Topical Questions 2025-03-18

2025-03-18

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Questions & Answers

Q1 Partial Answer
Andrew Bowie Con
West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine
Context
The Climate Change Committee published carbon budget 7 with recommendations that include a cost of £319 billion over the next 15 years. The questioner suggests this is why the Secretary of State cancelled his Department’s review.
Among the more eyewatering recommendations was the figure put on the cost of meeting the obligations: £319 billion over the next 15 years. Frontloading that will be a net cost to industry every year until 2050. Is that exorbitant cost the reason that he cancelled his Department’s review, commissioned by his predecessor, into the whole-systems cost of net zero?
I deeply regret the direction in which the hon. Gentleman is going. The Climate Change Committee does incredibly important work. We will look at CB7, but the biggest cost we face as a country is if we do not act on the climate crisis. That is what would leave hundreds of billions of pounds of costs to future generations.
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Q2 Partial Answer
Andrew Cooper Lab
Mid Cheshire
Context
The Department has plans to provide money off for people hosting important infrastructure in their constituencies.
I welcome the plans brought forward last week to provide money off for people living near new energy infrastructure. Does the Minister agree that this is yet another thing that the Conservatives promised, but never had the ability to deliver?
My hon. Friend is absolutely right that we have moved forward on delivering our plan that people hosting important infrastructure in their constituencies should benefit from it. The Conservatives consulted on it, like so many policies that they talked and talked and talked about, but failed to deliver over 14 years—we are moving on with delivering it.
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Q3 Partial Answer
Alan Strickland Lab
Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor
Context
The Minister previously made comments regarding the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme trustees meeting with the Chancellor.
I have recently met a number of families who are members of the British Coal staff superannuation scheme. While I know they will welcome the Minister’s earlier comments, as has been said, many are in their 70s and 80s, and they are keen for answers. Could the Minister expand on her earlier comments to say more about the next steps and when my constituents might get a sense of the timeline and progress going forward?
I thank my hon. Friend for his concern for his constituents. As I said, I am very receptive to calls from BCSSS trustees. I wrote to the Chancellor, who sent back a positive response, and we are now taking the next steps in this process. I will be reconvening trustees to meet and talk about it again.
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Q4 Partial Answer
Joshua Reynolds LD
Maidenhead
Context
A disabled resident named Martin, living in a park home, faced challenges after his boiler broke down and could not apply for the boiler upgrade scheme.
Martin, a disabled resident, lives in his park home in Maidenhead. After his boiler broke down two months ago, he has faced significant challenges. He is unable to apply for the boiler upgrade scheme, as park homes do not get energy performance certificates, and the National Energy Foundation, which visited him three weeks ago, has still not provided him with a response. Will the Secretary of State outline what support he can give Martin and other elderly residents without heat or hot water?
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. We are very aware of the issues with park homes, and industry support is provided to residents. As we think about expanding the warm home discount and the support we provide for households that cannot afford their energy, we will, of course, have park homes in our mind.
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Q5 Partial Answer
Chris Murray Lab
Edinburgh East and Musselburgh
Context
The questioner asks about the importance of community ownership projects in achieving net zero targets.
Does the Minister agree that community ownership projects will be crucial to achieving our world-leading net zero goals, and will he come to Edinburgh to see some of our fantastic community power projects?
Yes, that sounds really good. Community energy is a crucial part of our energy future.
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Q6 Partial Answer
Edward Leigh Con
Gainsborough
Context
Sir Edward Leigh is requesting that the Secretary of State visit a new fusion site in his constituency.
The Secretary of State and I are near neighbours. Will he take a short car journey to Gainsborough to visit the new fusion site at West Burton? It is probably the most exciting development in green energy that we have ever had in this country, creating unlimited jobs and unlimited green energy. Will he join me in Gainsborough?
The right hon. Gentleman and I do not necessarily agree on everything, but on this we do agree. The transformation of the West Burton site from a fossil fuel-fired power station to a fusion power plant is an incredibly exciting project, and we should all be battling for it.
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Q7 Partial Answer
Chris Kane Lab
Stirling and Strathallan
Context
SSE is supporting the development of more than 1,000 new homes in rural Scotland to aid energy infrastructure development. Chris Kane is concerned about the SNP Scottish Government's failure to address the rural housing crisis.
The Minister may be aware that SSE is supporting more than 1,000 new homes in rural Scotland to aid energy infrastructure development. Does he agree that the SNP Scottish Government’s failure to get a grip on our rural housing crisis is a major barrier to infrastructure development, and will he urge SSE to expand the scheme into my constituency, where we have key projects around the communities of Killin, Lochearnhead, Tyndrum and Crianlarich?
I thank my hon. Friend for his question. He underlines the importance not just of delivering on energy projects but the wider economic benefits from building infrastructure—the kind of infrastructure that the Conservatives now oppose. He is right that in order to deliver these projects, we need to see investment in rural communities by the Scottish Government. We will continue to press them on those issues.
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Q8 Partial Answer
Ben Obese-Jecty Con
Huntingdon
Context
Kent county council plans to introduce 10,000 on-street car chargers over the next decade. Mike Martin is concerned about the speed of implementation.
