Topical Questions 2026-07-07
2026-07-07
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
The Government has been responsible for various energy initiatives.
If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities. The Secretary of State's department is handling renewable power, nuclear programmes, and warm homes initiative.
In the two years since July 2024, this Government have secured renewable power for the equivalent of 23 million homes, invested in the biggest nuclear building programme in half a century, started to deliver the biggest investment in warm homes in our country's history, taken £150 off energy bills and shown global climate leadership.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Families relying on heating oil face a £300 rise since the Government took office.
The cost of heating oil remains a major concern for many residents in the Borders, particularly as families plan for autumn and winter. The Government promised to cut energy bills by £300 but since they took office, bills have risen by £300. What more will the Government do to support households?
I appreciate the hon. Gentleman's question, because the situation facing families who use heating oil has been significant since the Iran war started. That is why we made money available, including to the Scottish Government, to help families in particular hardship. We have also increased the help available through the boiler upgrade scheme for those families using heating oil.
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Assessment & feedback
The answer did not specify what more will be done beyond existing measures and additional funds made available.
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
Europe's largest energy project is being developed alongside four other projects in Suffolk Coastal.
The Secretary of State will know that there is no legal duty for energy developers to co-ordinate when they are developing in the same area or place, or at the same time. In Suffolk Coastal, Europe's largest energy project is being developed right now, alongside four other nationally significant energy infrastructure projects. Will the Government consider giving Ofgem more power to enforce co-ordination?
We will look at all suggestions, including my hon. Friend's. We do look at cumulative impact in the planning process, and the strategic spatial energy plan will be very important.
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Assessment & feedback
The answer did not commit to giving Ofgem more power but acknowledged looking into it.
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
The Secretary of State is facing negative sentiment from trade unions, public and oil and gas workers.
According to the press, the Secretary of State is applying for a new job, which means that he must be in need of references. Who will he ask first: the trade unions, who are calling for him to be sacked; the public, who have faced a £300 rise in their energy bills on his watch; or the oil and gas workers, who roundly rejected him at the recent by-election in Aberdeen?
I am incredibly proud of our record over the last two years. This Government have delivered the biggest investment in warm homes in our history, broken records on renewables, and secured over £100 billion of private sector investment. We have the biggest nuclear-building programme in a generation, and a plan for 400,000 new clean energy jobs.
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Assessment & feedback
The answer changed the subject to the Government's achievements rather than addressing the request for references.
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
The Secretary of State is facing criticism over rising energy bills and the state of clean energy industries.
Let us look at the facts: bills went down £500 under me, but they have gone up £300 under him. The Secretary of State said that he has raked in investment, but that is because he has promised that consumers will pay sky-high prices to wind developers for decades to come. He is decimating British industry. Great British Energy is a complete flop. Is not the truth that the only reason he wants an out from this job is so that someone else has to clean up the mess that he is leaving behind?
The truth is that we all face a choice on the future of our energy system. Do we learn the lessons of history—of two fossil-fuel crises in five years, as a result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the Iran war—and say that we want energy sovereignty with clean, home-grown power that we control, or do we not? We have made our choice.
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Assessment & feedback
The answer changed the subject to broader historical lessons instead of addressing specific criticisms and future plans.
Response accuracy
Q6
Direct Answer
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Context
RES' partnership with Scottish Power will support clean power for over 400,000 homes.
It was a pleasure to welcome the Minister for Energy to Bellshill for the opening of the new RES maintenance facility last week. RES' partnership with Scottish Power will support 15 windfarm sites, ensuring clean power for more than 400,000 homes. Does my hon. Friend agree that partnerships like that are important for our energy security?
I love Bellshill, and it was a pleasure to visit the other day to see this fantastic facility opening just across my constituency boundary. More than 300 wind turbines are being maintained and operated from the facility. That is a good example showing that the clean energy mission is about not just the renewables being deployed, but the jobs that go with it in communities like my hon. Friend's.
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Assessment & feedback
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Q7
Partial Answer
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Context
Liberal Democrats pushed for community energy inclusion in the Great British Energy Act 2025.
When it comes to local and community energy, we welcome the investment by Great British Energy, and the local power plan. However, the Liberal Democrats pushed to get community energy in the Great British Energy Act 2025, because we knew that there were hurdles beyond investment, as pointed out by my hon. Friend the Member for Bath (Wera Hobhouse), who is on the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee. We have been waiting for over a year to hear about this. The Minister has said that the Government are creating the much-awaited energy independence Bill, which will include changes to local energy trading, so that there is a right to sell supply locally.
The hon. Lady could go on all day reading out the things that this Government are already going to do. We want to see much more community ownership, because it matters to us that communities own their future energy, and that people keep the wealth in their communities to invest it in the things that they think are important, because they know their community best. There is a whole series of actions that previous Governments have not taken that would have made that possible. We are going to clear that away and make it possible for communities to own their energy, and we have put £1 billion into that.
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Assessment & feedback
The answer acknowledged the importance but did not specify details on community export guarantees or power purchase agreements.
Response accuracy
Q8
Partial Answer
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Context
The £15 billion warm homes plan aims to lift 1 million people out of fuel poverty and improve household temperatures. However, this programme is still in the setup phase.
I am concerned about what the Government are doing in the short term to bring down energy bills while the £15 billion warm homes plan is being set up.
My hon. Friend and his constituents can already access grants through the warm homes plan, and they will soon be able to receive loans.
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Assessment & feedback
The question asked about short-term measures for reducing energy bills, but the response only referenced ongoing initiatives without mentioning specific steps to reduce bills now.
Response accuracy
Q9
Direct Answer
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Context
The Secretary of State is responsible for the roll-out of small modular reactors across the UK.
I am asking whether the Secretary of State will consult the devolved regions on the roll-out of small modular reactors, so that all the consumer and job opportunity benefits can be shared right across the whole United Kingdom?
The hon. Gentleman makes a really important point. I am happy to give that undertaking. We want to see the opportunities around SMRs throughout the United Kingdom.
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Assessment & feedback
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Q10
Partial Answer
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Context
Year 7 students from Ranelagh school in Bracknell have expressed concerns about the impacts of climate change and their desire for immediate government action.
Year 7 students from Ranelagh school in Bracknell have written to me as part of the Creative for Climate Justice Project, sharing some incredible artwork and poetry. They note that the impacts of climate change are already visible and call on us to act now to avoid irreversible damage. Does my hon. Friend agree? Will she assure those students that the Government heed their call for action?
I thank my hon. Friend for bringing up this important issue and reassure Ranelagh school students that their voices are heard, which is why we are launching a youth scheme in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
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Assessment & feedback
The response provided general assurance rather than specific action or commitment.
Response accuracy
Q11
Partial Answer
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Context
During the election, the Government promised to cut energy bills by £300 but instead they have increased by that amount.
The Government promised during the election to cut bills by £300; in fact, they have gone up by £300. With that level of financial acumen, the Secretary of State will fit right in at the Treasury, but my constituents and local businesses want their bills cut now, not at some nebulous point in the future. When he gets to the Treasury, will he remove taxes on our energy industry so that bills actually come down?
The hon. Gentleman raises an important issue. The way to get bills down is to drive for clean energy, which the Conservatives oppose. Why have bills gone up in the last few months? Because of the Iran war.
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Assessment & feedback
The response did not address the specific question about removing taxes on the energy industry; instead it shifted blame onto external factors and opposition.
Response accuracy
Q12
Partial Answer
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Context
The Secretary of State intends to regulate third-party brokers through the energy independence Bill.
Third-party brokers will rightly be regulated through the energy independence Bill, but the market is complex and time-poor business owners still find it hard to find the right deal. Is the Secretary of State willing to explore measures to standardise business energy bills, and will he look at new data rights under smart data powers so that SMEs can take back control?
My hon. Friend raises an important issue about the treatment of businesses. I am sure that there is more to do on brokers. We will look at his suggestions.
