Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Warm Homes Plan

Tuesday 8 October 2024 · 8 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 6 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The warm homes plan aims to upgrade homes to make them warmer and cheaper to run through grants and low-interest loans.
  • One in four households in the private rented sector is in fuel poverty, and the plan will lift 1 million renters out of fuel poverty by improving minimum energy efficiency standards.
  • The Minister agrees to meet with a Conservative MP to discuss a constituency issue affecting an elderly constituent who lost her winter fuel payment.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Rupa Huq Lab Ealing Central and Acton
Housing Energy
Context

The MP is concerned about the implementation of the warm homes plan aimed at upgrading homes to make them warmer and more energy-efficient.

Question

What steps are being taken to introduce the warm homes plan?

Answer from Miatta Fahnbulleh

We are running to deliver our warm homes plan, which will upgrade homes across the country to make them warmer and cheaper to run. We will set out the full plan in the spring, but at the heart of it will be an offer of grants and low-interest loans to support families to invest in insulation, low-carbon heating and home improvements.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide a detailed timeline or specific funding amounts

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Q2 Joe Morris Lab Hexham
Housing Energy
Context

The MP highlights the issue of fuel poverty among tenants in private rented properties, particularly those living in cold and draughty homes.

Question

Does she agree that often the very poorest in our communities are forced to live in cold and draughty properties, and it is important that we cut bills and give those families energy security?

Answer from Miatta Fahnbulleh

I agree. One in four households in the private rented sector is in fuel poverty. We need to bear down on bills. Our commitment to improve and boost minimum energy efficiency standards will lift 1 million renters out of fuel poverty.

Answered
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Q3 Laura Kyrke-Smith Lab Aylesbury
Context

The MP raises concerns over the previous government's lack of action in insulating homes, which has left many families struggling with heating costs.

Question

Does she agree that this is an admission of failure by the previous Conservative Government? Can she reassure constituents that this Government will do better?

Answer from Miatta Fahnbulleh

I completely agree. The legacy left to us by the last Government was woeful. Ordinary people—families across the country—have paid the price of that legacy. We are clear that we will do and must do better.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific new measures or timelines for improvements

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Q4 Rupa Huq Lab Ealing Central and Acton
Housing Energy
Context

The MP points out the absence of a national retrofit advice service to help families access necessary home improvements.

Question

Will the Minister look at the fact that there is no national retrofit advice service in the UK? Can the Government rectify this?

Answer from Miatta Fahnbulleh

I agree with my hon. Friend. There is a critical role for national advice to ensure that people can access support and know the range of interventions available to them. We will be looking at that as we look at our warm homes plan.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to establishing a specific service or timeline for implementation

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Q5 Richard Holden Con Basildon and Billericay
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The MP raises a constituent issue about the maintenance of solar panels installed through government schemes, which are facing bird-related problems.

Question

Will the Minister agree to meet me about this constituency issue because it is really affecting one of my older constituents who has also just lost her winter fuel payment?

Answer from Miatta Fahnbulleh

Yes, I will agree to meet to discuss the range of things we can do.

Answered
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Q6 Ellie Chowns Green North Herefordshire
Housing Climate
Context

The MP is concerned about the lack of net zero standards for new home construction, particularly in terms of insulation and solar panel installation.

Question

What steps are they taking to ensure that the promised 1.5 million new homes are built to net zero standards?

Answer from Miatta Fahnbulleh

We have an ambitious plan to build more homes. We want those homes to be fit for the future. We will put out information in due course on the standards we want across those homes, but we have an opportunity to do insulation, energy efficiency and homes that are fit for the future.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific new measures or timelines for enforcing net zero standards

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Q7 Wera Hobhouse Lib Dem Bath
Local Government
Context

The MP emphasizes the role of local authorities in providing guidance and support to households regarding home insulation and energy efficiency.

Question

Will the Department devolve some resources to local authorities to fulfil this important role?

Answer from Miatta Fahnbulleh

We see local and regional government playing an absolutely fundamental role to reach homes that we need to upgrade, but also to help us deliver the scale of ambition we want. Local and regional government will be a key part of our warm homes plan.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to specific resource allocation or devolution

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Q8 Pippa Heylings Lib Dem South Cambridgeshire
Energy Environment
Context

The MP calls for an emergency home insulation plan to address the immediate needs of vulnerable individuals, especially ahead of winter.

Question

Does she agree that we need an emergency home insulation plan ahead of this winter? What is the allocated funding in this Parliament for insulating homes?

Answer from Miatta Fahnbulleh

We are really clear that as we develop our plans we absolutely need to get on with the job of upgrading homes. We have announced our warm homes local grant and our warm homes social housing fund, which are targeted at low-income families.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to an emergency plan or provide exact funding figures for this Parliament

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