Commons Sense

House of Commons · Adjournment Debate

Heating Rural Homes

13 June 2023 · 1 other contributor

Opened by Bill Wiggin Con North Herefordshire

ClimateEnergyEnvironment

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Bill Wiggin raised concerns about heating rural homes in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.

Key points

  • MP for North Herefordshire raised concerns about rural homeowners struggling with heating due to climate crisis and energy price volatility.
  • Around 1.1 million homes in England are not connected to the gas grid and use carbon-intensive fuels like oil and coal.
  • The MP highlighted that the Government's boiler ban in 2026 would disproportionately affect rural homes reliant on oil heating with outdated infrastructure.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Bill Wiggin Con North Herefordshire

The MP for North Herefordshire raised concerns about the challenges faced by rural homeowners in heating their homes during a climate crisis and energy price volatility. He highlighted that around 1.1 million homes in England are not connected to the gas grid and use carbon-intensive fuels such as oil and coal, with some even lacking electricity supply options. The recent fuel price surge following Russia's invasion of Ukraine further exacerbated financial hardships for off-grid residents who did not receive adequate support under the energy price guarantee scheme. He emphasised that the Government’s proposed boiler ban in 2026 would disproportionately affect these rural homes which are predominantly reliant on oil heating and often have outdated infrastructure unsuitable for heat pumps. With only around 75% of off-grid homes deemed suitable for heat pump installations, Mr. Wiggin urged for more flexible alternatives like hybrid heat systems or hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) to provide affordable and practical solutions.

Other contributors (1)
  • Amanda Solloway

    The Minister acknowledged the issue raised by Bill Wiggin, expressing her support for targeted energy bill assistance for those most in need. She mentioned ongoing consultations on the boiler ban for off-grid homes and the importance of transitioning to low-carbon heating solutions while ensuring affordability.

Government Response

Rosie Winterton

The Minister responded by acknowledging the challenges faced by rural, off-gas grid properties in decarbonising their heating systems. She noted that the Government recognises the unique difficulties and is committed to ensuring a smooth transition through various measures such as the boiler upgrade scheme and home upgrade grant. The aim is to ensure that installing heat pumps becomes more affordable and attractive for homeowners while also fostering local manufacturing of these technologies within the UK. She assured that no unsuitable technology would be forced upon households, considering alternative low-carbon heating solutions like high-temperature heat pumps or renewable liquid fuels where appropriate. The Minister committed to reviewing a consultation on phasing out fossil fuel boilers from 2026 for off-grid homes and promised further discussions on improving energy performance certificate methodologies.

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