Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether she has made an estimate of the average lifespan of a park home, in context of potential opportunities for carbon cost savings.
Answered by Graham Stuart
While an estimate has not been undertaken by the Government of the lifespan of park homes, the Government supports park home residents in the transition to net zero through the Homes Upgrade Grant, Energy Company Obligation and Great British Insulation Scheme.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of insulating park homes under the phase two of the Home Update Grant.
Answered by Graham Stuart
£630m has been allocated to Local Authorities (LAs) for Phase 2 of the Home Upgrade Grant, which began in April 2023. So far around £1.5m has been released to LAs for 113 park homes. Under this Phase, up to 10% of the total homes improved by a LA may be park homes; LAs may spend up to £15,000, on average, to install energy efficiency or low carbon heating measures in park homes.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps she is taking to reduce the number of people in debt to their energy supplier.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Ofgem’s licence conditions require energy suppliers to support consumers at risk of or in energy debt.
Citizens Advice and energy companies have jointly launched a campaign called, ‘Speak, Seek and Save’ to support consumers struggling to afford their energy bills. To get assistance, customers should first contact their energy supplier, and the supplier should create suitable payment plans based on the customer’s ability to pay.
Additionally, the government's 'Breathing Space' program offers support to consumers in debt by giving them legal protections from creditors for 60 days. Customers in debt can apply to a debt adviser for a breathing space.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his department is taking to increase grid capacity (a) nationwide and (b) in North Shropshire constituency.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is committed to expanding electricity network capacity to accommodate new clean sources of electricity generation and demand, as set out jointly with Ofgem in the Electricity Networks Strategic Framework.
Across Great Britain, Ofgem has already accelerated £20bn of strategic transmission projects to support the government’s 2030 renewables ambition and has allowed £22.2bn for local distribution networks to expand capacity ready for low-carbon technology growth.
The government does not hold data by constituency but Scottish Power Energy Networks, the Distribution Network Operator that covers North Shropshire, has been allowed nearly £3bn to maintain and upgrade its areas between 2023-28.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many (a) heat pumps and (b) biomass boilers have been installed in social housing under the boiler upgrade scheme since the end of the domestic renewable heat incentive.
Answered by Graham Stuart
Support to upgrade the energy performance of social homes is provided through the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, Energy Company Obligation, Local Authority Delivery and Home Upgrade Grant.
There have been no installations of heat pumps or biomass boilers in social housing under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme as these properties are not eligible.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many and what proportion of refusals of applications to the Alternative Fuels Payment Scheme were later overturned.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
In relation to question 194284, providing this information would exceed the threshold and incur a disproportionate cost to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
For questions 194278 and 194281, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 20 July 2023 to questions 194610, 194611, 194612 and 194613.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to encourage the roll-out of clean heat in social housing.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF), launched in 2020, will upgrade a significant amount of the social housing stock below EPC C up to that standard, delivering warm, energy-efficient homes, reducing carbon emissions and fuel bills, tackling fuel poverty, and supporting green jobs. Total committed funding for the SHDF and associated demonstrator is just over £1bn.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many and what percentage of applications to the Alternative Fuels Payment Scheme were rejected.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 20 July 2023 to questions 194610, 194611, 194612 and 194613.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many households (a) in North Shropshire constituency, (b) in Shropshire and (c) nationally were eligible for Alternative Fuel Payments.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
In relation to question 194284, providing this information would exceed the threshold and incur a disproportionate cost to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
For questions 194278 and 194281, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 20 July 2023 to questions 194610, 194611, 194612 and 194613.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what the mean time is between submission of an application and an Alternative Fuel Payment being provided.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
In relation to question 194284, providing this information would exceed the threshold and incur a disproportionate cost to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
For questions 194278 and 194281, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 20 July 2023 to questions 194610, 194611, 194612 and 194613.