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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential merits of designating energy efficiency as a national infrastructure priority; and if he will make a statement.

The Government is committed to delivering our net zero target and will take further steps to decarbonise the UK economy, including through the future publication of a National Infrastructure Strategy. The Government is also planning to publish a Heat and Buildings Strategy in due course, which will set out the immediate actions we will take for reducing emissions from all homes and buildings and set buildings on track for net zero.

The Government remains committed to delivering the aspiration set out in the Clean Growth Strategy, to help as many homes as possible to reach EPC Band C by 2035, where practical, affordable and cost-effective.

My Rt. Hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer recently announced a net zero building package worth in excess of £3bn. This new funding represents a significant and accelerated down payment on decarbonising buildings, to help stimulate the economic recovery and create green jobs.