Written questions by Anderson.

What steps he is taking to support the uptake of the local power plan by (i) Buckinghamshire Council and (ii) Milton Keynes City Council.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of the co-operative model for energy retrofit.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of community batteries on household electricity bills.

Awaiting answer.

What steps his Department is taking to accelerate private capital investment in grid infrastructure.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of current electricity grid capacity to meet projected demand by 2035.

Awaiting answer.

What steps his Department is taking to reduce grid connection delays for renewable energy projects.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment he has made of barriers to community ownership of battery storage infrastructure.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment he has made of the role of pension fund capital in financing the clean energy transition.

Awaiting answer.

Whether his Department plans to introduce financial incentives for community-led battery storage projects.

Awaiting answer.

When his Department plans to respond to the consultation on climate-related transition plan requirements, which closed in September 2025.

This Government has consulted on our manifesto commitment to introduce transition plan requirements for UK regulated financial institutions and large companies, and the department will publish our response to this consultation shortly.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure the clean energy sector procures UK manufactured steel.

Our Clean Energy Industries Sector Plan gives investors the certainty and stability they need to invest in and expand UK supply chains. We are committed to supporting and growing clean energy supply chains, creating good jobs across the UK. This includes ...

Whether his Department plans to develop a (a) national training strategy for heat-pump installers and (b) dedicated heat pump training academy.

Government has set out its long-term vision for the net zero workforce in the Warm Homes Plan, and through the Clean Energy Jobs Plan. This includes establishing the Warm Homes Plan Workforce Taskforce, and announcing a 3-year, 21 million extension of the Heat Training Grant, which supports existing heating engineers in upskilling.

Whether his Department is undertaking workforce planning to prepare for an increase in demand for heat-pump installations.

The Government’s Warm Homes Plan sets out that to meet future heat pump deployment targets the workforce will need to grow from around 4,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) installers today to around 12,000 FTE by 2030. The Government is continuing to support workforce growth through a 3-year, £21 million extension of the Heat Training Grant. Government is also supporting new entrants through the Low Carbon Heating Technician Apprenticeship. Government also recently established the Warm Homes Plan Workforce Taskforce, which will focus on growing a skilled and resilient net zero workforce.

What proportion of the joint offshore wind capacity agreed under the Hamburg Declaration will connect directly to the UK transmission network by 2035.

The Hamburg Declaration sets a collective European ambition of 100 GW of offshore wind cooperation projects by 2050. In 2024, Ofgem gave Initial Regulatory Approval to two such joint wind and interconnector projects, Lion Link and Nautilus. These projects are in development. Future GB co-ordinated projects will be consistent with our own domestic processes, including the Strategic Energy planning conducted by our National Energy System Operator (NESO) which is due to be consulted on in Q1 2027.

What plans his Department has to monitor changes in energy efficiency in homes in Buckingham and Bletchley constituency over the next five years.

Through delivery of the Warm Homes Plan we will reach 5 million homes by 2030, through direct support for those on low incomes and in fuel poverty, and innovative low-interest finance available to all. We will publish monitoring statistics and evaluation of policies announced in the Warm Homes Plan. DESNZ currently publishes statistics covering the uptake and impacts of energy efficiency measures on GOV.UK. The Warm Homes Plan will help lift up to one million households out of fuel poverty by 2030 through public investment and new minimum energy efficiency standards for private landlords.DESNZ’s annual sub-regional fuel poverty statistics estimate the rates of fuel poverty in constituencies within England, so will reflect the impacts of the Warm Homes Plan in time.

How much funding his Department plans to provide to (i) Milton Keynes City Council and (ii) Buckinghamshire Council to implement the Government's energy-efficiency programmes.

The government recognises the essential role that local places will play in delivering the Warm Homes Plan. Low-income grant funding will continue to be delivered through the Warm Homes: Local Grant (WH:LG) and Warm Homes Social Housing Fund (WH:SHF), honouring existing funding agreements. From 2027/28 onwards, we intend to integrate the WH:LG and WH:SHF into a single low-income capital scheme which will shift towards area-based delivery. We will say more about the future of these schemes by Spring 2026.The government will further support local government through: The new Warm Homes Fund to help accelerate existing consumer offers for solar PV.The new Warm Homes Agency to support local partnerships and help build capacity.Funding for five Local Net Zero Hubs to provide expertise and resources.Integrated settlements for some Mayoral Combined Authorities, including retrofit funding, by 2028.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the offshore wind commitments signed on 26 January 2026 on UK electricity prices over the next decade.

The Energy Secretary signed a non-binding clean energy security agreement, the Hamburg Declaration, with European leaders at the North Sea Summit to progress build out of renewable energy in the North Sea. and incentivise further investment. Agreements in the Declaration are fully aligned with existing government policy. Working with our European neighbours to develop joint offshore wind will enable us to maximise the clean energy potential for the North Sea, drive investment and job creation, and ensure energy security and resilience. By moving away from volatile fossil fuels we will protect consumers across the UK.

What steps his Department is taking to help ensure low-income households in Buckingham and Bletchley constituency can access grants for energy-efficient improvements.

Through the Warm Homes Plan, we are offering direct support for low-income families backed by £5 billion of public investment. Low-income grant funding will continue to be delivered through the government’s Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund (WH:SHF) and Warm Homes: Local Grant (WH:LG) as planned, honouring existing funding agreements. The WH:LG has been allocated £500m to provide energy performance measures and low carbon heating to low-income households across England through participating local authorities, including Buckinghamshire. DESNZ, and its delivery partners, will continue to work with local authorities to ensure as many eligible households as possible receive support during the scheme. Additionally, alongside the Warm Homes Plan we published a new fuel poverty strategy for England, to help lift up to 1 million households out of fuel poverty by 2030.

What steps his Department is taking with social housing providers in Buckingham and Bletchley constituency to help reduce energy costs for tenants.

The Warm Homes Plan will deliver £15bn of public investment and help lift up to a million families out of fuel poverty by 2030. This includes support for those on low-incomes and the introduction of minimum energy efficiency standards for the social rented sector, which will slash the cost of heating for families, making homes warmer and more comfortable. Previously, Milton Keynes City Council had received £3 million under SHDF Wave 1, £22.7 million under SHDF Wave 2.1, and now £2.5 million as part of the just under £1.15bn Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund. The funding will support energy efficiency and low‑carbon heating upgrades, helping raise properties below EPC Band C up to that standard.

What mechanisms have been established to measure the contribution of joint offshore wind projects under the Hamburg Declaration to UK (i) grid stability and (ii) energy security metrics.

The Hamburg Declaration is a crucial step towards coordinated energy infrastructure. Coordinating with our neighbours can cut costs, strengthen energy security and help build a more flexible system. Any GB coordinated projects will be consistent with domestic processes, including strategic energy planning conducted by the National Energy System Operator (NESO). NESO will take a whole systems approach which considers a variety of metrics, including grid stability and security of supply, to optimise generation, storage and network design. The plans due to be consulted on in Q1 2027 will provide recommendations on future interconnection and joint offshore projects in 2028.