Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the Prime Minister’s contribution during Prime Minister’s Questions on 3 June 2026, Column 1161, when did he or his Ministers contact Clackmannanshire Council.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
I exchanged correspondence with Clackmannanshire Council on 3rd and 4th June and I am meeting with the Council and other partners on 9th June. The Mining Remediation Authority has been on site and working with the Council and other multi-agency partners since 18th May.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what financial assistance his Department is providing to households who are unable to have a heat pump or heat battery, to ensure a fair transition to low carbon heating.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department recently consulted on the role of alternative clean heating solutions for properties that may not be suitable for heat pumps or cannot connect to heat networks. Through this consultation, we sought evidence on the costs and barriers to uptake of alternative low‑carbon technologies. We are now considering responses and will publish our response in due course. For Scotland, this responsibility lies with the Scottish Government.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of including modern high heat storage heaters in the eligible technologies list.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Government is committed to ensuring that no one is left behind in the transition to Net Zero which is why the Warm Homes Plan supports a range of measures and technologies. Energy efficiency and fuel poverty are devolved matters, and Scotland has its own policies and programmes in these areas.
Additionally Government recently consulted on the role of alternative clean heating solutions for properties that may not be suitable for heat pumps or heat networks, including thermal energy storage systems – to ensure that every household has a suitable low-carbon option. The consultation closed on 10 February and a Government Response will be published in due course.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what financial assistance his Department is providing to households with no central heating to upgrade their old electric heating systems to new technologies such as modern high heat retention storage heaters.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Decarbonising heating in Scotland is largely devolved, allowing the Scottish Government to set its own policies and support schemes. Scottish households can access support through the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan scheme, including grants to replace old electric heaters with high heat retention storage heaters.
The Department has also consulted on alternative clean heating solutions, such as thermal energy storage, for properties across the UK that are unsuitable for heat pumps or heat networks. This sought evidence on costs and barriers to uptake. We are now considering responses and will publish our findings in due course.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether it is his intention for modern high heat retention storage heaters to meet the future requirements for achieving EPC C and if he will make a statement on the timelines for implementing the new Home Energy Model.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
In the Home Energy Model (HEM): Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) consultation, we proposed that electric heating with thermal storage – where its efficiency and use of off-peak electricity result in lower annual emissions than an equivalent direct electric system – would typically achieve a C rating or above. We are analysing consultation responses and will publish a Government Response by the end of the year. This consultation related to EPCs in England and Wales and the Scottish Government is developing its own policies for reformed EPCs.
HEM will be introduced as a methodology for demonstrating compliance with the English Future Home Standard (FHS) in the coming months and for EPCs in the second half of 2027.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment she has made of the potential economic impact on households of extending the 0% VAT rating on energy efficiency measures and domestic renewables beyond March 2027.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
This Government is committed to improving the quality and sustainability of our housing stock, through improvements such as low carbon heating, insulation, solar panels and batteries. This will be vital to making the UK more energy resilient and meeting our 2050 Net Zero commitment.
Installations of qualifying energy-saving materials (ESMs) in residential accommodation and buildings used solely for a charitable purpose benefit from a temporary VAT zero rate until March 2027, after which they will revert to the reduced rate of VAT at five per cent.
As with all tax policy, the government keeps VAT under review and decisions on tax changes are made by the Chancellor in the context of the public finances.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the transition away from fossil fuel heating involves low carbon solutions that suit the different types of UK housing stock.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is committed to ensuring that all homes are able to benefit from the transition to low carbon heating. That’s why the Warm Homes Plan supports a range of measures and technologies to suit the variety of homes across the country.
Modern heat pumps can increasingly be used in homes previously considered unsuitable, often without the need to upgrade building fabric or radiators, and the expanded Boiler Upgrade Scheme provides grants for eligible households in England and Wales.
We are also making a strong solar offer through our low‑income schemes, and an offer for everyone with low and no interest loans. The Government is also making plug‑in solar panels available in the UK for the first time which could save many households up to £110 a year on energy bills.
We have consulted on alternative heating solutions to ensure every household has a suitable low‑carbon option. The consultation closed on 10 February and a Government Response will be issued in due course.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what information his Department holds on the number of households using older direct electric heating and older storage heaters; and what assessment he has made of the potential merits of upgrading those households to modern high heat retention storage heaters.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department does not hold information on the numbers of households using older direct electric heating and older storage heaters.
We recently consulted on the role of alternative clean heating solutions, including thermal energy storage systems such as storage heaters, for properties that may not be suitable for heat pumps or cannot connect to heat networks. Through this consultation, we sought evidence on the costs and barriers to uptake of alternative low‑carbon technologies. We are now considering responses and will publish our response in due course.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of moving households on old electric heating systems onto modern high heat retention storage heaters.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department recently consulted on the role of alternative clean heating solutions for properties that may not be suitable for heat pumps or heat networks. Through this consultation, we sought evidence on the costs and barriers to uptake of alternative low‑carbon technologies including high heat retention storage heaters. We are now considering the evidence received and will publish the Government response in due course.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what are the expected staffing number in full-time equivalent supply numbers before any rebalance in HMRC's Customer Service Group for (a) permanent excluding the Surge and Rapid Response Team, (b) fixed term appointments (c) Managed Service Provider, (d) contingent labour and (e) Surge Rapid Response Team allocated to Customer Service Group in each quarter for this financial year.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
HMRC is currently using Managed Service Providers (MSPs) to provide additional customer service capacity, equivalent to around 500 FTE, focused on routine work. This includes support for the Online Services Helpdesk and handling simple PAYE enquiries.
HMRC experiences significant peaks and troughs in customer demand over the year and uses a flexible resourcing model to ensure it can meet that demand in a cost‑effective way for the taxpayer. The level and deployment of MSPs can therefore fluctuate across the year in response to operational need.
HMRC are currently in an initial approximately 18 month ‘proof of value’ phase using existing Government contracts. This will allow them to test, learn and ensure quality and value for money before wider implementation.
HMRC will continue to use a range of resourcing models, alongside the use of MSPs, to meet variable customer demand.
Any future workforce decisions will be taken through normal business planning and Spending Review processes, informed by the findings of the proof‑of‑value evaluation.