Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to HCWS1501, what estimate her Department has made of the total cost to the public purse of operating the Ensus UK Limited plant for the initial three-month period.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The costs associated with this intervention have been independently verified and are commercially sensitive. The Department’s Annual Report and Accounts will record the expenditure incurred with Ensus and disclosures surrounding the expenditure incurred will reflect the materiality of the arrangement to the Department’s accounts, as is required by International Financial Reporting Standards.

Government uses legal powers under the Industrial Development Act 1982 to provide financial support to Ensus. A key condition of this support requires Ensus to keep the facility on standby and restart operations when required to provide resilience for critical sectors.

Ministers were first advised of risks to CO2 supply chains arising from the Middle East conflict on 9 March.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Written Statement of 13 April 2026 (HCWS1501), what statutory or prerogative powers were relied upon to direct Ensus UK Limited to restart production.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The costs associated with this intervention have been independently verified and are commercially sensitive. The Department’s Annual Report and Accounts will record the expenditure incurred with Ensus and disclosures surrounding the expenditure incurred will reflect the materiality of the arrangement to the Department’s accounts, as is required by International Financial Reporting Standards.

Government uses legal powers under the Industrial Development Act 1982 to provide financial support to Ensus. A key condition of this support requires Ensus to keep the facility on standby and restart operations when required to provide resilience for critical sectors.

Ministers were first advised of risks to CO2 supply chains arising from the Middle East conflict on 9 March.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, on what date Ministers first became aware of risks to UK CO₂ supply chains arising from the conflict in the Middle East.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The costs associated with this intervention have been independently verified and are commercially sensitive. The Department’s Annual Report and Accounts will record the expenditure incurred with Ensus and disclosures surrounding the expenditure incurred will reflect the materiality of the arrangement to the Department’s accounts, as is required by International Financial Reporting Standards.

Government uses legal powers under the Industrial Development Act 1982 to provide financial support to Ensus. A key condition of this support requires Ensus to keep the facility on standby and restart operations when required to provide resilience for critical sectors.

Ministers were first advised of risks to CO2 supply chains arising from the Middle East conflict on 9 March.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of purchasing Emissions Trading Scheme permits in the secondary market on the cost to businesses.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The price of carbon allowances in the UK Emissions Trading Scheme is set by the market. A market-determined price of carbon is the most efficient way to decarbonise the traded sector.

The UK ETS Authority sets the scheme’s cap, which sets a limit on the volume of greenhouse gases participants captured by the scheme can emit.

In 2024 the UK ETS cap was aligned to net zero. This ensures the covered sectors will reduce their emissions in line with the UK’s climate target and establishes a long-term investment signal. An impact assessment was conducted, including costs to businesses.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to HCWS1501, what level of detail will be provided in DBT’s 2025-26 and 2026-27 annual reports on expenditure associated with the Ensus UK Limited restart.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The costs associated with this intervention have been independently verified and are commercially sensitive. The Department’s Annual Report and Accounts will record the expenditure incurred with Ensus and disclosures surrounding the expenditure incurred will reflect the materiality of the arrangement to the Department’s accounts, as is required by International Financial Reporting Standards.

Government uses legal powers under the Industrial Development Act 1982 to provide financial support to Ensus. A key condition of this support requires Ensus to keep the facility on standby and restart operations when required to provide resilience for critical sectors.

Ministers were first advised of risks to CO2 supply chains arising from the Middle East conflict on 9 March.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when she expects to publish the consultation on guaranteed hours under the Employment Rights Act 2025; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the timing of the publication of the consultation on (a) business confidence, (b) employment levels, (c) levels of flexible work and (d) business viability, particularly for (i) recruitment agencies and (ii) seasonal sectors such as (A) hospitality and (B) agriculture.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The government will consult on the right to guaranteed hours in due course, to be sure to get the detail of the regulations right for both workers and employers across all sectors. We appreciate that employers will need clarity and time before regulations come into effect to familiarise themselves with these new rights and adapt their practices. We will ensure that employers have sufficient time and appropriate guidance to comply with the new legislation.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to respond to (a) Question 126758 and (b) the letter of 17 March 2026 from the hon. Member for Arundel and South Downs.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

