Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the Government's policy is on offering financial support to households that are not fuel-poor to make their homes more energy-efficient in 2017-18; and if he will make an assessment of the potential contribution of offering such support to the UK's ability to meet its commitments to reduce carbon emissions.

The Government is committed to tackling climate change and to the UK’s Climate Change Act. Improving our energy efficiency and decarbonising buildings will be key to meeting our domestic commitments, as we look towards 2050.

For non-fuel poor households, our priority is to help create a sustainable market for energy efficiency and low carbon products, rather than rely primarily on subsidy. That is why the Government commissioned the Each Home Counts review of quality, standards and advice in home energy efficiency and renewables, which reported in December 2016. We are working with industry on its approach to implementing the findings of that review.

In addition, we are taking steps to ensure that tenants in privately rented properties are able to live in energy efficient homes. That is why we introduced the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015 which requires all landlords of privately rented domestic property in England and Wales to ensure that, from 1 April 2018, their properties reach at least an energy performance rating of E before granting a tenancy to new or existing tenants, unless a prescribed exemption applies.

There is also financial support available where appropriate, not limited to fuel-poor households. Obligated suppliers are expected to spend nearly £300m between April 2017 and September 2018 in meeting their obligations under the Carbon Emissions Reduction Obligation as part of our extension to the Energy Company Obligation, which has no specific eligibility requirements. The Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive is also available to consumers (including non-fuel poor households) wishing to decarbonise their home heating system. The Government also consulted last December on raising standards for domestic boiler installations in England which would raise efficiency for everyone, and those with the highest fuel bills will benefit the most.