Asked by: Shivani Raja (Conservative - Leicester East)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what measures her Department is taking to tackle the impact of energy price cap levels on low-income families and pensioners during the winter months of 2026.
Answered by Polly Billington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises that any price rise is a concern for households. The latest increase in energy bills is driven by increased wholesale energy costs, particularly gas, due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East. This means families and businesses are still experiencing the effects of global fossil fuel markets and is why we are so focused on getting onto clean, homegrown power that we control.
The Government has already intervened to give households breathing space with the cost of living – cutting VAT on electricity bills and taking an average £150 of costs off bills at the Autumn budget.
In addition, around 6 million households in Britain will have benefitted from our expanded £150 Warm Home Discount this winter, which will remain in place for the rest of the decade.
Asked by: Shivani Raja (Conservative - Leicester East)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps her Department is taking to increase domestic energy production through North Sea oil and gas development, including the Rosebank and Jackdaw projects.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The North Sea remains a vital national asset, supporting jobs, growth and the UK's energy security. We have always been clear that oil and gas will continue to play an important role in our energy system for decades to come, alongside renewables, nuclear and other low-carbon technologies. It would be inappropriate to comment on Jackdaw or Rosebank which are subject to a live regulatory process.
Asked by: Shivani Raja (Conservative - Leicester East)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment her Department has made of the potential financial impact on households in Leicester East of Ofgem’s decision to increase the energy price cap to £1,935 for the period between October and December 2026.
Answered by Polly Billington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises that any price rise is a concern for households, including in Leicester East. The latest increase in energy bills is driven by increased wholesale energy costs, particularly gas, due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East. This means families and businesses are still experiencing the effects of global fossil fuel markets and is why we are so focused on getting onto clean, homegrown power that we control.
The Government has already intervened to give households breathing space with the cost of living – cutting VAT on electricity bills and taking an average £150 of costs off bills at the Autumn budget.
Asked by: Shivani Raja (Conservative - Leicester East)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment has the Department made of the adequacy of the operational readiness of the maritime sector for inclusion in the UK ETS, in the context of July 2026 implementation timelines.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The UK ETS Authority first signalled intent to include maritime in the UK ETS in March 2022. This was followed by two consultations including bespoke engagement sessions for each. Operators of ships of 5,000 gross tonnage and above are already equipped to undertake monitoring, reporting and verification, with years of experience under existing regimes.
The Government has built a digital-first system for onboarding, with free-of-charge voluntary onboarding open since November 2025. More than 96% of expected participants can voluntarily onboard now to set up accounts and become familiar with requirements.
We encourage any operator to get in touch with their regulator now in preparation for the expansion on 1 July 2026.
Asked by: Shivani Raja (Conservative - Leicester East)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what his policy is on linking the UK and EU Emissions Trading Schemes.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The UK and EU agreed to work towards linking their emissions trading schemes, the UK ETS and EU ETS, at the May 2025 UK-EU summit. This was on the basis of the Common Understanding text agreed at that summit.
Linking is expected to bring significant economic benefits to the UK. These include a cheaper path towards decarbonisation by providing businesses with access to a larger, more liquid, stable carbon market. Linking would also create the conditions for mutual Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanisms exemptions, removing a major barrier to trade and lowering costs for UK firms.
Asked by: Shivani Raja (Conservative - Leicester East)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the relative costs to Northern Ireland of a) inclusion of maritime emissions in the UK ETS and (b) potential exposure to the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The published Impact Assessment found the inclusion of maritime activities in the UK Emissions Trading Scheme to have a positive net present social value for the UK.
Independent analysis by Frontier Economics identified no material risk of carbon leakage, diversion of trade, or competitive distortion on Great Britain–Northern Ireland routes. Internal route-specific case studies also show very small effects on final prices, with increases of under 1% for typical freight goods.
On average between 2022-24 annual UK exports of goods in scope of EU CBAM were worth almost £7bn, and without a CBAM exemption, UK exporters could face associated costs.
Asked by: Shivani Raja (Conservative - Leicester East)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of using carbon neutral backup power sources on infrastructure in (a) Leicester East constituency and (b) England.
Answered by Kerry McCarthy
Annex O of the Energy and Emission Projections [1] presents Net Zero consistent scenarios for the power sector, including estimates of the low carbon power sources required to ensure security of supply out to 2050.
Asked by: Shivani Raja (Conservative - Leicester East)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what plans his Department has to support the insulation of homes in (a) Leicester East constituency and (b) other areas in England with high levels of fuel poverty.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
The Government has kickstarted delivery of the Warm Homes Plan, including an initial £1.8 billion to support fuel poverty schemes over the next 3 years. We are also reviewing the 2021 fuel poverty strategy. Wave 3 of the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund in England to support social housing providers and tenants, alongside a new Warm Homes: Local Grant to help low-income homeowners and private tenants in England are expected to start delivery this year.
Current targeted schemes include the Energy Company Obligation, the Great British Insulation Scheme, the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, and the Home Upgrade Grant. Additionally, the Warm Home Discount provides £150 off bills to over 3 million low-income households.
Asked by: Shivani Raja (Conservative - Leicester East)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will take steps with his international counterparts to negotiate a treaty on ending the (a) use and (b) production of fossil fuels.
Answered by Kerry McCarthy
We are committed to working with all international counterparts to transition away from fossil fuels, in line with the UK’s domestic and international commitments including from the COP28 Global Stocktake.
Asked by: Shivani Raja (Conservative - Leicester East)
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) prioritise a roofs first approach to solar panel installation to ensure efficient use of urban spaces and (b) incentivize homeowners and businesses to adopt rooftop solar technology.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Changes have been introduced to permitted development rights, enabling more solar installations to benefit from the flexibilities and planning freedoms permitted development rights offer. This includes a new permitted development right that allows for the installation of solar canopies in non-domestic, off-street, car parks.
For non-domestic rooftop solar, the 1MW cap was removed so that there is no limit on the electricity generated by solar installations.
Our Warm Homes Plan will transform homes across the country by making them cleaner and cheaper to run, from installing new insulation to rolling out low carbon heating like solar and heat pumps.