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Assessment & feedback
The response acknowledged the issue but did not commit to specific actions or timelines for standardising bills or providing data rights.
Response accuracy
Q13
Partial Answer
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Context
The government shelved plans to require solar panels on new car parks.
The Government recently shelved plans to require solar panels on new car parks, despite the significant potential to generate clean electricity and support electric vehicle charging. What assessment has the Minister made of the impact of abandoning those proposals on the Government's clean power and net zero ambitions?
First, just to be clear, we are not abandoning at all the idea that we should put solar on as many car parks as possible and encourage the creation of car ports. We consulted on whether there should be one mandatory solution for the whole country, and the consultation responses suggested that was not the right way to go. That does not mean we are not hugely ambitious about solar on car parks.
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Assessment & feedback
The response did not provide a specific assessment of the impact; it only reiterated intentions without addressing the question directly.
Response accuracy
Q14
Partial Answer
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Context
A local community energy company is seeking permission to install solar panels on the roofs of public buildings.
My local community energy company, run by volunteers, is keen to get solar panels on the roofs of local public buildings but has struggled with obtaining permissions from the local authority. They missed two installation windows. Does the Minister agree that we need this process to hurry up?
Yes, I completely agree. I am sure if my hon. Friend's local authority is listening, it will hurry up and make those decisions. We also want the process to be more standardised across the country.
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Assessment & feedback
While supportive of speeding up processes, no specific action or commitment was given.
Response accuracy
Q15
Partial Answer
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Context
Rolling out small modular reactors has been championed in the House.
I have long championed rolling out small modular nuclear reactors. Despite being a welcome decision, Wylfa could be more extensive with both full-scale and SMR stations. Will the Secretary of State announce sites for further roll-out so that it is settled in the community and we can get that nuclear power on to the grid?
I think the hon. Member is talking not just about what will happen at Wylfa, but all the other routes to market that are happening, including advanced modular reactors and other technology. We have massive enthusiasm from private sector companies, and we are driving it forward.
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Assessment & feedback
The answer did not directly address announcing future sites for roll-out; instead, it highlighted progress with existing initiatives.
Response accuracy
Q16
Partial Answer
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Context
The Minister is expected to help create jobs and promote growth in key industries like renewables.
I was elected on the back of three clear pledges, one being to work for job creation and prosperity in growing industries, including renewables. In Cornwall, we are already seeing 20% annual growth in this sector. What steps is the Minister taking to help us create those jobs?
The framework provided by having a clear sense of mission, through Clean Power 2030 and the Climate Change Act 2008, is crucial. That is why we have £100 billion of private investment; we are going to carry on doing it.
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Assessment & feedback
The response did not provide specific steps or commitments for job creation in renewables.
Response accuracy
Q17
Partial Answer
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Context
Concerns over the current Contracts for Difference (CfD) model and its impact on energy sector.
Regarding contracts for difference, will the Government now consider moving from a 100% revenue guarantee model to a partial coverage model, along the lines of what Australia now has?
We think the contracts for difference model is a good one. We want to get on with opening the auction, and we continue to look at all these issues.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not specify whether they will consider moving to partial coverage model
We Think The Contracts For Difference Model Is A Good One
We Want To Get On With Opening The Auction
Response accuracy
Q18
Partial Answer
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Context
Concerns over rising electricity prices due to global energy shocks.
Putin's war in Ukraine and Trump's war in Iran have shown us the need to make Britain more resilient against global energy shocks. Can my hon. Friend set out what the Government are doing to ensure that domestic electricity prices are decoupled from global gas prices, so that my constituents can get the best out of cheap, green, local renewables?
I pay tribute to the work my hon. Friend is doing for her constituents on this issue. The most effective way to decouple our electricity prices from gas is to expand our renewable generation. Every wind turbine we turn on and every solar panel that we deploy helps to push gas off as the price-setter. We will continue to work in this way.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not specify concrete actions for decoupling electricity prices from global gas prices
The Most Effective Way To Decouple Our Electricity Prices From Gas Is To Expand Our Renewable Generation
Response accuracy
Q19
Partial Answer
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Context
Concern over the UK government's oil and gas policies compared to those of Norway.
