yours sincerely,

Cameron Long
On behalf of Dave Doogan, MP

Constituency Office | 01241 815330 |
26 Keptie Street, Arbroath, DD11 3AF
www.DaveDoogan.scot 
Newsletter | Twitter | Facebook

For details of Dave Doogan’s privacy policy and how your data will be used, please see: https://davedoogan.scot/privacy-policy/ 

______________________________________________________________________________

FOYSOL CHOUDHURY MSP 

Fri 29/07/2022 16:10

Dear Bill,

Thank you for your email to Foysol.

After a quick search, Foysol was able to identity the following site which is in his region:

Willow Wood Residential Park in West Calder: https://www.parkhomesscotland.com/homes-for-sale/property/28. 

Do you also know of other affected homes in West Lothian, Edinburgh North & Leith and Edinburgh Western ? – as these are in Foysol’s constituency area.

Foysol fully supports this and has asked whether you could perhaps suggest any specific written questions he can ask the Scottish Government next week?

We look forward to hearing from you.

Many thanks,

Nibal

Nibal Saleh | Admin Officer

Office of Foysol Choudhury MSP for Lothian Region

M1.14|The Scottish Parliament |Edinburgh| EH99 1SP

T: 0131 348 6761

Murdo Fraser MSP The Scottish Parliament Edinburgh EH99 1SP T E W +44 (0) 20 7215 5000 enquiries@beis.gov.uk www.gov.uk                 Our ref: MCSL2022/14183               28 June 2022

Dear Murdo

Thank you for your letter dated 7 June, addressed to the Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP, on behalf of a number of your constituents, regarding the eligibility of park home residents for the Energy Bills Support Scheme. Your correspondence has been passed to this Department and I am responding as this matter falls within my Ministerial portfolio. Please reassure your constituents that the Government is working to make the Energy Bills Support Scheme as robust as possible by consulting with the industry, consumer groups and charities. The issue around households who do not receive electricity through a domestic electricity supply contract, such as residents of park homes, was covered in the Government’s technical consultation which concluded on 23 May. We are exploring options for other ways in which such households might receive similar support. The Government response to the consultation will be issued later in the summer. I hope you and your constituents will find this reply helpful.

Yours ever

Monica Lennon MSP

Turner J (Jordan) 

Tue 02/08/2022 14:51

Good Afternoon,

Please accept my apologies for the delay in getting back to you,

I’m just emailing to thank you for writing to Monica and to advise that we have written to the Scottish Government raising your concerns within your letter,

I’ll be back in contact when we receive a response, please don’t hesitate to get in contact if we can be of any further assistance in the meantime.

Kind regards,

Jordan Turner

Office of Monica Lennon MSP

Member of the Scottish Parliament for Central Scotland

Tel: 01698 225716 | 0131 348 6484

Email: Jordan.Turner@Parliament.Scot

Douglas Ross MP MSP

Wed 03/08/2022 14:59

Dear Mr Gray, 

Thank you for taking the time to write to me on these two issues. I am pleased to count park home residents amongst the communities of Moray.  

With regards to the research paper released last month (Mobile homes: The impact of a change in the maximum park home sale commission), England’s commission charge is set independently of Scotland and Wales. The Scottish Government last engaged in a review of this matter in 2011, and I am not aware of current plans to undertake a new review.  

The UK Government has however committed to introduce legislation to link the pitch fee review inflation index to the consumer price index rather than the retail price index, to ensure fairer rates for English park home residents. I believe this demonstrates that the needs of park home residents are very much relevant to the UK Government.  

With regards to the Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS), you raised a very valid question which I was pleased to see acknowledged by the UK Government in their update on 29 July. As I am sure you read, the UK Government confirmed that funding will be available to provide equivalent support of £400 for energy bills for the households who will not be reached through the EBSS. The details of this are to be announced in the Autumn. I have written to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy welcoming this announcement (attached), and requesting that his team make all efforts to ensure nobody fails to receive this vital support. 

Miles Briggs MSP, the Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government, had indicated to me that he is available should you wish to discuss issues related to the Scottish Parliament in more detail.  

Thank you again for taking the time to write to me. 

