Member

Let me come on to the questions about the design of the scheme, which were asked by the noble Earl, Lord Russell, in particular. The design of this debt relief scheme has not yet been finalised and the specific information-sharing arrangements—including, for example, the opt-out processes—are yet to be determined. Similar schemes, such as the warm home discount, have included provisions to allow eligible recipients to opt out of data sharing. The DEA does not require a specified public authority to obtain consent from individuals before sharing information with energy suppliers under the fuel poverty power in Section 36 but all information sharing must comply with the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, including the requirement to identify a lawful basis for processing personal data where information is shared on the basis that it is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest.