Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the eligibility criteria of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme for households that installed air source heat pumps prior to the introduction of government grant funding; and whether he plans to amend the scheme to allow support for the replacement of such systems where no public funding was previously received.

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme supports property owners to replace existing fossil fuel systems with low-carbon heating alternatives. The Government has no plans to fund replacement of existing heat pumps through the scheme to ensure it maximises carbon savings and supports the greatest number of households transitioning from fossil fuels with the funding available.

Properties with an existing heat pump will generally already have made the necessary ancillary upgrades, reducing costs compared with an initial installation. The Government’s Warm Homes Plan will support households, including through work with industry to develop green finance options.