Warm Homes Plan

Joe Morris (Hexham) (Lab), Laura Kyrke-Smith (Aylesbury) (Lab), and Dr Rupa Huq (Ealing Central and Acton) (Lab) asked the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Miatta Fahnbulleh, what steps the Government is taking to introduce its warm homes plan. In response, the Minister stated that the Government is working to deliver a warm homes plan that will upgrade homes across the country to make them warmer and cheaper to run. The full plan will be set out in the spring, but it will include an offer of grants and low-interest loans to support families in investing in insulation, low-carbon heating, and home improvements. The Government is also committed to boosting minimum energy efficiency standards for private rented homes and social housing to tackle fuel poverty. Joe Morris welcomed the announcement to end the scandal of cold, draughty homes in the rental sector, which particularly affects people in his constituency. He asked the Minister if she agrees that the poorest in our communities are often forced to live in these cold and draughty properties, and that it is important to cut bills and give those families energy security. The Minister agreed, stating that one in four households in the private rented sector is in fuel poverty, and the Government's commitment to improve and boost minimum energy efficiency standards will lift 1 million renters out of fuel poverty. Laura Kyrke-Smith expressed concern that people across her constituency are worried about how they will afford to heat their homes this winter. She noted that the former Energy Minister, now the shadow Minister, admitted that the previous Conservative Government should have gone "further and faster" on insulating homes. The Minister agreed that the legacy left by the last Government was woeful and that ordinary people have paid the price. She reassured that the Government will do better and that the warm homes plan will kickstart the upgrades needed across the country. Dr Rupa Huq welcomed the plan, noting that millions of cold, draughty homes need updating across the UK. She asked the Minister if the plan will look at the lack of a national retrofit advice service in the UK and whether the Government could take a leaf out of Sadiq Khan's book, as his service in London has helped 24,000 households. The Minister agreed that there is a critical role for national advice to ensure people can access support and know the range of interventions available, and this will be considered as part of the warm homes plan. Mr Richard Holden (Basildon and Billericay) (Con) raised a constituency issue regarding a low-income pensioner who had a solar panel installed on their home through a Government scheme, but is now facing issues with birds nesting in it. The Minister agreed to meet with him to discuss the range of things that can be done. Ellie Chowns (North Herefordshire) (Green) expressed hope that the Government is serious about energy security and net zero, and asked what steps are being taken to ensure that the promised 1.5 million new homes are built to net zero standards, have solar panels, and are fully insulated. The Minister stated that the Government has an ambitious plan to build more homes and that they want these homes to be fit for the future, with information on the standards to be put out in due course. Wera Hobhouse (Bath) (LD) noted the important role of local authorities as trusted sources of knowledge and expertise, guiding householders, and asked if the Department will devolve resources to local authorities to fulfil this role. The Minister acknowledged that local and regional government will be a key part of the warm homes plan. Pippa Heylings (South Cambridgeshire) (LD), the Liberal Democrat spokesperson, welcomed the news of the warm homes plan but asked if the Minister agrees that ahead of this winter, an emergency home insulation plan, particularly for the vulnerable, is needed, along with allocated funding. The Minister stated that the Government is committed to an additional £6.6 billion to invest in the warm homes plan over the course of this Parliament and that they have already announced the warm homes local grant and warm homes social housing fund, which are targeted at low-income families.