Asked by: Giles Watling (Conservative - Clacton)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to page 75 of her Department’s consultation entitled Review of Electricity Market Arrangements: second consultation, published on 12 March 2024, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact on the power system if there was no role for unabated gas in 2035.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
We will need unabated gas in 2035 to play a small but important role when the wind does not blow or the sun does not shine. Our published Net Zero scenarios envisage a small but important role for unabated gas in 2035. Without a role for unabated gas, we would likely run an increased risk of blackouts.
Asked by: Giles Watling (Conservative - Clacton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to include nuclear (a) power generation and (b) fuel manufacture as sustainable activities within the UK Green Taxonomy.
Answered by Bim Afolami - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government has stated its intention to include nuclear in the UK Green Taxonomy, subject to consultation. This will incentivise private investment in this important technology alongside renewables and other sectors that are key to reaching our Net Zero goal. The Government expects to publish the consultation on the UK Green Taxonomy shortly.
Asked by: Giles Watling (Conservative - Clacton)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to tackle anti-democratic extremism.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
On 14th March Government published its new definition of extremism, which identifies behaviour that seek to “to… undermine, overturn or replace the UK’s system of parliamentary democracy” as extremist.
The Government is undergoing a formal process of identifying and naming extremists. Before elections, the Government stands up the election cell, which works with the Police and Home Office to monitor threats to our democratic systems or institutions.
Asked by: Giles Watling (Conservative - Clacton)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the impact of each additional 0.5% of GDP spent on defence up to 3% of GDP on (a) force readiness and (b) levels of recruitment to the armed forces.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
It is not possible to provide this information as the Department does not undertake its planning activity in this way.
Asked by: Giles Watling (Conservative - Clacton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of when defence spending will reach 2.5% of GDP; whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of raising defence spending to 3% of GDP; and if he will have discussions with the Leader of the House on finding time to debate the Early Day Motion in the name of the hon. Member for Clacton, number 455, on Future defence spending.
Answered by Laura Trott - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The government has consistently prioritised defence spending. The Ministry of Defence was the first department to get certainty on its budgets in this Parliament. This settlement was the largest sustained spending increase in defence since the end of the Cold War, with a £24 billion uplift in cash terms over the four-year period. In March 2023, we also provided an extra £11 billion for defence and national security priorities over the next five years, with £4.95 billion over the next two years.
The government’s aspiration over the longer-term is to invest 2.5% of GDP on defence, when the fiscal and economic circumstances allow.