Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the answer of 14 July 2026 to question 16797, how many times since 1 January 2025 have the industry emergency stocks been used.

There has been one International Energy Agency coordinated emergency stock release since January 2025 – the action announced on 11 March 2026 in response to the Middle East conflict and Strait of Hormuz disruption. The UK's contribution was ~14 million barrels which DESNZ moved quickly to make available by lowering the obligation on companies to hold stocks. Further information on industry stock levels can be found at: ET_3.11_AUG_26.xlsx