Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Electricity Grid Decarbonisation

Tuesday 18 March 2025 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister was asked about the cost estimate for decarbonising the electricity grid by 2030.
  • Minister responded that Labour's plans aim to end dependence on volatile fossil fuel markets and secure energy for the British people.
  • Conservative members criticized the government's target as costly and detrimental to the countryside and local industries.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Louie French Con Old Bexley and Sidcup
Climate Energy
Context

The question follows an inquiry by another MP about the cost estimate for decarbonizing the electricity grid by 2030. The context involves local issues in Bexley regarding infrastructure development.

Question

What recent estimate his Department has made of the cost of decarbonising the electricity grid by 2030? The London power tunnels project has been a positive story locally, as National Grid has worked with the community to minimise disruption. However, Labour's planning reforms have led developers to propose two extensive industrial battery storage facilities on a nature conservation area and farmland that do not meet fire safety guidance.

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Michael Shanks)

Our clean power mission will end our dependence on volatile fossil fuel markets, giving the British people the energy security they deserve and driving jobs and investment into our communities. I am glad the hon. Gentleman draws attention to the London power tunnels. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have visited them recently and they are a fantastic example of engineering and what we can achieve if we set ambitious targets in this area. However, I gently disagree with the hon. Gentleman on the wider point as we are going to have to build infrastructure across the country to get the benefits of renewable energy generation.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The cost estimate was not directly addressed.

How: Disagree With The Hon. Gentleman On The Wider Point

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Q2 James Wild Con North West Norfolk
Energy Environment
Context

The question seeks clarification on the cost estimate for decarbonizing the electricity grid by 1030, following up on an earlier inquiry. It also highlights concerns about proposed infrastructure projects in specific areas.

Question

Once again the Minister has failed to answer the question about the cost estimate. The Government’s dogma-driven 2030 target will drive up costs and that we will see pylons and substations imposed against the wishes of local people. That will damage our countryside and it relies on Chinese supply chains.

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Michael Shanks)

Once again, we hear from Conservative Members about all these grand plans that they wish they had done in the 14 years that they were in government. They could have moved forward on undergrounding if they were so keen on it, but of course they did not. The reality is that it is for individual companies to set forward the design of individual projects, and cost estimates for undergrounding are five or ten times more expensive.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The cost estimate was not directly addressed.

How: It Is For Individual Companies

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Q3 Nick Timothy Con
Economy Energy
Context

The question references Labour's previous election promise to cut household bills and the impact of increasing carbon prices.

Question

That was a long-winded answer, but the Minister did not actually address the question, and I think he just gave away that it is Labour’s secret plan to increase the price of carbon—a massive rise in the carbon price—adding hundreds of pounds to families’ bills and decimating British industry. Given Labour’s election promise to cut bills, will he take this moment—he can look up into the camera if he likes—to promise the country that by the next election bills will be lower, as Labour promised? Yes or no?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Michael Shanks)

Never mind long-winded answers—that was a very long-winded question. I have not revealed any secret plans, but the Conservatives have revealed their not so secret plan, and I can tell the county that it is just as disappointing as the one the country rejected seven months ago. We have been very clear that it is our commitment to bring down bills, and we are determined to deliver on that. Unlike the Conservative party, which left consumers across the country exposed to volatile fossil fuel markets—the hon. Gentleman is right to point out that bills went up and up and up when his party was in government—we will bring them down. His party wants to take us back to the fossil fuel casino but we will not do that.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not provide a clear yes or no answer about whether bills will be lower by the next election, as requested.

How: Changing Subject, Criticizing Previous Government

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