Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the British Embassy Guatemala City article entitled UK-backed programme supports sustainable livestock farming in Honduras, published on 2 September 2026, what proportion of the finance provided through the programme is expected to be repaid by beneficiaries.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The remaining economic value written down was approximately £195.3 million for HMS Albion and £233.2 million for HMS Bulwark. The hon. Gentleman will know that this is the write down value and not a cost or payment made from the Defence budget.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero press release entitled “Families set to save money through new and upgraded heat networks”, published on 23 September 2026, what metrics will be used to evaluate whether the investment in upgrading heat networks has delivered value for money.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Value for money and impact evaluations of the Heat Network Efficiency Scheme are ongoing. These will assess whether investment in upgrading heat networks has delivered expected benefits relative to costs. Key metrics will include improvements in network efficiency, reduced cost of heat, reduced customer bills, carbon emissions savings and reliability and service quality improvements. These benefits will be compared against programme and project costs using cost-benefit analysis metrics such as Net Present Social Value (NPSV) and Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR). The evaluations will also consider additionality, delivery effectiveness and the extent to which observed outcomes align with those anticipated in the programme business case.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, with reference to the Department’s press release entitled Joint Statement of 16th Meeting of the India–UK JETCO, published on 12 October 2026, what estimate he has made of the value of tariff savings realised by UK exporters to India since the agreement entered into force.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department has not yet made an estimate of the value of tariff savings realised by UK exporters to India since the agreement entered into force in July. This is because the data required to calculate the savings is not yet fully available. The Department will publish tariff savings estimates in due course once the data is available.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero press release entitled “Families set to save money through new and upgraded heat networks”, published on 23 September 2026, what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the Heat Network Efficiency Scheme in reducing household energy bills.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Value for money and impact evaluations of the Heat Network Efficiency Scheme are ongoing. These will assess whether investment in upgrading heat networks has delivered expected benefits relative to costs. Key metrics will include improvements in network efficiency, reduced cost of heat, reduced customer bills, carbon emissions savings and reliability and service quality improvements. These benefits will be compared against programme and project costs using cost-benefit analysis metrics such as Net Present Social Value (NPSV) and Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR). The evaluations will also consider additionality, delivery effectiveness and the extent to which observed outcomes align with those anticipated in the programme business case.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero press release entitled “Families set to save money through new and upgraded heat networks”, published on 23 September 2026, for what policy reason were no heat network projects in Essex included in the latest funding announced by the Government.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Both the Green Heat Network Fund and Heat Network Efficiency Scheme are demand led schemes, open to public, private and third sector heat network operators whose projects meet eligibility criteria.
There were no applications for funding from heat network projects in Essex in this latest HNES funding round (although awards were made to Essex projects in Round 2 and Round 8).
No projects in Essex have made successful applications for GHNF funding.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero press release entitled “Families set to save money through new and upgraded heat networks”, published on 23 September 2026, what estimate has been made of the average annual saving expected for households from the £90 million investment in heat networks.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Green Heat Network Fund announced five project awards totalling £78.3m. Average annual savings for residents connecting are to be confirmed subject to final project delivery, but all existing households will receive a tariff no higher than a gas boiler equivalent.
Ten organisations have received a share of over £12.2m Heat Network Efficiency Scheme capital grants, supporting over 2,300 homes. The average targeted reduction in the cost of delivered heat is 7.91 p/kWh. Due to variation in tariff structures the impact on the final consumer bills will vary – they will be monitored once works are complete and assessed through external evaluation.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero press release entitled “Families set to save money through new and upgraded heat networks”, published on 23 September 2026, whether it is her policy that heat network projects in Essex will receive future Government funding.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Green Heat Network Fund and Heat Network Efficiency Scheme are both demand led schemes, open to public, private and third sector heat network operators in England and Wales whose projects meet eligibility criteria. Future GHNF and HNES funding awards are dependent on application assessment against scheme rules rather than geographic location.
Strategic and local authorities interested in developing heat network zones can contact DESNZ to discuss potential funding and technical assistance.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps her Department is taking to support the development of heat network projects in Essex.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Green Heat Network Fund and Heat Network Efficiency Scheme are both demand led schemes, open to public, private and third sector heat network operators in England and Wales whose projects meet eligibility criteria. Future GHNF and HNES funding awards are dependent on application assessment against scheme rules rather than geographic location.
Strategic and local authorities interested in developing heat network zones can contact DESNZ to discuss potential funding and technical assistance.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions her Department has had with local authorities in Essex about developing or upgrading heat networks.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Heat network guidance and development or feasibility funding have previously been provided to Colchester Borough Council, Chelmsford Borough Council and Southend-on-Sea Borough Council.
The Greater South East Net Zero Hub has also engaged with Essex local authorities on heat network potential on the Department’s behalf.
The Delivery Partners for both the Green Heat Network Fund and Heat Network Efficiency Scheme are responsible for promoting these funding schemes throughout England and Wales to all eligible organisations including local authorities. They regularly host webinars and attend events to raise awareness of the schemes and to discuss potential applications.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero press release entitled “Families set to save money through new and upgraded heat networks”, published on 23 September 2026, what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of transporting hot water by electric barges as part of the Thames heat network project.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The effectiveness of the barge proposal included consideration of the volume of thermal energy carried by each barge, electrical energy requirements (considering barge propulsion and tidal movements), and the cost of heat delivered to customers relative to a natural gas counterfactual.
The barge proposal was assessed against the Green Heat Network Fund’s criteria for deliverability, value for money and technical feasibility. Unpressurised thermal storage is an established technology, and the applicant has substantial experience in barge transportation, already operating a fleet on the Thames for waste transportation.