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1172127

	registered interest
	date	21/01/2020
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Business Rates
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	What discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on reducing business rates for firms.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Aaron Bell
	uin	900288
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2020 answer text <p>This Government will conduct a fundamental review of business rates.</p><p> </p><p>My Retail Sector Council industry co-chair and I have already met the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to discuss the Council’s review of the costs retailers face, including business rates.</p><p> </p><p>I will continue to engage with Treasury colleagues as we deliver this important manifesto commitment.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 21/01/2020 14:54:14 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4837 label Biography information for Aaron Bell

967825

	registered interest
	date	04/09/2018
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Small Businesses: Billing
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of recent trends in the proportion of late payments to SMEs.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	170292
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/09/2018 answer text <p>The Government understands how important tackling late payment is, especially for smaller businesses. In due course, the Department will be publishing a call for evidence to understand the current trends and evidence on how late payments are affecting SMEs and to seek views on how the Government could go further to tackle the problem.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 12/09/2018 16:53:42 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

967826

	registered interest
	date	04/09/2018
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Self-employed
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of recent trends in the number of self-employed individuals.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	170293
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/09/2018 answer text <p>The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy relies on published labour market statistics from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) which are available here:</p><p><a href="https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes/bulletins/uklabourmarket/previousReleases" target="_blank">https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes/bulletins/uklabourmarket/previousReleases</a></p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 12/09/2018 16:53:50 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

1121857

	registered interest
	date	18/04/2019
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Housing: Sustainable Development
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to key message five of the report entitled, UK Housing - Fit for the Future? published by the Committee on Climate Change on 21 February 2019, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of implementing proposals for (a) a green buildings passport, (b) green mortgages, (c) green loans and (d) other fiscal incentives.
	tabling member constituency	Kilmarnock and Loudoun
	tabling member printed	Alan Brown
	uin	245879
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2019 answer text <p>The Clean Growth Strategy set out our aspiration that as many homes as possible will be upgraded to an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Band C by 2035, where practical, cost-effective and affordable. BEIS estimate that the total investment cost of meeting this aspiration is in the order of £35-65 billion (undiscounted), with the actual cost dependent on a range of factors including the technology mix used in particular properties.</p><p> </p><p>Further innovation in home energy efficiency measures could lead to cost reductions which reduce these estimates significantly. A key component of the Buildings Mission announced last year, is to halve the cost of retrofitting existing homes to a similar standard of new homes. We recently approved a £10 million innovation project for whole house retrofit, to demonstrate a cost reduction trajectory through retrofitting similar properties at scale.</p><p> </p><p>Improving the energy efficiency of our homes reduces the overall energy system costs of heat decarbonisation. The level of additional energy efficiency required is dependent on the heat decarbonisation scenario.</p><p> </p><p>Given the scale of investment required, financing these improvements will require funding from both public and private sources. In the Clean Growth Strategy, we committed to extend support for home energy efficiency improvements to 2028 at least at current levels of support through the Energy Company Obligation. This is equivalent to around £6 billion of investment. Additional investment in cost-effective energy efficiency measures will be needed from private sources, including owner occupiers, social landlords and private landlords. For example, landlords of the worst performing properties are already required to invest up to £3500 in improving their homes to a minimum EPC Band E before they let their property, where no third party funding is available.</p><p> </p><p>Different parts of the UK have taken different approaches, reflecting the devolved nature of energy efficiency policy. In Scotland, for instance, zero interest loans are available to homeowners for energy efficiency improvements as well as equity loans where interest is repaid on sale of the property.</p><p> </p><p>In other EU countries a range of approaches have been taken to support home energy efficiency improvements. These include low and zero interest loans, mortgage incentives, capital subsidies, tax credits and reduced VAT on the installation of energy efficiency measures. We are always looking to learn from international experience in developing policies which are right for the UK.</p><p> </p><p>Given the importance of low cost financing, our Call for Evidence on Building a Market for Energy Efficiency sought evidence on different ways of financing energy efficiency, and other fiscal incentives. Different approaches will be appropriate for different consumer groups and tenure types and there is no one size fits all approach. We are currently analysing responses to this.</p><p> </p><p>Financing these improvements presents real opportunities for green finance innovation, for example around green mortgage products or green bonds. The UK’s first ever Green Finance Strategy will also be published in the summer. This strategy will build on the recommendations of the Green Finance Taskforce report: Accelerating Green Finance and will set out the steps required to attract the investment we need into our clean economy, including around financing residential energy efficiency.</p><p> </p><p>We will set out further details on how we will catalyse the market for energy efficiency later in the year and stimulate the required investment. This will take account of responses to our Call for Evidence alongside recommendations from the National Infrastructure Commission, and Committee on Climate Change.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst grouped question UIN 245866 245868 245869 245876 245878 245881 245882 question first answered 01/05/2019 16:06:57 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4470 label Biography information for Alan Brown

