Select committee: Environmental Audit Committee

Recommendation 16

4th Report - Accelerating the transition from fossil fuels and securing energy supplies Published 5 Jan 2023 Paragraph 77

Environmental Audit Committee Accelerating the transition from fossil fuels and securing energy supplies All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗

Recommendation (the committee's words)

The Energy Efficiency Taskforce announced in November 2022, if appropriately resourced and commissioned, has the potential to make a significant practical contribution to policy implementation. In our view it would be well placed to advise Ministers in the Departments for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and Levelling Up Housing and Communities on the best means to achieve the step change in measures to decarbonise domestic and commercial property that the CCC has advocated. We recommend that the remit of the Energy Efficiency Taskforce Accelerating the transition from fossil fuels and securing energy supplies 83 expressly include the provision of advice to Ministers on any and all measures— including primary and secondary legislation, codes of practice and guidance—which in the Taskforce’s view will contribute to the swiftest possible implementation of energy efficiency measures at the scale the current situation demands.

From: Environmental Audit Committee, 4th Report - Accelerating the transition from fossil fuels and securing energy supplies (HC 109), paragraph 77, 5 January 2023

Government response

The government responded to the whole report on 23 March 2023 (deadline 5 March 2023).

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The Government welcomes the Committee's report and responds mainly by pointing to existing schemes, targets and planned consultations, while declining several recommendations, including a tax allowance for renewable generators and ringfencing Energy Profits Levy revenue for energy efficiency.

On renewable generators' tax relief, it states it "does not accept this recomsmendation" [sic], citing support through Contracts for Difference. On the Energy Profits Levy, it has "considerable fiscal sustainability concerns" about hypothecating revenue for energy efficiency.
On green mortgages, it agrees lenders have "an important role to play" but will publish a response only once policy is "resolved", giving no date. It intends to consult on Energy Performance Certificate and wider buildings framework reforms in 2023.
On the North Sea, it considers the Transition Deal targets "sufficiently ambitious" and says it does "not propose reopening this deal for negotiation", though it will monitor progress closely, including whether "further steps may be necessary".
On energy efficiency funding, it points to £6.6 billion this Parliament and £6 billion of new funding "from 2025 to 2028". It intends to launch ECO+ in spring 2023, "proposed to be worth £1 billion over three years".

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