Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what action they will take to ensure that all properties affected by defects under the Great British Insulation Scheme and the Energy Company Obligation scheme are remediated promptly and safely.

Answered by Lord Wilson of Sedgefield - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Due to the level of non-compliance in EWI, the Government is offering audits to all households where External Wall Insulation (EWI) was installed under ECO4 or GBIS.

If non-compliance is found, the original installer is responsible for the cost of putting the work right. Should the installer have ceased to trade, the protections under the 25-year guarantee can be invoked.

Checks across all measures under ECO4 and GBIS, will continue to be carried out by TrustMark and certification bodies as part of routine surveillance.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to strengthen oversight and governance in future energy efficiency programmes.

Answered by Lord Wilson of Sedgefield - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government has taken decisive action to protect consumers, strengthen oversight and standards, including:

• Greater oversight of TrustMark’s operations through a Memorandum of Understanding and the appointment of a Departmental board observer,
• PAS 2035/2030:2023 introduced requirements for Retrofit Coordinators to conduct site visits and raised qualifications standards for Retrofit Designers,
• Certification bodies agreed installers should hold one PAS 2030 certification per measure, improving accountability,
• Continued PAS 2035/2030 standards sponsorship, with the British Standards Institution reviewing further improvements.

Further improvements will be outlined in the Warm Homes Plan.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the National Audit Office report Energy efficiency installations under the Energy Company Obligation, published on 14 October (HC 1334), what steps they will take to ensure that lessons are learned from existing government energy efficiency schemes before extending similar measures to the rented housing sectors.

Answered by Lord Wilson of Sedgefield - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Lessons learned from ECO and related schemes will be utilised in the design of any future schemes to ensure high-quality delivery and clear accountability, with focus on streamlining processes and improving consumer outcomes.

The upcoming Warm Homes Plan will outline reforms to simplify the consumer protection landscape, strengthen installation standards, and ensure swift remediation and redress for consumers.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what measures they are introducing to improve accountability, transparency and consumer protection in publicly funded energy efficiency schemes, in the light of the National Audit Office report Energy efficiency installations under the Energy Company Obligation, published on 14 October (HC 1334).

Answered by Lord Wilson of Sedgefield - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government has taken decisive action to protect consumers, including:

• Greater oversight of TrustMark’s operations through a Memorandum of Understanding and the appointment of a Departmental board observer,
• PAS 2035/2030:2023 introduced requirements for Retrofit Coordinators to conduct site visits and raised qualifications standards for Retrofit Designers,
• Certification bodies agreed installers should hold one PAS 2030 certification per measure, improving accountability,
• Continued PAS 2035/2030 standards sponsorship, with the British Standards Institution reviewing further improvements.

The Department will also be offering an on-site audit to all households that received external wall insulation under ECO4 and GBIS. Where issues are found, remediation will be at no cost to the consumer, with installers responsible for repairs.

The Department is conducting a comprehensive overhaul of the consumer protection system, with reforms to be outlined in the Warm Homes Plan.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the availability of qualified tradespeople to meet proposals for the energy efficiency requirements of private rented housing.

Answered by Lord Wilson of Sedgefield - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Government recently consulted on increasing minimum energy efficiency standards in the domestic private rented sector. The consultation included proposals for rented homes to achieve Energy Performance Certificate C or equivalent by 2030 and was accompanied by the Department’s options assessment. A government response to the consultation and further impact assessment will be published in due course. The Government’s Warm Homes Plan will also include further initiatives to facilitate the creation of high quality, well-paid, and future proofed jobs in the retrofit sector.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government why they do not plan to achieve the targets set out in the Clean Energy Jobs Plan before the proposed dates for meeting the minimum energy efficiency standards in the private rented sector.

Answered by Lord Wilson of Sedgefield - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Clean Energy Jobs Plan sets out the workforce needed to deliver our clean energy ambitions and how the government will work in partnership with industry and trade unions to deliver it. As outlined in the plan, the Government will shortly be bringing forward the Warm Homes Plan. This plan will detail initiatives specifically designed to facilitate growth of the retrofit supply chain.