To ask the Minister for the Economy, pursuant to AQW 10294/17-22, to detail (i) her options; and (ii) her plans to utilise the remaining £22.2 million underspend in the Annually Managed Expenditure for the Renewable Heat Incentive.

As I advised in my responses to AQW 11484/17-22 and AQW 10294/17-22, the AME budget available for the Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme has not all been drawn down from HM Treasury. This budget can only be used to incentivise the use of renewable heat and again we cannot simply adopt a tariff that maximises use of available budget.

On the basis that the Non-domestic RHI Scheme will be closed in line with the commitment made in the New Decade, New Approach deal, proposals for a replacement scheme to incentivise generation of heat from renewable sources will be brought forward at a later date.