Written questions by Obese-Jecty.

With reference to the press release entitled Warm homes and cheaper bills as government accelerates Plan for Change, published on 7 February 2025, what estimate he has made of the number and proportion of remaining properties not at energy performance certificate level C that will not be able to be upgraded to that level owing to the nature of the property.

As outlined in the consultation-stage Options Assessment (DESNZ001(OA)-25-NZBI), there are 5.1 million privately rented properties in England and Wales, with 55% below the current EPC C. Under the preferred option, 2.8 million properties could reach the proposed new EPC C standard by 2030. Some properties may remain below standard as the consultation proposed a range of exemptions for those unable to reach EPC C. Government is currently analysing responses to decide on a final policy outcome and will publish a government response and further impact assessment in due course.

With reference to the press release entitled Warm homes and cheaper bills as government accelerates Plan for Change, published on 7 February 2025, what assessment he has made of the feasibility of upgrading the 52% of rented homes in England that are not already at Energy Performance Certificate C level.

The recently closed consultation proposed new minimum energy efficiency standards for private rented homes and was accompanied by an options assessment. We have engaged widely with stakeholders during the consultation process and will use this feedback to inform the Government’s response to the consultation, which will be published in due course with a further impact assessment.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled Warm homes and cheaper bills as government accelerates Plan for Change, published on 7 February 2025, how the figure of the average cost to landlords of complying with the proposals to upgrade their properties was calculated.

Estimates were provided in the consultation stage Options Assessment (DESNZ001(OA)-25-NZBI). The average cost to landlords of complying with the proposals to upgrade their properties was calculated by dividing the total undiscounted capital expenditure required to meet the standards by the number of properties upgraded. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled Warm homes and cheaper bills as government accelerates Plan for Change, published on 7 February 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of extending the upgrading of rented homes to Energy Performance Certificate C on housing supply.

The Government recently consulted on increasing minimum energy efficiency standards in the domestic private rented sector. The consultation included proposals for rented homes to achieve Energy Performance Certificate C or equivalent by 2030 and was accompanied by the Department’s impact assessment. The assessment makes clear that we are unable to quantify the extent to which this will impact the supply of properties, as landlords may take different approaches and the policy is not yet finalised. The consultation closed on the 2nd May and we are currently reviewing responses and supporting evidence. Following this, a government response and further impact assessment will be published.

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 April 2025 to Question 43313 on Energy: Land Use, what definition he uses for the most appropriate areas, in that context.

On 15th May 2025 NESO published their methodology for the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP), which includes details of how they will identify optimal locations, types and quantities of energy generation and storage infrastructure. This can be found on the NESO website https://www.neso.energy/news/milestone-reached-first-blueprint-great-britains-future-energy-infrastructure .

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the proposed East Park energy solar park on (a) local and (b) national energy bills.

The East Park Energy project is current at the pre-application stage and is expected to be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate by September 2025: https://national-infrastructure-consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/EN010141. This stage of the planning process, including the pre-application consultation process, is developer led. In taking the decision on any development consent application, I follow the relevant requirements in the Planning Act 2008 and have regard to all relevant matters.

At what stage the nationally significant infrastructure project application for the East Park Energy Solar Park from Brockwell Storage and Solar is at.

The East Park Energy project is currently at the pre-application stage and is expected to be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate by September 2025: https://national-infrastructure-consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/EN010141 Brockwell Storage and Solar recently consulted on their detailed plans for East Park Energy as part of a statutory consultation, which ran between 24 September and 29 October 2024: https://eastparkenergy.co.uk/our-proposals/

What the total acreage of land is within active applications for nationally significant infrastructure projects that are solar farms.

This information can be found on the Planning Inspectorate website.

Pursuant to the Answer of 6 May 2025 to Question 48217 on Great British Energy: Staff, whether the employees listed were the only employees of Great British Energy as of 20 April 2025.

