Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether her Department has committed (a) tax-payer and (b) tariff-backed guarantees to the North-West Hynet project.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government has announced up to £20 billion for the early deployment of CCUS in the UK and aims to establish four clusters by 2030, including the Track-1 HyNet cluster.
No contracts have yet been awarded through the Cluster Sequencing process. The form and amount of support provided to projects is subject to ongoing negotiations. Final decisions on whether to award support will be subject to achieving value for money outcomes for taxpayers and consumers.
To maximise participation, diversity, and resilience in the Cluster Sequencing process, we have also supported early-stage design work in industrial clusters, via the existing Industrial Decarbonisation Challenge Fund, which is run by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). They announced the outcome of the challenge in 2021, committing up to £171m across nine projects, including £33m to projects in the HyNet cluster, crowding in private sector co-funding.
Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2024 to Question 18876 on Offshore Industry: Employment, on what date OEUK shared the underlying data with her Department; and if she will place a copy of that data in the House of Commons Library.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) have shared underlying data pertaining to their workforce estimates at various points in time. Most recently, in December 2023, OEUK has shared a workbook listing regional breakdowns of the oil and gas sector workforce compiled by Experian. The underlying data is commercially sensitive and owned by Experian. Sharing of this data is a matter for them.
Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the Heads of terms agreement with Eni regarding the North-West Hynet project, signed in October 2023, whether she consulted with (a) public bodies, (b) affected communities and (c) other stakeholders on the terms of this agreement; and if she will make it her policy to conduct a public consultation prior to a commercial contract being signed in relation to this project.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Heads of Terms agreement was primarily commercial. No formal consultation was required or undertaken. Before granting an economic licence to authorise the implementation of carbon dioxide transport and storage activities, the Secretary of State is required to give notice of the proposal to do so in accordance with Section 9 of the Energy Act 2023, as well as consider any representations or objections which are duly made.
Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2024 to Question 19037 on Climate Change: Investment, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing an additional £3 billion per year for nature restoration for adaptation as set out in the report by the Climate Change Committee entitled Investment for a well-adapted UK, published on 1 February 2023; and how much funding his Department plans to provide for nature restoration and adaptation in each of the next ten years.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Through the Environment Act 2021, the Government committed to the legally binding target of creating or restoring more than 500,000 hectares of wildlife-rich habitat outside of protected site by 2042. Taking actions for nature, including protecting our land and species, is also a core part of our third National Adaptation Programme.
This Government is not currently planning to make an additional assessment around providing £3bn per year on nature restoration for adaptation and cannot commit to funding beyond the life of this parliament, but regularly reviews budgets as part of business planning and spending review decisions.
Defra has guaranteed an average £2.4bn annual budget for the farming sector for the life of this Parliament. This includes paying farmers to restore valuable habitats such as lowland peat and to engage in sustainable agroforestry and wetland management, which will support adaptation to climate change. A range of bespoke funding also exists to support nature restoration. Our recently awarded Species Survival Fund is supporting 20 projects with £25m for habitat creation and restoration, while Natural England has launched 12 Nature Recovery Projects spanning over 300,000 hectares since 2022, with 13 more to come by 2025.
Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when he plans to lay commencement regulations to bring section 115 of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 into force.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
Regulations (2024/452) have been laid on 4 April 2024 to commence section 115 of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023, and this will come into force on 25 April 2024.