Written questions by Hayes.

Whether his Department plans to include measures within future energy and climate plans to offset or remediate the environmental and public-health impacts of illegally high vehicle emissions.

The Government’s Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery Plan (CBGDP), published in October, made clear that transport decarbonisation policies and proposals will also drive further air quality improvements, principally through surface transport electrification. In accordance with Part 1, section 14 of the Climate Change Act 2008, the Government will next publish updated cross-economy decarbonisation policies and proposals in connection with the setting of the seventh carbon budget (CB7, 2038–2042). The section 14 report for CB7 will build on the CBGDP to set out a package of transport policies and proposals that continues to deliver both decarbonisation and air quality benefits.

What discussions he has held with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Secretary of State for Transport regarding cross-government action to address illegal levels of nitrogen oxide emissions from vehicles fitted with defeat devices.

The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) engages regularly with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Secretary of State for Transport (DfT) on climate change mitigation. Transport policy, including transport emissions, is led by DfT. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency is investigating cases of possible non-compliant diesel emissions in cars and vans. The investigations aim to ensure any non-compliance found is fixed as soon as reasonably possible, working together with manufacturers to achieve real-world impacts on air quality.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential lessons learned from other countries on tackling historic diesel emissions; and how this informs the UK’s approach to integrating transport-sector emissions into its climate policy framework.

Transport policy, including on diesel vehicle emissions, is led by the Department for Transport (DfT). The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) engages regularly with DfT on climate change mitigation, including consideration of diesel vehicle emissions.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the level of grant available under the Heat Network Efficiency Scheme to cover the estimated costs of remediation to bring older networks in line with the Heat Network Technical Assurance Scheme (a) nationally and (b) for heat networks in (i) Lambeth and (ii) Southwark.

The draft requirements of, and costs associated with, the Heat Network Technical Assurance Scheme will be published in a consultation and options assessment shortly. Heat network regulation is designed to be proportionate and to reduce costs in the longer term. Further details on funding allocations for heat network schemes including the Heat Network Efficiency Scheme will be set out in the Warm Homes Plan later this year.

When he expects to publish the results of the Heat Network Efficiency Scheme Round 10.

Applications for Round 10 of the Heat Network Efficiency Scheme closed on 19 September 2025 and are currently being assessed and scored against the scheme’s standard criteria. Details of the outcome of the funding round are expected to be published in Spring 2026.

With reference to his Department's press release Home upgrade revolution as renters set for warmer homes and cheaper bills, published on 23 September 2024, when he plans to consult on new EPC requirements for the private rented sector.

The Government will consult shortly on increasing minimum energy efficiency standards in the domestic private rented sector. The consultation will include proposals for rented homes to achieve Energy Performance Certificate C or equivalent by 2030.

What steps he is taking to ensure that support is available for households that (a) are not on low incomes and (b) do not have access to capital upfront to retrofit their homes.

As part of the Warm Homes Plan, the Government has committed an initial £3.4 billion over the next 3 years towards heat decarbonisation and household energy efficiency, with £1 billion of this allocated to next year. Additional funding will be considered in Phase 2 of the Spending Review, as the Warm Homes Plan is further developed. In addition, the Government is exploring the role of incentives and private finance for households to support homeowners with the upfront costs of energy efficiency improvements and low carbon heating. This includes the Green Home Finance Accelerator Programme which has made £20 million available to support in developing green finance products.

What steps his Department is taking to enable community energy schemes to sell their power to local residents.

Community energy will play an essential role in meeting our mission for clean power by 2030.Great British Energy will provide support to deliver the Local Power Plan, putting communities at the heart of restructuring our energy economy. Through partnering with and providing funding and support to Community Energy Groups, the Local Power Plan will roll out small and medium‑scale renewable energy projects, using established technologies to develop up to 8GW of cheaper, cleaner power. This will include shared ownership projects in partnership with private developers.Some suppliers already offer local tariffs, and other products and services are available that provide community benefits. Small-scale generation sites can benefit from an exemption, which means that they do not require a licence from Ofgem to generate electricity or to supply to local customers. Ofgem has further flexibility to award supply licences to generation sites that are above the exemptions threshold when they are restricted to specified local area.