Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how community energy organisations will be included in supporting the Warm Homes Plan.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Government has allocated up to £5 billion to the new Warm Homes Fund (WHF) to make investments in and loans to the home upgrade sector. We will launch a Call for Evidence early in 2026 to identify where in the market the WHF can deliver the greatest impact, which could include supporting local energy cooperatives or community-led home upgrade schemes.

As part of our proposed partnership approach with local government for the delivery of home upgrades, community energy groups and other local stakeholders will play an important role in area-based delivery.

Additionally, the new Warm Homes Agency, which will be operational from 2027, will play a pivotal role in supporting local partnerships.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what is the planned generating capacity of the Local Power Plan's target of supporting over 1,000 local and community projects by 2030.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

As set out in its Strategic Plan in December 2025, Great British Energy (GBE) has a 15GW clean energy target over the next 5 years.

This will allow GBE to unlock the potential of emerging technologies while supporting the continued build out of more established technologies, like solar, wind and hydro.

Backed by up to £1 billion, GBE has committed to support at least 1000 local and community energy projects by 2030. These projects will form an integral part of that overall ambition to deliver at least 15GW.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many community energy schemes in England are projected to make up the Local Power Plan's target of supporting over 1,000 local and community projects to 2030.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Backed by up to £1 billion, Great British Energy (GBE) has committed to support at least 1000 local and community energy projects by 2030. GBE will prioritise smaller projects across the country and the communities that benefit from them.

GBE will account for different levels of demand across regions when designing its funding offer.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how much and what proportion of the Local Power Plan funding will be directed to the GB Energy Community Fund.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Great British Energy (GBE) is currently developing its schemes and projects for 2026/27 and beyond, which includes criteria for upcoming grants and loans.

GBE will set out further funding options in summer 2026.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how much and what proportion of the Local Power Plan funding will be made up of concessions loans.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Great British Energy (GBE) is currently developing its schemes and projects for 2026/27 and beyond, which includes criteria for upcoming grants and loans.

GBE will set out further funding options in summer 2026.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how community energy organisations will be involved in the development of the Community Energy in a Box Toolkit.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

In developing the Local Power Plan, DESNZ and Great British Energy (GBE) engaged with Local Government and the community energy sector. GBE will continue to use these existing forums and build their own relationships, such as through conferences, events, workshops.

GBE will produce a “community energy in a box” toolkit to support people – including those new to community energy – by providing guidance on awareness raising, project origination and project development support as well as standardised documents and templates.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what the terms of the concessional loans to community energy organisations will be, as announced in the Local Power Plan.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Great British Energy (GBE) is currently developing its schemes and projects for 2026/27 and beyond, which includes criteria for upcoming grants and loans.

GBE will set out further funding options in summer 2026.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how the Timms Review plans to engage with disabled people reliant on both personal independence payment and means-tested benefits.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Timms Review is committed to a wide programme of participation and engagement, drawing on a broad range of evidence and voices. The Terms of Reference state the Review must be “co-produced with disabled people, along with the organisations that represent them, carers, clinicians, experts, MPs and other stakeholders, so a wide range of views and voices are heard”.

The Review’s steering group will set out shortly its initial plans for engagement.

Together Alliance

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Submit Evidence (by 17 Apr 2026)

The Culture, Media and Sport Committee is inviting written submissions on the future of the BBC as part of a new inquiry into the Royal Charter Review.