Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department will be taking to introduce an electrification first approach to homes that are off the gas grid.

The Government has consulted on proposals to end the installation of fossil fuel heating in homes off the gas grid from 2026 in England, with a ‘heat pump first’ approach to replacement heating systems. We are currently reviewing responses to the consultation and will respond in due course.

It would be for the Northern Ireland Executive to consider any similar steps for homes off the gas grid in Northern Ireland.