Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the tenth special report of the Environmental Audit Committee, published on 24 October 2019, on Heatwaves: adapting to climate change: Government Response to the Committee's ninth report, HC 826, what research his Department has commissioned on overheating in new homes; and what steps his Department is taking to tackle overheating in new homes.

MHCLG commissioned a research project, completed in 2018, to investigate overheating in new homes. We are currently expanding on this initial piece of research and officials are consulting with industry experts. We will present our plans for tackling overheating in new homes as part of our forthcoming consultation into the energy efficiency and ventilation standards of the Building Regulations later this year.