1121837

	registered interest
	date	18/04/2019
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Housing: Insulation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many additional insulation measures a week are required to achieve the National Infrastructure Commission’s recommendation of increasing the rate of insulation measures installed in UK homes to 21,000 a week by 2020.
	tabling member constituency	Kilmarnock and Loudoun
	tabling member printed	Alan Brown
	uin	245865
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2019 answer text <p>ECO delivered approximately 2,800 insulation measures a week in 2018, but insulation is also delivered outside of ECO. We do not have data for those measures. A further 18,200 insulation measures a week would be required to reach 21,000 per week, when compared to insulation delivered under ECO during 2018.</p><p> </p><p>Our view is that a range of measures are needed alongside ECO to drive an increase in deployment of energy efficiency. In the Clean Growth Strategy we set out our aspiration to improve all homes to EPC Band C by 2035, where cost effective, affordable and practical. Alongside the Clean Growth Strategy we called for evidence on Building a Market for Energy Efficiency, which sought evidence on the range of measures required to shape the market for the future in line with the aspiration.</p><p> </p><p>Other insulation measures are expected to be delivered under the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards Regulations, which require private rented properties in England and Wales to have an EPC rating of at least an E before they can be let. Where a landlord needs to improve an EPC F or G property to meet the standard, their costs are capped at £3,500.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 01/05/2019 16:06:30 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4470 label Biography information for Alan Brown

1121856

	registered interest
	date	18/04/2019
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Housing: Insulation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to key message five of the report entitled, UK Housing - Fit for the Future? published by the Committee on Climate Change on 21 February 2019, what steps he is taking to tackle the urgent funding needs required to help insulate homes and buildings.
	tabling member constituency	Kilmarnock and Loudoun
	tabling member printed	Alan Brown
	uin	245878
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2019 answer text <p>The Clean Growth Strategy set out our aspiration that as many homes as possible will be upgraded to an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Band C by 2035, where practical, cost-effective and affordable. BEIS estimate that the total investment cost of meeting this aspiration is in the order of £35-65 billion (undiscounted), with the actual cost dependent on a range of factors including the technology mix used in particular properties.</p><p> </p><p>Further innovation in home energy efficiency measures could lead to cost reductions which reduce these estimates significantly. A key component of the Buildings Mission announced last year, is to halve the cost of retrofitting existing homes to a similar standard of new homes. We recently approved a £10 million innovation project for whole house retrofit, to demonstrate a cost reduction trajectory through retrofitting similar properties at scale.</p><p> </p><p>Improving the energy efficiency of our homes reduces the overall energy system costs of heat decarbonisation. The level of additional energy efficiency required is dependent on the heat decarbonisation scenario.</p><p> </p><p>Given the scale of investment required, financing these improvements will require funding from both public and private sources. In the Clean Growth Strategy, we committed to extend support for home energy efficiency improvements to 2028 at least at current levels of support through the Energy Company Obligation. This is equivalent to around £6 billion of investment. Additional investment in cost-effective energy efficiency measures will be needed from private sources, including owner occupiers, social landlords and private landlords. For example, landlords of the worst performing properties are already required to invest up to £3500 in improving their homes to a minimum EPC Band E before they let their property, where no third party funding is available.</p><p> </p><p>Different parts of the UK have taken different approaches, reflecting the devolved nature of energy efficiency policy. In Scotland, for instance, zero interest loans are available to homeowners for energy efficiency improvements as well as equity loans where interest is repaid on sale of the property.</p><p> </p><p>In other EU countries a range of approaches have been taken to support home energy efficiency improvements. These include low and zero interest loans, mortgage incentives, capital subsidies, tax credits and reduced VAT on the installation of energy efficiency measures. We are always looking to learn from international experience in developing policies which are right for the UK.</p><p> </p><p>Given the importance of low cost financing, our Call for Evidence on Building a Market for Energy Efficiency sought evidence on different ways of financing energy efficiency, and other fiscal incentives. Different approaches will be appropriate for different consumer groups and tenure types and there is no one size fits all approach. We are currently analysing responses to this.</p><p> </p><p>Financing these improvements presents real opportunities for green finance innovation, for example around green mortgage products or green bonds. The UK’s first ever Green Finance Strategy will also be published in the summer. This strategy will build on the recommendations of the Green Finance Taskforce report: Accelerating Green Finance and will set out the steps required to attract the investment we need into our clean economy, including around financing residential energy efficiency.</p><p> </p><p>We will set out further details on how we will catalyse the market for energy efficiency later in the year and stimulate the required investment. This will take account of responses to our Call for Evidence alongside recommendations from the National Infrastructure Commission, and Committee on Climate Change.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst grouped question UIN 245866 245868 245869 245876 245879 245881 245882 question first answered 01/05/2019 16:06:57 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4470 label Biography information for Alan Brown

