Energy Bill [Lords]

(Limited Text - Ministerial Extracts only)

Report stage
Tuesday 5th September 2023 Commons Chamber

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Andrew Bowie)]

I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time.

[Mr Speaker]

With this it will be convenient to discuss the following:

Government new clause 63—Renewable liquid heating fuel obligations.

Government new clause 64—Regulations under section 92(1): procedure with devolved authorities.

Government new clause 65—Regulations made by Secretary of State: consultation with devolved authorities.

Government new clause 66—Regulations under section 292 and 293: procedure with devolved authorities.

New clause 1—Community benefits relating to onshore wind farms—

“(1) Within six months of the date on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must prepare and lay before Parliament a report setting out proposals for ensuring that local communities benefit from onshore wind farms.

(2) The report under subsection (1) must set out, but is not limited to, proposals for—

(a) 5% of the gross revenue of new wind farm, solar, hydro and other renewable developments generating over 1MW to be paid into community benefit funds;

(b) widening the distance of communities around new renewable developments which receive shares of community benefit funds, with the aim of limiting the wealth disparity amongst rural communities; and

(c) ensuring that communities surrounding wind farms have a statutory right to benefit from local renewable energy development.”

New clause 2—Prohibition of new coal mines—

“(1) Within six months of the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must by regulations prohibit the opening of new coal mines and the licensing of new coal mines by the Coal Authority or its successors.

(2) Regulations under this section are subject to the affirmative procedure.”

New clause 3—Prohibition of energy production from coal—

“(1) The Secretary of State must by regulations provide for the UK to cease energy production from coal from 1 January 2025.

(2) Regulations under this section may amend primary legislation (including this Act).”

New clause 4—Flaring and venting—

“(1) The Energy Act 1976 is amended as follows.

(2) In section 12, after subsection (5), insert—

“(6) The Secretary of State may not grant consent under this section after 1 January 2025; and any consent granted under this section ceases to have effect from 1 January 2025.

(7) Paragraph (3)(a) of this section ceases to have effect from 1 January 2025.”

(3) In section 12A, after subsection (5), insert—

“(6) The OGA may not grant consent under this section after 1 January 2025; and any consent granted under this section ceases to have effect from 1 January 2025.””

This new clause is intended to ban flaring and venting of natural gas after 1 January 2025.

New clause 5—Date of cessation of issuing of oil and gas exploration and production licences—

“(1) Within three months of the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must establish an independent body to advise on the date after which no new licences for oil and gas exploration and production should be issued.

(2) The body must make its recommendation to the Secretary of State not later than three months after the day on which it is established.

(3) Not less than three months after the date on which the Secretary of State receives the body’s recommendation, the Secretary of State must present to Parliament legislative proposals to give effect to the recommendation.”

New clause 6—Net zero power supply—

“(1) It is the duty of the Secretary of State to ensure that the aggregate amount of net emissions of carbon dioxide and net emissions of each of the other targeted greenhouse gases associated with the supply of power in the UK in 2035 is zero.

(2) The Secretary of State must by regulations provide for the means of calculation of net emissions of carbon dioxide and of each of the other targeted greenhouse gases for the purposes of subsection (1).

(3) The means of calculation provided for in regulations under subsection (2) must be consistent with the means of calculation of the net UK carbon account for the purposes of section 1 of the Climate Change Act 2008.

(4) For the purposes of this section a “targeted greenhouse gas” has the same meaning as given in section 24 of the Climate Change Act 2008.”

This new clause is intended to provide for the UK’s power supply to be net zero by 2035.

New clause 7—Energy Charter Treaty—

“Within six months of the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must initiate procedures for the United Kingdom to withdraw from the Energy Charter Treaty.”

New clause 8—Community and Smaller-scale Electricity Export Guarantee Scheme—

“(1) Within six months of the passing of this Act, the Secretary of State must by regulations require licensed energy suppliers with more than 150,000 customers (“eligible licensed suppliers”) to purchase electricity exports from sites including those operated by community groups, that generate low carbon electricity with a capacity below 5MW.

(2) Fossil fuelled local power plants with a capacity of less than 5MW are not eligible for participation in the Community and Smaller-scale Electricity Export Guarantee Scheme, with the exception of a local combined heat and power plant that generates electricity ancillary to its purpose of providing heat for local heat networks.

(3) “Fossil fuel” has the meaning given in section 104(4).

(4) Licensed energy suppliers with fewer than 150,000 customers may also purchase electricity exports from the sites defined above provided that they do so on the terms set out by the regulations.

(5) The regulations must require that eligible licensed suppliers—

(a) offer to those sites a minimum export price set annually by the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority (“GEMA”),

(b) offer to those sites a minimum contract period of five years, and

(c) allow the exporting site to end the contract after no more than one year.

(6) Within six months of the passing of this Act, GEMA must—

(a) set an annual minimum export price for those sites that has regard to current wholesale energy prices and inflation in energy prices and the wider economy,

(b) introduce a registration system for exporting sites meeting the requirements set out in subsection (1) and wanting to access these export purchases,

(c) define specifications for the smart export meters required by such sites,

(d) define “low carbon electricity” in such a way that it includes renewable generation technology and may include other technology with extremely low carbon dioxide emissions,

(e) define requirements for an exporting site generating low carbon electricity with a capacity of less than 5MW to be registered as a Community or Smaller-scale Energy site, and maintain a register of such sites.

(7) To access the export purchase agreements defined in this section exporters must—

(a) register their site with GEMA,

(b) install a smart export meter that meets specifications defined by GEMA, and

(c) notify GEMA if their ownership structure meets the definition of a Community or Smaller-scale Energy site.

(8) All licensed suppliers providing such purchase agreements must report annually to GEMA—

(a) the number and capacity of Community or Smaller-scale Energy sites that have been offered contracts to purchase electricity and the number of these that agreed those contracts,

(b) the total amount of electricity purchased under these agreements, and

(c) the price paid for that electricity.

(9) OFGEM must make and publish a report annually on the operation of the export purchase agreements, setting out—

(a) the number of Community or Smaller-scale Energy sites contracted with licensed energy suppliers under this section and the total amount of electricity purchased,

(b) the licensed suppliers contracting with Community or Smaller-scale Energy sites and the amount of electricity each has purchased,

(c) an assessment of how the mechanism is performing and the contribution it is making to delivering secure and low carbon electricity supplies, and

(d) recommendations on how the mechanism could be improved.

(10) Regulations under this section are subject to the affirmative procedure.”

New clause 9—Community and Smaller-scale Electricity Supplier Services Scheme—

“(1) Within six months of the passing of this Act, the Secretary of State must by regulations require licensed energy suppliers with more than 150,000 customers (“eligible licensed suppliers”) to offer a Community and Smaller-scale Electricity Supplier Service agreement to any registered Community or Smaller-scale Energy site under section (Community and Smaller-scale Electricity Export Guarantee Scheme) for the purposes of allowing that site to sell electricity to local consumers.

(2) The Community and Smaller-scale Electricity Supplier Service agreement will require licensed suppliers to make a community or smaller-scale energy tariff available to consumers local to the exporting site that has regard to the export price paid or that would be paid to that site under section (Community and Smaller-scale Electricity Export Guarantee Scheme).

(3) The eligible licensed supplier may limit the total number of consumers the community or smaller-scale energy tariff is available to such that the total annual energy sold under the tariff is broadly equivalent to the total annual energy generated by the site.

(4) The eligible licensed supplier will be the registrant for the meters of any local consumer purchasing energy under the community or smaller-scale energy tariff.

(5) The eligible licensed supplier may charge a reasonable fee for the provision of services under this section provided that it has regard to distribution, licensing and regulatory costs and any guidance provided by GEMA.

(6) The eligible licensed supplier must return any money raised through the sale of energy under a tariff set up under this section to the Community or Smaller-scale Energy site, save for the fee allowed under subsection (5).

(7) Eligible licensed suppliers must report annually to GEMA on—

(a) the number and capacity of community energy groups or smaller-scale sites offered Community and Smaller-scale Electricity Supplier Service agreements and the number who have contracted to use them,

(b) the total amount of electricity purchased under these agreements, and

(c) the tariffs for each agreement.

(8) GEMA must—

(a) produce guidance on the level of community or smaller-scale energy tariffs and on the reasonable charges that eligible suppliers may charge for Community and Smaller-scale Electricity Supplier Service Agreements,

(b) make and publish a report annually on the operation of the export purchase agreements, setting out—

(i) the number of community energy projects or smaller-scale sites contracted with licensed energy suppliers under this section and the total amount of electricity purchased,

(ii) the licensed suppliers contracting with community energy groups or smaller-scale sites and the amount of electricity each has purchased,

(iii) an assessment of how the mechanism is performing and the contribution it is making to delivering secure and low carbon electricity supplies, and

(iv) recommendations for how Community and Smaller-scale Electricity Supplier Service agreements could be improved.

(9) Regulations under this section are subject to the affirmative procedure.”

New clause 11—Enhancing rewards for solar panels—

“Within six months of the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must prepare and lay before Parliament a report on enhancing the reward under the Smart Export Guarantee for customers who install solar panels.”

This new clause seeks to enhance the reward under the Smart Export Guarantee for energy customers who install solar panels.

New clause 12—Prohibition on flaring and venting and enhanced measures to reduce fugitive methane emissions—

“(1) The Secretary of State must by regulations—

(a) prohibit the practice of flaring and venting by oil and gas installations other than in an emergency within the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom,

(b) require monthly leak detection and repair inspections to reduce fugitive methane emissions,

(c) require a measurement, reporting and verification process to quantify methane emissions, and

(d) require the upgrade of all equipment to alternative zero- or low-emission and low-maintenance equipment, such as electric, mechanical, or compressed air equipment.

(2) In this section—

“flaring” means the burning of methane gas and other hydrocarbons produced during oil and gas extraction;

“venting” means the release of methane gas and other hydrocarbons directly into the atmosphere, without combustion.

(3) Regulations under this section must be made so as to come into force by 31 December 2025.”

This new clause would prohibit “flaring” and “venting”.

New clause 13—Introduction of a social tariff for vulnerable energy customers—

“(1) Within six months of the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must prepare and lay before Parliament a plan to bring forward a social tariff for vulnerable energy customers.

(2) The plan under subsection (1) must set out ways in which the social tariff for energy would satisfy the following conditions—

(a) it is additional to the Warm Home Discount and Default tariff price Cap,

(b) it is mandatory for all licensed electricity and gas suppliers,

(c) it is targeted at households that are in or at risk of fuel poverty,

(d) it is set at a level that is below the market price, and

(e) it automatically enrols eligible households onto the tariff.”

This new clause will require the Secretary of State to bring forward a plan to introduce a social tariff for energy.

New clause 14—Smart meter roll-out for prepayment customers—

“(1) The Secretary of State must ensure that all legacy prepayment meters are replaced with smart meters before the end of 2025.

(2) Within three months of the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must prepare a plan to end self-disconnections by the end of 2026.

(3) Such a plan may include but is not limited to—

(a) the introduction of a social tariff for prepayment customers,

(b) the introduction of mechanisms to apply credit automatically if a prepayment customer runs out of credit,

(c) the introduction of a mechanism to transfer a prepayment customer to credit mode automatically if they run out of credit.”

