Asked by: Maria Eagle (Labour - Garston and Halewood)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many military housing units were treated for (a) mould, (b) heating and (c) external wall insulation problems in each year since 2019.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Out of a total of c47,900 Service Family Accommodation (SFA) properties, in the period 1 April 2022 to 1 December 2023:
1,359 Service Family Accommodation (SFA) have received a damp and mould treatment package.
Figures not available for damp or mould only.
There have been 20,800 reports of maintenance issues relating to heating in SFA properties. There are currently 1,020 live issues ranging from minor issues such as faulty radiator valves to total loss of heating (where temporary heating or alternative accommodation is provided).
Data prior to the start of the Future Defence Infrastructure Services Accommodation contracts in April 2022 is not held centrally and can only be provided at disproportionate cost.
The table below shows the number of SFA that have had external wall insulation installed in each complete financial year since 2019;
Financial Year | No of SFA |
2022-23 | 900 |
2021-22 | 1,250 |
2020-21 | 800 |
2019-20 | 950 |
Asked by: Maria Eagle (Labour - Garston and Halewood)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many military housing units are scheduled for (a) renovation and (b) replacement.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Department has instructed improvement works to c4,000 Service Family Accommodation (SFA) this Financial Year (FY). This includes external wall insulation, door, window and roof replacements, heating upgrades, new kitchens and bathrooms, and extensive refurbishment of c1,000 long-term void SFA. This is in addition to work to treat damp and mould in c4,000 SFA.
In FY 2022-23, the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) purchased 310 properties to replace SFA that has either reached its predicted life expectancy and requires significant investment to meet future sustainability targets; or has been re-located to support military unit moves where the SFA in the previous location is being disposed of.
Asked by: Andrew Selous (Conservative - South West Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what plans her Department has to reduce domestic energy consumption by 15 per cent by 2030.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Government is investing £6.6 billion over this Parliament on clean heat and improving energy efficiency in buildings. In addition, £6 billion of new Government funding will be made available from 2025 to 2028.
The Government will deliver upgrades to over half a million homes in the coming years through the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, Home Upgrade Grant, Boiler Upgrade Scheme, Great British Insulation scheme and Energy Company Obligation.
Asked by: Fabian Hamilton (Labour - Leeds North East)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps she is taking to help insulate homes with a low energy efficiency rating in Leeds North East constituency.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Government is investing £6.6 billion over this Parliament on clean heat and improving energy efficiency in buildings. Additionally, £6 billion of new Government funding will be made available from 2025 to 2028.
The Government ‘Help to Heat’ schemes ensure homes will be warmer and cheaper to heat. The Government will deliver upgrades to over half a million homes in the coming years through Social Housing Decarbonisation, Home Upgrade Grant and Energy Company Obligation Schemes.
Constituents in Leeds North-East can check their eligibility for schemes on www.gov.uk/improve-energy-efficiency or through the home retrofit phoneline service on 0800 098 7950.
Asked by: Fabian Hamilton (Labour - Leeds North East)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he has had discussions with (a) United For Warm Homes and (b) Friends of the Earth on the potential merits of providing free insulation for homes.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
Details of ministerial meetings with external organisations are published on Gov.uk. Policy relating to insulating and energy efficiency of existing housing stock is a matter for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Wood Green)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps she is taking to encourage private landlords to retrofit their properties to increase insulation.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Government is spending £6bn this Parliament and a further £6bn to 2028 on making buildings cleaner and warmer, in addition to £5bn to be delivered through the Energy Company Obligation and the Great British Insulation Scheme up to March 2026.
Last year the Government introduced a zero-rate of VAT for five years on energy saving measures and low-carbon heating, making it cheaper for people to invest in their properties and reduce energy usage.
A brand-new eligibility tool was launched on the ‘Help for Households’ GOV.UK page that will help people find the support available to them via the Home Upgrade Grant and the Great British Insulation Scheme.
Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Wood Green)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps he is taking to help support private sector tenants whose landlords object to their requests for home insulation.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
We encourage all households to improve the energy efficiency of their homes where they can. Furthermore, in relation to the current PRS MEES Regulations, tenants already may request their landlord’s consent to make energy efficiency improvements at their own expense and the landlord has a duty not to unreasonably refuse a request.
To help households afford improvement of energy measures, including insulation, we are providing taxpayer subsidy of £6 billion this Parliament and a further £6 billion to 2028 on making buildings cleaner and warmer. That is in addition to the £5 billion that will be delivered through the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) and the Great British Insulation Scheme up to March 26. We have supported households with up to half their energy costs last winter and continue to support the most vulnerable through the Warm Home Discount, which is £150 to 3 million households.
Asked by: Matt Western (Labour - Warwick and Leamington)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether she plans to take steps to encourage the installation of insulation in student housing.
Answered by Graham Stuart
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps her Department is taking to help prevent deaths attributable to living in cold homes.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Government expect over 3 million households to benefit this winter from the Warm Home Discount, which provides low-income and vulnerable households across Great Britain with a £150 rebate off their winter energy bill.
The Government considers energy efficiency improvements to be the best way to tackle fuel poverty in the long term, reducing energy bills and carbon emissions in line with net zero. Measures are available through several schemes including the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, Home Upgrade Grant, Great British Insulation Scheme and the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4). ECO4 runs from 2022-2026 at a value of £4billion.
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps her Department is taking to tackle fuel poverty in Battersea constituency.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Sustainable Warmth Strategy details its approach to tackling fuel poverty in England. The Government is currently reviewing this strategy.
The Government considers energy efficiency improvements to be the best way to tackle fuel poverty long term. Energy efficiency measures are available through schemes including the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, Home Upgrade Grant, Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) and the Great British Insulation Scheme. ECO4 runs from 2022-2026 at a value of £4billion.
The Government expect the Warm Home Discount scheme to provide over 3 million low-income and vulnerable households across Great Britain with a £150 rebate off their energy bill this winter.