Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
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 finding that there is therefore an increased risk that boilers will in fact be non-compliant, in the Building Research Establishment's briefing of 7 February 2018 entitled The future of domestic boiler performance metrics in the UK, what steps his Department (a) has taken and (b) plans to take to tackle that risk.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
The Building Research Establishment (BRE) paper does not find that there is an increased risk that boilers will be non-compliant. BEIS officials worked closely with BRE to assess this risk when the matter was first raised in 2018, and agreed that non-compliance is not the correct interpretation of their paper. They have since published a clarification on their own website, to ensure their work is not misused to make inappropriate claims. That clarification can be found at the following url: https://www.bregroup.com/press-releases/statement-regarding-energy-efficiency-labelling-of-boilers/
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to his Answer of 12 June 2019 to Question 259850 on Waste Heat Recovery, if he will publish the standard assessment procedure scientific integrity group findings with personal details and the names of the manufacturers redacted.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
The analysis of the Standard Assessment Procedure Scientific Integrity Group contains information which is of a commercially sensitive nature for the companies involved. Redacting company names would not obviate the risk that disclosure presents to their commercial interests. The Department took this into account in its decision not to publish the analysis more widely.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of ensuring that the housing stock in each local authority area up to Energy Performance Certificate bands (a) B and (b) C.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
In the Clean Growth Strategy, we set out our aspiration that as many homes as possible will be upgraded to an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Band C by 2035, where practical, cost effective and affordable.
We estimate that, to meet our stated ambition, cost-effective improvements to homes would cost in the region of £35-65bn, though there would also be significant benefits to consumers from lower energy bills. We do not hold data on how this cost breaks down by local authority area, which would depend on a wide range of factors.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what representations he has received from medical organisations in support of a policy of net zero carbon emissions by 2030.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
We have received calls from a number of organisations, including in the medical sector, to adopt the Committee on Climate Change’s recommendation of a new emissions target for the UK of net zero greenhouse gases by 2050.
I am pleased to confirm that on 12 June, the Government laid draft legislation to set a new net zero greenhouse gas emissions target for the UK, to be delivered by 2050. This world-leading target will bring to an end our contribution to climate change.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, which (a) businesses and (b) business organisations have declared an intention be net-zero carbon by 2030.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
We received representations from a number of organisations, including a letter from over 120 businesses, to adopt the Committee on Climate Change’s recommendations on net zero. I am pleased to confirm that on 12 June, the Government laid draft legislation to set a new net zero greenhouse gas emissions target for the UK, to be delivered by 2050. This world-leading target will bring to an end our contribution to climate change.
Delivering a net zero target must be a joint endeavour, crossing political boundaries, and encompassing all parts of society. We have already seen many businesses set their own ambitious targets and intentions to be net zero.
As part of Green GB and NI Week 2018, more than 60 businesses made significant pledges worth millions to cut emissions while continuing to grow the green economy. As we prepare for Green GB and NI Week 2019 (launching on 4th November), we continue to encourage and support businesses in setting such targets.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, which local authorities have (a) declared a climate emergency and (b) resolved to go carbon net zero emissions by 2030.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
I am pleased to confirm that on 12th June, the Government laid draft legislation to set a new net zero greenhouse gas emissions target for the UK, to be delivered by 2050. This world-leading target will bring to an end our contribution to climate change. Already we have made great progress – since 1990 we have reduced our emissions by 42% while growing our economy by 72%.
Delivering a net zero target must be a joint endeavour, crossing political boundaries, and encompassing all parts of society. To date, 128 Councils in the UK (including dependencies and territories) have declared a climate emergency with several also setting a target for net zero carbon emissions by 2030.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans does the Government have for the (a) future and (b) funding of the renewable heat initiative.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
The budget for the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) has been set out to the end of March 2021. Decisions on the future funding for the RHI will be set out in the Spending Review.
As announced by the Chancellor in the Spring Statement, Government also intends to introduce a Future Homes Standard by 2025, for new build homes to be future-proofed with low carbon heating and world-leading levels of energy efficiency. We also intend to increase the proportion of green gas in the grid. Government will consult on the details and appropriate mechanisms to deliver these commitments later this year.