This new clause places duties on the Secretary of State to ensure prepayment metered customers are prioritised in the smart meter rollout, and to create a plan to stop self-disconnections before the end of 2026.

New clause 15—Restriction of the use of prepayment meters—

“(1) Within 90 days of the day on which this Act is passed the Secretary of State must make regulations prohibiting energy suppliers from authorising or undertaking the installation of new prepayment meters for domestic energy use unless the condition in subsection (2) is met.

(2) The condition is that the energy supplier has received an explicit request from the consumer for the installation of a prepayment meter.

(3) In this section “installation of new prepayment meters” includes switching existing energy meters to a prepayment mode.

(4) The Secretary of State may make subsequent regulations that amend or repeal regulations made under this section.

(5) Regulations under this section are subject to the affirmative procedure.”

This new clause would require the Secretary of State to prohibit the installation of new prepayment meters unless consumers explicitly request them.

New clause 16—National Warmer Homes and Businesses Action Plan—

“(1) The Secretary of State must, before the end of the period of 6 months beginning with the day on which this Act is passed, publish an action plan entitled the Warmer Homes and Businesses Action Plan, to set out proposals for delivery of—

(a) a low-carbon heat target, of 100% of installations of relevant heating appliances and connections to relevant heat networks by 2035,

(b) an Energy Performance Certificate at band C by 2035 in all UK homes where practical, cost effective and affordable, and

(c) an Energy Performance Certificate at band B by 2028 in all non-domestic properties, and

(d) the Future Homes Standard for all new builds in England by 2025.

(2) The Secretary of State must, in developing the Warmer Homes and Businesses Action Plan, consult the Climate Change Committee and its sub-committee on adaptation.”

This new clause imposes a duty on the Secretary of State to bring forward a plan with time-bound proposals for low carbon heat, energy efficient homes and non-domestic properties and higher standards on new homes.

New clause 17—Plan for vulnerable consumers—

“(1) Within three months of the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must prepare and lay before Parliament a plan addressing the needs of vulnerable consumers and consumers from low-income households in relation to the cost of energy.

(2) The plan under subsection (1) may include, but is not limited to—

(a) the extension of the energy price cap on heating oil,

(b) the extension of the warm homes discount,

(c) the increase of winter fuel payments,

(d) preventing electricity suppliers from recovering the costs of paying a revenue collection counterparty under the Nuclear Energy (Financing) Act 2022 from customers claiming Universal Credit or other legacy benefits,

(e) requirements for energy suppliers to offer social energy tariffs to households experiencing fuel poverty, and

(f) any other measures the Secretary of State believes are appropriate.”

This new clause would require the Secretary of State to develop a plan to protect vulnerable customers from the rising cost of energy.

New clause 18—Energy performance regulations relating to existing premises—

“(1) Within six months of the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must make regulations—

(a) to amend the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/962) to require that, subject to subsection (2), all tenancies have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) of at least Band C by 31 December 2028; and

(b) to amend the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/595) to raise the cost cap to £10,000.

(2) Regulations under subsection (1) must provide for exemptions to apply where—

(a) the occupier of any premises whose permission is needed to carry out works refuses to give such permission;

(b) it is not technically feasible to improve the energy performance of the premises to the level of EPC Band C; or

(c) another exemption specified in the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015 has been registered in the Private Rented Sector (PRS) Exemptions Register.

(3) Within six months of the passage of this Act the Secretary of State must make regulations—

(a) to amend the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015 to enable local authorities to give notice to landlords that they wish to inspect a property in relation to those Regulations, requesting permissions from landlords and any tenants in situ at the time to carry out an inspection at an agreed time;

(b) to expand the scope of the current PRS Exemptions Register and redesign it as a database covering properties’ compliance with or exemptions from EPCs;

(c) to require a post-improvement EPC to be undertaken to demonstrate compliance;

(d) to require a valid EPC be in place at all times while a property is let; and

(e) to raise the maximum total of financial penalties to be imposed by a local authority on a landlord of a domestic private rented sector property in relation to the same breach and for the same property to £30,000 per property and per breach of the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015.

(4) The Secretary of State may make regulations—

(a) to enable tenants in the private rented sector to request that energy performance improvements are carried out where a property is in breach of the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015; and

(b) to make provision for a compensation mechanism where a tenant is paying higher energy bills as a result of a property not meeting the required standard.

(5) Regulations under this section are subject to the affirmative procedure.”

This new clause seeks to improve the energy efficiency of private rental properties for tenants and gives powers to local authorities to conduct assessments of the energy efficiency of private rental properties and increase financial penalties for breaches of energy efficiency standards.

New clause 19—Decarbonisation of capacity market—

“Within six months of the day on which this Act is passed the Secretary of State must introduce measures to reduce the carbon intensity of power supplied by the capacity market by prioritising—

(a) demand side management,

(b) the supply of renewable energy, and

(c) electricity storage and other non-carbon-based energy storage systems.”

This new clause is a probing amendment to explore the potential of decarbonising the capacity market.

New clause 20—Onshore wind and solar power—

“(1) Within six months of the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must prepare and lay before Parliament a plan to significantly increase the proportion of the energy supply generated by onshore wind power in the United Kingdom.

(2) The plan under subsection (1) must set out measures which may include but are not limited to—

(a) revising national planning guidance on onshore wind and solar to increase the number of onshore wind and solar installations,

(b) improving infrastructure to ensure access to grid connections for existing onshore wind and solar installations, and

(c) increasing access to grants or subsidies to encourage new onshore wind and solar installations.

(3) The Secretary of State must report annually to Parliament to provide an update on the progress in increasing onshore wind and solar power.”

This new clause would require the Secretary of State to prepare a plan to significantly increase the proportion of the UK energy supply generated by onshore wind and solar power.

New clause 21—Value added tax on energy-saving materials—

“In Schedule 8, Part II, Group 23, note 1 of the Value Added Tax Act 1994 (meaning of “energy-saving materials”), at the end insert—

“(1) batteries used solely for the purpose of storing electricity generated by solar panels.””

This new clause includes batteries used solely to store energy generated by solar panels in the list of energy saving materials subject to a zero VAT rate.

New clause 22—Increasing grid capacity—

“Within three months of the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must prepare and lay before Parliament a plan to—

(a) reduce access costs and time frames for grid connections,

(b) reform the energy network to permit local energy grids, and

(c) accelerate the development of an offshore wind energy grid in the North Sea.”

This new clause seeks to require the Secretary of State to produce a plan to increase grid capacity.

New clause 23—Impact of insulation in homes on energy bills—

“The Secretary of State must, within six months of the day on which this Act is passed, prepare and lay before Parliament a report setting out—

(a) an assessment of the average cost of energy bills if homes were properly insulated, and

(b) the impact of improving all homes to the highest possible Energy Performance Contract rating on energy bills and greenhouse gas emissions.”

This new clause requires the Secretary of State to carry out an assessment of the average cost of energy bills if homes were insulated (a) properly and (b) to the highest possible Energy Performance Contract rating.

New clause 24—Government support for community energy—

“(1) Within three months of the passage of this Act, the Secretary of State must publish and lay before Parliament a report setting out the financial, policy and other support that the Secretary of State plans to make available to widen the ownership of low carbon and renewable energy schemes and increase the number of such schemes owned, or part owned, by community organisations.

(2) The report must set out—

(a) all policies, programmes or other initiatives with which the Secretary of State plans to support the development and construction of new low carbon community energy schemes;

(b) the level of financial support which will be made available for—

(i) the Rural Community Energy Fund,

(ii) the Urban Renewable Energy Fund, and

(iii) any other fund or support package designed to support the development of new low carbon community energy schemes;

(c) all policies, programmes or other initiatives the Secretary of State intends will increase community ownership of local low carbon energy schemes through shared ownership schemes;

(d) the steps the Secretary of State is taking to develop new market rules to make it easier for low carbon community energy schemes to sell the energy they generate;

(e) the number and the capacity of the new community energy schemes the Secretary of State expects to be constructed as a result of the measures set out in the report.

(3) Not less than twelve months after the publication of the report, and not later than the end of each subsequent period of twelve months, ending five years after the publication of the report, the Secretary of State must lay before Parliament and publish an assessment of the progress made by the policies, programmes and other initiatives set out in the report.

(4) The assessment must set out—

(a) the total amount of financial support provided by the policies in the report;

(b) the number and capacity of low carbon community energy schemes —

(i) completed, and

(ii) in development;

(c) the number and capacity of new shared ownership schemes;

(d) any changes the Secretary of State proposes to make to the policies, programmes and other initiatives included in the original report.”

This new clause would require the Government to report annually for 5 years on the support it is providing to Community Energy schemes and the number and capacity of such schemes that are delivered.

New clause 25—Investment protection agreements and climate change targets—

“Within six months of the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must—

(a) initiate procedures for the United Kingdom to withdraw from the Energy Charter Treaty;

(b) lay before Parliament a report setting out—

(i) the list of investment protection agreements to which the UK is a party which offer protections to the energy sector, and

(ii) an assessment of the risks they pose to the Secretary of State fulfilling duties in this Act with regard to the achievement of targets set by the Climate Change Act 2008.”

New clause 26—Prohibition on setting domestic energy prices according to region—

“Within six months of the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must by regulations prohibit energy companies from setting prices for domestic energy supply according to geographical region.”

This new clause would require the Government to bring forward legislation to end the regional pricing of domestic energy bills.

New clause 27—Report on extending price cap for off grid fuels—

“Within three months of the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must publish and lay before Parliament a report setting out the consequences of extending the price cap for off grid fuels.”

This new clause would require the Secretary of State to publish a report on extending the price cap for off grid fuels.

New clause 28—Prohibition on hydraulic fracturing—

“(1) Associated hydraulic fracturing is prohibited.

(2) “Associated hydraulic fracturing” has the meaning given by section 4B of the Petroleum Act 1998.

(3) The Secretary of State may by regulations make consequential provision in connection with this section.”

This new clause would introduce a permanent ban on fracking.

New clause 29—Prohibition of new oil and gas field developments and issuing of exploration and production licences—

“Within six months of the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must by regulations prohibit—

(a) the approval of new oil and gas field developments, and

(b) the release of new oil and gas exploration and production licences.”

This new clause would prohibit the approval of new oil and gas field developments and the issuing of new oil and gas exploration and production licenses.

New clause 30—Duty to phase down UK petroleum—

“(1) Within six months of the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must make regulations to amend section 9A of the Petroleum Act 1998.

(2) Regulations under subsection (1) must—

(a) remove the “principal objective” of maximising the economic recovery of UK petroleum;

(b) define a new “principal objective”.

(3) The new “principal objective” referred to in paragraph (2)(b) must provide for—

(a) delivery of a managed and orderly phase down of UK petroleum;

(b) advancement of the UK’s climate change commitments, including—

(i) the target for 2050 set out in section 1 of the Climate Change Act 2008, and

(ii) the commitment given by the Government of the United Kingdom in the Glasgow Climate Pact to pursue policies to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius;

(c) facilitation of a just transition for oil and gas workers and communities.