1121852

	registered interest
	date	18/04/2019
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Housing: Energy
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the Written Statement of 13 March 2019, Spring Statement 2019, HCWS 1407, which Government department will (a) lead on the Future Homes Standard and (b) be responsible for coordination of UK energy efficiency policy for homes and buildings.
	tabling member constituency	Kilmarnock and Loudoun
	tabling member printed	Alan Brown
	uin	245875
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2019 answer text <p>The Future Homes Standard will be delivered through Part L of the Building Regulations, led by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. The Standard supports delivery of the Industrial Strategy Clean Growth mission to halve energy use in new buildings, and is led by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). BEIS is responsible for a range of energy efficiency policies for existing buildings, including:</p><p> </p><p>- The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme, which is focused on supporting low income and vulnerable households. Since ECO launched it has delivered energy efficiency measures to 2 million homes, such as loft or wall insulation and heating measures, and provides £640m of support per year.</p><p> </p><p>- Strengthened energy efficiency regulations for the domestic private rented sector in England and Wales, which came into force on 1 April 2019. These regulations require landlords of privately rented homes with an energy efficiency rating of Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating F or G to improve them to a minimum of EPC E before letting the property on a new tenancy, or by 1 April 2020, whichever comes soonest, and to contribute up to £3,500 to the cost of doing so.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 01/05/2019 16:07:33 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4470 label Biography information for Alan Brown

