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 is taking steps to encourage more people to take up the Warm Home Discount Scheme during winter 2023-24.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
We are currently writing to around 4.5 million households, informing people that either they will receive the discount automatically or, in some cases, advising them to call the helpline with further information to check eligibility.
We are also working with consumer agencies, energy suppliers and other organisations to ensure accurate scheme information and to help them to raise awareness and advise their clients appropriately where they might benefit.
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 her Department has issued guidance to park home residents on what steps to take when the cost of insulating their homes exceeds the £15,000 price cap under phase two of the Home Upgrade Grant.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Department has not issued guidance as part of the Home Upgrade Grant to park home residents on steps to take when the cost of insulating their homes exceeds the £15,000 price cap. The Department has however issued guidance to Local Authorities (LAs) on what steps to take when the cost of insulating park homes exceeds the £15,000 cost cap which is an average across the stock being upgraded. LAs can build funding ‘headroom’ on park homes which do not require as much funding, due to fewer or less expensive measures. LAs are therefore able to spend more than £15,000 on individual park homes where they have built up the headroom to do so.
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 plans to increase the £15,000 price cap for park home properties under phase two of the Home Upgrade Grant.
Answered by Graham Stuart
There are no current plans to increase the £15,000 price cap for park home properties in phase two of the Home Upgrade Grant (HUG). However, under HUG Local Authorities (LAs) may spend up to £15,000, on average, to install energy efficiency or low carbon heating measures in park homes. This means that LAs can spend less than £15,000 on park homes that need fewer measures, and more than £15,000 on those park homes that need more extensive work – so long as the average cost across the stock being upgraded is £15,000 or less.
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 encourage more people to take up the Energy Support Scheme during winter 2023-24.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
The Energy Bills Support Scheme was a Government initiative to help 29 million households with energy bills over winter 2022/23. Eligible households received a £400 non-repayable Government discount. This scheme is now closed.
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, if she will publish a best practice guide for park home insulation.
Answered by Graham Stuart
In addition to updating existing best practice guidance documents for insulation measures, the Department is working with industry to publish a best practice guide for park homes insulation. A date for publication of the park homes guide will be confirmed in due course.
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
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 - Shadow Minister (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.