Asked by: Peter Bedford (Conservative - Mid Leicestershire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when his Department expects to reach a decision on the potential transfer of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme reserve; and if he will publish a timeline for implementation.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Chancellor announced in the budget the transfer of the full reserve of £2.3bn which will increase member incomes by 41%.
Implementation is a matter for the Trustees but we understand they have put processes in place so that the first payments will be made on 23 December.
Asked by: Peter Bedford (Conservative - Mid Leicestershire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of green levies on business competitiveness.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government believes that our mission to deliver clean power by 2030 is the best way to break our dependence on global fossil fuel markets and protect businesses permanently. Policy costs on energy bills are essential for funding key environmental policies which enable the UK to transition to a secure, low-carbon energy future. This shift to renewables is making energy cleaner, more stable, and cheaper in the long run.
The clean energy transition is the economic opportunity of the 21st century. It is our chance to build up the industries of the future right here at home. That is why we have announced that from 2027 a new Industrial Strategy Energy Support Scheme will help over 8,000 businesses see their electricity costs drop by around 20-25%.
Asked by: Peter Bedford (Conservative - Mid Leicestershire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many permanent civil servants in his Department had their contract of employment terminated as a result of poor performance in the (a) 2022-23, (b) 2023-24 and (c) 2024-25 financial years.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Human Resources data for Energy Security and Net Zero has been available from September 2023. Since then, the Department dismissed 5 permanent employees in 2023-24 and 6 permanent employees in 2024-25 as a result of issues relating to poor performance.
Asked by: Peter Bedford (Conservative - Mid Leicestershire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of green levies on domestic energy bills.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government is committed to ensuring that the costs of the UK’s transition to Net Zero are fair and affordable for all energy consumers, and the potential impacts on policy costs on technologies and consumers are being fully considered. Policy costs, or levies, are added to energy bills to ensure a fair and transparent way to fund social and environmental policies, whilst easing the financial burden on taxpayers. By driving investment in renewables, they have significantly lowered the cost of renewable electricity production over time, leading to a more affordable and sustainable energy future.
Securing funding for these policies in this way helps to build a secure, affordable, and low-carbon energy system. This shift to renewables is making energy cleaner, more stable, and cheaper in the long run. Ofgem, the energy regulator in Great Britain, administers low-carbon energy and social schemes on behalf of the government and ensures that policy targets are met in an economical and consumer conscious way.
Asked by: Peter Bedford (Conservative - Mid Leicestershire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether they have made an estimate of the potential impact of abolishing diversity, equity and inclusion roles in their Department on annual staffing costs.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is committed to being an inclusive place to work, in line with our DESNZ Values, and we value all colleagues whose work helps to achieve this. We have not explored the cost impacts of abolishing diversity, equity and inclusion roles. In line with the Civil Service Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Expenditure guidance, published in May 2024, we value internal efficiency as part of promoting efficient and effective EDI practice.
Asked by: Peter Bedford (Conservative - Mid Leicestershire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions his Department has had to ensure that Rosebank and Jackdaw Oil Fields continue in production.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Details of Ministers' and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.
Asked by: Peter Bedford (Conservative - Mid Leicestershire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department is using AI software in responding to written parliamentary questions.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department does not formally use AI software in responding to written parliamentary questions.
Asked by: Peter Bedford (Conservative - Mid Leicestershire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will review subsidies given to Biomass production by Drax.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
In August, Ofgem concluded its investigation into Drax’s annual profiling reporting requirements relating to the Renewables Obligation. The investigation identified shortcomings in Drax’s governance and controls related to annual profiling data but found no evidence to suggest that Drax had been issued with subsidies incorrectly.
Following a detailed consultation Government recently announced a Heads of Terms agreement with Drax for support during the period 2027 to 2031 after their existing support ends. This provides best value for consumers compared to alternatives, halves the cost of subsidy and strengthens sustainability requirements.
Full details of the new deal are available here: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2025-02-10/hcws424
Asked by: Peter Bedford (Conservative - Mid Leicestershire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many households in the UK have been in receipt of Government grants for spray foam insulation.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government does not hold details on the specific products used, however a breakdown of measures installed under the various government grant schemes in recent years can be found in their respective evaluation reports and official statistics on gov.uk.
All measures fitted under government schemes must be fitted to the highest standards with issues promptly and properly rectified.
The government recognises that the system of quality assurance and consumer redress that we inherited needs reform and we will set out plans for root and branch reform as part of the Warm Homes Plan.
Asked by: Peter Bedford (Conservative - Mid Leicestershire)
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 help ensure that net zero policies are affordable for rural households.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government is committed to ensuring that energy is affordable for all consumers, including rural households, and we carefully consider all policies to evaluate the impact on bill costs.
Our ambitious Warm Homes Plan, which will publish in due course, will support investment in households, including rural homes, to install energy efficiency measures and low carbon heating to cut bills.