Every parliamentary written question tabled by Kevin Hollinrake this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 21–40 of 42 · Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
Pursuant to the Answer of 22 May 2025 to Question 52267 on DESNZ: Islamophobia, what definition of Islamophobia was used in the training session.
The training and awareness session was delivered by the Anti-Islamophobia Working Group as an external provider. The material from the session is owned by the provider and therefore we cannot share the content due to commercial sensitivity.
With reference to Appendix 2 of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill Impact Assessment, Annex 1: Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects reform, what the target date is for the publication of EN-8 on Nuclear Fusion Energy.
The Department plans to publish its response to the consultation on a Fusion Energy National Policy Statement EN-8 soon. Further details will be available in due course.
Pursuant to the Answer of 22 May 2025, to Question 52267, on DESNZ: Islamophobia, if he will publish the training material and handouts produced for the training and awareness session.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero does not publish training materials as these resources are intended for internal use only. All training events are run in accordance with the Civil Service code.
Pursuant to the Answer of 14 May 2024 to Question 50162 on UK Emissions Trading Scheme, whether he plans to provide additional funding to local authorities for these costs; and whether he has made an estimate of the potential impact of these costs on levels of council tax.
We continue to engage with local authorities on the details of UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), including how costs will be passed through to reflect emissions reductions and recycling efforts. Financial pressures on local authorities resulting from the expansion of the UK ETS are being considered as well as how costs can be passed through to the producers of packaging that is later incinerated. The UK ETS Authority will publish a response to the May 2024 consultation to set out an update for this work as soon as possible.
What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards for private rented accommodation on private rented sector rents.
Private rented sector minimum energy efficiency standards are part of a wider package of strengthening tenants’ rights. The Renters’ Rights Bill will introduce new protections for tenants to challenge unreasonable rent increases. Landlords will be able to increase rents to market rates once per year, with tenants able to challenge this at the Tribunal if it is unreasonable.
Pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2025 to Question 48449 on Financial Services: Environment Protection, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of investing in municipal green investment (a) bonds and (b) loans being offered by local authorities on customers.
The Government recognises the significant progress made through the use of local municipal green bonds. So far fourteen councils have launched these bonds, mobilising over £11.5 million and giving thousands of investors the opportunity to invest in improvements to their local communities. We acknowledge that local authorities are free to determine their own investment strategies. In doing so they must, however, have regard to statutory guidance that sets out best practice to ensure decisions are prudent, affordable and sustainable, and comply with their Best Value Duty. Investments should represent value for money and not place tax payers’ money at excessive risk.
What discussions he has had with the Home Secretary on whether changes to minimum energy performance standards for the private rented sector will apply to fixed-term accommodation for irregular migrants procured by the Home Office.
The Government recently consulted on increasing minimum energy efficiency standards in the domestic private rented sector. The consultation closed on 2nd May and we are currently reviewing responses and the evidence submitted. Whether accommodation falls within scope of new standards will depend on the type of tenancy. Currently, if a property is let on an assured tenancy, regulated tenancy, or domestic agricultural tenancy, and is legally required to have an EPC, then it will need to meet the minimum energy efficiency standard, unless a valid exemption applies.
Whether the Anti-Islamophobia Working Group provided a training and awareness session in his Department in November 2024.
DESNZ is committed to supporting our colleagues in line with our DESNZ Values and the Civil Service Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Expenditure Guidance. The Anti-Islamophobia Working Group provided a one-hour training and awareness session in this Department in November 2024.
Pursuant to the Answer of 3 April 2025 to Question 41453, if he will make it her policy to ensure the Mayoral Renewables Fund does not operate by a bidding process.
Further to the response provided to Question 41453, the Mayoral Renewables Fund (MRF) is a one-off scheme in 2025/26, designed to enable Great British Energy (GBE) to build early relationships with as many Mayoral Strategic Authorities (MSAs) as possible during this transitional year, and to enable all MSAs to benefit from the funding allocated to early GBE delivery in 25/26. The MRF is not a competitive process; all MSAs were invited to submit proposals and all MSAs will receive funding as long as scheme eligibility criteria are met. There are no plans for the MRF to continue in its current form beyond 25/26.
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the extension of the Emissions Trading Scheme to the municipal incineration of waste on local authority finances.
The UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) Authority consulted on expanding the UK ETS to the waste sector in 2024, including the process for support local authorities until they have decarbonisation pathways in place. The Government understands the importance of supporting policies to ensure local authorities are not faced with unmanageable costs. Illustrative estimates of the costs to local authorities were published in the Analytical Annex [1] that accompanied the 2024 consultation. Before expansion of the UK ETS to the waste sector we will publish further analysis as part of an impact assessment accompanying the final Authority response. [1] https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/664dfb7d4f29e1d07fadccde/ukets-scope-expansion-consultation-waste-analytical-annex.pdf
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards for the private rented sector on the number of empty homes.
The Government is consulting on increasing minimum energy efficiency standards in the domestic private rented sector. The consultation includes proposals for rented homes to achieve EPC C or equivalent by 2030, unless a valid exemption applies, and is accompanied by the Department’s impact assessment. The assessment makes clear that we are unable to quantify the extent to which this will impact the supply of properties as landlords may take different approaches. We encourage stakeholders to feed in views and evidence on the potential impact of these proposals. Following the consultation process, a government response and full impact assessment will be published.
What estimate his Department has made of the potential impact of proximity to an electricity pylon on the average capital value of an average house.
