Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Warm Homes Plan

Tuesday 17 December 2024 · 5 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 5 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister expresses frustration over legacy of fuel poverty and commitment to the warm homes plan.
  • Steps include reducing energy bills and ensuring Britain's energy independence through clean energy initiatives.
  • Government aims to introduce minimum energy efficiency standards for the private rented sector to lift people out of fuel poverty.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Amanda Hack Lab North West Leicestershire
Economy Energy
Context

Modelling suggests that one in four residents in North West Leicestershire is in fuel poverty.

Question

Does the Minister understand the frustration many constituents will feel that, despite being in one of the wealthiest countries in the world, fuel poverty has become so commonplace? Will she write to me with an outline of the elements in the warm homes plan that will focus on delivery for those in fuel poverty?

Answer from Miatta Fahnbulleh

I share the frustration of my hon. Friend's constituents. The scale of fuel poverty in this country is a shameful legacy of the last Government's 14 years of failure. It is a legacy that we are determined to turn around through our warm homes plan and our winter support package, and we will do everything we can to make sure that cold, draughty homes are a thing of the past.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specifics on writing an outline detailing elements focusing on delivery for those in fuel poverty

How: Share The Frustration

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Q2 David Pinto-Duschinsky Lab Hendon
Energy
Context

The last Government left us far too reliant on foreign dictators for our energy needs.

Question

What steps is my hon. Friend taking to reduce bills for residents in my constituency and to further ensure that Britain remains genuinely energy independent?

Answer from Miatta Fahnbulleh

My hon. Friend is completely right. Too many people cannot afford their energy bills—[Interruption.] That is your legacy. That is why we are running to deliver clean energy by 2030 and rolling out our warm homes plan, so that we can upgrade millions of homes to make them warmer and cheaper to run.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps to reduce bills for residents and ensure genuine independence

How: Completely Right

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Q3 Harriet Cross Con Gordon and Buchan
Energy
Context

The National Energy System Operator's report shows that the Government's 2030 target will lower energy bills, but this is contradicted by other sources.

Question

Will the Minister explain those inconsistencies and take the opportunity to correct the record?

Answer from Miatta Fahnbulleh

I suggest that the hon. Lady actually reads the report. On page 77, the NESO sets out in black and white the system costs of a clean power system, and then what it calls “Bill components resulting from clean power pathways” and “Other bill changes”. The total impact in 2030 is to reduce electricity costs by £10 per megawatt-hour. Of course, as the NESO says, it is for the Government to make the policy choices to reduce energy bills—which we will—but it is absolutely clear that our clean power plan will reduce system costs.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific correction of inconsistencies in record

How: Suggests Reading Report

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Q4 Ellie Chowns Green North Herefordshire
Housing Energy
Context

Citizens Advice found that more than a third of private tenants could not afford to heat their homes last winter.

Question

Can the Minister explain what the Government will do to support and incentivise private landlords to drive up minimum energy efficiency standards in their properties, and when they will do it?

Answer from Miatta Fahnbulleh

We know that the quality of too many of our homes in the private rented sector is not high enough. That is why we are moving forward to introduce minimum energy efficiency standards, so that we can raise those standards, lifting 1 million people out of fuel poverty.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific timeline for implementation of new standards

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Q5 Pippa Heylings Lib Dem South Cambridgeshire
Housing Energy
Context

After the Conservative Government's failure to tackle insulation, fuel poverty is on the rise.

Question

While we await the warm homes plan that will deal with upgrading current housing stock, will the Minister meet the Minister for Housing and Planning to ensure that all future homes will come forward with an energy rating of a minimum of C or higher?

Answer from Miatta Fahnbulleh

We are working very closely with Housing, Communities and Local Government Ministers to deal with the future homes standard. We recognise that the fact we are building homes that are not up to the standard is a problem, and we are getting on with fixing it.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific meeting to address the issue

How: Closely Working

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