Asked by: Max Wilkinson (Liberal Democrat - Cheltenham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how Retrofit Information Support and Expertise is supporting contractors to implement the Warm Homes Local Grant in Gloucestershire.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Retrofit, Information, Support, and Expertise (RISE) is a free support service funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), which provides training, guidance and support to help housing providers and their supply chains across England, to plan and deliver successful domestic retrofit programmes. For specific queries relating to support received or available to supply chain organisations, including in specific regions. organisations are encouraged to engage with the RISE team directly at info@riseretrofit.org.uk . If organisations would like to speak to the department about the RISE service, you are welcome to contact DESNZ at: TAF mailbox. tafteam@energysecurity.gov.uk
Asked by: Max Wilkinson (Liberal Democrat - Cheltenham)
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 capacity of skilled workers in Gloucestershire to implement the Warm Homes Local Grant before winter 2025.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government has not made a specific assessment of the capacity of skilled workers in Gloucestershire to implement the Warm Homes: Local Grant.
Prior to beginning to upgrade homes, and drawing down the funding allocated for this, all local authorities participating in the scheme are required to demonstrate they have procured sufficient capacity to deliver the funding. Local authorities concerned that there is insufficient capacity in their area to deliver their project are encouraged to contact their assigned Delivery Support Manager for the scheme.
Asked by: Max Wilkinson (Liberal Democrat - Cheltenham)
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 support provided by Retrofit Information Support and Expertise to Cheltenham Borough Council for implementing works funded through the Warm Homes Local Grant.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Retrofit, Information, Support, and Expertise (RISE) is a free support service funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), which provides training, guidance and support to help social housing providers, local authorities and their supply chains across England plan and deliver successful domestic retrofit programmes. For specific queries relating to support received or available to specific organisations, organisations are encouraged to engage with the RISE team directly at info@riseretrofit.org.uk . If organisations would like to speak to the department about the RISE service, you are welcome to contact DESNZ at: TAF mailbox. tafteam@energysecurity.gov.uk
Asked by: Max Wilkinson (Liberal Democrat - Cheltenham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when the next batch of funding from the Warm Homes Local Grant will be available for Cheltenham Borough Council.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Cheltenham Borough Council participates in the Warm Homes: Local Grant (WH:LG) as part of a consortium led by Stroud District Council. Stroud District Council is expected to receive the initial payment of WH:LG funding shortly, subject to the Council completing any administrative actions requested.
As the consortium lead, Stroud District Council will be responsible for managing any distribution of funding to consortium members, including Cheltenham Borough Council.
Asked by: Max Wilkinson (Liberal Democrat - Cheltenham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what support his Department is providing for local authorities to implement the Warm Homes Local Grant.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
To support local authorities to implement the Warm Homes: Local Grant, the Government is funding a free Technical Assistance Facility called the Retrofit Information, Support and Expertise: ‘RISE’. RISE provides technical support for local authorities from when they request funding to beginning to upgrade homes, as well as access to experts, training and guidance to enhance their capability to deliver the scheme. All local authorities in England can access support through this facility. In addition, Government has procured a delivery partner to provide ongoing support to local authorities throughout the delivery period, with each project assigned a Delivery Support Manager to provide project delivery expertise.
Asked by: Max Wilkinson (Liberal Democrat - Cheltenham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what his Department's policy is on promoting deep geothermal energy.
Answered by Kerry McCarthy - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government supports the development of geothermal projects, provided they deliver affordable energy for consumers and are environmentally appropriate. The following schemes are open to applications from deep-geothermal projects: Contracts for Difference (for geothermal power); the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme and Green Heat Network Fund (for geothermal heat).
Recognising that cost is a barrier, the Government commissioned research to understand how we can support the geothermal sector to achieve its potential.
Asked by: Max Wilkinson (Liberal Democrat - Cheltenham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to improve the energy efficiency of homes in winter 2024-2025.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We have various schemes already delivering improvements to home energy efficiency through the Energy Company Obligation, the Great British Insulation Scheme, the Home Upgrade Grant, the Warm Homes: Social Housing Decarbonisation, and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
Customers can also use the tool ‘Find Ways to Save Energy in your Home’ (www.gov.uk/improve-energy-efficiency), which provides users with tailored recommendations for home improvements to increase energy efficiency and clean heat.
As the first step towards the Warm Homes Plan, the Government has committed an initial £3.4 billion over the next 3 years towards heat decarbonisation and household energy efficiency.
Asked by: Max Wilkinson (Liberal Democrat - Cheltenham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent assessment he has made of the potential contribution of domestic solar energy generation to the UK meeting its net zero targets.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Domestic solar will play an essential role. Through the Solar Taskforce and the forthcoming Solar Roadmap, we will set out recommendations on how Government and industry can work together to significantly increase rooftop solar capacity.