Written questions by Maynard.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes to requirements for EPC certificates on properties used as short term holiday lets.

The recent consultation on increasing minimum energy efficiency standards in the domestic private rented sector sought views on whether short-term lets should be included in the scope of our proposals for rented homes to achieve Energy Performance Certificate C or equivalent by 2030, to help ensure a consistent standard across all private rented properties. No final decisions have been made, and the government has proposed to maintain a range of exemptions available to landlords to ensure that required investment is fair and proportionate. Government remains committed to taking an evidence-based approach and will consider the balance between supporting tourism and reaching our net zero goals.

When he plans to publish the findings of the consultation on Improving the energy performance of privately rented homes.

The consultation on increasing minimum energy efficiency standards in the domestic private rented sector closed on 2nd May and a government response will be published in due course.

What recent assessment he has made of international progress towards meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement.

Before the Paris Agreement policies put the world on track for up to 4°C of warming by 2100. The latest Emissions Gap Report from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), published in October 2025, estimates that current Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) put the world on course for 2.3°C to 2.5°C, or 1.9°C if all countries meet their NDC and net zero commitments in full. Following COP30, the UK will continue to push for greater ambition globally to limit temperature increase to 1.5°C.

What research has been carried out on the safety of small modular nuclear reactors.

The UK has a goal setting, non-prescriptive nuclear regulatory framework operated by the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), the UK’s independent nuclear safety and security regulator.. Within this, the onus is on companies to set out claims, arguments and evidence to demonstrate that prescribed nuclear activities can be carried out safely, securely, and in ways that manage nuclear safeguards. The Government has funded the regulator to build their capability and capacity to assess SMR safety cases anticipating the growing demand from the advanced nuclear sector.

What steps he is taking to foster international cooperation towards the aims of (a) increasing the use of renewable energy and (b) reducing global reliance on fossil fuels.

Building on our ambition to make Britain a clean energy superpower, the UK is working closely with international partners through the UNFCCC process, multilateral organisations and UK-led initiatives such as the Global Clean Power Alliance (GCPA), Powering Past Coal Alliance (PPCA), Clean Energy Transition Partnership (CETP) and Green Grids Initiative (GGI) to enable a global, just clean energy transition that delivers on the Paris Agreement and energy security.

If he will make it his policy that Carbon Capture and Storage plans are assessed under principle H of schedule B of the Subsidy Control Act 2022.

Where a subsidy relates to the decarbonisation of emissions linked to industrial activities in the United Kingdom, My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State is required by the Subsidy Control Act 2022 to consider Principle H – it is not a question of policy - and he will continue to comply with his statutory duties in this regard.