(4) Before making regulations under subsection (1) the Secretary of State must hold a public consultation which must include consultation with—

(a) the devolved administrations,

(b) relevant trade union and worker representatives,

(c) oil and gas workers and communities,

(d) relevant representatives from academia,

(e) relevant climate and environmental organisations and representatives,

(f) relevant industry representatives of petroleum and renewable energy businesses supporting the transition away from fossil fuels, and

(g) offshore energy training bodies.

(5) Relevant climate and environmental organisations and representatives under subsection (4(e)) must include the Climate Change Committee.”

This new clause would amend the Petroleum Act 1998 to remove the principal objective of maximising the economic recovery of UK petroleum and replace it with a new principal objective to deliver a managed and orderly phase down of UK petroleum, advance the UK’s climate targets, and support a just transition for oil and gas workers.

New clause 31—Requiring installation of solar panels on all new homes—

“(1) Within six months of the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must by regulations require—

(a) the installation of solar panels on the roofs of all new homes; and

(b) that new housing developments are planned in order to maximise solar gain.

(2) Regulations under subsection (1) may provide for exemptions in cases where the installation of solar panels on the roof of a new home is not appropriate.”

This new clause would mandate the installation of solar panels on the roofs of all new homes and require new housing developments to be planned in order to maximise solar gain.

New clause 32—Capacity market—

“(1) The Secretary of State must exercise the power in section 27 of the Energy Act 2013 to ensure that the capacity adequacy procured through the capacity market has a rising share of zero carbon flexible and dispatchable power that is consistent with achieving a zero carbon power system by 2035.

(2) The Secretary of State must ensure that all new multi-year capacity market contracts awarded to unabated fossil fuel capacity market units should have a contract end date no later than 31 December 2034.

(3) In exercising functions under this section, the Secretary of State must have regard to the desirability of maintaining security of supply.

(4) Draft regulations under subsection (1) must be laid before Parliament within six months of the day on which this Act is passed.”

This new clause probes the potential of decarbonising the capacity market.

New clause 33—Energy Demand Reduction Delivery Plan—

“(1) The Secretary of State must, within 12 months of the day on which this Act is passed, prepare and publish an Energy Demand Reduction Delivery Plan.

(2) In preparing the Energy Demand Reduction Delivery Plan under subsection (1), the Secretary of State must consult the Climate Change Committee.

(3) The Energy Demand Reduction Delivery Plan under subsection (1) must include but is not limited to—

(a) a quantitative assessment on the role of energy demand reduction in meeting the United Kingdom's carbon budgets and the 2050 net zero target;

(b) energy demand reduction targets for—

(i) aviation

(ii) surface transport,

(iii) shipping,

(iv) manufacturing and construction,

(v) buildings, and

(vi) agriculture,

in line with the UK’s carbon budgets and the 2050 net zero target; and

(4) an assessment of the role in achieving those targets of—

(a) energy efficiency improvements and technologies, and

(b) avoiding unnecessary energy use through infrastructure and behaviour change

(5) The Climate Change Committee must evaluate, monitor and report annually on the implementation of the Energy Demand Reduction Delivery Plan.”

This new clause would introduce a requirement to produce an Energy Demand Reduction Delivery Plan quantifying sectoral energy demand reduction targets and assessing how these can be achieved, and to review progress towards achieving them.

New clause 34—Production of sustainable aviation fuel—

“(1) The Secretary of State may by regulations introduce a price stability mechanism to incentivise the production of sustainable aviation fuel in the United Kingdom.

(2) A draft of regulations made under subsection (1) must be laid before Parliament within twelve months of the passage of this Act.

(3) A Minister must make a motion in each House of Parliament to approve the regulations laid before Parliament under subsection (2) within fifteen sitting days of the date on which they were laid.

(4) If both Houses of Parliament approve the regulations, they must be made in the form in which they were laid before Parliament.

(5) If either House of Parliament does not approve the regulations, the Secretary of State must lay a revised draft of the regulations before Parliament, and subsections (3) to (5) of this section apply to those regulations as they do to regulations laid under subsection (2).

(6) For the purposes of this section—

“price stability mechanism” is a mechanism under which a producer may enter into a private law contract with a Government-backed counterparty for the purposes of receiving a guaranteed price for a product or service;

“sitting day” is—

(a) in the case of the House of Commons, a day on which the House of Commons sits;

(b) in the case of the House of Lords, a day on which the House of Lords sits.”

New clause 35—Energy decarbonisation for homes: local authority funding—

“(1) The Secretary of State must, within six months of the date on which this Act is passed, carry out and publish an assessment of the benefits of providing long-term predictable funding to local authorities for the purpose of energy decarbonisation for homes in their local authority area.

(2) The assessment under subsection (1) must include an assessment of the likely impact of decarbonisation funding on—

(a) energy demand,

(b) fuel poverty, and

(c) installations of low-carbon heating systems.”

New clause 36—Introduction of a National Energy Guarantee—

“(1) Within six months of the date on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must prepare and lay before Parliament a plan to replace the existing energy price guarantee with a National Energy Guarantee in the form of a rising block tariff including a free or low-cost energy allowance to cover essential needs.

(2) When preparing the plan under subsection (1) the Secretary of State must consult independent bodies working on fuel poverty before determining the pricing of the allowance and the threshold above which the higher tariff should apply.

(3) Once the plan under subsection (1) has been laid before Parliament, the Secretary of State may by notice in writing require the regulator to introduce a rising block tariff, provided it satisfies the following conditions—

(a) that an allocation of energy set at no less than 50% of a defined minimum essential level is provided free of charge to all households;

(b) that the tariff incentivises energy-saving measures, particularly among higher income households;

(c) that households not connected to a mains gas supply will be given an increased electricity allowance, such that they are not disadvantaged;

(d) that the tariff is accompanied by additional allowances for disabled people and others who require high levels of energy usage to fulfil their essential needs; and

(e) that the tariff does not undermine the ability of energy suppliers to offer innovative tariffs through higher energy bands.”

This new clause would introduce a National Energy Guarantee in the form of a rising block tariff: an allowance for low-cost energy to cover essential needs, with a premium tariff to incentivise energy saving measures in households with high energy use, and additional allowances for those with unavoidably high energy needs.

New clause 37—Industrial lithium-ion battery storage facilities—

“(1) Within 12 months of the date on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must make regulations about the building of industrial lithium-ion battery storage facilities.

(2) Regulations under subsection (1) must include—

(a) a requirement for a relevant environmental permit to be issued by the Environment Agency, and

(b) a requirement for the relevant fire authority to be a statutory consultee in all planning applications for such facilities.”

This new clause would require the Secretary of State to make regulations for the building of industrial lithium-ion storage facilities which must include requiring an Environmental Permit from the Environment Agency and for the Fire Authority to be a statutory consultee in planning applications.

New clause 39—Duties of the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority in respect of off-grid fuels—

“(1) Within three months of the passage of this Act, the Secretary of State must by regulation extend the duties of the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority to the distribution and supply of fuels utilised for off-grid home heating.

(2) Regulations under subsection (1) must provide for GEMA to apply a cap on the price of fuel supplied for off-grid home heating proportionate to the cap applied in respect of on-grid homes.”

This new clause seeks to extend the duty of Ofgem to regulate off-grid fuels utilised for off-grid home heating and to ensure that a cap is applied for off-grid home fuels that is proportionate to the cap applied for on-grid homes.

New clause 40—Renewable liquid fuels for low-carbon heating—

“Within six months of the passage of this Act, the Secretary of State must by regulation introduce a Renewable Liquid Heating Fuel Obligation, setting annual obligations on fuel suppliers to ensure the supply of recognised low-carbon renewable liquid fuels for domestic and commercial heating.”

This new clause would require the Government to introduce a Renewable Liquid Heating Fuel Obligation for home and commercial building heating purposes, which would create a scheme that mirrors the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligations Order 2007. This would offer the option to off-gas-grid properties to switch to renewable liquid fuels.

New clause 41—Duty to ensure the lowest possible cost of energy to businesses and households—

“In exercising any function under or in connection with this Act, it is the duty of the Secretary of State to ensure the lowest possible cost of energy to businesses and households.”

This new clause is designed to be placed as Clause 1 of the Bill and would give the Secretary of State the duty to exercise functions under the Act which will result from the Bill in a way which would ensure the lowest possible costs of energy to businesses and households.

New clause 42—Restriction on energy company obligations—

“(1) In section 33BC of the Gas Act 1986 (promotion of reductions in carbon emissions: gas transporters and gas suppliers), after subsection (1) insert—

“(1ZA)) An order under subsection (1) may not impose an obligation on a gas transporter or gas supplier with fewer than 1,000 employees.”

(2) In section 33BD of the Gas Act 1986 (promotion of reductions in home-heating costs: gas transporters and gas suppliers), after subsection (1) insert—

“(1A)) An order under subsection (1) may not impose an obligation on a gas transporter or gas supplier with fewer than 1,000 employees.”

(3) In section 41A of the Electricity Act 1989 (promotion of reductions in carbon emissions: electricity distributors and electricity suppliers), after subsection (1) insert—

“(1ZA)) An order under subsection (1) may not impose an obligation on an electricity distributor or electricity supplier with fewer than 1,000 employees.”

(4) In section 41B of the Electricity Act 1989 (promotion of reductions in home-heating costs: electricity distributors and electricity suppliers), after subsection (1) insert—

“(1A)) An order under subsection (1) may not impose an obligation on an electricity distributor or electricity supplier with fewer than 1,000 employees.””

This new clause would restrict the Energy Company Obligation, which places an obligation on energy suppliers to install energy efficiency and heating measures, to large companies (those with over 1000 employees).

New clause 43—Planning applications for onshore wind energy developments—

“(1) Within three months of the date on which the Act is passed, the Secretary of State must—

(a) remove from the National Planning Policy Framework the restrictions placed by footnote 54 on the circumstances in which proposed wind energy developments involving one or more turbines should be considered acceptable, and

(b) publish guidance for wind developers on how they can engage communities, demonstrate local consent to local planning authorities, and provide financial benefits to local residents.

(2) Section 78 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 is amended by the insertion, after subsection (3), of the following new subsection—

“(3A) An appeal under this section may not be brought or continued against the refusal of an application for planning permission if the development is for the purposes of installing new onshore wind sites not previously used for generating wind energy.””

This new clause aims to remove the current planning restriction that a single objection to an onshore wind development is sufficient to block the development, to ensure that local communities willing to take onshore wind developments will receive some community benefit, and to provide that local decisions made on onshore wind cannot be overturned on appeal.

New clause 44—Independent review of the generation of bioenergy with carbon capture and storage—

“(1) The Secretary of State must commission an independent review of the generation of bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS).

(2) The review must report on the potential impact of BECCS on—

(a) household energy bills,

(b) lifecycle carbon emissions in the generation of energy,

(c) biodiversity,

(d) land use, and

(e) any other matter the Secretary of State considers appropriate.

(3) The Secretary of State must lay before Parliament—

(a) the report of the review, and

(b) the Government’s response to the review.

(4) No subsidy may be given for BECCS until the report of the review and the Government’s response have been laid before Parliament in accordance with subsection (3).

