Reacting to news that Rishi Sunak is considering watering down the planned phase-out of gas boilers, David Cowdrey, Director of External Affairs at the MCS Foundation said:

“The potential move to relax the ban on gas boilers by 2035 could severely undermine the confidence of heat pump manufacturers, heating engineers, and homeowners, as well as the Government’s own target on heat pumps. ”

“A failure to follow through on the promise to phase out gas heating by 2035 could mean higher bills for consumers, continued dependence on polluting fossil fuels, and sends the wrong message to the economy.”

“Contrary to the rhetoric of a small number of Conservative MPs, heat pumps are overwhelmingly popular with people who have them, are suitable for all housing types, and are supremely efficient in cutting bills and carbon emissions. The fact that the UK remains at the bottom of the European league table for installing heat pumps is in large part due to inconsistent Government policy and failure to set and stick to targets. That has to change if we are going to meet climate change goals.”