23 Jun 2026·Department for Energy Security and Net Zero·Answered
AskedWhat financial support will be available to private landlords to meet the proposed EPC C standard by 1 October 2030.
ReplySupport is currently available to help landlords improve their properties, including through the Warm Homes: Local Grant and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, and a zero-rate of VAT until March 2027 on energy saving measures. An eligibility tool is available at ...
23 Jun 2026·Department for Energy Security and Net Zero·Answered
AskedWhat assessment he has made of the capacity of the retrofit and domestic energy assessor supply chain to complete upgrades to approximately 2.5 million private rented properties by 1 October
ReplyWe are committed to supporting the training and upskilling of retrofit workers. Our £15 billion Warm Homes Plan, the biggest public investment in home upgrades in British history, will support up to 180,000 additional jobs in energy efficiency and clean h...
23 Jun 2026·Department for Energy Security and Net Zero·Answered
AskedWhen his Department plans to publish the finalised Home Energy Model band boundaries that will define compliance with the new EPC C standard for private rented properties ahead of the 1 Octob
ReplyThe government's Home Energy Model: Energy Performance Certificate consultation closed in March. The consultation included questions on the proposed C rating requirements across the Fabric Performance, Heating System and Smart Readiness metrics, which wil...
23 Jun 2026·Department for Energy Security and Net Zero·Answered
AskedWhat recent estimate he has made of the number of private rented properties that will qualify for an exemption from the proposed EPC C standard by 1 October 2030 on the grounds of (a) high co
ReplyThe most recent impact assessment was published on 21 January 2026, alongside the government response to the consultation on raising the minimum energy efficiency standard to EPC C by 2030 for privately rented homes. The assessment outlines which exemptio...
23 Jun 2026·Department for Energy Security and Net Zero·Answered
AskedWhat criteria his Department is using to define smart readiness for the purposes of the secondary compliance metric under the proposed new EPC framework for private rented properties; and wha
ReplyLandlords in the private rented sector are expected to comply with minimum energy efficiency standards by meeting EPC C against the Fabric Performance metric and then EPC C against either the Smart Readiness or Heating System metric. The Home Energy Model...
10 Jun 2026·Department for Energy Security and Net Zero·Answered
AskedWhat assessment his Department has made of the potential impact on households and small-scale renewable-energy investors of replacing Retail Prices Index indexation with Consumer Prices Index
ReplyAn analytical annex, including an assessment of the potential impacts of this policy, was published alongside the Government response. The Government considers that the change to indexation strikes an appropriate balance between reducing costs for consume...
10 Jun 2026·Department for Energy Security and Net Zero·Answered
AskedWhether his Department has made an assessment of the implications of retrospectively changing the indexation mechanism for existing Feed-in Tariff contracts on investor confidence; and if he
ReplyAn analytical annex, including an assessment of the potential impacts of this policy, was published alongside the Government response. The Government considers that the change to indexation strikes an appropriate balance between reducing costs for consume...
20 Apr 2026·Department for Energy Security and Net Zero·Answered
AskedWhat targeted guidance is available to medically vulnerable people who cannot safely reduce their heating use.
ReplyThe Government’s fuel poverty strategy seeks to ensure households are supported to achieve warm homes at an affordable cost. The UK Health Security Agency has produced guidance for the public on how to keep warm and well at home, which is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keep-warm-keep-well-leaflet-gives-advice-on-staying-healthy-in-cold-weatherThe National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has produced guidance to reduce the health risks associated with cold homes, which is available at the following link: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng6The audiences for this include people who may have health problems related to living in a cold home, as well as their families and carers.Financial support schemes are also available to help some vulnerable groups with their energy bills, including the Warm Home Discount and the Cold Weather Payment. People may also be able to access support to pay energy bills from their local council through the Crisis and Resilience Fund.Vulnerable individuals can also join their energy supplier’s Priority Services Register, through which they can receive extra advice and support.
24 Mar 2026·Department for Energy Security and Net Zero·Answered
AskedWhat steps his Department is taking to ensure that network operators do not bear the cost of the necessary wayleave process when landowners serve notices to remove electricity infrastructure.