(5) Subsection (4) does not apply if an agreement for the giving of subsidy was concluded before the passage of this Act.

(6) For the purposes of this section—

“bioenergy” means energy from biomass;

“biomass” has the meaning given by paragraph 3 of the Renewables Obligation Order 2015 (SI 2015/1947);

“subsidy” has the meaning given by section 2 of the Subsidy Control Act 2022.”

This new clause would prohibit new government subsidies for generating bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) until the Secretary of State commissions and publishes an independent review of BECCS to establish its impact on household energy bills, lifecycle carbon emissions, biodiversity and land use, and the Government’s response.

New clause 45—Modelling of the UK’s energy needs—

“(1) The Secretary of State must commission—

(a) a report on the most energy efficient, most economic and least carbon-intensive means to fulfil the UK’s current energy needs, and

(b) a report on comprehensive future energy modelling for the UK on the most energy efficient, most economic and least carbon-intensive means to meet the UK’s future energy needs.

(2) The Secretary of State must lay before Parliament the reports required under subsection (1) within six months of the day on which this section comes into force.”

This new clause would require the Secretary of State to commission and publish reports on the most energy efficient, most economic and least carbon-intensive means of satisfying the UK’s energy needs.

New clause 46—Review of Contract for Difference strike prices—

“(1) Within three months of the passage of this Act, the Secretary of State must undertake a review of Contract for Difference strike prices, and make a report to Parliament on the review.

(2) The review must—

(a) include an assessment of the viability of existing projects that have already been allocated,

(b) include an assessment of the UK-based supply chain for each project awarded Contracts for Difference, and

(c) re-evaluate the parameters for—

(i) the allocation for round five of Contracts for Difference funding, and

(ii) future allocation rounds.”

This new clause requires the Secretary of State to assess the viability of projects that have been awarded Contracts for Difference, and to undertake a review of the existing parameters for Contracts for Difference allocation.

New clause 47—Nationally significant infrastructure projects and forced labour—

“(1) Within six months of the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must by regulations provide that existing and new applicants for nationally significant infrastructure projects (within the meaning given by sections 14 and 15 of the Planning Act 2008) of over 50mw must demonstrate that their goods were not manufactured in, or produced with materials using forced labour.

(2) Regulations under subsection (1) must require all existing and new NSIP energy applicants to submit a report to the Planning Inspectorate to demonstrate clear and convincing evidence that the goods, or materials in the goods, were not mined, produced, or manufactured wholly or in part by forced labour.

(3) Within six months of the day on which this Act is passed the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office must create and publish a guide on interpreting reports for the Planning Inspectorate to consult when determining whether goods, or materials in the goods, were mined, produced, or manufactured wholly or in part by forced labour.

(4) Regulations under subsection (1) must provide that any nationally significant infrastructure project of over 50mw unable to demonstrate beyond reasonable doubt that its goods, or materials in the goods, were not mined, produced, or manufactured wholly or in part by forced labour must be recommended for rejection by the Planning Inspectorate upon the submission of the Inspection to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.

(5) Regulations under subsection (1) must provide for any company found to be circumnavigating the requirements of the regulations through third parties, subcontractors or third countries to be permanently barred from operating in the United Kingdom.”

This new clause will require the developers of new NSIP energy projects to demonstrate that their projects do not use, benefit from, or contribute to the forced labour.

New clause 48—Development of solar energy plants on agricultural land—

“(1) The Secretary of State must by regulations prevent the development of solar energy projects on sites of over 500 acres where over 20% of the land is Best and Most Versatile agricultural land.

(2) For the purposes of this section “Best and Most Versatile agricultural land” means land classed as grade 1, grade 2 or subgrade 3a under the agricultural land classification published by Natural England.

(3) Regulations under subsection (1) must—

(a) include provision for the prevention of the development of solar energy projects for which permission has already been sought, but not granted, and

(b) apply both to applications determined by local planning authorities and to those determined by the Planning Inspectorate.

(4) Regulations under subsection (1) may amend primary legislation.

(5) Within six months of the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must publish plans and incentives for the development of solar energy on rooftops, commercial and residential sites, and brownfield sites composed of ungraded land.”

This new clause would end the development of large-scale solar plants on BMV land and require the Secretary of State to publish plans to incentivise the building of solar on rooftops and brownfield sites.

New clause 49—Electricity Storage Capacity—

“(1) Within six months of the day on which this Act is passed the Secretary of State must lay before Parliament a strategy for an increase in the provision of electricity storage facilities to enhance the resilience and flexibility of electricity supply and ensure fair pricing for electricity users.

(2) The strategy referred to in subsection (1) must cover all forms of electricity storage, including—

(a) battery,

(b) hydrogen,

(c) ammonia,

(d) adiabatic compressed air energy storage systems, and

(e) hydroelectric storage.

(3) The strategy referred to in subsection (1) must address considerations relating to—

(a) licensing,

(b) planning,

(c) regulation,

(d) subsidy, and

(e) taxation.

(4) The strategy referred to in subsection (1) must set out—

(a) proposed pricing mechanisms for stored electricity, and

(b) provisions ensuring consumers pay a fair price for electricity.”

This new clause seeks to ensure the UK Government sets out a report to Parliament that demonstrates how it plans to meet the increased storage capacity that will be required with a future electricity network that is heavily reliant on renewable sources.

New clause 50—Renewable Liquid Heating Fuel Obligation—

“(1) Within twelve months of the date of Royal Assent to this Act, the Secretary of State must carry out a consultation on a renewable liquid heating fuel obligation.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) a renewable liquid heating fuel obligation means requiring fuel suppliers to meet annual targets to ensure the supply of recognised low-carbon renewable liquid fuels for domestic and commercial heating.

(3) For the purposes of the consultation under subsection (1) the Secretary of State must consult such persons as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.

(4) Within three months of the conclusion of the consultation under subsection (1) the Secretary of State must lay before Parliament a report of the consultation.

(5) Following publication of the report under subsection (4) the Secretary of State may by regulations set out a scheme requiring fuel suppliers to meet annual targets to ensure the supply of recognised low-carbon renewable liquid fuels for domestic and commercial heating.

(6) Regulations under subsection (5) may provide for—

(a) a scheme for the imposition of low-carbon renewable liquid fuel obligations on fuel suppliers;

(b) the appointment of an Administrator to run the scheme;

(c) matters in relation to the functions of the Administrator;

(d) the method by which amounts of low-carbon renewable liquid fuel are to be counted or determined for the purposes of provision made by or under the regulations;

(e) the Administrator to issue certificates to suppliers setting out the amounts of low-carbon renewable liquid fuel supplied, the time period in which they were supplied and other relevant facts;

(f) a supplier which does not wholly discharge its low-carbon renewable liquid fuel obligation for a given period to pay the Administrator a specified sum within a specified period, and further provision for connected purposes;

(g) the imposition of civil penalties, and objections to and appeals against civil penalties;

(h) the disclosure of relevant information by relevant persons; and

(i) such other provision as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.”

This new clause would require the Secretary of State to consult on a scheme for renewable liquid heating fuel obligations for home and commercial building heating purposes, and to publish a report on the consultation. The new clause would further allow the Secretary of State make regulations to set up a scheme for renewable liquid heating fuel obligations for home and commercial building heating purposes.

New clause 51—Tidal Range power—

(1) Within three months of the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must establish a Tidal Range Assessment Grant for the purposes of funding an independent evidence-led review of the potential contribution to be made by tidal range energy generation to the future energy generating capacity of the United Kingdom.

(2) The review under subsection (1) must include—

(a) pre-feasibility assessments of proposed tidal range projects and their potential both individually and together to contribute to the future energy generating capacity of the United Kingdom;

(b) whole life-cycle analysis and financial modelling to identify the optimum framework for the financing of tidal range projects as ultra-long lifecycle infrastructure assets, including an assessment of the potential merits of a Regulated Asset Base funding model for tidal range projects;

(c) a whole energy market analysis to establish and quantify the potential contribution of tidal range power to the decarbonisation of the United Kingdom’s energy system with particular reference to the value of predictable, flexible energy generation near centres of increasing demand and the potential of operational tidal range projects to bypass major grid barrier issues and enable a stable, operable, and secure decarbonised energy grid;

(d) an assessment of the current and planned innovations in sectors related to the development of operational tidal range projects, including in the broader supply chain, digital twins, power handling and distribution, and energy storage, and how these can be used to drive a reduction in cost and maximise the contribution of materials and components produced in the United Kingdom to tidal range projects;

(e) environmental baseline research and monitoring programmes of the proposed locations of selected tidal range projects for the purposes of establishing an enhanced understanding of the possible impacts on biodiversity and local ecosystems of operational tidal range projects; and

(f) whole-system analysis to evaluate other potential benefits of operational tidal range projects, such as coastal and flooding protection, the stimulation of related industries, and contributions to local economies.”

New clause 53—Community and Smaller-scale Electricity Supplier Services Scheme—

“(1) Within six months of the passage of this Act, the Secretary of State must by regulations require licensed energy suppliers with more than 150,000 customers (“eligible licensed suppliers”) to offer a Community and Smaller-scale Electricity Supplier Service agreement to any Community or Smaller-scale Energy site registered under section [Community and Smaller-scale Electricity Export Guarantee Scheme (No. 2)] for the purposes of allowing that site to sell electricity to local consumers.

(2) A Community and Smaller-scale Electricity Supplier Service agreement is an agreement which requires licensed suppliers to make a community or smaller-scale energy tariff available to consumers local to the exporting site that has regard to the export price paid or that would be paid to that site under section [Community and Smaller-scale Electricity Export Guarantee Scheme (No. 2)].

(3) The eligible licensed supplier may limit the total number of consumers the community or smaller-scale energy tariff is available to such that the total annual energy under the tariff is broadly equivalent to the total annual energy generated by the site.

(4) The eligible licensed supplier is the registrant for the meters of any local consumer purchasing energy under the community or smaller-scale energy tariff.

(5) The eligible licensed supplier may charge a reasonable fee for the provision of services under this section provided that it has regard to distribution, licensing and regulatory costs and any guidance provided by GEMA.

(6) The eligible licensed supplier must return any money raised through the sale of energy under a tariff set up under this section to the Community or Smaller-scale Energy site, save for the fee allowed under subsection (5).

(7) Eligible licensed suppliers must report annually to GEMA on—

(a) the number and capacity of community energy groups or smaller-scale sites offered Community and Smaller-scale Electricity Supplier Service agreements and the number who have contracted to use them,

(b) the total amount of electricity purchased under these agreements, and

(c) the tariffs for each agreement.

(8) GEMA must—

(a) produce guidance on the level of community or smaller-scale energy tariffs and on the reasonable charges that eligible suppliers may charge for Community and Smaller-scale Electricity Supplier Service agreements,

(b) make and publish a report annually on the operation of the export purchase agreements, setting out—

(i) the number of community energy projects or smaller-scale sites contracted with licensed energy suppliers under this section and the total amount of electricity purchased,

(ii) the licensed suppliers contracting with community energy groups or smaller-scale sites and the amount of electricity each has purchased,

(iii) an assessment of how the mechanism is performing and the contribution it is making to delivering secure and low carbon electricity supplies, and

(iv) recommendations for how Community and Smaller-scale Electricity Supplier Service agreements could be improved.

