Written questions by Heylings.

What steps he is taking to support industrial electrification.

Fuel switching from fossil fuels to electricity has the potential to significantly reduce annual industrial emissions, making a critical contribution to our carbon budget commitments contributing between 15% and 40% of the necessary carbon abatement in industry by 2050. The Government remains committed to supporting industrial electrification and addressing the barriers to investment that were highlighted in the 2023 call for evidence on enabling industrial electrification. This includes further development of policy options to address the high cost of electricity relative to natural gas, and the implementation of planning reforms to speed up infrastructure development and unblock issues on grid connection delays.

What steps he is taking to support green technologies.

The Government is committed to supporting the growth and scaling-up of green technologies, including through the creation of GB Energy, as part of its Clean Energy Superpower Mission. A combined total of £1.3 billion has been committed through the 2021-25 Net Zero Innovation Portfolio (NZIP) to accelerate the commercialisation of green technologies supporting around 5,500 jobs and leveraging £750 million in private investment. The Government will set out its full approach to seizing the growth opportunities from clean energy industries in the forthcoming Industrial Strategy.

What steps he is taking to ensure that the deployment of offshore renewables is not detrimental to blue carbon stores.

The Government is committed to delivering clean power by 2030, to accelerating to net zero and to restoring nature. The Government needs to ensure that the UK’s marine ecosystems are healthy and capturing and storing carbon too. This means that new energy infrastructure needs to be planned and developed in a way that protects the natural environment and supports nature recovery. Assessment and mitigation of environmental impacts are a core part of the Government’s planning processes, and future spatial plans will support rebuilding the UK’s natural infrastructure at the same time as building the new energy infrastructure the UK needs for the twenty-first century.

If he will publish the research paper entitled UK:EU Ecofin Regulatory Divergence Study of minimum energy efficiency performance standards (MEPS) for water pumps, vacuum cleaners and tumble dryers, commissioned from Riccardo-AEA Ltd in May 2022; and if he will make it his policy to seek to align related regulations with future EU's Ecofin regulations.

A summary of the research is available. We will consult on the merits of alignment with new EU regulations and will align where it makes sense to do so. GB may choose not to align if it is not in the interests of consumers, businesses, and our wider policy goals.

If his department will make an assessment on the potential merits of the heating-as-a-service (HaaS) business model as a solution to tackle high energy bills in the private rented sector.

The Government has pledged to take action to stand with tenants and deliver the safety and security of warmer, cheaper homes. We are currently consulting on plans to reduce energy bills by increasing standards in the private rented sector in England and Wales. As Government-funded trials have shown, Heat-as-a-Service is a potentially attractive way for consumers to finance the installation and operation of low carbon heating systems. We continue to explore how Government can enable these types of business models, while working to ensure consumers are protected.

What his Department's timetable is for publishing submissions to the consultation entitled Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards, opened in December 2020; and what plans he has to publish new minimum energy efficiency standards for non-residential buildings.

The Government published the ‘Improving the energy performance of privately rented homes in England and Wales’ consultation on 7 February 2025. This consultation includes government responses to the 2020 consultation on ‘Improving the energy performance of privately rented homes’. Responses to the 2019 and 2021 consultations on minimum energy efficiency standards in the non-domestic private rented sector are being reviewed to inform the policy design and ensure it remains fair and appropriate for landlords and tenants, with the aim to publish in the early part of 2025.

For what reason advice on the potential merits of installing (a) loft, (b) wall and (c) roof insulation has been removed from his Department's pages entitled Energy efficient home on gov.uk.

Home upgrades – including insulation – are one of the best tools to get bills down for good and we are committed to promoting properly installed loft, wall and roof insulation. The Government is currently updating the Energy Efficient Home website as part of work to refresh our public campaigns. Additional pages will go live in the coming weeks, including a page on the benefits of cavity wall, roof and loft insulation, and one on wider energy saving tips. The Government’s ‘Find Ways to Save Energy in your Home’ service (www.gov.uk/improve-energy-efficiency) provides tailored recommendations to increase household energy efficiency, including advice on insulation.