1121853

	registered interest
	date	18/04/2019
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Housing: Energy
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of the recommendation on retrofitting the UK’s 29 million existing homes as an infrastructure priority by the Committee on Climate Change in its Report entitled, UK-Housing-Fit for the Future? published on 21 February 2019.
	tabling member constituency	Kilmarnock and Loudoun
	tabling member printed	Alan Brown
	uin	245876
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2019 answer text <p>The Clean Growth Strategy set out our aspiration that as many homes as possible will be upgraded to an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Band C by 2035, where practical, cost-effective and affordable. BEIS estimate that the total investment cost of meeting this aspiration is in the order of £35-65 billion (undiscounted), with the actual cost dependent on a range of factors including the technology mix used in particular properties.</p><p> </p><p>Further innovation in home energy efficiency measures could lead to cost reductions which reduce these estimates significantly. A key component of the Buildings Mission announced last year, is to halve the cost of retrofitting existing homes to a similar standard of new homes. We recently approved a £10 million innovation project for whole house retrofit, to demonstrate a cost reduction trajectory through retrofitting similar properties at scale.</p><p> </p><p>Improving the energy efficiency of our homes reduces the overall energy system costs of heat decarbonisation. The level of additional energy efficiency required is dependent on the heat decarbonisation scenario.</p><p> </p><p>Given the scale of investment required, financing these improvements will require funding from both public and private sources. In the Clean Growth Strategy, we committed to extend support for home energy efficiency improvements to 2028 at least at current levels of support through the Energy Company Obligation. This is equivalent to around £6 billion of investment. Additional investment in cost-effective energy efficiency measures will be needed from private sources, including owner occupiers, social landlords and private landlords. For example, landlords of the worst performing properties are already required to invest up to £3500 in improving their homes to a minimum EPC Band E before they let their property, where no third party funding is available.</p><p> </p><p>Different parts of the UK have taken different approaches, reflecting the devolved nature of energy efficiency policy. In Scotland, for instance, zero interest loans are available to homeowners for energy efficiency improvements as well as equity loans where interest is repaid on sale of the property.</p><p> </p><p>In other EU countries a range of approaches have been taken to support home energy efficiency improvements. These include low and zero interest loans, mortgage incentives, capital subsidies, tax credits and reduced VAT on the installation of energy efficiency measures. We are always looking to learn from international experience in developing policies which are right for the UK.</p><p> </p><p>Given the importance of low cost financing, our Call for Evidence on Building a Market for Energy Efficiency sought evidence on different ways of financing energy efficiency, and other fiscal incentives. Different approaches will be appropriate for different consumer groups and tenure types and there is no one size fits all approach. We are currently analysing responses to this.</p><p> </p><p>Financing these improvements presents real opportunities for green finance innovation, for example around green mortgage products or green bonds. The UK’s first ever Green Finance Strategy will also be published in the summer. This strategy will build on the recommendations of the Green Finance Taskforce report: Accelerating Green Finance and will set out the steps required to attract the investment we need into our clean economy, including around financing residential energy efficiency.</p><p> </p><p>We will set out further details on how we will catalyse the market for energy efficiency later in the year and stimulate the required investment. This will take account of responses to our Call for Evidence alongside recommendations from the National Infrastructure Commission, and Committee on Climate Change.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst grouped question UIN 245866 245868 245869 245878 245879 245881 245882 question first answered 01/05/2019 16:06:57 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4470 label Biography information for Alan Brown

1121859

	registered interest
	date	18/04/2019
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Housing: Energy
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make a comparative assessment of the level of public funding for retrofitting for energy efficient homes in (a) England and (b) Scotland.
	tabling member constituency	Kilmarnock and Loudoun
	tabling member printed	Alan Brown
	uin	245881
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2019 answer text <p>The Clean Growth Strategy set out our aspiration that as many homes as possible will be upgraded to an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Band C by 2035, where practical, cost-effective and affordable. BEIS estimate that the total investment cost of meeting this aspiration is in the order of £35-65 billion (undiscounted), with the actual cost dependent on a range of factors including the technology mix used in particular properties.</p><p> </p><p>Further innovation in home energy efficiency measures could lead to cost reductions which reduce these estimates significantly. A key component of the Buildings Mission announced last year, is to halve the cost of retrofitting existing homes to a similar standard of new homes. We recently approved a £10 million innovation project for whole house retrofit, to demonstrate a cost reduction trajectory through retrofitting similar properties at scale.</p><p> </p><p>Improving the energy efficiency of our homes reduces the overall energy system costs of heat decarbonisation. The level of additional energy efficiency required is dependent on the heat decarbonisation scenario.</p><p> </p><p>Given the scale of investment required, financing these improvements will require funding from both public and private sources. In the Clean Growth Strategy, we committed to extend support for home energy efficiency improvements to 2028 at least at current levels of support through the Energy Company Obligation. This is equivalent to around £6 billion of investment. Additional investment in cost-effective energy efficiency measures will be needed from private sources, including owner occupiers, social landlords and private landlords. For example, landlords of the worst performing properties are already required to invest up to £3500 in improving their homes to a minimum EPC Band E before they let their property, where no third party funding is available.</p><p> </p><p>Different parts of the UK have taken different approaches, reflecting the devolved nature of energy efficiency policy. In Scotland, for instance, zero interest loans are available to homeowners for energy efficiency improvements as well as equity loans where interest is repaid on sale of the property.</p><p> </p><p>In other EU countries a range of approaches have been taken to support home energy efficiency improvements. These include low and zero interest loans, mortgage incentives, capital subsidies, tax credits and reduced VAT on the installation of energy efficiency measures. We are always looking to learn from international experience in developing policies which are right for the UK.</p><p> </p><p>Given the importance of low cost financing, our Call for Evidence on Building a Market for Energy Efficiency sought evidence on different ways of financing energy efficiency, and other fiscal incentives. Different approaches will be appropriate for different consumer groups and tenure types and there is no one size fits all approach. We are currently analysing responses to this.</p><p> </p><p>Financing these improvements presents real opportunities for green finance innovation, for example around green mortgage products or green bonds. The UK’s first ever Green Finance Strategy will also be published in the summer. This strategy will build on the recommendations of the Green Finance Taskforce report: Accelerating Green Finance and will set out the steps required to attract the investment we need into our clean economy, including around financing residential energy efficiency.</p><p> </p><p>We will set out further details on how we will catalyse the market for energy efficiency later in the year and stimulate the required investment. This will take account of responses to our Call for Evidence alongside recommendations from the National Infrastructure Commission, and Committee on Climate Change.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst grouped question UIN 245866 245868 245869 245876 245878 245879 245882 question first answered 01/05/2019 16:06:57 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4470 label Biography information for Alan Brown