(9) Regulations under this section are subject to the affirmative procedure.”

New clause 56—Delinking of renewable and gas prices in the retail market—

“(1) Within six months of the passage of this Act the Secretary of State must publish a plan to ensure the delinking of gas and renewable and low carbon energy prices as they appear in the retail market.

(2) The plan may take into account—

(a) the establishment of a “green pool” for the direct sale of renewable and low carbon power into the retail market;

(b) the incorporation of low carbon and renewable power plants not possessing a Contract for Difference into Contract for Difference arrangements suitable for inclusion in a green power pool after it is established.”

This new clause requires the Secretary of State to produce a plan to end the linkage between renewable and low carbon energy and gas prices at retail level which results in most renewable power being priced in the retail market as if it were gas.

New clause 57—Onshore wind—

“(1) The Secretary of State must by regulations ensure that onshore wind installations are treated for the purpose of planning and development as local infrastructure and will be permitted or otherwise as if they were.

(2) Regulations under subsection (1) may amend any primary legislation passed before the passage of this Act.”

This new clause ensures that onshore wind development proposals in England and Wales are permitted to proceed on the same basis as other local infrastructure projects.

New clause 58—Community and Smaller-scale Electricity Export Guarantee Scheme (No. 2)—

“(1) Within six months of the passage of this Act, the Secretary of State must by regulations require licensed energy suppliers with more than 150,000 customers (“eligible licensed suppliers”) to purchase electricity exports from sites, including those operated by community groups, which generate low carbon electricity with a capacity below 5MW.

(2) The requirement imposed by regulations under subsection (1) is to be known as the Community and Smaller-scale Electricity Export Guarantee Scheme.

(3) Fossil fuelled local power plants with a capacity of less than 5MW are not eligible for participation in the Community and Smaller-scale Electricity Export Guarantee Scheme, with the exception of a local combined heat and power plant that generates electricity ancillary to its purpose of providing heat for local heat networks.

(4) “Fossil fuel” has the meaning given in section 104(4).

(5) Licensed energy suppliers with fewer than 150,000 customers may also purchase electricity exports from the sites specified in subsection (1) provided that they do so on the terms set out by the regulations.

(6) The regulations must require that eligible licensed suppliers—

(a) offer to the sites specified in subsection (1) a minimum export price set annually by the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority (“GEMA”),

(b) offer to those sites a minimum contract period of five years, and

(c) allow the exporting site to end the contract after no more than one year.

(7) Within six months of the passage of this Act, GEMA must—

(a) set an annual minimum export price for those sites that has regard to current wholesale energy prices and inflation in energy prices and the wider economy,

(b) introduce a registration system for exporting sites meeting the requirements set out in subsection (1) and wanting to access these export purchases,

(c) define specifications for the smart export meters required by such sites,

(d) define “low carbon electricity” in such a way that it includes renewable generation technology and may include other technology with extremely low carbon dioxide emissions,

(e) define requirements for an exporting site generating low carbon electricity with a capacity of less than 5MW to be registered as a Community or Smaller-scale Energy site, and maintain a register of such sites.

(8) Regulations under subsection (1) must provide that to access export purchase agreements exporters must—

(a) register their site with GEMA,

(b) install a smart export meter that meets specifications defined by GEMA, and

(c) notify GEMA if they are a community group.

(9) All licensed suppliers providing purchase agreements for sites specified in subsection (1) must report annually to GEMA—

(a) the number and capacity of Community or Smaller-scale Energy sites that have been offered contracts to purchase electricity and the number of such sites which agreed those contracts,

(b) the total amount of electricity purchased under those agreements, and

(c) the price paid for that electricity.

(10) OFGEM must make and publish a report annually on the operation of the export purchase agreements, setting out—

(a) the number of Community or Smaller scale Energy sites contracted with licensed energy suppliers under this section and the total amount of electricity purchased,

(b) the licensed suppliers contracting with Community or Smaller-scale Energy sites and the amount of electricity each has purchased,

(c) an assessment of how the mechanism is performing and the contribution it is making to delivering secure and low carbon electricity supplies, and

(d) recommendations on how the mechanism could be improved.

(11) Regulations under this section are subject to the affirmative procedure.”

New clause 59—Decarbonised electricity supply by 2030—

“(1) It is the duty of the Secretary of State to ensure that the supply of electricity in the UK is decarbonised by 2030.

(2) The Secretary of State must, within six months of the passage of this Act, produce and publish a plan which will set out how the duty in subsection (1) is to be achieved.”

This new clause is intended to provide for the UK’s electricity supply to be decarbonised by 2030.

New clause 60—Planning consent for new electricity pylons—

“(1) Within six months of the passage of this Act, the Secretary of State must by regulations provide for a fast-track planning process for electricity pylons along motorways and rail lines.

(2) Regulations under this section may amend primary legislation.”

New clause 61—National Warmer Homes and Businesses Action Plan (No. 2)—

“(1) The Secretary of State must, before the end of the period of 6 months beginning with the day on which this Act is passed, publish an action plan entitled the Warmer Homes and Businesses Action Plan, to set out proposals for delivery of—

(a) an Energy Performance Certificate at band C by 2035 in all UK homes where practical, cost effective and affordable, and

(b) an Energy Performance Certificate at band B by 2030 in all privately rented non-domestic properties, and

(c) the Future Homes Standard for all new builds in England by 2025.

(2) The Secretary of State must, in developing the Warmer Homes and Businesses Action Plan, consult the Climate Change Committee and its sub-committee on adaptation.”

New clause 62—Energy performance regulations relating to existing premises (No. 2)—

“(1) Within six months of the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must make regulations—

(a) amending the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/962) to require that, subject to subsection (2), all tenancies have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) of at least Band C by 31 December 2028; and

(b) amending the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/595) to raise the cost cap to £10,000.

(2) Regulations under subsection (1) must provide for exemptions to apply where—

(a) the occupier of any premises whose permission is needed to carry out works refuses to give such permission;

(b) it is not technically feasible to improve the energy performance of the premises to the level of EPC Band C; or

(c) another exemption specified in the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015 has been registered in the Private Rented Sector (PRS) Exemptions Register.

(3) Within six months of the passage of this Act the Secretary of State must make regulations—

(a) amending the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015 to enable local authorities to give notice to landlords that they wish to inspect a property in relation to those Regulations, requesting permissions from landlords and any tenants in situ at the time to carry out an inspection at an agreed time;

(b) expanding the scope of the current PRS Exemptions Register and redesigning it as a database covering properties’ compliance with or exemptions from EPCs;

(c) requiring a post-improvement EPC to be undertaken to demonstrate compliance;

(d) requiring a valid EPC to be in place at all times while a property is let; and

(e) raising the maximum total of financial penalties to be imposed by a local authority on a landlord of a domestic private rented sector property in relation to the same breach and for the same property to £30,000 per property and per breach of the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015.

(4) Regulations under this section are subject to the affirmative procedure.”

New clause 67—Local supply rights—

“(1) Within six months of the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must publish a report on and consult on the introduction of local supply rights for community energy schemes, which would enable these schemes to sell their power to local customers.

(2) The report must set out—

(a) the potential benefits of community energy,

(b) the estimated additional costs to consumer bills that would be incurred in order for community energy schemes to account for 10% of energy generation by 2033, and

(c) an estimate of typical cost/benefit ratios for local communities and consumers.”

This new clause seeks to require the Government to publish a consultation on the introduction of local supply rights for community energy schemes within 6 months of the Act being passed.

New clause 68—Reports on the functioning of the energy price support framework—

“Within six months of the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must prepare and lay before Parliament reports assessing—

(a) the potential benefits of a social tariff would have on levels of fuel poverty across the UK,

(b) the adequacy of the current system for individuals who have higher energy needs due to a medical condition, and

(c) the potential benefits of a strategy that rewards households who use less energy by guaranteeing them a lower price through a tiered electricity plan.”

This new clause will require the Secretary of State to report on the functioning of the current framework as it relates to certain groups.

Government amendment 180.

Amendment 3, in clause 2, page 3, line 30, at end insert

“issued by the economic regulator or other competent authority”.

This amendment allows persons with a CO2 storage licence from the North Sea Transition Authority to operate a geological storage site for CO2 disposal, as per current legislation in the Energy Act 2010.

Amendment 4, page 3, line 34, leave out “a service” and insert

“a monopoly service to multiple users”.

This amendment would exclude from the requirement to have an economic licence, all forms of transportation where competitive markets are more likely to develop than monopolies e.g. shipping, rail or road. It would also enable investment in private spur connections to the regulated CO2 network.

Government amendments 131, 198, 181, 132, 199 to 209, 144 to 147, 139 and 140.

Amendment 175, in clause 65, page 58, line 13, leave out

“in the opinion of the Secretary of State”.

This amendment would remove the role of the Secretary of State in determining who qualifies as a “low carbon hydrogen producer.”

Government amendments 141 and 142.

Amendment 9, page 60, line 22, leave out clause 69.

This amendment, together with Amendments 10 to 12, would leave out the clauses of the Bill which provide for a hydrogen levy.

Amendment 10, page 61, line 1, leave out clause 70.

See explanatory statement to Amendment 9.

Amendment 170, in clause 70, page 61, line 2, leave out

“relevant market participants (see subsection (8))” and insert “the Secretary of State”.

This amendment, together with Amendments 171 to174, is intended to provide that the Secretary of State, rather than relevant market participants, should fund the hydrogen levy administrator.

Amendment 171, page 61, line 19, leave out “relevant market participants” and insert “the Secretary of State”.

See explanatory statement to Amendment 170.

Amendment 172, page 61, line 34, leave out “relevant market participants” and insert “the Secretary of State”.

See explanatory statement to Amendment 170.

Amendment 173, page 61, line 37, leave out subsection (5).

See explanatory statement to Amendment 170.

Government amendment 148.

Amendment 174, page 62, line 9, leave out subsection (9).

See explanatory statement to Amendment 170.

Amendment 11, page 62, line 12, leave out clause 71.

See explanatory statement to Amendment 9.

Amendment 12, page 63, line 11, leave out clause 72.

See explanatory statement to Amendment 9.

Amendment 13, in clause 73, page 64, line 22, leave out paragraph (a).

This amendment is consequential on Amendments 9 to 12.

Amendment 14, page 64, line 26, leave out “each paragraph of”.

This amendment is consequential on Amendments 9 to 12.

Amendment 15, page 64, line 27, leave out “under that paragraph”.

This amendment is consequential on Amendments 9 to 12.

Government amendment 121.

Amendment 16, page 65, line 6, leave out paragraph (a).

This amendment is consequential on Amendments 9 to 12.

Amendment 17, page 65, line 10, leave out

“a hydrogen production revenue support contract or”.

This amendment is consequential on Amendments 9 to 12.

Amendment 18, page 65, line 15, leave out

“a hydrogen production allocation body or”.

This amendment is consequential on Amendments 9 to 12.

Amendment 19, in clause 74, page 65, line 22, leave out paragraph (a).

This amendment is consequential on Amendments 9 to 12.