When he will confirm funding for the Great British Insulation Scheme for the 2025-26 financial year.

The Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) is not a government funded grant scheme, but an obligation on larger energy suppliers to provide energy efficiency support to eligible households through the installation of one insulation measure per home. GBIS is scheduled to run until March 2026 and is funded through consumer bills, under the price cap.

When she will publish 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. Future funding towards decarbonisation and to tackle fuel poverty will be considered as part of Phase 2 of the Spending Review, which will conclude in late Spring 2025. The Warm Homes Plan will be published after the conclusion of the Spending Review, and further details will be set out in due course.

If he will take steps to ensure that the UK's Nationally Determined Contribution (a) facilitates a just transition and (b) commits to increased climate finance.

In January, the UK submitted its nationally determined contribution (NDC) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), providing additional information on our headline target, including how it will facilitate a just transition. The UK is dedicated to supporting workers, communities and businesses to transition to net zero. As part of the Clean Power Mission to reach clean power by 2030, the UK has established an Office for Clean Energy Jobs (“the Office”) to explore what is needed to ensure our workforce can deliver the dramatic pace of change needed to reach this goal. The UK is committed to delivering climate finance to help vulnerable countries adapt to climate impacts and support a transition to low-carbon economies. In compliance with Article 9.5 of the Paris Agreement, the UK submitted its third Finance Biennial Communication to the UNFCCC in December 2024 which sets out our forward-looking action on the support components of the Paris Agreement. We have also reaffirmed the existing commitment to spend £11.6bn in International Climate Finance by 2025/2026, including at least £3bn on nature. Our next International Climate Finance commitment will be carefully considered and determined through the Spending Review this year. But we’re also clear that public finance alone is not going to fund the global transition, and are working closely with partners to mobilise more private capital for the climate transition.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of tariffs with night-time low electricity pricing for people with (a) electric vehicles and (b) solar panels.

The Government is supportive of electricity suppliers offering tariffs which enable consumers, including electric vehicle owners and those using solar panels, to consume energy at off peak times. This benefits all consumers by reducing the need for additional grid capacity. More generally, we want to see the market offering new, innovative products and services that will help enable consumers to lower their bills, get a better service and support the transition to net zero. The setting of these tariffs is a commercial matter for suppliers.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of reducing non-compliance fines in the Clean Heat Market Mechanism on the uptake of heat pumps.

The Government believes that the reduction to the payment-in-lieu for the Clean Heat Market Mechanism for the first baselining year will provide manufacturers with additional capacity to adapt to the scheme’s introduction, while still providing an incentive to invest in the transition. An impact assessment was published on 21 November 2024 alongside the draft statutory instrument. The government is confident that the targeted retrofit heat pump installations for the first scheme year can be achieved but will keep the payment-in-lieu level, like all scheme parameters, under review for future years.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the decision to reduce non-compliance fines in the Clean Heat Market Mechanism on the UK's ability to meet carbon budgets.

The Government believes that the reduction to the payment-in-lieu for the Clean Heat Market Mechanism for the first baselining year will provide manufacturers with additional capacity to adapt to the scheme’s introduction, while still providing an incentive to invest in the transition. An impact assessment was published on 21 November 2024 alongside the draft statutory instrument. The adjustment to the payment-in-lieu for the introductory year has not changed the Department's assessment of expected carbon savings from heat pump installations over the scheme’s lifetime. The Government will keep the payment-in-lieu level, like all scheme parameters, under review for future years.

If he will make it his policy to return non-compliance fines for the clean heat market mechanism to the level proposed for 2026 in the document entitled Clean Heat Market Mechanism Consultation: Summary of responses received and government response, published on 30 March 2023.

