Written questions by Hack.

Whether his department has made any impact assessment on the relationship between intermittent funding cycles and the quality of retrofit delivery outcomes.

The Government understands the value of providing long-term certainty wherever possible to support the supply chain, local authorities, and social housing providers to invest, train, and plan accordingly. That’s why, as part of the £15 billion Warm Homes Plan, low-income grant funding will continue to be delivered through the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund (WH:SHF) and Warm Homes: Local Grant (WH:LG) as planned, honouring existing funding agreements. We have also increased delivery windows, with the WH:LG and WH:SHF running for three years or more (2025-2028), representing the longest delivery window for these types of schemes to date, moving away from short, stop start funding cycles that previously constrained delivery. We will say more about the evolution of low-income schemes in Spring 2026.

What guidance his Department has issued on SME participation, risk allocation and quality assurance within procurement frameworks for the Warm Homes Plan.

DESNZ officials are currently working on detailed delivery arrangements for the Warm Homes Plan. This includes scheme design and how the implementing entities will be identified and managed for overseeing schemes, commissioning works and delivering installation activity. Identification of implementing entities and establishment of any frameworks by public authorities will be in accordance with the Procurement Act. This includes the Government’s duty to have regard to the obstacles SMEs face when participating in procurement and to consider how these barriers can be removed or reduced. This will duly be considered during any future regulated commissioning activity. We have established a new Warm Homes Plan Workforce Taskforce to facilitate the transition, creation and growth of a diverse, skilled and resilient workforce for existing workers and new entrants. Through the Taskforce, we are working with trade unions and the energy and construction industry to improve job quality so that the Warm Homes Plan sectors offer good jobs which are attractive to enter and stay in, and workers benefit from fair work conditions such as good wages and job stability, as well as progress in varied and sustained careers. I also chaired a task and finish group which discussed how to unblock barriers to SMEs and local supply chains accessing additional work under the Warm Homes Plan.

What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero regarding transitional funding proposals to support workforce continuity between ECO and the Warm Homes Plan.

We recognise closing ECO presents immediate challenges for the supply chain. In the Warm Homes Plan, we committed to supporting the workforce to access opportunities through £15 billion of funding and through regulations in the rented sector and for future homes, benefitting millions of households. The government has established the Warm Homes Plan Workforce Taskforce with trade unions and industry to facilitate transition to clean energy sectors. The Taskforce will consider how to build workforce resilience to meet evolving demand, including assessing the knock-on effects of ECO4 closure. I also chaired a task and finish group which discussed how to unblock barriers to SMEs and local supply chains accessing additional work under the Warm Homes Plan.

What steps he is taking to ensure the Warm Homes Plan (a) reduces bills, (b) improves health outcomes and (c) reduces levels of fuel poverty.

The Warm Homes Plan will help cut household bills for families and slash fuel poverty. The Government has committed £13.2 billion to upgrade millions of homes across the country. The Government is working to ensure that homes are fit for the future and the Department has been carrying out research to respond to the relevant climate change adaptation risks identified by the third Climate Change Risk Assessment, including to health and wellbeing. This work is informing the development of the Warm Homes Plan.

What assessment he has made of the potential economic merits of upgrading the energy efficiency of homes.

Making Britain a Clean Energy Superpower is one of the five Missions set out by the government: aiming for clean power by 2030 and accelerating to net zero. Delivering the Warm Homes Plan is central to the clean energy mission. Targeting decarbonisation of heat in buildings will account for around 75% of reduction in all building emissions as well as reducing demand. Decarbonising buildings will support 175,000 jobs by 2030 and 240,000 by 2035 – resulting in £6 billion additional GVA by 2030. It is the only certain way to permanently lower bills (through energy efficiency), protecting the UK against price shocks, reducing demand and therefore preserving energy security and helping the UK become energy independent.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure the Warm Homes Plan will offer households (a) financial support to upgrade homes according to income, (b) improved consumer protections and (c) free independent advice.

As part of the Warm Homes Plan, the government has committed an initial £3.4 billion over the next 3 years towards heat decarbonisation and household energy efficiency. Officials are exploring the role of incentives and private finance for households to support homeowners with the upfront costs. The government is committed to protecting homeowners across the UK, further details for improved consumer protection will be set out in the Warm Homes Plan. The government also recognises the importance of access to trusted and impartial information, the retrofitting tool ‘find ways to save energy in your home’ (https://www.gov.uk/improve-energy-efficiency), provides tailored guidance to help consumers and is supported by a call centre.