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 providing electricity to power the Limerick-based Aughinish Alumina plant as a result of the Single Electricity Market on (a) Russia's war against Ukraine and (b) the UK's (i) foreign, defence and security policy in relation to Russia and Ukraine and (ii) defence standing in the wider international community; and what discussions he has had with the Republic of Ireland, Ukraine, the European Union and the United States on that matter.

Energy policy is devolved in Northern Ireland, with the Northern Ireland Executive responsible for its own policy decisions.

We trade electricity between Great Britain and the Single Electricity Market on the Island of Ireland over interconnectors. Interconnector flows are driven by relative market prices, with trades occurring anonymously at the market level, not specific to an energy user such as the Aughinish Alumina plant. The Government has therefore not assessed flows to individual sites.

Interconnectors support our energy security by providing access to a more diverse pool of generation and enhancing our security of supply.