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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the Written Statement of 13 March 2019, Spring Statement 2019, HCWS 1407, which Government department will (a) lead on the Future Homes Standard and (b) be responsible for coordination of UK energy efficiency policy for homes and buildings.

The Future Homes Standard will be delivered through Part L of the Building Regulations, led by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. The Standard supports delivery of the Industrial Strategy Clean Growth mission to halve energy use in new buildings, and is led by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). BEIS is responsible for a range of energy efficiency policies for existing buildings, including:

- The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme, which is focused on supporting low income and vulnerable households. Since ECO launched it has delivered energy efficiency measures to 2 million homes, such as loft or wall insulation and heating measures, and provides £640m of support per year.

- Strengthened energy efficiency regulations for the domestic private rented sector in England and Wales, which came into force on 1 April 2019. These regulations require landlords of privately rented homes with an energy efficiency rating of Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating F or G to improve them to a minimum of EPC E before letting the property on a new tenancy, or by 1 April 2020, whichever comes soonest, and to contribute up to £3,500 to the cost of doing so.