1121860

	registered interest
	date	18/04/2019
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Housing: Energy
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what comparative assessment he has made of the level of public funding allocated to retrofitting for energy efficient homes in (a) the UK and (b) other EU countries.
	tabling member constituency	Kilmarnock and Loudoun
	tabling member printed	Alan Brown
	uin	245882
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2019 answer text <p>The Clean Growth Strategy set out our aspiration that as many homes as possible will be upgraded to an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Band C by 2035, where practical, cost-effective and affordable. BEIS estimate that the total investment cost of meeting this aspiration is in the order of £35-65 billion (undiscounted), with the actual cost dependent on a range of factors including the technology mix used in particular properties.</p><p> </p><p>Further innovation in home energy efficiency measures could lead to cost reductions which reduce these estimates significantly. A key component of the Buildings Mission announced last year, is to halve the cost of retrofitting existing homes to a similar standard of new homes. We recently approved a £10 million innovation project for whole house retrofit, to demonstrate a cost reduction trajectory through retrofitting similar properties at scale.</p><p> </p><p>Improving the energy efficiency of our homes reduces the overall energy system costs of heat decarbonisation. The level of additional energy efficiency required is dependent on the heat decarbonisation scenario.</p><p> </p><p>Given the scale of investment required, financing these improvements will require funding from both public and private sources. In the Clean Growth Strategy, we committed to extend support for home energy efficiency improvements to 2028 at least at current levels of support through the Energy Company Obligation. This is equivalent to around £6 billion of investment. Additional investment in cost-effective energy efficiency measures will be needed from private sources, including owner occupiers, social landlords and private landlords. For example, landlords of the worst performing properties are already required to invest up to £3500 in improving their homes to a minimum EPC Band E before they let their property, where no third party funding is available.</p><p> </p><p>Different parts of the UK have taken different approaches, reflecting the devolved nature of energy efficiency policy. In Scotland, for instance, zero interest loans are available to homeowners for energy efficiency improvements as well as equity loans where interest is repaid on sale of the property.</p><p> </p><p>In other EU countries a range of approaches have been taken to support home energy efficiency improvements. These include low and zero interest loans, mortgage incentives, capital subsidies, tax credits and reduced VAT on the installation of energy efficiency measures. We are always looking to learn from international experience in developing policies which are right for the UK.</p><p> </p><p>Given the importance of low cost financing, our Call for Evidence on Building a Market for Energy Efficiency sought evidence on different ways of financing energy efficiency, and other fiscal incentives. Different approaches will be appropriate for different consumer groups and tenure types and there is no one size fits all approach. We are currently analysing responses to this.</p><p> </p><p>Financing these improvements presents real opportunities for green finance innovation, for example around green mortgage products or green bonds. The UK’s first ever Green Finance Strategy will also be published in the summer. This strategy will build on the recommendations of the Green Finance Taskforce report: Accelerating Green Finance and will set out the steps required to attract the investment we need into our clean economy, including around financing residential energy efficiency.</p><p> </p><p>We will set out further details on how we will catalyse the market for energy efficiency later in the year and stimulate the required investment. This will take account of responses to our Call for Evidence alongside recommendations from the National Infrastructure Commission, and Committee on Climate Change.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst grouped question UIN 245866 245868 245869 245876 245878 245879 245881 question first answered 01/05/2019 16:06:57 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4470 label Biography information for Alan Brown