Amendment 20, page 65, line 31, leave out

“hydrogen production revenue support contract or”.

This amendment is consequential on Amendments 9 to 12.

Amendment 21, in clause 75, page 65, line 35, leave out subsection (1).

This amendment is consequential on Amendments 9 to 12.

Amendment 6, page 66, line 2, after “that” insert “eligible”.

This amendment clarifies that the low carbon hydrogen producer must be eligible to receive support, which other amendments ensure means that they are compliant with the Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard.

Amendment 22, page 66, line 10, leave out “(1) or”.

This amendment is consequential on Amendments 9 to 12.

Amendment 23, in clause 76, page 66, line 23, leave out paragraph (a).

This amendment is consequential on Amendments 9 to 12.

Amendment 24, page 66, line 30, leave out

“hydrogen production revenue support contracts or”.

This amendment is consequential on Amendments 9 to 12.

Amendment 25, page 66, line 33, leave out

“hydrogen production revenue support contracts or”.

This amendment is consequential on Amendments 9 to 12.

Amendment 26, page 67, line 10, leave out

“hydrogen production revenue support contracts or”.

This amendment is consequential on Amendments 9 to 12.

Amendment 27, page 67, line 15, leave out “for producing hydrogen or”.

This amendment is consequential on Amendments 9 to 12.

Amendment 28, page 67, line 17, leave out

“(whether in respect of hydrogen production or capture of carbon dioxide)”.

This amendment is consequential on Amendments 9 to 12.

Government amendment 143.

Amendment 29, in clause 77, page 67, line 40, leave out subsection (1).

This amendment is consequential on Amendments 9 to 12.

Amendment 30, page 68, line 19, leave out “hydrogen production counterparty or”.

This amendment is consequential on Amendments 9 to 12.

Amendment 31, page 68, line 24, leave out paragraph (c) and insert—

“(c) how the eligible carbon capture entity to whom the offer is made may enter into a carbon capture revenue support contract as a result of the offer;”.

This amendment is consequential on Amendments 9 to 12.

Amendment 32, page 68, line 28, leave out

“eligible low carbon hydrogen producer or”.

This amendment is consequential on Amendments 9 to 12.

Amendment 33, in clause 78, page 68, line 36, leave out

“an eligible low carbon hydrogen producer, or”.

This amendment is consequential on Amendments 9 to 12.

Amendment 34, page 68, line 39, leave out

“hydrogen production counterparty or (as the case requires)”.

This amendment is consequential on Amendments 9 to 12.

Amendment 35, page 69, line 1, leave out “hydrogen production counterparty or”.

This amendment is consequential on Amendments 9 to 12.

Amendment 36, page 69, line 16, leave out “hydrogen production counterparty or”.

This amendment is consequential on Amendments 9 to 12.

Amendment 37, page 69, line 35, leave out clause 80.

This amendment is consequential on Amendments 9 to 12.

Amendment 38, in clause 81, page 70, line 33, leave out

“hydrogen transport counterparty, hydrogen storage counterparty, hydrogen production counterparty”.

This amendment is consequential on Amendments 9 to 12.

Amendment 39, in clause 82, page 71, line 1, leave out paragraph (a).

This amendment is consequential on Amendments 9 to 12.

Amendment 40, in clause 83, page 71, line 32, leave out sub-paragraph (i).

This amendment is consequential on Amendments 9 to 12.

Amendment 41, page 71, line 40, leave out paragraph (e).

This amendment is consequential on Amendments 9 to 12.

Government amendment 149.

Amendment 42, page 72, line 9, leave out

“hydrogen production revenue support contract or”.

This amendment is consequential on Amendments 9 to 12.

Government amendments 150 to 152.

Amendment 43, in clause 84, page 73, line 7, leave out subsections (3) and (4).

This amendment is consequential on Amendments 9 to 12.

Government amendments 210 to 213.

Amendment 44, in clause 86, page 74, line 9, leave out paragraphs (b) and (c).

This amendment is consequential on Amendments 9 to 12.

Amendment 45, page 74, line 22, leave out paragraphs (b) and (c).

This amendment is consequential on Amendments 9 to 12.

Amendment 46, age 74, line 28, leave out “a hydrogen levy administrator”.

This amendment is consequential on Amendments 9 to 12.

Amendment 47, in clause 88, page 77, line 2, leave out paragraph (b).

This amendment is consequential on Amendments 9 to 12.

Government amendments 153 to 162.

Amendment 48, page 78, line 37, leave out clause 90.

This amendment is consequential on Amendments 9 to 12.

Government amendment 163.

Amendment 49, in clause 91, page 79, line 36, leave out paragraph (b).

This amendment is consequential on Amendments 9 to 12.

Government amendments 164, 70, 165, 122 to 124 and 214 to 216.

Amendment 7, in clause 128, page 115, line 6, after “transportation” insert

“by pipeline, ship or other means,”.

Carbon dioxide transport by ship is almost certain to be a part of the Scottish Cluster and subsequent phases of other CCUS clusters and this amendment makes explicit that transportation by ship or other means would be included in the financial assistance available under clause 103.

Government amendments 125 to 129, 71, 72, 133 and 134.

Amendment 8, in clause 142, page 127, line 2, leave out from “heat” to the end of line 18 and insert “from a renewable source.”

This amendment would enable the Secretary of State to make provision for the establishment of a low-carbon heat scheme which encouraged the use of heating appliances that generate heat from a renewable source but which might previously have burnt a fossil fuel.

Government amendments 217 and 218.

Amendment 50, in clause 152, page 133, line 30, at end insert

“, except that that power is not exercisable without a warrant issued by a justice of the peace.”

This amendment would require a warrant for the exercise of the power to enter premises in a hydrogen grid conversion trial.

Amendment 130, page 136, line 3, leave out clause 155.

This amendment would remove clause 155 and therefore ensure that fusion energy facilities are still required to secure a nuclear site licence.

Amendment 1, in clause 159, page 137, line 31, at end insert—

“(1A) The person designated under subsection (1) must be a public body with no other roles or interests in the energy sector.”

This amendment ensures that the ISOP is a public body, not an individual or a private company, and has no conflicting interests.

Amendment 51, in clause 160, page 138, line 9, at beginning insert—

“(A1) The ISOP must carry out its functions in the way that it considers is best calculated to ensure the lowest possible cost of energy to businesses and households.”

This amendment, together with Amendment 52, would introduce a new primary objective for the Independent System Operator and Planner (ISOP), to which the existing objectives for the ISOP in the Bill would become secondary.

Amendment 52, page 138, line 9, at beginning insert “Subject to subsection (A1),”.

See explanatory statement to Amendment 51.

Government amendments 73 to 76.

Amendment 2, in clause 162, page 140, line 5, leave out subsection (1) and insert—

“(1) The ISOP must have regard to the strategic priorities set out in the current strategy and policy statement but will otherwise carry out its functions independently of the Secretary of the State.”

This amendment ensures that the Independent System Operator and Planner (ISOP) is independent.

Government amendments 166 and 77 to 79.

Amendment 53, page 178, line 25, leave out clause 212.

This amendment would remove the clause granting the Secretary of State an extension of time for the extension of powers relating to smart meters.

Government amendments 103 and 219 to 224.

Amendment 54, in clause 227, page 188, line 31, leave out paragraph (c).

This amendment would ensure that it was not possible to impose a penalty on a person for not complying with a request for information relating to a heat network zone.

Amendment 55, in clause 228, page 189, line 9, leave out subsections (2) to (10) and insert—

“(2) Regulations made by virtue of subsection (1) may not impose a requirement on any person.”

This amendment would prevent regulations about heat networks within heat network zones from imposing mandatory requirements.

Amendment 56, page 192, line 30, leave out clause 230.

This amendment would leave out the clause which provides for the enforcement of heat network zone requirements.

Amendment 57, page 193, line 12, leave out clause 231.

This amendment would leave out the clause which provides for penalties to be imposed by regulations about heat network zones.

Amendment 58, page 196, line 3, leave out clause 235.

This amendment, together with Amendments 59 to 63, would remove Chapter 2 of Part 9 of the Bill, on energy smart appliances.

Amendment 59, page 197, line 13, leave out clause 236.

See explanatory statement to Amendment 58.

Amendment 60, page 198, line 4, leave out clause 237.

See explanatory statement to Amendment 58.

Amendment 61, page 199, line 39, leave out clause 238.

See explanatory statement to Amendment 58.

Amendment 62, page 200, line 22, leave out clause 239.

See explanatory statement to Amendment 58.

Amendment 63, page 201, line 14, leave out clause 240.

See explanatory statement to Amendment 58.

Amendment 64, page 205, line 14, leave out clause 246.

This amendment, together with Amendments 65 to 67, would leave out Part 10 of the Bill, on the energy performance of premises.

Government amendments 182 to 184.

Amendment 65, page 206, line 29, leave out clause 247.

See explanatory statement to Amendment 64.

Amendment 66, page 207, line 1, leave out clause 248.

See explanatory statement to Amendment 64. This amendment would remove a clause which would enable the creation of criminal offences by regulations.

Government amendment 185.

Amendment 67, page 208, line 6, leave out clause 249.

See explanatory statement to Amendment 64. This amendment would remove a clause which would enable the amendment, repeal or revocation of primary legislation by regulations.

Government amendments 186 to 193.

Amendment 68, page 214, line 1, leave out clause 255.

This amendment would leave out the clause which provides for requirements to be imposed by energy savings opportunity scheme regulations.

Amendment 69, page 216, line 16, leave out clause 257.

This amendment would leave out the clause which provides for the enforcement of energy savings opportunity scheme regulations and the creation of connected penalties and offences.

Government amendments 225 to 229, 80, 81, 230 to 238, 82, 194, 239, 195, 240, 241, 83, 242, 84 to 94, 243, 176, 177, 196, 178, 244, 104 to 110, 169, 179, 111 to 120, 95 to 100, 197, 101, 135 to 138, 167, 168 and 102.

[Andrew Bowie]

I am delighted to rise today to bring before the House our landmark Energy Bill for its consideration. This world-leading, historic Bill—a Conservative Bill—will deliver for this country cleaner, cheaper and more secure energy. It will level up this country, while contributing to levelling down bills for the British people. It will unleash new technology, liberate private investment in clean technologies, modernise and future-proof our energy network, and deliver for this country and for future generations.

The United Kingdom already has a great story to tell on reducing our carbon emissions. We have reduced our emissions faster than any other G7 nation. We were the first European nation to legislate for net zero. We have the first oil and gas basin dedicated to going net zero and the first, second, third and fourth-largest offshore wind farms in the world operating and generating power off the coast of Great Britain right now. We have eliminated our reliance on coal. We have grown to more than 40% of energy being generated by renewables. We have announced further investment in carbon capture, usage and storage, and we are pressing ahead with Great British Nuclear, which I launched two months ago with an exciting programme for small modular reactors. We are on track to deliver 24 GW of nuclear power on the grid by 2025.

[Ian Paisley (North Antrim) (DUP)]

Can the Minister confirm that at the weekend, agreements were made that have removed Northern Ireland from benefiting from the renewable liquid fuel agreements? Is that the case, and if so, why?