To ensure Great British Energy can begin delivering quickly once the parliamentary process has been completed, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has taken steps to assign resource including the appointment of Juergen Maier to the role of start-up chair for Great British Energy, Dan McGrail as interim CEO, and five start-up non-executive directors. Additional DESNZ resource has been assigned to Great British Energy, focusing on a small number of essential roles.Once Great British Energy is formally established by the Bill, work will begin to fully resource Great British Energy.DESNZ senior and junior roles are published every quarter on data.gov.uk, including those assigned to GBE. The most recent publication was 28 April 2025.

Pursuant to the Answer of 6 May 2025 to Question 48217 on Great British Energy: Staff, from which budget Great British Energy (a) staff and (b) non-executive directors are remunerated; and what their individual remuneration totals are.

Great British Energy (GBE) was allocated £11.1 million for 2024/25, and £25 million in 2025/26 for set up costs. Salaries are paid from these budgets which are managed by DESNZ whilst GBE is being established. DESNZ senior and junior roles and salaries are published every quarter on data.gov.uk, including those assigned to GBE. The most recent publication was 28 April 2025.

Pursuant to the Answer of 29 April 2025 to Question 46114 on Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme: Finance, what the projected decrease in the annual funding is in the next five years.

Funding arrangements for the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme in future financial years will be confirmed following the current Spending Review.

How many job vacancies were being advertised by Great British Energy as of 1 April 2025.

I can confirm that as of 1 April 2025 there were sixteen vacancies advertised by Great British Energy.

What assessment has been made of the adequacy of the grid connections between the proposed new town at Tempsford and the Eaton Socon sub-station to facilitate a new town.

Ofgem regulates the network companies to ensure they are investing to operate, maintain and upgrade electricity infrastructure. For the next transmission and distribution network price controls, Ofgem has identified the need for significant investment in new capacity to transform Great Britain’s electricity networks to support clean power and economic growth. Ofgem published their Regional Energy Strategic Plan (RESP) policy framework decision on 2 April and RESPs will feed into planning by Distribution Network Operators to guide network planning decisions and ensure strategic investment in capacity for local areas, like Tempsford.

How many employees Great British Energy had on 1 April 2025.

To ensure Great British Energy can begin delivering quickly once the parliamentary process has been completed, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has taken steps to assign resource including the appointment of Juergen Maier to the role of start-up chair for Great British Energy, Dan McGrail as interim CEO, and five start-up non-executive directors. Additional DESNZ resource has been assigned to Great British Energy, focusing on a small number of essential roles.Once Great British Energy is formally established by the Bill, work will begin to fully resource Great British Energy.

What level of fire service coverage solar farm applications are required to have in order to be approved as Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects.

Fire service coverage is considered during the examination and determination of any Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project. It is for the applicant to demonstrate satisfactorily that this issue has been addressed, which will include the view of the relevant fire service, Local Authority, and health and safety experts.

What level of fire service coverage Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project solar farms are required to have.

Fire service coverage is considered during the examination and determination of any Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project. It is for the applicant to demonstrate satisfactorily that this issue has been addressed, which will include the view of the relevant fire service, Local Authority, and health and safety experts.

Which electricity sub-station will provide the power connection for the new Universal Studios theme park.

The electricity networks in Great Britain are owned and operated by private companies and regulated independently by Ofgem. Specific details of the connection requirements, such as the level of power supply and associated substation for individual projects are held in private connection contracts between the relevant parties.

What assessment he has made of the level of additional power supply that will be created for the new Universal Studios theme park.

The electricity networks in Great Britain are owned and operated by private companies and regulated independently by Ofgem. Specific details of the connection requirements, such as the level of power supply and associated substation for individual projects are held in private connection contracts between the relevant parties.

How many (a) phones, (b) laptops and (c) other electronic devices have been lost by their Department since 5 July 2024.

Since 5th July 2024, officials at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero have reported the loss of 78 phones and 6 laptops. No other electronic devices have been reported as lost.

Whether he has made an assessment of potential trends in the level of additional power demands on the National Grid by the new Universal Studios theme park.

The electricity networks in Great Britain are owned and operated by private companies and regulated independently by Ofgem. Specific details of the connection requirements, such as the level of power supply and associated substation for individual projects are held in private connection contracts between the relevant parties.