Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the new energy performance certificates methodology will take into account higher-rated water heaters and infrared heating.
Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Technologies for which we have already obtained sufficient evidence – including heat batteries for water heating – will be supported at launch of HEM: EPC. Other technologies will be added over time via the new innovative product recognition process.
Government is working with manufacturers to ensure that infrared systems can be represented fully and accurately. To enable this, further work is required from industry to develop a robust, validated test method for measuring their operative temperature.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what types of building will be exempt from the proposed new energy performance certificate standards for rental properties.
Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The private rented sector minimum energy efficiency standard regulations apply to all privately rented homes that are let on specific types of tenancy agreement and legally required to have an Energy Performance Certificate. There are a number of exemptions available through the current regulations. We recently consulted on the suitability of current exemptions and will make some amendments and additions to improve the exemptions regime when the new standard applies.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they are on target to build 1.5 million new homes by the end of this Parliament.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The government’s Plan for Change includes a hugely ambitious milestone of building 1.5 million safe and decent homes this Parliament. Progress will be measured through the number of net additional dwellings and we will update Parliament in the usual manner.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the cost of the BBC TV licence in terms of the general cost of living.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The cost of the licence fee will rise in line with inflation on 1 April, to provide the BBC with a stable financial footing to deliver for audiences and support the wider creative industries.
The Government recognises the financial difficulties being faced by households and is committed to ensuring the BBC’s funding model is sustainable, fair and affordable. To support the public with the cost of the TV licence, we will also continue to support the Simple Payment Plan to spread payments through smaller instalments. Free licences remain available for over-75s on Pension Credit, with reduced fees for care home residents and blind individuals.
The ongoing Charter Review will ensure the BBC is sustainably and fairly funded to provide value for licence fee payers and drive growth, opportunity and good jobs across the country.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will abolish marriage value as part of their forthcoming leasehold reforms.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
I refer the Noble Lord to the Written Ministerial Statement HLWS1278 on 27 January 2026, and the answer given to Question HL12535 on 10 December 2025.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what action they plan to take to reduce the backlog of people waiting to take a driving test.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) main priority is upholding road safety standards while it works hard to reduce car practical driving test waiting times. The agency is intensifying its efforts to reduce waiting times and improve access to driving tests that will break down barriers to opportunity as part of the government’s Plan for Change.
On the 12 November, the Secretary of State for Transport, updated the Transport Select Committee on the government’s ongoing response to high driving test waiting times. In the coming months, DVSA will:
Change the booking service to allow only learner car drivers to book and manage their tests
Introduce a limit on the number of times a learner car driver can move or swap a test to twice and also limit the area they can move a test to once booked.
Make use of MOD driving examiners for up to 12 months to help tackle driving test waiting times.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they plan to introduce a cap on ground rents.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Through the draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill published on 27 January 2026, the government is proposing to cap ground rent at £250 per year, before changing to a peppercorn in 40 years.
For further information, I refer the Noble Lord to the Written Ministerial Statement HLWS1278 on 27 January 2026.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of shareholder capital in English water companies.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Ofwat is the economic regulator for the water industry. It is its responsibility to ensure that water companies are able to secure the financing required to conduct their operations, including through equity capital. Since December 2024 water companies have raised over £2 billion in new equity.
As part of this function, Ofwat publishes an annual Monitoring and Financial Resilience Report. This contains an up-to-date calculation of the Regulated Capital Value (RCV) of all water companies. RCV is a measure of a company’s capital base.