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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans he has to regulate district heating systems.

Heat networks are an important part of our Clean Growth Strategy with the potential to play a vital role in the long-term decarbonisation of heating. In December last year, we published our approach to establishing a regulated framework for heat networks. We set out three priorities for the sector: protecting consumers; building investment; and maximising the decarbonisation benefits of heat networks. This built on the Competition and Market Authority’s recommendations for heat network regulation, published in the summer.

We intend to consult on more detailed policy proposals later this year. Any subsequent legislation would be introduced when Parliamentary time allows.