Just this year, Norway has opened up a licensing round for 70 new oil and gas blocks. It is reopening three old gas fields and has permitted development plans for three new fields. Meanwhile, this Government are still banning licences, taxing the industry out of business and not permitting Rosebank and Jackdaw. Why does the Secretary of State think he is right and our Norwegian friends are wrong?
I suspect that in the coming days England fans will learn a lot from Norway in something else. On the serious point that the hon. Member raises, we should first recognise that Norway took a different approach to extraction from the North sea 60 years ago, and it has continued to do that over its 60 years of extraction from the North sea. Secondly, we are not turning off the taps in the North sea. We have said that we will introduce transitional energy certificates to allow new production tied back to existing fields.
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Assessment & feedback
Changed subject to unrelated matter and did not address UK-Norway policy comparison directly
I Suspect That In The Coming Days England Fans Will Learn A Lot From Norway In Something Else
Response accuracy
Q20
Partial Answer
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Context
Concern over high business energy costs and their impact on British businesses' competitiveness.
Business energy costs are a significant barrier, holding British business back from being competitive on the world stage. Has the Secretary of State done any analysis of the potential GDP growth from reducing business energy costs and getting British businesses moving?
British businesses were suffering from high energy costs as a direct result of the previous Government's policy to tie us to fossil fuels. The things that we have done—lifting the onshore wind ban, investing in offshore wind and rolling out solar and nuclear—will bring down energy costs in the long term, but we need to do something now. That is why we have increased the benefit on our supercharger scheme. We have rolled out the British industrial competitiveness scheme starting next year, but that is backdated through this year, too. We also have specific support for industries such as ceramics and chemicals.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not address whether analysis was conducted on GDP growth from reducing business energy costs
British Businesses Were Suffering From High Energy Costs
We Need To Do Something Now
Response accuracy
Q21
Partial Answer
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Context
Concern over the effectiveness of UK and Scottish government support schemes for heating oil.
On heating oil, the Scottish National party Government boasted that they would add £5.4 million to the £4.6 million the UK Government gave to domestic consumers. However, there is scant evidence that that is reaching my constituents in the Western Isles, which have the highest fuel poverty figures in the country. Will the Minister join me in encouraging constituents to apply for support? Will he ask the Scottish Government to broaden the criteria and Advice Direct Scotland to get that money out the door, so that people are not left high and dry?
My hon. Friend is right that more people need to claim the support that is on offer, and I encourage them to do that in his constituency and across Scotland. My understanding is that just over £1 million of the £10 million in the fund has been distributed.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not address asking Scottish government to broaden criteria
I Encourage Them To Do That
Response accuracy
Q22
Direct Answer
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Context
Concern over high energy costs impacting the restoration of tin mining at South Crofty.
South Crofty in my Camborne, Redruth and Hayle constituency is approaching the historic restoration of Cornish tin mining, but high energy costs risk the UK losing control of the supply chain in domestic processing and refining. If the Government are serious about building up a sovereign critical minerals supply chain, will the Minister meet me to discuss extending BICS and the industrial supercharger scheme to critical minerals?
My hon. Friend knows how eagerly I am anticipating the return of tin production in Cornwall—I want it just as much as him and his colleagues. I would be happy to meet him to see how South Crofty and the rest of the Cornish industry can benefit from the Government's schemes.
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Assessment & feedback
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Q23
Partial Answer
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Context
Concern over the lack of jobs and community benefits from renewable energy storage projects.
Will the Minister acknowledge that the highlands and islands produce a disproportionately large amount of our renewable energy? Will he also acknowledge that last week's Ofgem go-ahead for three pumped storage schemes will produce almost no jobs, no legacy housing and no community benefits, along with minimal, if any, advantage to the highlands of Scotland?
