Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the rollout of the Local Power Plan on local trading from community energy schemes to homes and businesses.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises the important role that community energy can play in supporting local participation in the clean energy transition. Through the Local Power Plan, Government is working with Great British Energy and Ofgem to explore measures that could make it easier for community energy groups to participate in local energy markets.
The Government is monitoring Ofgem’s developments relating to code modification P441, which is intended help community energy groups and other local renewable energy projects identify and understand different routes to selling energy in their local markets.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when clean community energy companies will be able to sell directly to households and businesses through the Local Power Plan.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises the important role that community energy can play in supporting local participation in the clean energy transition. Through the Local Power Plan, Government is working with Great British Energy and Ofgem to explore measures that could make it easier for community energy groups to participate in local energy markets.
The Government is monitoring Ofgem’s developments relating to code modification P441, which is intended help community energy groups and other local renewable energy projects identify and understand different routes to selling energy in their local markets.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of increased geological hydrogen production in the UK.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
DESNZ commissioned research from the British Geological Survey to understand the potential for natural hydrogen reserves in the UK. This research was published in 2025 and provides a high level, national scale geological map-based assessment of the UK, identifying areas more and less likely to contain natural hydrogen resources. We are considering further research to build our understanding.
The department is also actively monitoring developments in other countries via our membership of the IEA’s Hydrogen Technology Collaboration Programme. Our teams liaise regularly with academics and experts to make sure the government is well-sighted on emerging technologies, evidence and activities in the UK and internationally.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the impact of standing charges on household bills in Scotland.
Answered by Polly Billington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government knows that, for many consumers, too much of the burden of the bill is placed on standing charges. We are committed to lowering the cost of standing charges and have worked constructively with the regulator, Ofgem, on this issue.
Government recognises that this creates particularly high costs in the North of Scotland, which is why targeted support through the Hydro Benefit Replacement Scheme (HBRS) exists to reduce distribution charges. The scheme is funded by consumers across GB.
Ofgem have launched the Cost Allocation and Recovery Review (CARR) where they are looking at how to take a more holistic and fair approach to structuring energy bills. This includes looking at how costs are split between standing charges and unit rates, how different tariff structures could work, and how costs are shared across different types of consumers, including geographical differences.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of Chinese super embassies established in other countries on those countries.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The planning decision on the proposed Chinese Embassy at Royal Mint Court was taken independently by the then Secretary of State for Housing, Steve Reed. Intelligence agencies were involved throughout the process and an extensive range of measures were developed to manage any risks.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of Chinese investment in Heathrow Airport on national infrastructure resilience.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government welcomes foreign trade and investment as part of our mission to boost growth, but only where it meets our regulatory requirements and does not compromise national security.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what level of capital funding has been (a) allocated and (b) awarded by GB Energy for solar energy firms in England.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Great British Energy (GBE) does not allocate or publish capital funding by technology or by nation; it is operationally independent and takes investment decisions based on individual opportunities and value for money. GBE has awarded solar funding in England through its ÂŁ7.5 million investment in Naked Energy, a UK firm whose solar-thermal technology is deployed at sites including the British Library and Wimbledon, and which will fund a new UK manufacturing facility. Government and GBE have also separately invested up to ÂŁ300m to date for solar installations across hundreds of schools and hospitals in England, as well as multiple military sites. GBE also funded schemes in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Devolved Governments could choose between funding public sector renewables schemes and community energy projects.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate she has made of the infrastructure funding required to extend availability of Digital Audio Broadcasting signal; and whether she has timelines for this to be delivered.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government recognises the vital role of radio in local communities and wants to support areas that are struggling to gain access to local services on digital.
Commercial radio and the BBC are responsible for the operation of their respective radio networks, including the DAB radio networks. This includes delivering coverage to areas and the provision of radio services to listeners as more listening migrates to digital radio and to online services.
Questions relating to the coverage and distribution of radio networks are currently being considered as part of the 2026 Radio Review, which is due to conclude by the end of the year. The Government will continue to work with the BBC and commercial radio on developing future plans for DAB coverage on the basis of the Review’s findings.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the availability of Digital Audio Broadcasting for residents in (a) rural areas in Scotland and (b) Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government recognises the vital role of radio in local communities and wants to support areas that are struggling to gain access to local services on digital.
Commercial radio and the BBC are responsible for the operation of their respective radio networks, including the DAB radio networks. This includes delivering coverage to areas and the provision of radio services to listeners as more listening migrates to digital radio and to online services.
Questions relating to the coverage and distribution of radio networks are currently being considered as part of the 2026 Radio Review, which is due to conclude by the end of the year. The Government will continue to work with the BBC and commercial radio on developing future plans for DAB coverage on the basis of the Review’s findings.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to increase the provision of Ministry of Defence accommodation for service personnel in long-term relationships in Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey constituency.
Answered by Calvin Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans and People)
The Defence Housing Strategy sets out a deliverable, sustainable approach to widening access to subsidised Service Family Accommodation for those in established long-term relationships, or with shared parental responsibilities. This prioritises a funded programme to build, buy and bring homes back into use and over time to ensure that all qualifying Service personnel can have their family housing needs met, better reflecting modern families and relationships.
As part of this commitment, we are making 1,000 additional homes available across the estate this financial year alone, enabled by the ÂŁ9.2bn of funding allocated to Defence family housing in the Defence Investment Plan.