Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make it his policy to establish a local authority Chief Executive and Departmental Permanent Secretary level Local Net Zero Forum.

The Local Net Zero Forum has met four times to date at official level, on: 20 June 2022; 6 October 2022; 25 January 2023; and 4 May 2023. The Ministerial Local Net Zero Forum has met once to date, on 9 February 2023.

The Department will discuss publication of the reports considered at the Ministerial Local Net Zero Forum in February 2023 with local government co-chairs.

The Government is discussing with local government what levels of meetings would be useful, including a local authority Chief Executive and Departmental Permanent Secretary level Local Net Zero Forum.

The terms of reference for the Local Net Zero Forum will be published online in due course.