When replacing a fossil fuel heating system with a heat pump or other low carbon technology, the expectation and rules for waste disposal are the same as like-for-like replacements.

Guidance for the disposal of appliances varies by product categorisation. Advice on waste management can be found on gov.uk.

The Environment Agency does not oversee the deployment of clean heating systems. However, where oil tanks, boilers etc. are removed, waste producers and contractors must comply with their legal Waste Duty of Care and ensure waste is managed appropriately, including any hazardous wastes from decommissioning activities. Further information here Waste duty of care code of practice - GOV.UK and Dispose of business or commercial waste: Your responsibilities - GOV.UK.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has provided £1.3bn green technology funding through the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio 2021-2025, including funding for hydrogen and CCUS, as well as supporting deployment through the Hydrogen Production Business Model, and CCUS business models. The Department is also delivering research on the potential for natural hydrogen generation and scoping new research programmes to develop the evidence base on green technologies.

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funds research into hydrogen and CCUS technologies, including through the Industrial Decarbonisation Research and Innovation Centre and research council hydrogen hubs.

There are a number of funding schemes available to innovative companies and SMEs in the water sector. Since 2020, Ofwat’s £600m Innovation Fund has supported 109 projects and facilitated almost 300 collaborations between companies, universities, charities, and other organisations. The Government is also supporting innovation through Ofwat’s £100m Water Efficiency Fund, which seeks to stimulate a reduction in water demand across England and Wales. Furthermore, UKRI runs a range of competitions open to SMEs in the water sector. For example, Innovate UK’s Growth Catalyst supports innovative start-ups, particularly those in the clean energy and climate technology sectors. There are also opportunities for firms developing water innovations within Horizon Europe programmes.

I refer the noble Lord to the answer given on 7 July 2025 to Question HL8736.

The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) provides small capital grants to farmers, growers and foresters in England to help them invest in equipment and technology that improves productivity, manage slurry, and supports animal health and welfare.

Defra is conducting an evaluation to explore the impacts of grants on beneficiaries and their businesses, including environmental outcomes. This evaluation is focussed on Round 1 beneficiaries (launched in November 2021 and paid out in 2022).

Environmental Delivery Plans would be able to consider a range of different types of conservation measures.

This may include technology-based solutions, where such solutions could address potential negative effects of development on the environmental features with which the plan is concerned.

The government has set out its ambition for the UK to be the world leader in sustainable finance. This includes delivering a regulatory framework to support sustainable growth and enable the private sector to realise the opportunities of the transition. Through the consultation, the government was keen to explore whether a UK Green Taxonomy can be a useful tool in contributing to this ambition.

The government is reviewing and analysing the consultation responses, this includes considering the potential costs and how it fits in with existing regulation and regimes. We will publish a formal consultation response in due course which will set out next steps.

At this stage in the consultation process, the government was not seeking feedback on the detail of the sectors for inclusion. Instead, the government are focused on the bigger picture of whether and how this can be a useful tool for companies and investors. Therefore, at this stage issues around activities and sectors, such as defence, are out of scope.

This Government is clear that we see no conflict between sustainable investment and investment in our world-leading defence sector. The new Defence Industrial Strategy will align the UK’s economic and security priorities and unlock the potential of every region and nation across the UK. This will include creating the conditions needed for the private sector to invest more, and pro-actively, in the defence sector.

The Trade Association ADS’s first Defence Environment, Social and Governance Charter Report highlighted the positive contribution that the defence industry is making to supporting our environment and our communities.

The new International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) Standards, so called S1 and S2, are designed to replace the Taskforce for Climate-related Financial Disclosure (TCFD) framework.

These are disclosure standards that ask firms to disclose financially material climate related risks to their business. The objective of these is to provide investors with consistent, comparable and reliable information about companies' sustainability-related risks and opportunities. These standards are designed to enhance transparency and do not dictate how a company should invest. They do not prevent or impose restrictions on investment in specific sectors, including defence or the Trident nuclear deterrent.

The previous government committed to establishing a framework to assess the suitability of ISSB Standards for endorsement in the UK. A Technical Advisory Committee of external experts have conducted a detailed assessment of the ISSB’s inaugural standards, and this process has now concluded. The government aims to consult on the UK Sustainability Reporting Standards (UK SRS) shortly, after which point they will be made available for use later in 2025.

