Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Building Research Establishment's analysis entitled Tackling cold homes would save the NHS £540 million per year, published 1 March 2023, whether his Department has made an assessment of the implications for its policies of that analysis.

The Government recognises that living in a cold home can affect physical and mental health and welcomes the new Building Research Establishment analysis as a helpful contribution to the evidence base.

The Government is committed to addressing poor housing conditions and reducing the impact of cold weather. The Department of Health and Social Care works closely with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on these matters. This work includes a review of guidance on damp and mould in the rented housing sector, and UKHSA’s Cold Weather Plan for England.

The Government is also providing a £37 billion package of cost-of-living support to help households and businesses, including a £15 billion targeted package of direct support for the most vulnerable households. A further funding package worth £26 billion will provide support to the most vulnerable households in 2023/24.