Asked by: Lord Carrington (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
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.
Asked by: Lord Carrington (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
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.
Asked by: Lord Carrington (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
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:
Further improvements will be outlined in the Warm Homes Plan.
Asked by: Lord Carrington (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
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.
Asked by: Lord Carrington (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
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:
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.
Asked by: Lord Carrington (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
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.
Asked by: Lord Carrington (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the requirements for the training and certification of technicians in the use of alternative products during the planned transition away from fluorinated gases.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
As part of Defra’s ongoing review of the F-gas legislation in Great Britain, we are considering proposals relating to the transition away from F-gases. We intend to go out to consultation on proposals for reforms in due course. Linked to this have been ongoing considerations for the training and certification requirements for the use alternatives to fluorinated gases.
To support this work there is ongoing engagement with stakeholders across relevant sectors. Through this engagement, Defra will ensure future policy development takes account of the technical considerations and the practical requirements of stakeholders.
Asked by: Lord Carrington (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the consultation on F gas regulation will include a section on mandatory training for flammable refrigerants.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The GB F-gas review is ongoing, and we are in the process of developing proposals for amending the F-gas legislation in Great Britain. As part of this process, we are considering requirements relating to the training and certification for the use of alternatives to fluorinated gases. We intend to go out to consultation on proposals for reform in due course. Defra officials have ongoing and valued engagement with sector stakeholders as part of the review process and have and will continue to gather incredibly useful input.
Asked by: Lord Carrington (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is their proposed timescale for the (1) consultation, and (2) review, of F gas regulation.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Great British F-gas review is ongoing, and we are in the process of developing proposals for amending the F-gas legislation in Great Britain. We intend to go out to consultation on proposals for reform in due course. Defra officials have ongoing and valued engagement with sector stakeholders as part of the review process and have gathered incredibly useful input.
Asked by: Lord Carrington (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government which Department is responsible for F gas regulation training requirements.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra is in the process of leading a review of the F-gas legislation in Great Britain, which includes reviewing the requirements related to training and certification in the use of fluorinated gases. The domestic regulations provide powers for authorised persons in England, Scotland and Wales to enforce the F-gas Regulation, designate certification and training bodies and include a power for appointing bodies to undertake certification, evaluation and attestation of F-gas handlers. Our GOV.UK page lists the required qualifications needed to work with F-gases in the United Kingdom:
Qualifications to work with F gas - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).