Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford East)
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 reduce waiting times for new grid connections for businesses in West Yorkshire.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department is working closely with Ofgem, the National Energy System Operator, and the network companies on a suite of reforms to improve grid access and reduce connection times across Great Britain, including West Yorkshire. This includes reforming the connections queue to prioritise projects that are ready and needed, strategically planning and accelerating network investment, and addressing wider barriers to speed up new grid infrastructure build such as planning delays, and skills and supply chain constraints.
Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford East)
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 support local energy efficiency and demand reduction measures for commercial premises in Bradford.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards are in place for non-domestic buildings, meaning that most non-domestic properties cannot be leased with an Energy Performance Certificate below band E. This Department consulted on strengthening these standards and will publish the response in due course.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme offers grants of £7500 towards the cost of purchasing and installing heat pumps.
The Government also funds the UK Business Climate Hub, an online resource supporting Small and Medium Enterprises reduce their energy use. Specific funding is available through Bradford Council’s Local Industrial Decarbonisation Project and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Business Sustainability Support.
Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford East)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what plans his Department has to provide funding for low-carbon hydrogen production and use in West Yorkshire.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The UK Government is supporting electrolytic hydrogen production projects through the Hydrogen Allocation Rounds (HARs). Projects that were successful in the first allocation round (HAR1) are now moving through to the final investment decision, construction and operation phases. In total, they are expected to unlock around £400 million of private investment and create over 600 direct jobs.
This includes Bradford Low Carbon Hydrogen, located in Bradford city centre, which will produce hydrogen for diggers and buses. Published subsidy award details for this project include approximately £13 million in grant funding and around £400 million under the Hydrogen Production Business Model. The exact amount of funding will depend on the hydrogen produced at the site over a 15-year period.
We will seek feedback on the proposed design and delivery of the third hydrogen allocation round (HAR3) through a market engagement exercise in early 2026.
Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford East)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the capacity of the electricity distribution network in Bradford and West Yorkshire to support new commercial and industrial connections.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We are committed to expanding the electricity network to support new commercial and industrial connections and are working closely with Ofgem and industry to mobilise the investment at the scale and pace required. For the current distribution price control, RIIO‑ED2, Ofgem has allowed £22.2 billion for upfront network investment, including £3.1 billion for network upgrades. The next price control starting in 2028, ED3, will be informed by Regional Energy Strategic Plans to enable long‑term, strategic investment driven by regional and local energy requirements.
Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford East)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of expanding local renewable energy generation in Bradford and West Yorkshire.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
This Government is hugely ambitious about the role that community energy will play in achieving our mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower. On 10 February 2026, we announced the Local Power Plan: a joint DESNZ-Great British Energy (GBE) publication setting out the UK’s largest ever public investment in community energy, up to £1 billion.
GBE has funded rooftop solar for around 250 schools and 260 NHS sites. This is cutting bills for schools and hospitals, releasing money for frontline services. This includes Feversham Primary Academy in Bradford.
GBE has also funded over £16 million to the Mayoral Renewables Fund, supporting solar on fire stations, leisure centres, police headquarters and schools across England. This includes Bradford Pool and Sports Centre in Bradford East.
The Great British Energy Community Fund, a £5 million grant programme delivered by the five Local Net Zero Hubs, has supported projects in West Yorkshire. This includes the Sustainable Arts Centre in Leeds.
Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford East)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate she has made of the additional annual cost to households in Bradford caused by delays in delivering large-scale home insulation programmes since 2019.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
No estimates have been made on the delays of home insulation programmes since 2019. We know improving the energy efficiency of our homes is an important step in reducing fuel poverty.
There are several government energy efficiency schemes and households can access the government's home retrofit tool on GOV.UK (www.gov.uk/improve-energy-efficiency), which allows users to get tailored recommendations for home improvements that could make their property cheaper to heat and keep warm.
This government’s ambitious Warm Homes Plan will transform homes across the country by making them cleaner and cheaper to run, from installing new insulation to rolling out solar and heat pumps. We will publish more details soon.
Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford East)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent progress her Department has made in meeting the targets set out in the Carbon Budget Delivery Plan; and what assessment she has made of the implications of current progress for households in high-poverty areas such as Bradford East.
Answered by Katie White - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The government’s Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery Plan set out how the UK will reduce emissions and benefit from lower bills, skilled jobs, warmer homes and cleaner air. We are working across government on a comprehensive Warm Homes Plan, which will be a major step forward to cut energy bills for good. Scaling up new clean energy industries will create opportunities to actively reduce inequalities and create good jobs. We will continue to invest in clean low-cost energy. Our approach to the transition is built on fairness, ensuring everyone reaps the benefits and that no one is left behind.
Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford East)
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 end the higher standing charges paid by prepayment meter users; and if she will make an assessment of the impact of that inequality on low-income families in Bradford East.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Since 1 April 2024, under the price cap, Ofgem has levelised standing charges for prepayment meter and direct debit customers and implemented a process of cost reconciliation for suppliers. This reduces the standing charges of consumers with prepayment meters, while each direct debit consumer pays more than they would have otherwise done.
This ends the inequity of people with prepayment meters, many of whom are vulnerable, being charged more up-front for their energy than other consumers. The Government knows too much of the burden of the energy bill is placed on standing charges. We are working with Ofgem to address this.
Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford East)
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 regional breakdowns of households spending more than 20 per cent of disposable income on energy, including figures for Bradford, as part of the annual Fuel Poverty Statistics.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is currently reviewing our approach to affordability metrics, following the consultation published earlier this year on the review of the fuel poverty strategy. We will provide further updates in our upcoming fuel poverty strategy.
Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford East)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent assessment she has made of the level of fuel poverty in Bradford; and what steps her Department is taking to support households spending more than a quarter of their income on energy bills.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
In 2023, 18.7% of households in the Bradford East parliamentary constituency were estimated to be in fuel poverty.
It is imperative that fuel poor homes benefit from the transition to net zero. We are working across government on a comprehensive Warm Homes Plan for households to cut energy bills for good and will publish more details soon. We will upgrade up to 5 million homes across the country, including those in Bradford, and the transition to warmer, decarbonised homes. This will include support for the most vulnerable to help slash fuel poverty.
There are multiple targeted schemes in place to deliver energy efficiency measures and low carbon heating to low income and fuel poor households. Schemes include the Energy Company Obligation (ECO), the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund, and the new Warm Homes: Local Grant.
Support is also available through the Warm Home Discount schemes which provide eligible low-income households across Great Britain with £150 off their winter energy bill. We are expanding the Warm Home Discount to around an additional 2.7 million households. This means that from this winter around 6 million low-income households will receive the £150 support to help with their energy bill costs.