Asked by: Lord Redwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what the cost is of backup gas-fired power and additional grid per kWh of wind and solar electricity.
Answered by Baroness Curran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is committed to delivering a clean, secure, and affordable electricity system.
There is no single cost estimate for backup generation or grid per kWh of renewable generation. These costs depend on the location and mix of generation and demand. Costs and benefits are assessed at a whole-system level, accounting for technologies’ different roles.
The Department publishes estimates of Electricity Generation Costs, including at different load factors for dispatchable technologies.
Security of supply is supported by a range of technologies including gas-fired generation. The Capacity Market is the Government’s primary mechanism for ensuring reliable capacity is available when needed.
Asked by: Lord Redwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what major improvements to the electricity grid they expect to be in place by 2030.
Answered by Baroness Curran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
By 2030, the Government expects major upgrades to Great Britain’s electricity network to increase capacity for new clean generation and growing electricity demand. This includes substantial new transmission infrastructure, alongside reforms to planning, strategic network design and grid connections to accelerate delivery.
The current transmission price control provides for £71 billion of investment between 2026 and 2031. The Government is also reforming the connections process to prioritise projects that are ready and strategically needed, while Great British Grid will support accelerated investment in critical network infrastructure.
Asked by: Lord Redwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government how much additional grid capacity is needed to handle 100 per cent renewable and nuclear electricity generation at current demand levels.
Answered by Baroness Curran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government keeps any need for additional grid capacity for our future electricity system under constant review. The National Energy System Operator’s network planning considers both how electricity generation and electricity demand are expected to develop over time, rather than planning the network solely on the basis of current demand. The Government is accelerating the expansion and modernisation of the electricity network, driving reforms across strategic network planning, connections, and planning and consenting, alongside measures to make more efficient use of existing network capacity.
Asked by: Lord Redwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what the budget provision is for British Steel in (1) 2026–27, and (2) 2027–28.
Answered by Lord Leong - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
Budgets for British Steel are subject to the usual government approvals processes and ministerial decisions. The need for HMG support is kept under constant review and all efforts are being made to secure a viable future for the company, while delivering the best outcome for the taxpayer. All support for British Steel has been drawn from existing HMG budgets, with no additional borrowing required.
To date, we have provided approximately £751 million for working capital, covering items such as raw materials and salaries. This will be reflected in the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade’s accounts for 2026-27.
Asked by: Lord Redwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to publish a business plan for British Steel.
Answered by Lord Leong - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
As set out in the Written Ministerial Statement on 16 July 2026, the Government is putting in place a new Board of Directors for British Steel Limited, who will bring extensive commercial and industrial expertise to support the company and management in stabilising operations and moving the firm on from its current poor commercial position. The Board will be responsible for developing a plan to transform British Steel into a commercially and environmentally sustainable steelmaking enterprise. It will be the responsibility of the Board to determine if and when any strategic plans should be published.
Asked by: Lord Redwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they held with Jingye to agree terms of nationalisation of British Steel.
Answered by Lord Leong - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
We have been in discussions since 2023 with Jingye about how to deliver a sustainable future for British Steel and since April 2025 regarding Jingye’s proposal to sell British Steel to HMG. Since we tabled our proposal earlier this year we met a number of times to discuss a pathway to resolution. We agreed with Jingye that our discussions should remain confidential.
Asked by: Lord Redwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what due diligence they conducted regarding the environmental, employee, trading, and general business liabilities of British Steel before acquisition.
Answered by Lord Leong - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Government undertook proportionate due diligence before acquisition, drawing on information available through engagement with British Steel during the intervention under the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act 2025. This included assessment of potential environmental liabilities, consideration of employee-related obligations and potential liabilities, and general business liabilities. The extent of some liabilities will depend on the future operational plans for the site. The Government's assessment, based on the relevant factors including cost considerations, is that it is necessary in the public interest to nationalise British Steel Limited.
Asked by: Lord Redwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they acquired the debts and borrowings of British Steel as part of nationalisation.
Answered by Lord Leong - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Schedule of the transfer Regulations (S.I. 2026/832) laid on 16th July defines the property, rights and liabilities excluded from the transfer, meaning they remain the property, rights and liabilities of the transferor. These include but are not limited to any liabilities owed to, or relating to liabilities owed to undertakings within the same corporate group as the transferor. Certain unsecured liabilities owed to third parties are also excluded. The Government has acknowledged the duty to bring forward compensation scheme regulations to allow an independent valuer to determine whether or not compensation is payable.
Asked by: Lord Redwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government how much additional debt, if any, the UK has acquired through the nationalisation of British Steel.
Answered by Lord Leong - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The transfer brought certain property, rights and liabilities into a company wholly owned by the Secretary of State, subject to specified exclusions, and these are listed in Schedule 1 to the British Steel Limited Property Transfer Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/832).
The financial position of the company wholly owned by the Secretary of State--renamed by the transfer regulations as British Steel Ltd.--following nationalisation will be disclosed in accordance with relevant accounting standards, and through the 2026-27 Annual Report and Accounts process.
Asked by: Lord Redwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consultation they held with steel-using UK businesses and other stakeholders before deciding to nationalise British Steel.
Answered by Lord Leong - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Department engages regularly with steel producers, steel-using businesses, trade unions and other stakeholders on issues affecting the UK steel sector, including the Steel Act and the usage of its powers. Ministers and officials also have regular engagements, meetings and roundtables with downstream users.