The Government is committed to supporting the growth and scaling-up of green technologies, including through the creation of GB Energy, as part of its Clean Energy Superpower Mission. The Government will set out its full approach to seizing the growth opportunities from clean energy industries in the forthcoming Industrial Strategy.

The UK Benchmarks Regulation sets out the requirements for UK Climate Transition Benchmarks and UK Paris-aligned Benchmarks. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) monitor and supervise benchmark administrators according to the Benchmarks Regulation to ensure that benchmarks are produced robustly and with due transparency. The FCA published a statement regarding their position on sustainability regulations and UK defence investment on 11 March 2025.

It is for benchmark administrators to decide if they wish to provide UK Climate Transition Benchmarks and UK Paris-aligned benchmarks under the Benchmarks Regulation, including by paying due regard to the relevant FCA guidance, and which companies to include in their benchmarks. It is then up to firms and investors to choose whether to use these benchmarks.

This Government does not see a conflict between sustainable investment and investment in our world-leading defence sector.

My department is committed to working closely across Government and industry stakeholders to take forward the actions needed to develop supply chains that are resilient, sustainable, innovative and free from forced labour.

The Secretary of State's recent visit to China gave the opportunity to discuss issues that matter to the UK with senior levels of the Chinese government, including areas where we disagree.

The principles of the Green Financing Programme are set out in the Green Financing Framework, published in June 2021. The Framework explains how proceeds from green gilts and NS&I’s retail Green Savings Bonds will finance green expenditures to help tackle climate change, biodiversity loss, and other environmental challenges, while creating green jobs across the UK. It also includes guidelines on the types of expenditures that can be included in the Programme.

The previous Government decided to exclude financing weapons in its Green Financing Framework, alongside other named exclusions. The international convention is to exclude weapons for green bond frameworks. In line with other sovereign green bond issuers and international best practices, the UK Government Green Financing Framework was designed to align with the International Capital Markets Association (ICMA) Green Bond Principles. This approach enables the UK’s green gilts to be accessible to the greatest possible pool of investors, improving value-for-money.

Green gilts and Green Savings Bonds finance public expenditures that can demonstrate a direct and positive environmental impact. Eligible expenditures are drawn from departments’ confirmed settlements in the Spending Review and assessed on the basis of their contribution to the Government’s climate and environmental objectives.

The Green Financing Framework does not underpin how Government expenditure decisions are made. As the PM has announced to Parliament on Tuesday 25 February, we will reach 2.5% of GDP expenditure on defence in 27-28.

GBE will develop, own and operate assets, investing in partnership with the private sector. It will have a capitalisation of £8.3 billion of new money over the Parliament. This is in addition to the work of the National Wealth Fund (NWF), which is central to this Government’s mission to deliver growth and a greener economy. Capitalised with an additional £7.3 billion, the NWF will make transformative investments across every part of the country - mobilising billions of pounds worth of additional private sector investment.

We will continue to support new renewable deployment through our flagship Contracts for Difference scheme, with Allocation Round 7 due to take place this year. In addition, on 12 November, the government launched the Contracts for Difference (CfD) Clean Industry Bonus (CIB). Fixed and floating offshore wind applicants can obtain extra CfD revenue support if they choose to invest in more sustainable supply chains.

The CIB allocation framework sets out how to apply for a Clean Industry Bonus, and how funding will be allocated. The CIB guidance sets out the process for receiving CIB payments, and other matters related to the delivery of CIB commitments. The CIB application window opened 12 February and will close in April 2025.

The UK is committed to a circular economy which will keep resources in use as long as possible, extracting maximum value, minimizing waste and promoting resource efficiency. Policies such as the UK’s Plastic Packaging Tax help support innovation, growth and jobs in the waste management and the recycling sectors, including within chemical recycling.

The UK supports investment into green technologies through competitive research and innovation-based incentives such as R&D tax credits, innovation funding and incentives.

DBT will use its investment services to support Great British Energy to seek investment into new technologies to speed up and scale their deployment.

The UK has made tremendous progress securing investment into green technologies. Recent figures indicate that the UK saw £60bn of investment in 2023.

Government continues to bring forward targeted funding, regulation and policy to drive investment – such as confirming the funding boost for our Contracts for Difference scheme, publishing our CCUS vision, and our recent announcement of support for advanced nuclear fuel.