Hot Air In the UK?

The UK, is currently lagging in last place, in terms of replacing its gas central heating with heat pumps (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/dec/23/heat-pumps-are-hot-property-in-europe-does-britain-have-cold-feet). There are basically two types of air pump, ground and air-based. They are not quite interchangeable, varying in cost, their difficulties of installation and their actual effectiveness in reducing climate-changing 'greenhouse gas' emissions. Just, however, looking at heat pump installations per se, France and Poland are much further along the route of replacing gas heating than the UK. One could argue that the French are well-placed to do this, because much of their heating is currently electrically-powered. France has a lot of nuclear power and their new homes have to have mandatory heat pumps. All the Scandinavian countries are also doing well in terms of transitioning to using heat pumps. Whilst there's been some political opposition to the costs of replacement in Germany, they are still out-performing the UK. In Wales (part of the UK), people who are unconnected to the gas mains (largely oil users) can sensibly get financial support to install a heat pump. People across Europe have been largely motivated to adopt these devices, by the rocketing costs of gas supplies. Having said that, in terms of countering climate change, all governments ought to be making heat pumps mandatory in new build housing. They should also be helping (and encouraging) their populations to make the transition. On this basis alone, the UK is a climate change laggard! It's house builders are currently resistant to installing heat pumps and properly insulating homes.