I have already spoken for rather a long time. If I can add some further detail to what I have already said, I think it would be appropriate for me to write to noble Lords about that. I hope and believe that the Committee will welcome the announcements that the Government have made and the direction of travel that we have set. We could be criticised if we had not announced such a direction of travel because there is no disagreement in principle between any of us as to how important this agenda is.
On the goal that I have set out—the phasing out of fossil fuel boilers and the scaling up of heat pump deployment—we are currently taking steps towards decarbonising heat, including through the £450 million boiler upgrade scheme and a new market mechanism in the heating appliance market, along with heat network trials zoning. The Government are already working with industry and local authorities to develop new heat networks and improve existing ones, investing more than £500 million in funds and programmes. I say to the noble Lord, Lord Stunell, that real money is being put behind these programmes.
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The Government agree with the principle of increasing the ambition for minimum energy efficiency standards to lower energy bills and deliver carbon savings in order to meet our net-zero targets. This is reflected in our ambition in the heat and buildings strategy to strengthen our existing private rented sector regulations. In relation to minimum energy efficiency standards for domestic buildings, the Government agree with the ambition of reaching EPC band C by 2035 for as many homes as possible where that is cost-effective, practical and affordable. The Government also consulted on our proposed future trajectory for the non-domestic private rented sector minimum energy efficiency standards, with an ambition for properties to meet EPC band B by 2030 where that is cost-effective. We also aim to consult on a similar long-term policy for non-domestic owner-occupied properties.
The Government need to have sufficient opportunity to review the outcomes of the non-domestic private rented sector regulations consultations and to reflect the changing policy landscape in policy design. It is our intention to reflect on the valuable feedback to ensure that any policy is fair and proportionate for businesses and property owners. The Government have already set out their timeline to deliver the future homes standard by 2025, and we plan to consult on the technical details of the standard later this year.
Finally, both the Climate Change Committee and its Adaptation Sub-Committee already play a key role, providing independent advice and scrutiny of the Government’s long-term net-zero policies and proposals. They hold government accountable by publishing a statutory progress report to Parliament. We do not therefore consider this additional requirement necessary.
With these explanations and assurances, I hope that the noble Lord, Lord Crisp, will be happy to withdraw Amendment 188. I am sure that these are matters to
which we will return on a regular basis, but I hope that noble Lords will not feel the need to press their amendments in this group when they are reached.