ReplyGovernment recognises that Network Operators play an important public service role in developing and maintaining an efficient, co-ordinated and economical system of electricity distribution and transmission – this includes securing the necessary permissions to install and maintain electric lines. These costs, including any costs associated with applying for a Necessary Wayleave, are not borne directly by Network Operators, but rather passed onto consumer energy bills through Ofgem regulated network charges.
24 Mar 2026·Department for Energy Security and Net Zero·Answered
AskedWhat assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of proposed changes to energy infrastructure planning application fees on (a) network operator costs and (b) consumer bills.
ReplyThe Government has proposed a fully cost-reflective charging regime for its energy infrastructure planning application fees, in order to place this function on a sustainable footing for the future as application volumes increase. The Government is currently assessing the responses to the public consultation that ran from 16 December 2025 to 1 February 2026, which included specific questions on cost impacts. This assessment will pay particular regard to the evidence provided by respondents on network operator costs and impacts on bills.
20 Oct 2025·Department for Energy Security and Net Zero·Answered
AskedWhat steps he plans to take to prohibit new onshore fossil fuel extraction.
ReplyThe Government has committed to not issue new oil and gas licences to explore new fields while managing existing fields for the entirety of their lifespan. On 1 October, the Secretary of State announced legislation to end new onshore oil and gas licensing in England. The Government’s consultation which closed earlier this year, sought views on how it should implement these commitments. It will respond in due course.
20 Oct 2025·Department for Energy Security and Net Zero·Answered
AskedWhether he plans to review the technical definition of hydraulic fracturing in respect of (a) volume thresholds and (b) geological conditions to prevent onshore oil and gas extraction operations from circumventing the current moratorium on fracking.
ReplyProppant squeezes are not currently defined in legislation as high volume hydraulic fracturing for shale gas extraction. We are committed to banning fracking for good and any future decision on national planning policy for fracking will take into account all volumes of hydraulic fracturing.
17 Mar 2025·Department for Energy Security and Net Zero·Answered
AskedWhether his Department plans to increase British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme pensions in line with the changes made to the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme.
ReplyThe British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme (BCSSS) has some differences to the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme, but we will be working with the BCSSS Trustees to consider their proposals. Any outcome will need to be agreed with the Trustees and the Treasury following analysis of the potential impacts.
11 Mar 2025·Department for Energy Security and Net Zero·Answered
AskedWhat his Department's timetable is for publishing a consultation on the placement of solar canopies on outdoor carparks.
ReplyThe Government will this year be publishing a Call for Evidence on the potential to drive solar canopies on carparks over a certain size, as announced in the Clean Power Action Plan.
5 Mar 2025·Department for Energy Security and Net Zero·Answered
AskedWhat estimate she has made of the number of additional homes that will need to apply to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme as a result of delays to the implementation of the Future Homes Standard.
ReplyFuture standards this year will ensure our new homes and buildings are fit for a net zero future. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is reviewing feedback from the Future Homes and Building Standards consultation and will publish the standard specification in due course. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is a demand-led scheme, so uptake will depend on consumers' interest.
5 Mar 2025·Department for Energy Security and Net Zero·Answered
AskedWhat estimate she has made of the number of heat pumps that will be required to be retrofitted to properties as a result of delays to the implementation of the Future Homes Standard.
ReplyFuture standards this year will ensure our new homes and buildings are fit for a net zero future. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is reviewing feedback from the consultation and will publish the standard specification in due course.
5 Mar 2025·Department for Energy Security and Net Zero·Answered
AskedIf he will bring forward proposals to mandate rooftop solar generation through the construction of canopies over car parks.
ReplyThe increased deployment of rooftop solar is at the heart of the Government’s clean energy mission. As set out in the Clean Power Action Plan, the Government will assess the potential of solar canopies in car parks by launching a call for evidence on the issue. We expect to publish the call for evidence shortly.
5 Mar 2025·Department for Energy Security and Net Zero·Answered
AskedIf he will take steps with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to develop enhanced tariffs to incentivise rooftop solar generation.
ReplyIncentivising rooftop solar is at the heart of the clean energy mission. Actions to support further deployment will be included in the Solar Roadmap, due to be published shortly.