Found: advocating for collective climate solutions at COP28 whilst simultaneously pushing through the Offshore

Found: are currently considering codifying the UK’s pledge to zero routine flaring by 2030 as part of the Offshore

Found: considering codifying the UK’s pledge to zero routine venting and flaring by 2030 as part of the Offshore

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 ensure a just transition when moving from fossil fuels to a hydrogen-based economy.

Answered by Andrew Bowie - Shadow Minister (Energy Security and Net Zero)

As well as supporting UK energy independence, low carbon hydrogen will be critical to helping British industries transition from oil and gas, provide greener energy for power, transport and potentially home heating. Government’s working closely with the oil and gas industry to achieve a managed transition, including through the North Sea Transition Deal. Deal recognises the world-leading skills of the sector and supply chain and key role it could have in helping deliver net zero and Hydrogen production ambition. The Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill sends a strong signal to support the continued investment necessary to our energy security and transition to cleaner technologies.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

What steps she is taking to promote energy self-sufficiency in the UK.

Answered by Justin Tomlinson

We are investing in homegrown renewable energy and recently announced the biggest expansion of nuclear power for 70 years. We are also ensuring sustained oil & gas production through annual licencing rounds under the Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill on (a) Marine Protected Areas and (b) the Environment Act target for 70% of the designated features in the Marine Protected Area network to be in favourable condition by 2042.

Answered by Graham Stuart

The Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill will not affect the UK's ability to reach targets for ensuring our Marine Protected Areas are in a good or recovering state.

Nor will it change the robust framework we have in place for licensing oil and gas that ensures this.

Licenses have only ever been awarded once the environmental regulator was satisfied that the activities will not negatively impact protected areas, and their impact is carefully managed by our expert regulators.

There is therefore no reason for the Bill to affect our Environment Act target for maintaining marine protected areas.

Found: • The King's Speech included the Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill which was introduced in the Fourth

Found: The Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill would have required us to hold annual licensing rounds, subject

Found: The Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill would have required us to hold annual licensing rounds, subject