Heat pump tsar Lord Martin Callanan has confirmed he still uses a gas boiler to warm his London home.
The Tory peer admitted even he had not switched to cleaning heating alternatives during an event with business representatives on January 25.
The Energy Efficiency Minister, who insists his home in Newcastle is heated electrically, continues to argue the Government’s net zero approach is working.
Lord Callanan also claimed there has “never been a better time to make the switch” due to the increasing number of heat pumps.
The Government's heat pump tsar continues to use a gas boiler
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Former Welsh Secretary Sir John Redwood was frustrated by the revelation, suggesting many proponents do not own heat pumps.
He told The Daily Express: “Few people can afford a heat pump or think they would keep them warm and their water hot economically.
“I reckon most Ministers and Shadow Ministers who recommend them to others do not have one themselves.”
Mike Foster, CEO of the trade body Energy and Utilities Alliance, added: “Serious questions have now got to be asked of a scheme that failed last year to hit its target and despite increasing the subsidy by 50 per cent, will fail again this year.
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Lord Callanan made the admission during an event last week
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“It takes a special talent, perhaps unique in Whitehall, to miss targets for giving away our cash.”
The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy released figures showing the number of people applying through the Government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme in December jumped by 49 per cent compared to the same month in 2022.
Responding to the figures, Lord Callanan claimed: “These figures show more people want the cleaner heating and more stable bills you get with a heat pump.”
Official data even broke down which parts of the country were installing heat pumps.
The South West has seen the most installations with 3,655.
The Government wants 600,000 heat pumps a year to be installed by 2028PAThe South East (excluding London) comes in a close second with 3,605 installations.
The grants given for heat pumps were boosted to £7,500 earlier this year, reportedly making the scheme one of the most generous in Europe.
Claire Coutinho MP said: “We recently made our Boiler Upgrade Scheme one of the most generous schemes in Europe.
“Applications are now up by nearly 50 per cent compared to last year.
“Helping people, rather than forcing them, to make the right choices for their homes will always be my priority.”