Both PQ UIN 126758 and the letter refrenced were replied to on 27 April 2026.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the Minister for Policing and Crime plans to respond to the letter of 17 March 2026 from the hon. Member for Arundel and South Downs.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The correspondence from the hon. Member for Arundel and South Downs, dated 17 march 2026, was answered on 27 April 2026.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department (a) collects and (b) holds data on foodbank usage; and if he will publish all such data for each of the last five years.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Statistics on the level of food bank use in the UK are published annually in the Households Below Average Income statistics report. The most recent publication is available here: Households below average income: for financial years ending 1995 to 2025 - GOV.UK

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of trends in the level of foodbank usage since July 2024.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Statistics on the level of food bank use in the UK are published annually in the Households Below Average Income statistics report. The most recent publication is available here: Households below average income: for financial years ending 1995 to 2025 - GOV.UK

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the answer of 20 April 2026 to UIN 127204, what his planned timeline is of powers exercised under the Industrial Development Act 1982 to provide assistance to Ensus.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Government has used powers under Section 7 of the Industrial Development Act 1982 to provide financial support to Ensus. This follows scrutiny and oversight from independent financial advisors and discussions with the company which have taken place since September 2025. The advice received regarding the costs associated with the Ensus plant are commercially sensitive and as such will not be published. However, to date, we have provided less than £30m of financial assistance to Ensus UK Limited.

The timing and operation of this support will be kept under review. Government will monitor market conditions closely to determine whether continued production at Ensus is required and to ensure this represents value for money for the taxpayer.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to UIN 127204, whether the financial assistance provided to Ensus exceeds £30m.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Government has used powers under Section 7 of the Industrial Development Act 1982 to provide financial support to Ensus. This follows scrutiny and oversight from independent financial advisors and discussions with the company which have taken place since September 2025. The advice received regarding the costs associated with the Ensus plant are commercially sensitive and as such will not be published. However, to date, we have provided less than £30m of financial assistance to Ensus UK Limited.

The timing and operation of this support will be kept under review. Government will monitor market conditions closely to determine whether continued production at Ensus is required and to ensure this represents value for money for the taxpayer.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the answer of 20 April 2026 to Question 127204 on Ensus UK, when Ministers first discussed providing financial support to Ensus through the Industrial Development Act 1982.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Government has used powers under Section 7 of the Industrial Development Act 1982 to provide financial support to Ensus. This follows scrutiny and oversight from independent financial advisors and discussions with the company which have taken place since September 2025. The advice received regarding the costs associated with the Ensus plant are commercially sensitive and as such will not be published. However, to date, we have provided less than £30m of financial assistance to Ensus UK Limited.

The timing and operation of this support will be kept under review. Government will monitor market conditions closely to determine whether continued production at Ensus is required and to ensure this represents value for money for the taxpayer.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to UIN 127204, if he will publish the legal advice received to determine that the costs associated with the support for Ensus are commercially sensitive.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Government has used powers under Section 7 of the Industrial Development Act 1982 to provide financial support to Ensus. This follows scrutiny and oversight from independent financial advisors and discussions with the company which have taken place since September 2025. The advice received regarding the costs associated with the Ensus plant are commercially sensitive and as such will not be published. However, to date, we have provided less than £30m of financial assistance to Ensus UK Limited.

The timing and operation of this support will be kept under review. Government will monitor market conditions closely to determine whether continued production at Ensus is required and to ensure this represents value for money for the taxpayer.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to UIN 127204, which section of the Industrial Development Act 1982 was invoked in order to provide financial assistance to Ensus.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Government has used powers under Section 7 of the Industrial Development Act 1982 to provide financial support to Ensus. This follows scrutiny and oversight from independent financial advisors and discussions with the company which have taken place since September 2025. The advice received regarding the costs associated with the Ensus plant are commercially sensitive and as such will not be published. However, to date, we have provided less than £30m of financial assistance to Ensus UK Limited.

The timing and operation of this support will be kept under review. Government will monitor market conditions closely to determine whether continued production at Ensus is required and to ensure this represents value for money for the taxpayer.