Every parliamentary written question tabled by Daisy Cooper this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 1–14 of 14 · Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
How many people in each local authority area contacted Citizen’s Advice for help on issues relating to energy provision in each January between 2020 and 2026.
Citizens Advice is not a Government body but a network of independent registered charities. DESNZ therefore does not hold the requested information.
Pursuant to the Answer of 3 February to Question 108284 on Energy: Databases, whether the continuing assessment with respect to NEED and other datasets comprising household spending on energy bills includes cross-departmental work to join disaggregated, actual household welfare, income and energy use datasets in order to better support consumers during periods of energy price volatility.
DESNZ is working closely with other Government Departments on the National Data Library (NDL) energy bill support ‘kickstarter’ project to test how public sector data can be better joined up to improve access to government programmes. This will pave the way for better targeted help, ensuring those who are struggling to pay their bills get the support they need. Further information on this and other ‘kickstarter’ projects be found in the recent NDL progress update: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-data-library-progress-update-january-2026/national-data-library-progress-update-january-2026.
With reference to the Fourth Special Report of the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee of Session 2024-26 on Tackling the energy crisis: Government Response, HC1624, published on 21 January 2026, whether he has assessed the potential merits of integrating household level (a) welfare and (b) income data into the National Energy Efficiency Data-Framework database.
The National Energy Efficiency Data-Framework (NEED) includes data on modelled household income. The department publishes annual estimates of electricity and gas consumption by household income band. The department continues to assess the availability of additional data that could be utilised as part of the NEED statistics, and is working closely with other government departments to test how public sector data can be better joined up to improve access to government programmes.
Whether he has made an estimate of the amount of non-residential building roof space that is (a) available and (b) suitable for the installation of solar panels.
No such estimate has been made. However, deploying rooftop solar remains a key part of the Government’s clean power mission, and it continues to be one of the most popular and easily deployed renewable energy sources. Solar is also an important part of the Government’s strategy for increasing energy performance of buildings, and the Future Standards this year will ensure our new buildings are fit for a Net Zero future. The Warm Homes plan will set out pathways for decarbonisation of all buildings, including non-domestic ones. Further details on the Warm Homes Plan will be set out soon.
With reference to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government's blog entitled Warm Homes Plan and heat pumps, published on 21 November 2024, when permitted development rights for air source heat pump installations will be extended.
A Statutory Instrument to update the permitted development right for air source heat pump installations in England was laid in parliament on 8 May and will come into force on 29 May 2025. These changes will enable more households to install an air source heat pump without needing to submit a planning application. The Statutory Instrument can be found at: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2025/560/made.
Whether he has had discussions with (a) Ripple Energy and (b) the administrators of Ripple Energy on protections for the customers of Ripple Energy’s cooperative energy projects.
Details of Ministers' and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.
How much his Department spent on redesigning the logo for Great British Energy in 2025.
Great British Energy’s branding and logo were developed in-house with government resources.
What steps his Department is taking to ensure that (a) local authorities and (b) community groups that provide energy efficiency improvements receive adequate funding to implement his Department's policies as set out in the Warm Homes Plan.
The Warm Homes Plan will help people find ways to save money on energy bills and transform our ageing building stock into comfortable, low-carbon homes that are fit for the future. We will partner with combined authorities and local and devolved governments to roll out this plan. We will set out full details of our Warm Homes Plan in due course.
What steps his Department is taking to help ensure that the (a) workforce, (b) skills of the workforce and (c) funding is adequate to support the roll-out of his Department's retro-fitting schemes.
The Department has invested over £25 million to establish three Skills Training Competitions and the Heat Training Grant, which subsidise 33,000 retrofit training opportunities. The Heat Training Grant is on track to train 10,000 trained heat pump and heat network installers by April this year. These initiatives support the delivery of the Department’s retrofit schemes. The Government will continue to work with industry to facilitate a competent and robust retrofit supply chain in which businesses can grow. Further detail will be set out in our Warm Homes Plan later this year.
What steps his Department is taking to help ensure that (a) heat pumps and (b) other renewable heating solutions are (i) accessible and (ii) affordable.
Under the Government’s Warm Homes Plan, policies including the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund and Local Grant and Energy Company Obligation are delivering financial support for low carbon heating. Heat pump installations are also zero-rated for VAT. The Government will also amend Permitted Development Rights, removing the 1m rule for air source heat pump installations in England. We expect most properties will ultimately switch to heat pumps, with evidence showing they are widely suitable across UK housing archetypes. The Government will keep this position under review as the evidence base on possible alternatives develops.
What steps his Department is taking through the Warm Homes Plan to help ensure that (a) homes occupied by low-income families and (b) all homes meet high energy efficiency standards.
The Government has pledged to take action to stand with tenants and deliver the safety and security of warmer, cheaper homes, and has committed an initial £3.4 billion over the next 3 years towards heat decarbonisation and household energy efficiency, with £1bn of this allocated to 2025/2026. We have published our consultation on improving energy efficiency standards in the private rented sector in England and Wales, containing proposals that could lift up to half a million households in England out of fuel poverty by 2030. Further details on the Warm Homes Plan will be set out in due course.
Whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of reclaiming any portion of the subsidies provided to Drax Power Limited, in the context of the finding by Ofgem that Drax had misreported data in relation to their annual profiling submission between 1 April 2021 and 31 March 2022, published on 29 August 2024.
Compliance with biomass sustainability criteria is a priority and Ofgem as the independent regulator is responsible for ensuring generators’ compliance. Ofgem’s recent investigation found that whilst Drax complied with sustainability standards, it had failed to report data accurately. This is a serious matter and Government expects full compliance with all regulatory obligations. Ofgem did not find any evidence to suggest that Drax had been issued with subsidies incorrectly. Drax’s subsequent £25 million redress payment underscores the robustness of the regulatory system.
Whether he has made representations to Drax on the increase in whistleblower reports recorded by the organisation between 2022 and 2023.
The Government takes reports of complaints very seriously. Compliance with biomass sustainability criteria is a priority and Ofgem as the independent regulator is responsible for ensuring generators’ compliance. Ofgem’s recent investigation found that whilst Drax complied with sustainability standards, it had failed to report data accurately. This is a serious matter and Government expects full compliance with all regulatory obligations. Drax’s subsequent £25 million redress payment underscores the robustness of the regulatory system.
Pursuant to the Answer of 10 September 2024 to Question 3784 on Solar Power: Housing, if he will make it his policy to regulate the Smart Export Guarantee market to ensure that (a) residential and (b) small commercial exporters of energy are paid the same price per unit as large commercial providers.
To encourage innovation and competition, the Smart Export Guarantee is a market-led mechanism in which energy suppliers, rather than the government, set both the tariff levels and structure. The scheme’s success should therefore be gauged by the diversity and creativity of the offerings. To date there is a good range of offers for both residential and commercial exporters which is evident in Ofgem’s latest SEG annual report (https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/environmental-and-social-schemes/smart-export-guarantee-seg/smart-export-guarantee-seg-contacts-guidance-and-resources). This demonstrates the scheme’s growth in terms of tariff variety, innovation, and prices. We will continue to keep this under review.