Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Area-based Home Retrofit Schemes

Tuesday 19 September 2023 · 3 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government fund an embedded technical assistance facility to help local authorities deliver domestic grant schemes.
  • The Government provide funding to local authorities through the core settlement, grant funding schemes, and UK growth funding to reach net zero goals.
  • The Government have invested 15 million in subsidised training over the past three years, providing 16,800 training opportunities to support the industry.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Clive Lewis Lab Norwich South
Housing Energy
Context

The MP is concerned about the ability of local authorities to deliver area-based home retrofit schemes effectively.

Question

What plans does she have with Cabinet colleagues to help increase the capacity of local authorities to deliver area-based home retrofit schemes?

Answer from Amanda Solloway

To support English local authorities, we fund an embedded technical assistance facility, providing access to experts, training and guidance to enhance their capability to deliver our domestic grant schemes.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Does not provide specific plans or commitments for increasing capacity.

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Q2 Clive Lewis Lab Norwich South
Economy Climate
Context

The MP agrees with the former Prime Minister's assertion that low and middle-income households cannot afford net zero transition costs, but disagrees on the approach. He calls for income and wealth redistribution.

Question

Second time lucky. The Minister may be surprised—[Laughter]—to hear the following words leave my lips, and I know I am: I agree with the former Prime Minister, the right hon. Member for South West Norfolk (Elizabeth Truss), in her claim that low and middle-income households cannot afford to pay for the transition to net zero. Where we differ is that I do not believe that we should let the planet burn, as she does. Instead, the wealthy must pay for the green transition. Will the Minister commit to income and wealth redistribution and finally give households and local authorities the ability to transition successfully?

Answer from Amanda Solloway

The Government provide a wide range of funding to support local authorities in reaching net zero through the core settlement, grant funding schemes and UK growth funding. The Government are enabling local authorities to tackle net zero goals.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Does not commit to income or wealth redistribution.

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Q3 Simon Fell
Energy Environment
Context

The MP highlights a challenge with industry capacity and skills in delivering home retrofit schemes, particularly in areas like Cumbria.

Question

One of the biggest challenges that we have in delivering home retrofit schemes in Cumbria is not with local authorities but with industry capacity and skills. What are the Government doing to try to send the right signals to industry so that we are getting the right skills into the supply chain to deliver some of these schemes, especially in areas such as Cumbria where we have skills deserts?

Answer from Amanda Solloway

My hon. Friend makes a really important point on skills. In fact, we have invested £15 million in subsidised training over the past three years and have provided 16,800 training opportunities. We will continue to support this important industry.

Answered

Not addressed: null

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