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 fiscal steps he is taking with Cabinet Colleagues to help lower energy bills for people in Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Government action at the Budget, to end the ECO scheme and shift 75% of the domestic Renewables Obligation to the exchequer, will remove an average of £150 of costs from energy bills from April. In addition, expanding the Warm Home Discount means around six million low‑income households will receive £150 this winter.
Through the Warm Homes Plan, the Governemt has also announced £15 billion to upgrade up to five million homes and help lift up to one million families out of fuel poverty by 2030.
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 assessment he has made of the potential merits of a bespoke strategy to reduce energy costs for the ceramics industry.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The government recognises high energy prices as a significant pressure on UK industry, including ceramics. The only way to bring down bills for good is by ending the UK’s dependency on volatile fossil fuel markets, through the government’s Clean Power Mission.
Around 10% of ceramics manufacturers currently qualify for the British Industry Supercharger discount on electricity network charges that will increase from 60% to 90% in 2026. From 2027, the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme will reduce electricity costs for foundational manufacturing industries, such as ceramics, by c.£35-40/MWh.
We will publish a renewed Industrial Decarbonisation Plan (IDP), setting out a refreshed, strategic approach to delivering a competitive and low-carbon future for UK industry, shaped in close collaboration with industrial stakeholders. The government also intends to consult on further policies to bring down electricity costs relative to gas for the non-domestic sector.
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 steps he plans to take to tackle rising temperatures.
Answered by Katie White - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Tackling climate change is at the heart of this Government’s clean energy superpower mission.
On 29 October we published the Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery Plan which sets out in detail how the UK will continue to reduce emissions in a way that lowers bills and secures good jobs, in line with the Climate Change Act 2008.
With the UK contributing 1% of global emissions, collaboration with other countries is critical. That is why my Rt hon Friend the Prime Minister led the UK’s COP30 delegation and the UK pushed for the transition away from fossil fuels and deforestation that is needed to keep our goal of limiting global temperature rises to 1.5 degrees in reach.
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 assessment he has made of the potential link between overheating homes and the risk of death.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
DESNZ will publish the Warm Homes Plan in October to help people find ways to save money on energy bills and upgrade our buildings into comfortable, low-carbon buildings fit for the future.
The Department has been carrying out research to respond to the relevant climate change adaptation risks from overheating to health and wellbeing and the energy system. This research is closing evidence gaps identifying the buildings most vulnerable to extreme heat and where these are located and groups of people most vulnerable to heat stress. We are continuing to undertake further research as well as appropriate adaptation solutions for these different building types. This work is informing the development of the Warm Homes Plan.
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, which Ministers attended the 4th Commonwealth Sustainable Energy Transition Forum on 20 May 2025.
Answered by Kerry McCarthy
Details of Ministerial meetings are published quarterly in arrears on gov.uk.
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 assessment he has made of the link between the installation of solar panels on new build homes and the cost of energy for those residents.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Solar panels benefit households by reducing electricity bills significantly and providing payment for excess electricity generated through the Smart Export Guarantee.
Future standards this year will set our newbuild homes on a path that moves away from relying on fossil fuels and ensures readiness for a net zero future. We will encourage the installation of solar panels on these developments, where appropriate.
We received a lot of feedback on the Future Homes Standard consultation proposals relating to solar and are mindful of the opportunity it represents. We are committed to ensuring that the standards we set are ambitious and technically achievable. We are working to get the technical detail right and will provide an update soon.
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, how nuclear energy can support the decarbonisation of energy-intensive industries.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
Nuclear can support the decarbonisation of energy-intensive industries by providing a source of reliable, low carbon energy. Nuclear will play an important role in helping the UK achieve a secure, resilient Clean Power system, in turn enabling large industrial consumers of electricity to decarbonise their operations. There are further opportunities for nuclear to support industrial decarbonisation by supplying electricity and/or heat directly to industrial sites. Government recognises the potential for nuclear to play a wider role in the UK energy system, including the decarbonisation of energy-intensive industries, and is exploring ways to unlock this opportunity.
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, how (a) Small Modular Reactors and (b) Advanced Modular Reactors can support energy-intensive industries.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Small and Advanced Modular Reactors (SMRs and AMRs) can support energy-intensive industries by providing scalable, low-carbon energy with the ability to co-locate at industrial sites. These reactors are well-suited for hard-to-decarbonise sectors and emerging demands such as AI data centres, which require reliable, continuous electricity and options for co-generation. The Government recognises the potential of advanced nuclear to power such facilities and is exploring ways to unlock this opportunity.
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 assessment he has made of the potential impact of new nuclear development on local communities.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Public consultation and community engagement is an essential part of the planning process.
We are in the process of designating a new National Policy Statement for nuclear energy generation, called EN-7, which we consulted on earlier this year. EN-7 makes clear that as part of the planning process the applicant must assess the socioeconomic the impact of the construction, operation and decommissioning of the proposed nuclear infrastructure. This assessment should demonstrate that the applicant has taken account of, amongst other things, potential pressures on local and regional resources, population density and economic benefits.
New nuclear projects provide considerable benefits to the communities that host them. For example, EDF report that £5.3 billion has already been invested into the South West regional economy because of Hinkley Point C development.
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, if he will meet the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme to discuss support for the ceramics industry in relation to rises in energy costs.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government believes that our mission to deliver clean power by 2030 is the best way to break our dependence on global fossil fuel markets and protect billpayers permanently.
The creation of Great British Energy will help us to harness clean energy with less reliance on volatile international energy markets and help in our commitment to make Britain a clean energy superpower by 2030.
Companies in the ceramics sector are eligible to apply to the British Industry Supercharger scheme, which has provided energy bill support to hundreds of firms in energy intensive sectors. Financial relief to support energy intensive industries with electricity costs is worth £470 million per year through a mixture of spending and bill discounts.
I meet frequently with representatives of the ceramics sector to discuss challenges faced by manufacturers, including high energy costs. Government is committed to continuing to listen and engage with the sector.