This Statutory Instrument has been made, for amongst other reasons, to correct a defect arising from the making of S.I. 2023/424 and is being issued free of charge to all known recipients of that Statutory Instrument.
Statutory Instruments
2026 No. 1039
DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION
The Digital Government (Disclosure of Information) Regulations 2026
Made
17th September 2026
Coming into force
18th September 2026
The Secretary of State makes these Regulations, with the consent of the Treasury, in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 35(7), 36(5)(c), and 44(2) of the Digital Economy Act 2017(1).
The Secretary of State has, in accordance with section 44(4) of that Act, consulted the Information Commissioner, the Commissioners for His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, the Scottish Ministers, the Welsh Ministers, the Department of Finance in Northern Ireland and such other persons as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.
In accordance with section 44(7) of that Act, a draft of this instrument has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, both Houses of Parliament.
Citation, commencement and extent
1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Digital Government (Disclosure of Information) Regulations 2026.
(2) These Regulations come into force on the day after the day on which they are made.
(3) These Regulations extend to England and Wales and Scotland.
Amendment of section 36 (disclosure of information to gas and electricity suppliers etc.) of the Digital Economy Act 2017
2.—(1) Section 36 of the Digital Economy Act 2017 is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (3)—
(a)omit the “or” at the end of paragraph (e);
(b)after paragraph (f) insert—
“(g)in the case of a disclosure to a licensed gas supplier, a debt relief requirement imposed by the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority—
(i)in the exercise of its powers under section 23(1)(b) of the Gas Act 1986(2) or section 1(2)(a) of the Domestic Gas and Electricity (Tariff Cap) Act 2018 (cap on standard variable and default rates)(3), and
(ii)for purposes that include assisting people living in fuel poverty by improving their financial well-being, or
(h)in the case of a disclosure to a licensed electricity supplier, a debt relief requirement imposed by the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority—
(i)in the exercise of its powers under section 11A(1)(b) of the Electricity Act 1989(4) or section 1(2)(a) of the Domestic Gas and Electricity (Tariff Cap) Act 2018, and
(ii)for purposes that include assisting people living in fuel poverty by improving their financial well-being.”.
(3) In subsection (11), before the definition of “domestic customer” insert—
““debt relief requirement” means a requirement to reduce or cancel sums owed by, or otherwise to assist, domestic customers who—
in a case within subsection (3)(g), are in debt to the supplier in respect of the supply of gas to them;
in a case within subsection (3)(h), are in debt to the supplier in respect of the supply of electricity to them;”.
Amendment of the Schedule to the Digital Government (Disclosure of Information) Regulations 2018
3.—(1) The Schedule to the Digital Government (Disclosure of Information) Regulations 2018(5) is amended as follows.
(2) In paragraph 1(2)(c)(i) (specified objectives in relation to a specified person), after “6 to 8,” insert “9A, 9B,”.
Stephanie Peacock
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
17th September 2026
Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
We consent to these Regulations
Claire Hughes
Christian Wakeford
Two of the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty’s Treasury
14th September 2026
2017 c. 30. Section 36 was amended by S.I. 2018/912 and section 44 was amended by S.I. 2020/940 and 2025/557. See section 45 of the Act, as amended by S.I. 2020/940, for the meaning of “appropriate national authority”. The consent of the Treasury has been obtained in accordance with section 44(6) of the Act.
1986 c. 44. Section 23 was substituted by S.I. 2011/2704. Section 23(1)(b) was amended by S.I. 2024/706.
1989 c. 29. Section 11A was inserted by section 35 of the Utilities Act 2000 (c. 27) and substituted by S.I. 2011/2704. There are other amendments not relevant to these Regulations.
S.I. 2018/912; there are amendments to this instrument but none is relevant.