Kind regards,
Douglas

Douglas Ross MP MSP
Leader | Scottish Conservative & Unionist Party

To: beiscorrespondence@beis.gov.uk
Subject: Energy Bills Support Scheme                                                     Our ref: DR/JN/3822

Dear Minister Energy Bills Support Scheme

I am writing with regards to the Energy Bills Support Scheme and the support it should provide to residents of park homes. As you know, a consultation on the above scheme ended in May this year, with the first £400 grants due to be made to households in October. I warmly welcomed the announcement on 29 July confirming funding will be available to provide equivalent support of £400 for energy bills for the households who will not be reached through the EBSS. Residents of park homes (or mobile homes) in Moray and across Scotland have been anxious as they watch their energy bills steadily increase. I note that details of how these residents will benefit from the EBSS will now be announced in Autumn.

I would encourage you and your team to take advantage of the expertise available within the Scottish Confederation Of Park Homes Residents Associations (SCOPHRA) to ensure that no one misses out on this vital support. I would be happy to make the appropriate introductions.

Thank you for taking the time to consider this important issue.

Kind regards Douglas

Douglas Ross MP Member of Parliament for Moray

___________________________________________________________________________

Jackie Baillie MSP

Bill Gray

SCOPHRA Secretary www.scophra.scot              Our Ref: JB25605 8 August 2022

Dear Bill

Thank you for your email regarding the lack of assistance park residents are receiving to help with rising fuel costs and the additional levy that they have to pay to the site owner if they sell their park home. I have written to both the UK and Scottish Governments to ask them what is being done by them to support park residents with these issues. I will be back in touch once I have received a response. In the meantime if there is any other matter I can be of assistance with please do not hesitate to contact my office. General Data Protection Regulations require me to make you aware of my privacy policy. A copy of this policy can be found at: http://jackiebaillie.laboursites.org/privacy-policy/

Yours sincerely

Jackie Baillie MSP Dumbarton Constituency

Email: jackie.baillie.msp@parliament.scot

Bill Gray SCOPHRA Secretary

www.scophra.scot                        

Our Ref: JB25605

16 August 2022

Dear Bill

Further to my previous correspondence I have now received a response from the UK Government, which I have enclosed for your information.

As you are aware the UK Government have announced that they will provide further funding that will allow the households who do not receive the support through the Energy Bills Support Scheme to access the £400 energy bill discount. An announcement providing details of how this funding can be accessed will be made in the Autumn.

I hope that you find this information helpful and I will be back in touch once I receive the response from the Scottish Government regarding the sale of residential park homes.

Yours sincerely

Jackie Baillie MSP

Dumbarton Constituency
____________________________________________________________________________

Willie Rennie

Member of the Scottish Parliament, North East Fife
0131 348 5804
01334 656361

Dear Bill
 
Thank you for your letter highlighting your concerns regarding the special rules which applies to residential park homes, one of which is that when a home is sold the seller must pay a commission of 10% to the site owner and for also raising your concerns regarding the support for park home residents as part of the UK Government’s Energy Bills Support Scheme
 
Firstly, I will look at the UK Government’s Energy Bills support. This issue was raised recently during Treasury Questions, and the UK Government advised that this issue was being looked at by BEIS. Please find the link below to this debate:
 
https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2022-06-28/debates/BC8D29CE-4134-4026-B7C0-BCC986556D8C/TopicalQuestions?highlight=park%20homes#contribution-B513F00E-2B45-4D10-AA81-ED54B6264259

 
It is concerning that this issue has not yet been resolved. I have therefore written to The Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng MP, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, to ask for clarification on what is being put in place for park homes, and whether each property/meter owner will receive £400 in October, whether they are billed communally or not.
 
With regards to the second issue raised, I have written to Shona Robison MSP, Housing Secretary, to ask if this levy will be removed in Scotland.
 
I have enclosed copies of the above letters and I will be back in touch once I receive a response.
 
Kind regards
Willie
 
Willie Rennie
Member of the Scottish Parliament, North East Fife
0131 348 5804
01334 656361

Letter to Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy The Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng MP Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy 1 Victoria Street London SW1H 0E

Dear Kwasi Re: Park Homes – Energy Bills Support Scheme I have been contacted by a number of my constituents in North East Fife who live in park homes, many of whom are elderly and vulnerable, who have no clarity as to whether they will receive the same support for energy bills as every other household in the UK. I understand that BEIS has been consulting on how to deliver support to those living in places such as park homes that do not have the same electricity or energy supply as others. I would be very grateful if you could provide an update on this and clarify what is being put in place for park homes, and whether each property/meter owner will receive £400 in October, whether they are billed communally or not.

Kind regards

Willie

Letter to Shona Robison MSP Shona Robison MSP Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government Scottish Government St Andrew's House Regent Road Edinburgh EH1 3DG

Re: Sale of Park Homes – 10% Commission to Site Owner I have been contacted by the Scottish Federation of Park Home Residents Association highlighting their concerns regarding the special rules which applies to residential park homes, one of which is that when a home is sold the seller must pay a commission of 10% to the site owner. They have explained that a park home is a heritable asset; it is the residents for as long as they choose to live there (there are strict rules on security of tenure) and they can will it on to their family or they can sell it if they wish. However, unlike traditional homes, this sale is subject to certain conditions. The most specific condition is that when you sell a park home, under current legislation, the site owner is entitled to (up to) 10% of the selling price as a commission. The Scottish Federation of Park Home Residents Association tell me that they in Scotland strongly object to this imposition as do their colleagues in England and a campaign is taking place in the UK parliament to have this reduced or abolished. A recent parliamentary report on this subject can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mobile-homesthe-impact-of-a-change-in-the-maximum-park-home-sale-commission

I would be very grateful if you could provide your comments to the issues raised and clarify whether this levy will be removed in Scotland.

Kind regards

enquiries@beis.gov.uk www.gov.uk Our ref: MCSL2022/18521 Your ref: WR2434 8 August 2022

Dear Willie,

Thank you for your email dated 8 August to the Secretary of State, on behalf of a number of your constituents, regarding the Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS) and Park Home residents. The Secretary of State has asked me to respond.

I am grateful to you for sharing your constituents’ concerns. On 29 July, the Government published the press release and response to the consultation on the Scheme, which are available at: www.gov.uk/government/news/400-energy-bills-discount-to-support-households-this-winter.

We have confirmed that further funding will be available to provide equivalent support of £400 for energy bills for the 1% of households who will not be reached through the EBSS. This includes those who do not have a domestic electricity meter or a direct relationship with an energy supplier, such as park home residents.

An announcement with details on how and when these households across Great Britain can access this support will be made this Autumn.  

Park Home residents may be eligible for further support that was announced in May this year. This includes:

· £650 one-off Cost of Living Payment for those on means tested benefits 

· One-off £300 Pensioner Cost of Living Payment for over 8 million pensioner house-holds to be paid alongside the Winter Fuel Payment

· £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment 

More information on what the Government is doing to protect consumers can be found online at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/cost-of-living-support/cost-of-living-support-factsheet-26-may-2022.

Thank you once again for writing.

Yours ever

THE RT HON GREG HANDS MP

Minister of State for Energy, Clean Growth and Climate Change

______________________________________________________________________________

Burgess A (Ariane), MSP 

Mon 08/08/2022 16:1

Dear Bill Gray,

As you probably know, the Scottish Government committed to a review of Licensing of Static Mobile Home Sites with Permanent Residents.  
 
This followed on from work undertaken by the Session 5 Local Government and Communities Committee as set out in paras 124 to 129 of their Legacy Report Local Government and Communities Committee Session 5 Legacy Report (azureedge.net). From the summary provided by the Scottish Parliament Information Centre there are ranges of issues raise including licensing, Legal, and Consumer rights, but the 10% commission was certainly something that was raised in response to the call for views.  
 
The Session 6 Local Government, Housing and Planning (LGHP) Committee of which Ariane is the convener, will be leading on the parliamentary scrutiny once the Scottish Government makes clear the timescale for its planned review. She had noted from the SPICe summary the points raised about the 10% commission and will pay attention to the proposals brought forward by the Scottish Government on this specific point.  

We will also be sending a letter to the UK Government highlighting your concerns about the £400 energy assistance payment not being paid to Caravan park residents.