[Andrew Bowie]

If the hon. Gentleman will have patience, I will come to the renewable liquid heating fuel amendments later in my speech, where I am happy to direct any questions to which he is seeking answers.

We have done all the things I have mentioned while growing our economy. We have cut our emissions by 40% while growing our economy by 60%. It is an inherently Conservative value—a value close to the hearts of all on the Government Benches—to pass on what we inherit in a better state to the next generation. That includes the state of our environment and our climate. There is also no more Conservative value than to ensure the security of our nation and its people, and that includes our energy supply.

[John Redwood (Wokingham) (Con)]

On that very point—security—what provision is being made for days when there is no wind, given that we will see the closure of most of our nuclear power stations this decade and will have little else to rely on, other than fossil fuel? How are we going to get through?

[Andrew Bowie]

My right hon. Friend knows that I am a great champion of supporting our oil and gas industry, which continues to supply a large amount of our energy baseload and will do for a significant amount of time to come. As he also knows, we are investing a lot of time and money into ensuring that we deliver the next generation of nuclear power plants, including small modular reactors, so that we have the energy baseload that this country needs so that, as he rightly suggests, when the wind does not blow and the sun does not shine, people can still be assured that the lights will come on. The Conservative principles that I have spoken about are at the very heart of the Bill, which I am pleased to bring before the House today.

It is true that some time has passed since the Bill was introduced in July last year. The Opposition spokesperson, the hon. Member for Southampton, Test (Dr Whitehead), was but a boy when this Bill was introduced last year. A huge amount of constructive dialogue and dedicated work has taken place during that time. I thank all the Secretaries of State at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, the Ministers and the Prime Ministers who have been involved since the Bill was introduced.

Since the Bill came to this House from the other place, I have met and engaged with colleagues from all sides of House. We debated the Bill in a lively Second Reading and spent 72 long hours in Committee, so I start by thanking everyone across the House, especially the shadow ministerial team, the former Scottish National party energy spokesman, the hon. Member for Kilmarnock and Loudoun (Alan Brown), and all on the Government side, for their constructive engagement in ensuring that we got the Bill to these final stages in a state that, I hope, will be broadly welcomed by most, if not all, Members.

[Richard Graham (Gloucester) (Con)]

Will the Minister give way?

[Andrew Bowie]

I would be delighted.

[Richard Graham]

The Minister referred to base energy load, which is crucial in respect of nuclear energy, but is also relevant to marine energy, which, as he knows, we have huge potential for around our coast, particularly in Scotland. Will he confirm that that will play an important part in the next contracts for difference round and in his thinking?

[Andrew Bowie]

I am delighted to confirm that that will play an important part. Indeed, we have ringfenced £10 million to support marine energy in the country. We believe it has a huge role to play in delivering our energy baseload. Indeed, the innovations being made in that technology are incredibly exciting and will play a huge part in our energy baseload moving forward.

[Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD)]

rose—

[Andrew Bowie]

It is always a delight to give way to the hon. Gentleman.

[Jamie Stone]

The Minister is incredibly well-mannered. The irony is that we generate an enormous amount of power from onshore wind in the highlands, yet we face the highest levels of fuel poverty. New clause 1, tabled in my name, talks about increasing the community benefit in some way and widening the number of communities who could benefit. I am aware that the hon. Member for Rutland and Melton (Alicia Kearns) has tabled a similar amendment, and I would like to voice my support and that of the Liberal Democrats for it.

[Andrew Bowie]

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his constructive intervention. The Government recently launched a consultation on community benefits, because we do understand that those communities being asked to host pieces of critical national infrastructure should be recompensed for that, and that the community benefits that the individuals, communities and groups in those areas receive should be enough to recompense them for what they are doing in the national interest.

[Matt Hancock (West Suffolk) (Ind)]

On infrastructure of national scale, in order to keep people on side, is it not also vital that such projects are in the right place—unlike the Sunnica development near my constituency—so that those of us who care about the agenda can support it wholeheartedly and ensure that the Conservative values that the Minister talks about are rightly behind the green energy revolution?

[Andrew Bowie]

Absolutely. It is incumbent on all involved, from the transmission operators to the developers, National Grid, the electricity system operator and indeed the Department and those across Government, to ensure that where such pieces of critical national infrastructure are being built, developed and planned, plans are proceeded with and laid in a way that is conducive to local sentiment and local support and will provide for that local community for many years to come.

[Angus Brendan MacNeil (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (Ind)]

Will the Minister give way?

[Andrew Bowie]

Yes. I would be delighted to give way.

[Angus Brendan MacNeil]

I am grateful to the very polite Minister, as was said by the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross (Jamie Stone). I am sure the Minister is aware that heat pumps will produce about 2.5 times the energy of the electricity put into them, or four times for ground source heat pumps—they are multipliers of the power put into them. The Government have a plan for 600,000 to be installed by 2028. Will we see those? How many will we see next year? Does he have intervening targets for that? At the moment, they are at only a 10th of where the target would have them.

Secondly, a point asked in my constituency is about the new £10 million community energy fund, which relates only to England, despite energy being reserved. Will he enlighten Euan Scott, my constituent, please?

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Dame Rosie Winterton)]

Order. There is so much pressure on time, so it is really important that interventions are short.

[Andrew Bowie]

On the hon. Member’s first point, absolutely, we remain committed to delivering, developing and rolling out heat pumps across the country, and we remain committed to the targets we have set out. On the community energy fund, there is already an equivalent Scottish community energy fund up and running and delivering for communities across Scotland. That is a competency of the Scottish Government at Holyrood. I would be delighted to direct any questions that he or his constituent have on that to the Scottish Government in Edinburgh. [Interruption.] He makes the case from a sedentary position that energy is reserved. Yes, but the Scottish Government have their own community energy fund. We will base a lot of what we are doing on that fund as it is rolled out in Scotland.

With your leave, Madam Deputy Speaker, I will take some time to explain the not insubstantial number of Government amendments to the House. I turn first to Government amendment 148 and the subsequent consequential amendments. I think it is fair to say that considerable concern was raised about the initial proposals for a hydrogen levy. The Government have carefully considered those concerns. I particularly thank my hon. Friend the Member for South Thanet (Craig Mackinlay) for his amendments on the issue, and indeed the right hon. Member for Doncaster North (Edward Miliband) for his amendments relating to those clauses. It is right that we take these considerations seriously and, where appropriate, seek to make changes.

[Alec Shelbrooke (Elmet and Rothwell) (Con)]

Will the Minister give way?

[Andrew Bowie]

I would be delighted.

[Alec Shelbrooke]

May I take the opportunity to thank my hon. Friend for reflecting on what I said in Committee and for the commitments given to me by the Government to bring about an amendment to the Bill? I thank him for listening to Back Benchers’ concerns in Committee.

[Andrew Bowie]

I was very pleased to take that intervention. I thank my right hon. Friend for it. If he is patient, I will explain to the rest of the House—I think Committee members are aware—what we seek to do with the hydrogen levy as it stands.

The Government’s amendments will remove provisions that enabled the levy to be imposed on energy suppliers in Great Britain, ensuring that within Great Britain the levy can be placed only on gas shippers. In the case of Northern Ireland, the amendments seek to ensure that only gas supply licence holders who engage with gas shipping can be subject to that levy. That reflects the different approach to the licensing of gas shipping across Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The revised provisions will provide a fairer approach to funding hydrogen, placing the charge higher up the supply chain, with the potential for costs to be spread to the sectors expected to benefit most from early hydrogen development, not the wider British public. I remind the House that the Bill will also enable the option of funding hydrogen through the Exchequer. By providing two robust and reliable options for hydrogen funding, we will help bolster industry confidence in the viability of the UK hydrogen economy and boost private investment, with the potential to unlock significant energy security and economic benefits. The hydrogen sector could support over 12,000 jobs and generate up to £11 billion in private investment by 2030.

I must be clear, and the House should understand, that the Bill will not actually introduce a levy on gas shippers. Instead, it will enable the Government to introduce the levy through secondary legislation.

[Craig Mackinlay (South Thanet) (Con)]

It is very welcome that the levy will not be applied on households as a direct cost they will see in their bills, but it is something of a sleight of hand just to push it further up the supply chain, because it will be an energy-related cost somewhere in the supply chain that will feed down to every business and household in another way through an additional charge they will face, much like VAT. I welcome it as far as I can, but I would rather see it removed in its entirety.

[Andrew Bowie]

I thank my hon. Friend for his contribution. As we have spoken about before, I understand his position on the levy. It is our belief that in ensuring that the levy is placed higher up the chain, the sectors that will benefit most from the early development of hydrogen will bear the brunt of the cost, not the wider British public. That is the aim and intention of what we seek to achieve.

As I was saying, the Bill will not introduce the levy on to shippers; instead, it will enable the Government to introduce the levy through secondary legislation. I am sure we will continue to have this debate in the months and years ahead.

I turn to Government new clause 63, amendment 8 and new clauses 40 and 50 on renewable liquid heating fuel. I thank my right hon. Friend the Member for Camborne and Redruth (George Eustice) for his work and amendments relating to renewable liquid fuels for low-carbon heating. His constructive work with the Government has been incredibly helpful and positive. I also pay tribute to my hon. Friend the Member for Bury St Edmunds (Jo Churchill), who has been championing the use of renewable liquid fuels for low-carbon heating for many years.

As the recent biomass strategy made clear, such fuels will have a critical role to play in decarbonising our economy. We recognise that they have the potential to play an important role in decarbonising heat, especially as not all off-grid properties will be suitable for electrification. We will explore the potential of these fuels for heat by issuing a consultation within 12 months. We want to take the powers now to support the use of these fuels in heat in the future, should they be needed. That is why we tabled Government new clause 63, taking powers to impose obligations on heating fuel suppliers to increase the supply of renewable liquid heating fuels.

[Nickie Aiken (Cities of London and Westminster) (Con)]

In my constituency we have a particular issue with commercial and domestic use, because residents are often in the same building as commercial properties. It would be helpful for the Minister to look at the definition of heat network systems, so that Ofgem can understand what systems qualify as heat networks in domestic properties, which are a real issue in my constituency.

[Andrew Bowie]

The measures in the Bill will provide the Government with powers to implement heat network zoning in England. Those include powers to develop a nationwide methodology for identifying and designating areas as heat network zones, and to establish a new zoning co-ordinator role—which we generally expect will be filled by local government, though my hon. Friend is free to apply—with responsibility for designating areas as heat network zones and enforcing requirements in them. They also include powers requiring heat networks developed in zones to meet a low-carbon requirement, and to ensure that certain buildings and heat sources connect to a heat network in a zone within a specific timeframe. The relevant Minister in the Department and I will be happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss how that will be relevant to her urban constituency as we move forward and seek to implement these proposals.

[Richard Fuller (North East Bedfordshire) (Con)]

I join the Minister in thanking my right hon. Friend the Member for Camborne and Redruth (George Eustice) for leading on the measures included in new clause 63. On the renewable liquid heating fuel obligation, the Minister said that he would do a consultation within the next 12 months. Many of my constituents who are off-grid also want secondary legislation to come through in the next 12 months. Can he assure the House that that is his intention?