The Government has made the decision to reduce the level of the payment-in-lieu for the Clean Heat Market Mechanism from the previously proposed £3000 per missing heat pump credit to £500 for the first baselining year, in order to provide industry with additional capacity to adjust to the scheme’s introduction. No decisions have been taken about this or other scheme parameters for future years. The Government will keep the effectiveness of the payment level under close review and will consult on whether and how it should evolve for future years.

What discussions he has had with energy suppliers on providing additional support for households with energy bills in winter 2024-25.

The Government and industry have worked together to deliver a £500m Winter Support Commitment for customers, and we applaud suppliers stepping up on this matter. I also meet regularly with energy suppliers to outline the Government’s expectations of the standard of service that should be provided to their customers, including supporting vulnerable consumers and those struggling to pay their bills this winter. Additional energy suppliers are delivering Government support this winter through the Warm Home Discount, providing an annual £150 rebate off energy bills for eligible low-income households. As part of its Warm Homes Plan, the Government have committed an initial £3.4 billion over the next 3 years towards heat decarbonisation and household energy efficiency. At the Autumn Budget 2024, my Rt Hon Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that an additional £1 billion, including Barnett impact, will be invested to extend the Household Support Fund (HSF) in England until 31 March 2026, and to maintain Discretionary Housing Payments in England and Wales. This builds on the previous commitment of £421 million in England to extend the HSF until 31 March 2025.

Whether his Department plans to provide vulnerable households with emergency home insulation in winter 2024-25.

We recently announced the next steps on our Warm Homes Plan, which will see 300,000 homes upgraded in the next year. The government has committed an initial £3.4 billion over the next 3 years towards heat decarbonisation and household energy efficiency, through the Warm Homes Plan. With £1 billion of this allocated to next year. Our ambitious Plan will upgrade five million homes by investing in insulation and other improvements such as solar panels, batteries and low carbon heating, helping to make them cheaper and cleaner to run.

What steps his Department is taking to improve the energy efficiency of homes for winter 2024-25.

There are multiple targeted schemes in place to deliver energy efficiency measures to low income and fuel poor households. Current schemes include the Energy Company Obligation (ECO), the Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS), the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF), and the Home Upgrade Grant (HUG). For this winter, support is also available through the Warm Home Discount scheme which provides eligible low-income households across Great Britain with a £150 rebate off their winter energy bill.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing local supply rights to allow smaller-scale renewable energy schemes to sell their power directly to local customers.

The ability to access local energy supply is an important part of our energy system. Some suppliers already offer local tariffs, and other products and services are available that provide community benefits. Ofgem has a consultation open at the moment on innovation in the retail market which aims to progress a conversation on the key barriers and enablers of retail innovation. Specifically, the consultation focuses on regulatory routes to market and presents options to help enable new innovative products and services that benefit consumers, including local and small-scale generation. Officials will continue to have conversations with Ofgem on this topic over the coming months.

What estimate he has made of the number of people at risk of fuel poverty in winter 2024-25.

There were an estimated 3.17 million households in fuel poverty in England in 2023 and this is projected to decrease to 3.12 million in 2024 based on assumptions of economic factors and government policy as at January 2024. These statistics are taken from the published annual fuel poverty statistics published in February 2024: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/fuel-poverty-statistics. The change in the number of households in fuel poverty with children, by age group and by employment status in England can be found in the published 2023 fuel poverty trends tables: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fuel-poverty-trends-2024. Updated Fuel Poverty statistics relating to 2024 will be published in March 2025.

What recent assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of progress on meeting targets to end fuel poverty by 2030.

The Government is committed to tackling fuel poverty. We are currently reviewing the fuel poverty strategy and engaging with stakeholders as part of this process. We will publish a consultation on a new strategy in due course. The Secretary of State has already announced the launch of the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund and Warm Homes: Local Grant, as well as the intention to consult on new minimum energy efficiency standards in the social and private rented sectors.