Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Rooftop Solar Power

Tuesday 10 June 2025 · 7 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 4 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Lee Barron asked about the lack of solar panels in schools, citing an example from his constituency where pupils are advocating for solar panels to reduce costs and carbon footprint.
  • Dr Allison Gardner questioned the grid connectivity issues hindering businesses in her constituency from investing in rooftop solar power.
  • Tristan Osborne inquired about expanding schemes for social housing units to install roof solar panels and heat pumps, using the tenant power tariff as an example.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Lee Barron Lab Corby and East Northamptonshire
Education Climate
Context

Brigstock Latham’s primary school in Lee Barron's constituency does not have solar panels despite their benefits, including reducing bills and carbon footprints. Year 5 pupils wrote to Lee Barron requesting support for installing solar panels.

Question

Only 20% of schools currently have solar panels. Brigstock Latham’s primary in my constituency does not. That is why its year 5 pupils have written to me asking for panels on their roof. They tell me that this would cut their carbon footprint, reduce bills and help improve their education. One pupil wrote: “We may be a small school, but we can be big sometimes†. Will my right hon. Friend support their inspiring campaign and perhaps visit these young community activists in my constituency?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Ed Miliband)

I congratulate the pupils of Brigstock Latham’s primary school on their incredible spirit. Young people right across the country care about these issues. Also, they are pointing out something really important, which is that we have this free resource of the sun and we should use it. That is why putting solar panels on schools and elsewhere is big project for Great British Energy.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Allison Gardner Lab Stoke-on-Trent South
Climate Energy
Context

In Stoke-on-Trent South, businesses such as Bestway Group and Goodwin International are keen to invest in rooftop solar but cannot get national grid connectivity. Residents are frustrated at the growth of solar farms on agricultural land when there are acres of empty flat roofs on industrial estates.

Question

Happy birthday, Mr Speaker. In my Stoke-on-Trent South constituency, businesses such as the Bestway Group, which owns Well healthcare in Meir Park, and Goodwin International in Newstead are keen to invest in rooftop solar, but they cannot get national grid connectivity. In the case of Well healthcare, it will have to wait until 2032. Meanwhile, residents in my village areas are frustrated at the growth of solar farms on agricultural land when there are acres of empty flat roofs on industrial estates. Will the Secretary of State meet me to discuss the many challenges and opportunities for transitioning to clean energy that businesses in my constituency face?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Ed Miliband)

My hon. Friend raises some important points. The first is on grid connections. With the grid reforms that we are doing, we are going to end this zombie queue where projects are taking up space when they are not going to connect or not going to connect in time. That will open up the future to projects such as hers. On the point about industrial estates, I can give her a sneak preview and tell her that this is part of the solar road map. She makes important points, and the Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, my hon. Friend the Member for Rutherglen (Michael Shanks) has volunteered to meet her.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q3 Tristan Osborne Lab Chatham and Aylesford
Housing Energy
Context

Clarion Housing is working with Octopus Energy in Snodland to install roof solar panels and heat pumps in social housing units. There is potential for expanding such schemes using the tenant power tariff to reduce energy costs.

Question

Happy birthday, Mr Speaker. In my Chatham and Aylesford constituency, Clarion Housing is working with Octopus Energy in Snodland to install roof solar panels and heat pumps in social housing units. Can the Minister confirm how we can expand on such schemes, using the tenant power tariff for example, to reduce energy costs for our most vulnerable constituents?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Ed Miliband)

My hon. Friend makes a really important point, and this is something that we are working on. There is huge potential in working with energy companies, with social housing providers and others to find ways in which this can be a true part of an anti-poverty strategy. This is something that we are working on, and we will have more to say about in the weeks and months ahead.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q4 Lee Pitcher Lab Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme
Climate Energy
Context

Local sports clubs in Doncaster are keen to be part of the green energy revolution but face installation and funding barriers.

Question

I wish you a very happy birthday, Mr Speaker. I welcome the news that one of Great British Energy’s first major projects will be to install solar panels on schools and hospitals, and I hope that some of the 43 schools in Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme will benefit. I have heard from local sports clubs that are keen to be part of the green energy revolution but face installation and funding barriers. Will the Secretary of State consider extending Great British Energy and other schemes to help community sports facilities to go green?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Ed Miliband)

I love my hon. Friend’s idea; it is such a good one. Local sports clubs and lots of other community organisations can benefit from that project. I will suggest the idea to Great British Energy.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q5 Gagan Mohindra Con South West Hertfordshire
Energy
Context

The hon. Gentleman references the work of Grand Union Community Energy in his constituency, which has raised funding to install solar panels on local schools and car parks, reducing residents' energy bills.

Question

Grand Union Community Energy in my constituency is a non-profit community group that has done excellent work in Kings Langley to raise funding to install solar panels on the roofs of local schools, developments and car parks. It also educates local residents on how they can utilise community energy to reduce energy bills, which we have all seen rise under this Government. What steps are being taken across Government to ensure that community projects such as Grand Union Community Energy are implemented more widely?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Ed Miliband)

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his excellent question. I 100% agree with him about the role of community energy providers. We hope to work more closely with such groups, as part of our commitment to Great British Energy, which aims to unleash a wave of community energy projects across the country.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps and funding details for wider implementation of community-led solar energy projects were not provided.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q6 Ellie Chowns Green North Herefordshire
Energy
Context

The hon. Member raises concerns about energy efficiency and its importance for future homes, referencing the need to ensure that every home is truly fit for the future by being zero carbon.

Question

Does the Secretary of State recognise that energy efficiency is a crucial part of energy security, and will he meet me to discuss how the future homes standard might ensure that every home is truly fit for the future, including by being zero carbon?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Ed Miliband)

Let me first wish the hon. Member luck on her leadership bid. Anyone who wants to be a leader of a political party should take the idea under advisement, in my experience. We want the future homes standard to really work. It was a plan that the previous Labour Government had for 2016, but the Conservative Government got rid of it. We want it to make a real difference and ensure that every home is truly fit for the future.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Meeting request and specifics on improving the future homes standard were not addressed directly.

How: Wish Her Luck, Referenced Previous Government'S Plan

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q7 Danny Chambers Lib Dem Winchester
Energy Environment
Context

The hon. Member highlights the success of Holy Trinity church in Colden Common, which improved its energy efficiency rating from F to A by installing solar panels and insulation despite facing planning issues.

Question

I wish you a very happy birthday, Mr Speaker—your 40th, I am guessing. I was really impressed that Holy Trinity church in Colden Common, which is a heritage building, managed to increase its energy efficiency rating from F to A. Can the Secretary of State give any advice or guidance to communities who wish to improve heritage buildings, listed buildings and other old properties, which often face planning issues when seeking to install solar panels or insulation, or take other energy efficiency measures?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Ed Miliband)

Let me congratulate the hon. Member’s community group. This whole set of questions has shown the huge untapped potential in the constituencies of Members in all parts of the House. We will take this back to GB Energy, because I think the role of community groups as potential partners is really important. Secondly, he makes an important point on planning guidance. Sometimes the planning rules are okay, but the guidance is the problem and it creates bureaucratic hurdles. I am working with the Minister for Housing and Planning to make sure the guidance is clear to local councils where there are barriers that they should not be putting in the way.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific advice or guidance was not provided; only commitment to work on planning issues.

How: Working With Minister For Housing And Planning

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email