The Government does not assess the impact of new transmission network infrastructure on house prices. Landowners, businesses and homeowners that have electrical equipment, such as pylons or towers, sited on their land have the right to compensation for the value of their land, as well as for any losses or expenses incurred. Acquiring authorities can also put in place discretionary schemes offering additional compensation. We have published guidance on community funds for electricity transmission infrastructure which outlines government’s recommendations on how to communities living near clean energy infrastructure can benefit. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/electricity-transmission-network-infrastructure-community-funds/community-funds-for-transmission-infrastructure-accessible-webpage
For what reason the Mayoral Renewables Fund is operating on a bidding scheme basis; and whether the fund is ringfenced.
Great British Energy (GBE) will partner with Local Authorities, Mayoral Strategic Authorities, Devolved Governments and the community energy sector to help increase the rollout of renewable energy projects. The 2025/26 financial year is a transitional period as GBE is being established, during which the Department is supporting GBE to deliver a one-off scheme what will kick-start its relationship with the Mayoral Strategic Authorities (MSAs). The £10 million fund will be for projects that focus on renewable power generation; all MSAs will receive funding as long as eligibility criteria are met. Beyond the transitional period, GBE will work with individual MSAs to determine the most effective investment partnerships in their areas.
With reference to the press release entitled Households near new pylons to save hundreds on energy bills, published on 10 March 2025, if he will make an estimate of the potential impact of an electricity pylon being erected within 500 meters of an average house on the capital value of that house.
The Government does not assess the impact of new transmission network infrastructure on house prices. However, landowners, businesses, and homeowners that have electrical equipment, such as pylons or towers, sited on their land have the right to compensation for the value of their land, as well as any losses or expenses incurred. Acquiring authorities can also put in place discretionary schemes offering additional compensation. The proposed bill discount scheme is not a house price compensation scheme. It aims to ensure those closest to eligible new transmission infrastructure can directly benefit from supporting the nationally critical Clean Power by 2030 mission.
Whether the Warm Homes Plan will (a) rationalise the number of home energy efficiency funding schemes and (b) streamline application processes for those schemes.
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. As a first step the Government launched the Warm Homes: Local Grant (WH:LG) and Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund. The WH:LG is a successor scheme replacing the HUG and LAD schemes simplifying the current landscape. We will continue to evaluate the application processes as schemes are developed. Further details will be set out in the Warm Homes Plan in due course.
If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of minimum energy efficiency standards on the commercial viability of shops in (a) high street and (b) town centre locations.
The energy shock of recent years has highlighted the urgent importance of improving energy efficiency in non-domestic buildings. For shops in high street and town centres, improving energy efficiency can be one of the most cost-effective mechanisms for businesses to reduce their energy bills, while also reducing their carbon emissions. Minimum energy efficiency standards help unlock energy efficiency upgrades in rented buildings where landlords and tenants often do not have aligned incentives to improve the performance of the building.
What information his Department holds on the number of (a) offices, (b) shops and (c) warehouses which do not currently meet the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards for commercial buildings being proposed for 2030.
Based on publicly available MHCLG data, approximately 87% of offices, 83% of shops, and 91% of warehouses have a valid EPC rated below EPC B - the minimum standard proposed in the 2019 consultation to strengthen the non-domestic Private Rented Sector Regulations. This data cannot be filtered by tenure and so figures shown relate to the whole non-domestic building stock, rather than the rented sector in scope of these regulations, which represents 40% of non-domestic buildings according to Building Energy Efficiency Survey (BEES) data. The government has not yet published the response to the consultation, which is scheduled for the first half of 2025 when we will set out the updated standard and date for non-domestic buildings. We are reviewing the MEES timelines to ensure sufficient lead-in time. The regulations contain a number of exemptions to ensure that properties only need to get to the highest EPC band where the improvements are practical and cost-effective.
Pursuant to the Answer of (a) 31 July 2024 to Question 1331 and (b) 21 February 2025 to Question 29088 on Energy Performance Certificates: Housing, what his planned timetable is for publishing proposals on energy requirements on owner occupied housing.
The Government’s position on supporting owner occupiers remains as was set out in the Answer to Question 1331.
With reference to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero's consultation entitled Improving the energy performance of privately rented homes: 2025 update, published on 7 February 2025, whether she has made an assessment of the suitability of pre Second World War housing stock for (a) cavity wall insulation and (b) external wall insulation.
Cavity Wall Insulation and External Wall Insulation when installed correctly is a cost-effective means of improving energy efficiency in homes. All work carried out under current Government energy efficiency schemes, must be installed by a retrofit professional who is certified to Publicly Available Specification (PAS) 2030, with work carried out in accordance with PAS 2035. Installers must also be registered with TrustMark and required to provide a TrustMark approved 25-year insurance backed guarantee. This ensures the highest quality installations. Government does not specify which types of insulation should be installed in any particular property, only that the installations should be carried out by TrustMark registered installers in accordance with the relevant standards and consumer protection requirements.
With reference to his Department’s announcement of 23 September 2024, on minimum energy efficiency standards, what assessment he has made of the average cost of making a listed dwelling meet the EPC 'C' requirements by 2030; and whether listed buildings will be required to meet that statutory target.
The Government will consult shortly on increasing minimum energy efficiency standards in the domestic private rented sector. The consultation includes proposals on required spend from landlords and potential exemptions. It will be accompanied by the Department’s assessment of potential cost to landlords. Following the consultation and legislation changes, we will issue guidance to landlords to comply with the requirement, and publish this on gov.uk. The Energy Performance of Buildings reform consultation, published in December 2024, proposes that valid EPCs should be required for all rented heritage buildings so that owners are well-informed about their building’s energy performance alongside recommendations for improvements.