Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps the department is taking to ensure building energy standards are kept up to date in line with technological advancements in energy-saving technology.

Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government published the Future Homes and Buildings Standards (FHBS) on 24 March 2026. New homes built to these standards will have high levels of energy-efficiency, excellent insulation, and low carbon heating, such as heat pumps and heat networks. They will also be zero-carbon ready, meaning they will become zero-carbon in operation as the electricity grid decarbonises without the need for further retrofit.

The FHBS includes a functional requirement for all new homes to have a system of on-site renewable electricity generation, subject to practical site constraints. In most cases, we expect this will be met with the installation of solar panels. The FHBS sets energy efficiency requirements for new homes in performance terms, without prescribing specific technologies to be used. This allows developers to innovate and select the most practical and cost-effective solutions appropriate for the site.

The FHBS comes into force for most non-higher risk building work on 24 March 2027, followed by a further 12-month transitional period to give industries, such as the solar installation industry, time to prepare to meet the demand.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, in what way the reforms to public procurement announced on 5 August 2026 will contribute to the Government's commitment that 50% of food purchased by the public sector will be local or produced to higher environmental standards.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government’s new social value rules mean that, from 1 January 2027, businesses bidding for government contracts - a market worth £90bn per year - will be judged on their commitment to creating high-quality British jobs, tackling local skills shortages, and supporting young people into apprenticeships and work placements. DEFRA is keen to ensure these new social value criteria support good jobs and skills within the UK farming industry and support our ambition for at least half of all food purchased by the public sector to be locally produced or certified to higher environmental standards.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment the department has made of the effectiveness of the Standard Assessment Procedure when applied to new energy-saving technologies.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government recognises that there are opportunities to improve how the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) accommodates and recognises new energy-saving technologies and is taking steps to address these as part of the transition to the Home Energy Model.

We have strengthened our latest contractual Key Performance Indicators to refine guidance materials and improve application timescales. Additionally, the new modular HEM will enable new technologies to be recognised in the core engine on a more frequent basis, removing the need for a ‘bolt-on’ calculation.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps the department is taking to ensure the Standard Assessment Procedure is kept up to date in line with technological advancements in energy-saving technology.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government is taking steps to ensure that the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) continues to recognise innovative energy- saving technologies and remains fit for purpose during the transition to the Home Energy Model.

We have strengthened KPIs in our latest contracts to improve application timescales and the operation of the product recognition process. This includes working with our commercial partners to define timeframes where appropriate and refining guidance materials to deliver a clearer end-to-end process.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate the department has made of the comparative performance of predicted and actual energy performance of homes.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Department has funded evidence on the relationship between predicted and actual home energy performance through its publicly available EPC Accuracy Research. The research identified differences between modelled EPC energy use and metered household energy consumption and found that these differences reflected a range of factors, including assumptions within methodologies, occupancy rates and changes to properties since EPCs were produced. The findings helped inform the development of RdSAP 10 and are informing the upcoming Home Energy Model to better reflect real-world building performance.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her department has made of a) the current value and b) the potential value of the creative industry sector in a) the UK, b) London, and c) Norfolk.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The Creative Industries generated £145.8 billion in gross value added (GVA) in the UK in 2024, accounting for 5.5% of total UK GVA. The sector continues to grow, with Creative Industries GVA growing by 2.9% in the three months to June 2026 compared to 0.4% growth across the UK economy.

In London, the Creative Industries generated £64.1bn in GVA in the East of England in 2023, representing 11.1% of the capital's total GVA.

Estimates on GVA generated by the Creative Industries are not available for Norfolk. However, the Creative Industries generated £6.3bn in GVA in the East of England in 2023, accounting for 3.1% of the region's total GVA.

There are no official estimates of the potential GVA contributed by the Creative Industries. However, the Creative Industries Sector Plan sets an annual investment target of £31 billion by 2035 across the UK.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what consumer protections are in place where newly installed heat pumps do not adequately meet consumers' heating needs and Building Regulations prevent the reinstallation of higher-carbon heating appliances.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

All government supported heat pump installations are required to be certified by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS). This provides consumers with access to additional redress routes within the MCS framework.

In the first instance, all consumers should raise their concerns with their installer, relevant consumer code or certification body.

We are committed to reforming the consumer protection system for Government supported home upgrades and are consulting on proposals.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what metrics the Government plans to use to measure progress towards the commitment that 50% of publicly procured food should be local or produced to higher environmental standards.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government remains committed to its ambition that 50% of all food sourced by public bodies is locally produced or grown to higher environmental standards. However, information on the origin and sustainability of food in public sector supply chains is limited. Defra is therefore collecting new data to understand the extent to which public sector settings are serving food from local and sustainable sources and what further action is needed. We expect this work to be completed by Summer 2027.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of Building Regulations preventing the reinstallation of higher-carbon heating appliances on vulnerable, elderly and low-income consumers where it is necessary to change technology.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Low carbon heating systems are already an effective way to reduce household energy bills and are widely deployed across Government grant schemes to support low-income households. Analysis suggests a typical home could save around £130 a year compared with a gas boiler if they use a well-installed, efficient heat pump alongside a suitable smart tariff.

In terms of building regulations, heating systems such as boilers and heat pumps are defined as fixed building services. Their replacement in existing dwellings is covered by Part L and associated statutory guidance, which states the new system should not produce more emissions or consume more energy per kWh of heat than the system being replaced. This supports important principles not just in relation to carbon emissions but also to energy efficiency and affordability.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what consumer protections are in place for vulnerable and low-income households unable to afford electrical heating solutions where Building Regulations prevent the reinstallation of higher-carbon heating appliances.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Tackling high energy costs is a central priority for the Government. We are removing VAT from domestic electricity bills from 1 October, building on the average £150 reduction in energy bills announced at the last Budget. Around 6 million families are benefiting from the expanded Warm Home Discount.

All Government-supported heat pump installations must be certified under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS), giving consumers access to additional redress routes. Consumers should first raise concerns with their installer, consumer code or certification body.

We are committed to reforming the consumer protection system for Government supported home upgrades and are consulting on proposals.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 16 July 2026 to Question 17560, how much money from the Border Biosecurity Campaign in 2027/28 will be allocated to a) visible information campaigns in major ports and airports, b) information campaigns in small ports and private airports and c) information campaigns on risks from personal meat and animal product imports.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Up to £1,000,000 from the Cabinet Office Integrated Security Fund will be managed by Defra in financial year 2027-2028, to deliver an integrated biosecurity communications campaign at borders. Work is taking place during this financial year (2026-2027) to gather insights and develop the campaign plan.

Found: Conservative; Bridlington and The Wolds) Sarah Dyke (Liberal Democrat; Glastonbury and Somerton) Ben Goldsborough

Found: Members present: Mr Alistair Carmichael (Chair); Sarah Bool; Charlie Dewhirst; Sarah Dyke; Ben Goldsborough