Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
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 maintain (a) optionality and (b) competition in the Clean Power Plan.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Table 1 of the Clean Power Action Plan sets out a range of potential installed capacity levels for different technologies in 2030. This reflects the Government’s commitment to maintaining optionality by supporting a diverse mix of technologies capable of delivering a clean power system.
The Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme is the government’s main mechanism for supporting new low-carbon electricity generation projects in Great Britain. CfDs are awarded through regular, competitive auctions, with the lowest-priced bids successful.
We have recently consulted on reforms to increase competition in the CfD scheme. We will publish a full government response to this consultation before Allocation Round 7 opens in the Summer.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate his Department has made of the number of potential development sites for onshore wind which fall within the vicinity of the Eskdalemuir Seismological Array (ESA) in Scotland.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is a statutory consultee in the UK planning systems to safeguard operational defence sites. As such, the MOD is consulted on all wind farm planning applications within 50km of the Eskdalemuir Seismological Array.
The MOD cannot predict or estimate the number of wind farm applications that it may be consulted on.
The MOD routinely responds to representations and will raise objections to any development that may adversely impact Defence activities.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
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 adequacy of capacity allocation in the Clean Power Plan for Scottish onshore wind between 2031 and 2035.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The 2035 capacity number for Scotland is based on National Energy System Operator's Future Energy Scenarios, which present credible pathways to decarbonise our energy system as we strive towards the 2050 target. We therefore consider the capacity allocation planned for Scotland between 2030 and 2035 to be adequate and will continue to keep this under review, including considering updates to align with the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan, to be published in 2026.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of the resilience of the folding e-bike industry in the UK.
Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department engages with the folding e-bike industry as part of its broader support for UK manufacturing and innovation. Through the Government’s Industrial Strategy, targeting key growth levers such as boosting scaleups, revitalising high streets, improving access to finance, unlocking new markets, and strengthening business capabilities, the Department is helping to create a more competitive and resilient business environment. Notably, on 6 February 2025, the Secretary of State for Business and Trade accepted a recommendation from the Trade Remedies Authority, the UK’s independent body for investigating trade remedies, to maintain measures on folding e-bikes from China, in place since January 2024, providing continued protection for UK manufacturers.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the lifting of tariffs on non-folding e-bikes from China.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Secretary of State for Business and Trade took a decision on 6 February 2025 to extend the anti-dumping and countervailing measures on folding e-bikes only. This followed an evidence-based review led by the UK’s independent Trade Remedies Authority.
No recent discussions have taken place between the Secretary of State for Transport and Chancellor of the Exchequer on this matter.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of including renewable electricity supplied to EVs within the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
I refer the Honourable Member to my answer given on 19 May to PQ UIN 52503.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of removing the social housing obligation from future iterations of the Energy Company Obligation scheme on the retrofit measures provided to fuel poor households.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We are committed to meeting fuel poverty and Net Zero targets, and we are currently considering what policy mix will best achieve that, including what role energy company obligations should play post-2026.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of trends in the size of vehicles on the uptake of active travel by (a) young and (b) other people.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
There are no current plans to make an assessment of the potential impact of vehicle sizes on active travel uptake. Active Travel England is working with local authorities across England to support the development of safe and accessible walking and cycling infrastructure and funds various programmes to support the uptake of active travel in young people.
Before a new vehicle is permitted to be sold in Great Britain it is subject to rigorous and comprehensive testing to ensure it meets high standards of passenger and pedestrian safety and complies with emission standards.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
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 support interconnector infrastructure.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Interconnector development is a developer-led process in GB. Projects are given regulatory approval through Ofgem, a process with no formal role for Government. We welcome Ofgem’s decision to approve five new interconnector projects, including two Offshore Hybrid Assets, in November 2024.
The Department is in regular communication with interconnector projects at all stages of development and we of course look to support their development where appropriate.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he is taking steps to develop a strategic framework to enable the integration of hydrogen into future net zero energy systems.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Hydrogen will be key in reaching net zero, helping decarbonise industrial processes and heavy transport where it’s harder or more expensive to electrify, complementing wider electrification efforts. Hydrogen to power was identified in our December Clean Power Action plan as a key technology providing low carbon dispatchable generation at a range of scales, benefiting from the UK’s abundance of offshore wind and supporting a decarbonised power system.
We have a comprehensive framework of investible business models to support infrastructure deployment, supporting projects that create real jobs and growth. An update on our hydrogen strategy will be provided later this year.
Hydrogen will be key in reaching net zero, helping decarbonise industrial processes and heavy transport where it’s harder or more expensive to electrify, complementing wider electrification efforts. Hydrogen to power was identified in our December Clean Power Action plan as a key technology providing low carbon dispatchable generation at a range of scales, benefiting from the UK’s abundance of offshore wind and supporting a decarbonised power system.
We have a comprehensive framework of investible business models to support infrastructure deployment, supporting projects that create real jobs and growth. An update on our hydrogen strategy will be provided later this year.