Asked by: Sorcha Eastwood (Alliance - Lagan Valley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether her Department's recognition of air-to-air heat pumps as a qualifying technology under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme will be reflected in (a) guidance and (b) encouragement to devolved governments to adopt a similarly technology-neutral approach to domestic heat pump support.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Warm Homes Plan set out measures to support the deployment of air-to-air heat pumps, including providing grants under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) and removing other barriers to uptake. The BUS is only available to eligible properties in England and Wales.
Each of the devolved governments have developed their own strategies that will contribute to the UK meeting its Net Zero emissions targets. Individual Net Zero targets have also been set in legislation by the devolved governments.
The UK Government will continue working closely with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, recognising their different needs and responsibilities.
Asked by: Sorcha Eastwood (Alliance - Lagan Valley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether the Warm Homes Plan will generate Barnett consequentials for Northern Ireland.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The funding allocations for the Warm Homes Plan do include Barnett consequentials, however the Treasury has not yet confirmed the specific appointments for the Devolved Governments.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each have unique devolution settlements. The age, tenure, type and size of building stock varies across different parts of the UK. Therefore, some aspects of the Warm Homes Plan will apply equally in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland while other parts will not be relevant in all nations of the UK.
The UK Government will continue to work closely with the Devolved Governments in delivering the Warm Homes Plan.