In response to a written question to me last week, the Minister confirmed that no nationally significant infrastructure projects have been consented to that will use greater than 50% best and most versatile agricultural land. In my constituency, the East Park Energy solar farm is close to 75%, but the overarching national policy statement for energy states at paragraph 5.11.34: “The Secretary of State should ensure that applicants do not site their scheme on the best and most versatile agricultural land without justification.” Can the Minister confirm whether nearly 1,500 acres of best and most versatile land is too much good-quality agricultural land to sacrifice?
The hon. Gentleman will know that any nationally significant project goes through a proper planning process, and it would not be right for me to comment on that. None the less, I am sure that the decision makers will be looking closely at the issues that he has raised.
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Q9 Partial Answer
Brian Leishman Lab
Alloa and Grangemouth
Context
There is to be a much reduced testing process for oil at the import terminal at Grangemouth. Brian Leishman is concerned about potential fuel shortages.
In response to a written question to me last week, the Minister confirmed that no nationally significant infrastructure projects have been consented to that will use greater than 50% best and most versatile agricultural land. In my constituency, the East Park Energy solar farm is close to 75%, but the overarching national policy statement for energy states at paragraph 5.11.34: “The Secretary of State should ensure that applicants do not site their scheme on the best and most versatile agricultural land without justification.” Can the Minister confirm whether nearly 1,500 acres of best and most versatile land is too much good-quality agricultural land to sacrifice?
Throughout the seven months that we have been in government, we have been doing everything we can to work with the operators of the Grangemouth refinery. Of course we were disappointed by its closure. We have carried out a number of pieces of work on fuel security. We are not concerned about that at this point, but, across the whole country, we keep constantly it under review.
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Q10 Partial Answer
Claire Young LD
Thornbury and Yate
Context
Carbon capture, utilisation and storage is the central plank of the Humber 2030 vision. Melanie Onn is seeking a meeting with the Secretary of State.
Although the Leader of the Opposition thinks that achieving net zero is impossible without “bankrupting us”, investment in low carbon energy for communities such as Severn Beach in my constituency could create valuable skilled jobs. What steps will the Government take to ensure that the area around the River Severn will get the investment that it needs to realise its potential?
The hon. Lady is absolutely right on that. The Opposition are off to the “Wacky Races” when it comes to net zero. We in the Labour party know the truth: net zero is the economic opportunity of the 21st century and, under this Government, we will seize it.
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Q11 Partial Answer
Melanie Onn Lab
Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes
Context
Carbon capture, utilisation and storage is the central plank of the Humber 2030 vision. Melanie Onn is seeking a meeting with the Secretary of State.
Carbon capture, utilisation and storage is the central plank of the Humber 2030 vision. Does the Secretary of State have any plans to meet the Humber Energy Board, and if he does not will he join me in doing so?
I talk every day to my hon. Friend about her constituency and I am very happy to meet whoever she wants me to, because we think this is an incredibly important matter. The opportunities for her area and the Humber are great if we can harness the talents of the people in her constituency.
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Q12 Partial Answer
Adrian Ramsay Green
Waveney Valley
Context
Requiring developers to include solar panels in all new homes and buildings would be extremely popular with the public and help deliver net zero targets. Adrian Ramsay is seeking an update on discussions.
Requiring developers to include solar panels in all new homes and buildings would be extremely popular with the public and help deliver net zero targets. Can the Secretary of State give an update on his discussions with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, including those on mandatory solar as part of the future homes and buildings standard?
The hon. Gentleman raises an important point. We are actively working on that in government. Whatever one’s view on ground-mounted solar—we in the Labour party think that it has a role—we do need solar panels on rooftops. It is an important opportunity. While we are about it, perhaps the hon. Gentleman can start supporting our plans on planning and infrastructure so that we can build the clean energy infrastructure that we need.
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Q13 Partial Answer
Jonathan Brash Lab
Hartlepool
Context
The Secretary of State is aware of the ongoing work to deliver new nuclear investment in Hartlepool. Billions of pounds are on the table, which will mean jobs and skills for generations to come.
The Secretary of State will be aware of the ongoing work to deliver new nuclear investment in Hartlepool. Billions of pounds are on the table, which will mean jobs and skills for generations to come. Will he meet me to discuss how we can get this deal over the line?
New nuclear is an essential part of our future energy plans. My Ministers and I would be absolutely delighted to meet my hon. Friend to discuss those plans.
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Q14 Partial Answer
Ben Obese-Jecty Con
Huntingdon
Context
There is to be a much reduced testing process for oil at the import terminal at Grangemouth. Brian Leishman is concerned about potential fuel shortages.
In response to a written question to me last week, the Minister confirmed that no nationally significant infrastructure projects have been consented to that will use greater than 50% best and most versatile agricultural land. In my constituency, the East Park Energy solar farm is close to 75%, but the overarching national policy statement for energy states at paragraph 5.11.34: “The Secretary of State should ensure that applicants do not site their scheme on the best and most versatile agricultural land without justification.” Can the Minister confirm whether nearly 1,500 acres of best and most versatile land is too much good-quality agricultural land to sacrifice?
Throughout the seven months that we have been in government, we have been doing everything we can to work with the operators of the Grangemouth refinery. Of course we were disappointed by its closure. We have carried out a number of pieces of work on fuel security. We are not concerned about that at this point, but, across the whole country, we keep constantly it under review.
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