Thank you to everyone who has contacted me about the energy crisis and the action we need to help people keep their homes warm. I appreciate how crucial the concerns you raise are.

I agree that we need rapid action when it comes to retrofitting housing. That is why I support a Warm Homes Plan that would reduce energy demand by insulating 19 million homes across the country over the next decade.

I also agree that we need to accelerate the deployment of cheap, homegrown renewables to reduce bills in the longer term. I therefore support plans to deliver a fossil fuel-free electricity system by 2030, including by quadrupling offshore wind, more than tripling solar power and more than doubling our onshore wind capacity, as well as establishing a publicly owned clean energy company to make Britain an energy independent superpower. These plans would save UK households billions of pounds every year.

In addition, with so many people still wondering how they are going to make ends meet while faced with their energy bills, I believe it is wrong to continue to leave on the table billions of pounds from oil and gas companies that could be used to provide greater support to households. Yet the Government has done just this when it comes to the windfall tax by refusing to close the loopholes it contains.

As you will know, several amendments were tabled to the Energy Bill in support of the aims of the Warm This Winter campaign. Most of these amendments were not called to a vote in the debate on the Bill on 5 September.

However, I was able to support amendments that sought to accelerate the deployment of cheap, clean, homegrown renewable energy capacity. This included new clause 57, which would have removed the Government’s blocks on onshore wind power, and new clause 59, which would have provided for the UK’s electricity supply to be decarbonised by 2030. I was also able to support an amendment that would have required the Government to set out an action plan for upgrading the energy efficiency of all UK homes in line with its own stated goals.

Unfortunately, these amendments were all voted down by the Government. I can nevertheless assure you that I will continue to support efforts to press it for the action we desperately need on this issue.

Thank you once again to all who have contacted me.