Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, for what reason blue carbon habitats are not currently included in environmental impact assessments for offshore developments.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Where appropriate, the impacts on the natural environment including coastal zones and the marine environment, are considered in environmental impact assessments for offshore developments as required under the relevant regulations.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
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 (a) support and (b) develop tidal power technology within the British Channel Islands.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
According to a study led by the University of Plymouth, the UK and the British Channel Islands has one of the world’s best tidal resources, estimated to be a potential capacity of around 11.5GW.
The Channel Islands, as Crown Dependencies, are self-governing jurisdictions that are not part of the UK, and so the UK Government is not responsible for energy policy there. DESNZ engages with the CDs on energy matters, including renewable energy policy, under the British-Irish Council Energy Work sector.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to support homeowners that had lcynene spray foam insultation installed under the Green Homes Grant scheme.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Any measures fitted under government schemes must be fitted to the highest standards with issues promptly and properly rectified. Installations of any insulation under current Government schemes must be installed in accordance with the PAS 2030 and PAS 2035 standards. In any instance where insulation is installed improperly under a government-backed scheme, consumers are entitled to remediation by their installer or, failing that, the insurance-backed guarantee.
If installed under a government scheme the TrustMark website contains further guidance on how consumers can complain if things go wrong and the dispute resolution process: https://www.trustmark.org.uk/homeowners/if-things-go-wrong.
Ministers will now press ahead with a sweeping overhaul of consumer protection through the Warm Homes Plan.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
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 promote renewable energy opportunities on the Isle of Sark.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Sark, a self-governing jurisdiction within the Crown Dependency of Bailiwick of Guernsey, is responsible for its own domestic affairs, including energy policy. The Government recognises the role of local energy initiatives in Sark and the need to improve and modernise their electricity grid. While there have been discussions between Sark and the UK Government regarding their investment needs, as Sark is outside of the UK, there is limited scope for direct support from DESNZ.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to promote energy self sufficiency on Sark.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Sark, a self-governing jurisdiction within the Crown Dependency of Bailiwick of Guernsey, is responsible for its own domestic affairs, including energy policy. The Government recognises the role of local energy initiatives in Sark and the need to improve and modernise their electricity grid. While there have been discussions between Sark and the UK Government regarding their investment needs, as Sark is outside of the UK, there is limited scope for direct support from DESNZ.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing legislation to ban the use of open fridges in supermarkets.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Regulations for products and appliances are covered by the Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products Regulations 2010 and are routinely reviewed by government. There is no work planned to amend the relevant regulation for commercial refrigeration at the present time.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what progress he has made on the selection process for Small Modular Reactors.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Since summer 2023, Great British Nuclear (GBN) has been administering a small modular reactor technology selection process for UK deployment, and as announced at Autumn Budget in October, four vendors have been invited to negotiate.
Once negotiations have concluded, the companies will be invited to submit final tenders, which GBN will then evaluate. Final decisions will be taken in the spring.
GBN is working to a timeline that enables a robust process underpinned by fairness and transparency and ensures any selected technology provides best value for money.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what support his Department provides for (a) wind and (b) solar power in the Overseas Territories.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) leads the relationship with the Overseas Territories, and any work this Department has conducted in this area has been done via FCDO.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether the North Sea Transition Authority plans to award new licences for the (a) production and (b) extraction of oil and gas.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government will consult later this year on the implementation of our manifesto position not to issue new oil and gas licences to explore new fields.
The North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) has independently paused issuing any invitations to apply for new licences (including out-of-rounds invitations) pending the finalisation of the process related to delivery of the manifesto commitment and the plans for new environmental guidance for oil and gas firms.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether the Coal Authority plans to award new licences for the (a) mining and (b) extraction of coal.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Our manifesto was clear on our intention to not grant new coal licences, and we are exploring avenues to achieve this. We want to end coal licensing to support our net zero ambitions and our priority to lead on international climate action, based on our domestic achievements.