Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department is taking steps to establish a (a) green and (b) decent homes programme.

The Government recognises the need for low carbon homes, fit for a net zero future. Future standards next year will set our new homes and buildings on a path that moves away from relying on volatile fossil fuels and ensures they are fit for a net zero future. These homes will be future proofed with low carbon heating and high levels of energy efficiency. No further energy efficiency retrofit work will be necessary to enable them to become zero-carbon over time as the electricity grid continues to decarbonise. This will support our ambition that the 1.5 million homes we will build over the course of this parliament will be high quality, well designed and sustainable.

The Government is also clear that everyone deserves a safe and decent home to live in and recently committed to bringing forward a consultation as soon as possible setting out plans for a reformed Decent Homes Standard that will apply to both the social and private rented sectors. We have also committed to consult on EPC C (or equivalent) by 2030 for both rented sectors so that existing homes are warm and can be cheaper to heat.