Note: Also sent  Local Government and Communities Committee Session 5 Legacy Report (azureedge.net)

Kind regards,

Claire

Regional Assistant

Office of Ariane Burgess
______________________________________________________________________________

Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings,
Active Travel and Tenants’ Rights
Patrick Harvie MSP    T : 0300 244 4000
E : scottish.ministers@gov.scot

Bill Gray SCOPHRA@outlook.com
Our Reference: 202200312452
Your Reference: SCOPHRA requesting your support
16 August 2022

Dear Mr Gray,

Thank you for your letter of 21 July 2022 concerning the 10% commission paid to site owners upon selling a residential mobile home and the £400 energy support payment. I am replying as I have portfolio responsibility for the issues you raise.

10% Commission

I recognise the sensitivities in relation to the maximum 10% commission chargeable under the implied terms that are automatically included in every contract between a permanent resident and a site owner. There was a review of the implied terms in 2013 to inform the Mobile Homes Act 1983 (Amendment of Schedule 1) (Scotland) Order 2013, which strengthened protections for residents in a number of areas. The review decided to keep the prevailing rate of “up to 10%”. (It was reduced from 15% to 10% under the 1983 Mobile Homes Act).

While we understand that residents can find the commission creates a barrier to moving, the financial sustainability of sites is also a key consideration. Many mobile home parks are small or medium sized businesses, and commission is an integral part of an owner's overall income. The decision on commission rates in 2013 sought to balance the economic interests of residents and owners. The conclusion was that the quality and location of a mobile home park will depend on the site owner, and are important factors taken into account by purchasers of homes on the site so it is reasonable to reflect those factors in the paying of commission on the sale of a mobile home.

While there are no plans at present to make changes to the maximum commission rate in Scotland. We will continue to monitor the situation, including the issues raised by the research report published in June 2022 by the UK Government on the impact of a change in the maximum park home sale commission. The report echoes concerns raised by similar research in Wales in 2016 about the impact of a reduction in commission rates on the sustainability of smaller parks.

£400 energy rebate

Powers related to consumer protection and the energy price cap set by Ofgem, are reserved to the UK Government. However, we are concerned that many energy consumers who are not registered directly with a licenced energy supplier may not be eligible for the £400 rebate support announced by the UK Government.

The Scottish Government has questioned the UK Government on the unequal treatment of those households who do not have a domestic supply contract, and highlighted that they must ensure that any support for consumers is applied to all those that need it. They have informed us that they are currently exploring options to provide similar support.

As part of our wider £290m package of funding announcements made to tackle the cost of living crisis in 2022/23, we have committed a further £10m to continue our Fuel Insecurity Fund that has been helping households at risk of self-disconnection, or self-rationing their energy use. To access I would advise people to contact Advice Direct Scotland who will be able to assist in this. Advice Direct Scotland can be contacted at the following web address: https://www.advice.scot/ or by calling 0808 800 9060.

I would like to assure you that we are committed to improving protections for residents of mobile home sites and have committed to undertaking a review of the Site Licencing System, in line with the recommendation of the Local Government and Communities Committee, by the end of this Parliament.

I hope this information helps.

Yours sincerely,

Patrick Harvie MSP

om: FINN, Gareth <gareth.finn@parliament.uk>
Sent: 18 August 2022 11:29
To: SCOPHRA Secretary <SCOPHRA@outlook.com>
Subject: RE: SCOPHRA Requesting your support

Good Afternoon Bill

I have looked into the matter and Martin and his SNP colleagues will pay close attention to the situation in England however the commission rate in Scotland is devolved and you may wish to contact the Members of the Scottish Parliament if you have not already done so.

The SNP has been clear about the many injustices of the £400 energy payment including its original absurd loan format. Martin and his colleagues will continue to push for better deals for energy support and Martin has written to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy called for the cost of living energy grant to be extended to include those living in ‘off grid’ accommodation such as some in Park Homes.

Martin and his colleagues are acutely aware of the terrifying effects of energy costs on people’s lives and will continue to push the UK Government to provide better energy support.

Best wishes,

Gareth

Gareth Finn

Senior Parliamentary Assistant

Office of Martin Docherty-Hughes MP (SNP)

West Dunbartonshire