Asked by: Lord Naseby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government how a decision about the plutonium stockpile at Sellafield was made; and what work has been done to establish the potential of technology that could produce mixed oxide fuel from plutonium.
Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government decided to immobilise the UK’s civil separated plutonium inventory based on analysis of strategic, economic, technical and safety and security considerations. This included both immobilisation and re-use in mixed oxide (MOX) fuel options. No UK reactor projects use plutonium-based fuel and the UK’s MOX fuel plant closed in 2011.
Immobilisation will deliver the Government’s objective to put this material into a safer and more stable form for long-term storage and ensure it is suitable for disposal in a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF).
Asked by: Lord Naseby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether any assessment has been made of the impact of the plutonium stockpile at Sellafield on the long-term national interest by anyone other than the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority; and if so, who.
Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The decision to immobilise the UK’s civil separated plutonium inventory was taken by the Government, based on consideration of strategic, technical, economic and safety and security factors. A substantial component of this analysis was delivered by NDA, and the Government also engaged with international partners and relevant experts in a range of organisations.
Asked by: Lord Naseby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to pursue nuclear power if they permanently immobilise and entomb underground the stockpile of plutonium at Sellafield.
Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
All current and planned UK reactors use uranium fuels. Through the Nuclear Fuel Fund the Government has invested over £35m to develop new domestic uranium fuel production capabilities to ensure security of supply for the UK and our international partners. The Government is further investing up to £300m to establish a high assay low enriched uranium supply chain in the UK to support advanced nuclear technologies in the UK and overseas.
Asked by: Nick Timothy (Conservative - West Suffolk)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when his Department plans to provide further information on its long-term plans for the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is making long-term plans to enable UK industry to decarbonize and reach Net Zero. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero will update stakeholders as soon as possible on Funds that will be available to industry after the upcoming Spending Review, which will conclude in late spring.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to support the deployment of rooftop and carport solar on commercial buildings through guaranteed minimum export values.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government continues to support solar deployment on commercial rooftops and car parks through the Smart Export Guarantee. This ensures that businesses receive income for excess electricity exported to the grid.
We also intend to support commercial rooftop deployment through other measures, including permitted development rights, and new building standards for newly built commercial buildings. As set out in the Clean Power Action Plan, we have published a call for evidence about solar canopies in car parks.
Solar on car parks and electric vehicle charging - GOV.UK
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment has been made of the adequacy of the grid connections between the proposed new town at Tempsford and the Eaton Socon sub-station to facilitate a new town.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Ofgem regulates the network companies to ensure they are investing to operate, maintain and upgrade electricity infrastructure. For the next transmission and distribution network price controls, Ofgem has identified the need for significant investment in new capacity to transform Great Britain’s electricity networks to support clean power and economic growth. Ofgem published their Regional Energy Strategic Plan (RESP) policy framework decision on 2 April and RESPs will feed into planning by Distribution Network Operators to guide network planning decisions and ensure strategic investment in capacity for local areas, like Tempsford.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of UK energy security.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Great Britain’s energy system is diverse and reliable, with the annual Statutory Security of Supply Report 2024 assessing that GB is expected to have sufficient supplies of electricity and gas to meet consumers’ demands over the short and long-term. However, our dependence on fossil fuels has left us vulnerable to global supply shocks and unstable energy prices. The Government's Clean Energy Superpower Mission, supported by the largest investment in home-grown clean energy in British history, will enhance energy security by boosting our energy independence, protecting billpayers, and reducing exposure to global supply shocks.
Asked by: Ian Roome (Liberal Democrat - North Devon)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to help develop manufacturing capacity in the offshore renewables sector.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Last week, the Prime Minister announced an initial £300 million investment through Great British Energy to accelerate domestic offshore wind supply chains to boost domestic jobs, mobilise private investment, and secure manufacturing facilities for critical clean energy supply chains.
The Government’s Clean Industry Bonus rewards fixed and floating offshore wind developers who choose to invest in the UK’s poorest communities, or in cleaner manufacturing.
The Government will be publishing its Industrial Strategy in spring and will set out its approach to driving investment and growth in the highest potential sectors, including Clean Energy Industries, creating good jobs.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department plans to introduce regulatory measures to ensure rooftop solar is financially viable compared to utility-scale solar projects.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Deploying rooftop solar remains a key priority for the Government, and it continues to be one of the most popular and easily deployed renewable energy sources. The Government continues to support the installation of rooftop solar in various ways, including through tax relief, energy efficiency schemes and the Smart Export Guarantee. The Solar Roadmap will shortly be published, setting out actions for the Government and industry to remove barriers to further deployment. Officials are also exploring the potential of various measures to support a range of green retrofit improvements as part of the Warm Homes Plan.
Asked by: Baroness Bloomfield of Hinton Waldrist (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what measures they have put in place to promote hydrogen energy in Wales.
Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
In the Autumn Budget, the Government confirmed £2.3 billion in revenue support for 11 green hydrogen projects from the first Hydrogen Allocation Round (HAR1), including the HyBont project in Bridgend, and the West Wales Hydrogen Project in Milford Haven.
On 7 April 2025, the Government announced a shortlist of 27 projects, including three located in Wales, that have been invited to the next stage of the Second Hydrogen Allocation Round (HAR2) process.
Projects offered support under previous programmes such as the Net Zero Hydrogen Fund include the Holyhead Hydrogen Hub, where we are working closely with the Wales Office, Welsh Government and Ambition North Wales as the project develops.