First, we are delighted to be building the first long-duration energy storage in Britain in 40 years, including pumped hydro storage projects that will help us store renewable energy for when we need it. Secondly, there will be local benefits from that and I do not agree with the hon. Gentleman's point about jobs. These are big construction projects and there will be jobs relating to running them afterwards. However, I will look further at his point on community benefits, because the community should benefit from such projects being built.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not acknowledge lack of jobs and community benefits initially raised by questioner
I Do Not Agree With The Hon. Gentleman'S Point About Jobs
Response accuracy
Q24
Partial Answer
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Context
Concern over difficulty in accessing low or no standing charge schemes.
The Government have worked with Ofgem to bring forward low or no standing charge schemes, which are supposedly open for trial. I cannot find them and neither can my residents. The access to those schemes is so small, so what are the Government doing to make them available to more people now?
I will share details of that with the hon. Lady. We are also undertaking the cost allocation review, which deals with those issues.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not specify actions to improve accessibility now
We Are Also Undertaking The Cost Allocation Review
Response accuracy
Q25
Partial Answer
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Context
Concern over ensuring contracts prioritize British firms and jobs.
The UK's green economy is worth more than £100 billion a year, and nearly half a trillion pounds in investment is in the pipeline. What steps is the Minister taking to ensure that the contracts that his Department provides prioritise British firms and British jobs, so that we can prove our national capabilities and secure our energy?
That is something we take incredibly seriously. We are an energy policy and industrial policy Department. We have made progress on that and are determined to make further progress.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not specify concrete steps taken or planned for prioritizing British firms and jobs
That Is Something We Take Incredibly Seriously
Response accuracy
Q26
Partial Answer
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Context
Concern about the origin of wind turbines in the UK, specifically regarding recent discoveries that a thousand of them were manufactured using asbestos.
The Government have stressed the importance of energy independence, sovereignty and security. How concerned are they that it is difficult to pin down exactly how many and what percentage of the wind turbines in this country are produced in China?
We take those issues seriously across the energy resilience and security piece. It is for individual developers to look at their individual sites and ensure that they comply with the regulations that are in place.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific commitment on how to address concerns about wind turbine origin and compliance
Response accuracy
Q27
Partial Answer
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Context
Innovation by companies such as Reflex Marine for floating offshore wind projects in the Celtic Sea and the need for test and demo models to validate technology.
There is so much innovation going on in my constituency for floating offshore wind in the Celtic sea, including by companies such as Reflex Marine. We need the test and demo models up in the Celtic sea to test the technology. The contracts for difference in the next auction will be crucial for offshore wind in the Celtic sea. Will the Minister commit to recognising that in future auction rounds?
Yes. We love Cornwall; we love the potential of what it can provide in terms of floating wind.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific commitment on recognising offshore wind projects in future auction rounds
Response accuracy
Q28
Partial Answer
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Context
Private companies planning to deploy new nuclear power at the site need to address skills shortages, particularly in roles such as welding.
Private companies looking to deploy new nuclear at Oldbury will need to address skills shortages, particularly around roles such as welding. When assessing proposals for the site, how will Ministers ensure developers invest in skills so that local people can benefit from the jobs created?
That is exactly the reason we published our clean energy jobs plan, which identifies the demand for clean energy jobs in different parts of the country. We have also invested, through our clean energy technical excellence colleges in different parts of the country, to ensure that those skills will be available.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific commitment on ensuring developers invest in local skills training for Oldbury nuclear deployment
Response accuracy
Q29
Partial Answer
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Context
Members of the House passed regulations to crack down on rogue landfill operators. There is concern about public payments being made to landfill gas energy providers linked to rogue operations.
Last night, Members of this House passed regulations to crack down on rogue landfill operators. Does the Minister agree that no public payments should be made to a landfill gas energy provider when that provider is linked to rogue landfill operations?
My hon. Friend makes an incredibly important point. We will write to her with a good answer.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific commitment on public payments to landfill gas energy providers linked to rogue operations
Write To Her With A Good Answer
Response accuracy