[Andrew Bowie]

I can confirm that we will move to a consultation in the next few months. Indeed, we will use the powers to support the use of those fuels in heat in future, should they be needed. Again, as we move through the consultation period, other Ministers in the Department and I would be delighted to meet my hon. Friend and all Members concerned. I understand that this issue affects many constituencies across the country and, rightly, interests many right hon. and hon. Members. As we move forward with the consultation and towards implementing the powers, we will be delighted to meet Members.

[David Duguid (Banff and Buchan) (Con)]

I welcome Government new clauses 52 and 63, which are of particular value to those living in certain parts of the country, such as north-east Scotland, as the Minister is very much aware. Will he join me in reinforcing and emphasising the benefit of developments in sustainable aviation fuel and renewable liquid heating fuel respectively, particularly in Aberdeenshire?

[Andrew Bowie]

Yes, I am very pleased to welcome developments in renewable liquid heating fuel. The consultation, which will be UK-wide, will benefit those living in rural constituencies such as Banff and Buchan, and those across north-east Scotland and rural Britain. I welcome the support for the sustainable aviation fuel amendment, to which I will refer shortly.

[Angus Brendan MacNeil]

To back up the point made by the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan (David Duguid), standard consultation and the legislation being in place in 12 months do not show the necessary urgency. That is the point that unites many people. The Minister, with his Thompson gun approach to spitting things out, got that one out very quickly, but we need it done an awful lot more quickly than starting within 12 months. This Government will probably be gone in 12 months.

[Andrew Bowie]

I am determined to work very hard to ensure that this Government will not be gone in 12 months. However, we are taking the powers now to ensure support for the use of these fuels in heat in future, if needed. I should make clear that we are starting the consultation within the next 12 months, not in 12 months. It will be within the next year.

[Ian Paisley]

There is a vast rural housing network in Northern Ireland of so many households, and there is overreliance on heating oil. What is the arrangement for using renewable liquid fuels in Northern Ireland?

[Andrew Bowie]

Once again, I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. I was just about to answer his original question: I can confirm that officials from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero in London have been in discussion with Northern Ireland officials, who are broadly content with the Government’s approach on this issue. However, conversations will continue with Northern Ireland officials on what we can do to support renewable liquid heating fuels in Northern Ireland. Once again, as on the other issues I have specified, I would be delighted to meet the hon. Gentleman and colleagues from across Northern Ireland to discuss how this Government can ensure that the support delivered in Great Britain can be replicated in Northern Ireland.

I turn back to my comments on renewable liquid heating fuels. With regard to amendment 8, the powers in clause 142 relate only to the planned clean heat market mechanism, for which the Government’s focus is on supporting the development of the market for electric heat pumps. We do not believe that expanding the power set out here is necessary to allow for boilers burning renewable liquid fuels to be installed or used. In the light of those steps, I hope my right hon. Friend the Member for Camborne and Redruth is reassured by the Government’s action and will feel able not to press the amendment.

I turn to Government new clauses 52 and 169 and new clause 35 on sustainable aviation fuel. I thank my right hon. Friend the Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling) for his constructive engagement with me and colleagues at the Department for Transport. This Government are committed to ensuring that the UK sustainable aviation fuel programme is one of the most comprehensive in the world. That is why in the Bill we are committing to publish a consultation on the options for designing and implementing a revenue certainty scheme within six months of it being passed.

We will also update Parliament within 18 months on the development of a sustainable aviation fuel revenue certainty scheme. As the Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Forest of Dean (Mr Harper), set out in a written ministerial statement yesterday, that builds on our commitment to deliver a revenue certainty scheme for domestic sustainable aviation fuel production by the end of 2026. The intention is that the scheme will be industry-funded. Alongside that, we have published a plan for delivering the scheme, which contains a timeline of key milestones such as a public consultation on options, an associated Government response, design phases, and delivery and legislative steps.

[Chris Grayling (Epsom and Ewell) (Con)]

I thank my hon. Friend for his constructive approach on this issue. Could I seek one more assurance? When the consultation is finished, will the Government review the likelihood of securing the investment we want? If there is still doubt, will he ensure that discussion takes place about whether the Government should play a part in that, potentially at a future fiscal event?

[Andrew Bowie]

I can give my right hon. Friend that assurance and go further. That commitment, alongside our £165 million advanced fuels fund and the world-leading SAF mandate, will help to provide strong market signals and incentives to drive the demand and supply of SAF from sustainable sources. Future funding decisions on SAF will be considered as part of the next spending review.

I would like to turn briefly to community energy. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Wantage (David Johnston) for his continued engagement on the Bill, particularly his championing of community energy, alongside many others in this House. The Government recognise that community energy projects can have real benefits for the communities in which they are based, and are keen to ensure that they deliver value for money for consumers. That is why we have launched a new £10 million community energy fund, which expands on the success of the previous rural community energy fund, to enable both rural and urban communities across England to access grant funding to develop local renewable energy projects for investment.

[Sally-Ann Hart (Hastings and Rye) (Con)]

It is fantastic that the Government have announced the new fund to help community energy schemes get off the ground. That is a very welcome step. Could my hon. Friend outline what steps he will take to remove the barriers that prevent community energy schemes from accessing local markets?

[Andrew Bowie]

I can indeed. I am delighted to tell my hon. Friend that alongside our proposed fund, we are committing to publishing an annual report to Parliament and to consulting on the barriers the sector faces when developing projects.

I am also very pleased to announce that His Majesty’s Government have reached an agreement with the Scottish Government to amend the Bill to secure their support for a legislative consent motion in the Scottish Parliament. The comprehensive set of amendments agreed with the Administration in Edinburgh will strengthen the Bill’s consultation provisions and require the Secretary of State to seek the consent of devolved Ministers before exercising powers under clauses 2, 3 and 293.

I would also like to take this opportunity to confirm to the House and to the Scottish Government that by virtue of clause 218(2)(a)(ii), the regulatory cost the GEMA can recover from gas and electricity licence holders from across Great Britain includes any costs it occurs performing the Scottish licensing function. The Government are disappointed that the Welsh Government have decided not to support the legislative consent motion for the Bill in the Senedd. However, as a sign of good faith the Government will extend the amendments agreed with the Scottish Government to apply in Wales and Northern Ireland where appropriate.

A number of Government amendments for consideration on Report relate to commencement. They ensure that clauses, such as those relating to the smart meter roll-out and low carbon heat schemes, will come into force as soon as the Bill gains Royal Assent. The remaining Government amendments are technical in nature and, as such, I do not propose to discuss any of them in great detail—I am sure Madam Deputy Speaker is delighted.

[Christine Jardine (Edinburgh West) (LD)]

I thank the Minister for giving way, but I notice that I cannot see any mention in the amendments of standing charges. I know that is a very difficult thing, but in my constituency there is a great deal of concern about the fact that there is no uniformity in the United Kingdom on standing charges. My constituents can pay around £100 a year more than people elsewhere in the country. Do the Government have any intention to address that issue, along with issues such as domestic insulation?

[Andrew Bowie]

I thank the hon. Lady very much for her intervention and her question. I am engaging with Ofgem on that very issue and am looking to convene a meeting in Edinburgh with all the significant players involved in energy transmission and production in Scotland at the earliest available opportunity, so we can discuss the issues regarding standing charges and other issues that affect Scottish bill payers. I would be very delighted to engage with her as we move towards that meeting taking place.

[Angus Brendan MacNeil]

The Minister may have heard on “The World at One” on Radio 4 last week the head of OVO Energy talking about the movement for the cost of transmission from the unit price to the standing charge price, which has ramped up standing charges and is very concerning to many people because that disproportionately impacts poorer bill payers. Will he look at that issue and discuss it with Ofgem at his meeting?

[Andrew Bowie]

Yes, I can confirm that I will raise that issue with Ofgem at my next meeting, and at the next available opportunity I have to meet the Chairman of the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee, I will certainly have an answer for him on that question.

[Anna McMorrin (Cardiff North) (Lab)]

In 2013, the then coalition Government cut all the energy efficiency programmes, plunging millions of people into debt. What plans does he have to ensure there is an insulation programme to provide desperately needed energy efficiency right across homes and households?

[Andrew Bowie]

This is the biggest piece of energy legislation ever passed by the British Parliament. We are driving forward with schemes to help insulate houses, drive down bills, and deliver cleaner and more secure energy, and all we can get from the Opposition is criticism. We have ramped up our renewable energy production to over 40%. We have eliminated coal. We are developing new nuclear, which the Opposition failed to do over 13 years in government. Rather than carping from the sidelines, it would be useful if Opposition Back Benchers got on board, supported the Bill and supported our great British companies developing the technology to take this country forward, creating the new jobs, ensuring security of supply and driving towards net zero, which means we will leave this country and the planet in a better place for the next generation, instead of trying to score political points at the expense of this Government who are seeking to deliver for the British people. As such, I am immensely proud of the Bill. It was strong before and it is even stronger now. It is, as I have just said, the single biggest piece of energy legislation ever to be brought before the House.

[Caroline Lucas (Brighton, Pavilion) (Green)]

rose—

[Andrew Bowie]

I am afraid I will not give way.

The Bill is a revolution in community energy: restarting our nuclear sector; regulating for fusion; developing carbon capture, usage and storage; supporting the technology of the future; liberating private finance; developing our own oil and gas reserves; building an energy network of the future to secure our energy supply; securing our energy base so we are powering Britain from Britain; growing our economy; investing to ensure lower bills; and driving towards a cleaner future. That is what the Bill achieves. It was brought here and delivered today by the Conservative Government, moving the country forward into a brighter, more secure and cleaner future. Therefore, Mr Deputy Speaker, with great pleasure, I commend the new clauses and amendments to the House.

[Several hon. Members rose—]

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[Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Nigel Evans)]

Order. As Members can see, there are many people who wish to take part in this debate. I know that Alok Sharma will show self-restraint, but we will be imposing a time limit to ensure that we get in as many people as we can. The debate is very time limited. The multiple votes will come at 6 o’clock, so I ask people to show restraint even on the time limit that I impose.

[Sir Alok Sharma (Reading West) (Con)]

Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker.

I do support the overall aim of the Bill, but, in the interests of brevity, I will limit my comments to new clause 43 on onshore wind. I thank all colleagues who have co-signed this new clause, which of course builds on the excellent work that my right hon. Friend the Member for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland (Sir Simon Clarke) led last year when trying to put in place a more permissive planning regime for onshore wind.

Onshore wind is one of the cheapest sources of energy available. It is also one of the quickest to deploy. Getting more home-grown clean energy deployed is about enhancing our energy security, our climate security and our national security, all of which are totally interlinked. It is also ultimately about bringing down bills. That is why onshore wind needs to be a meaningful part of a diversified energy mix.

We currently have 14 GW of installed onshore wind capacity across the UK with the ability to power around 12 million homes. However, as we all know, due to planning rule changes, since 2015 we have had a de facto ban on onshore wind. Just one objection is able to defeat a planning application. Frankly, that is not a sensible way for a planning process to operate. As a result, in England planning permissions have been granted for just 15 wind turbines over the past five years. It is also worth pointing out that, had onshore wind annual build-out rates stayed at the average pre-ban level, an extra 1.7 GW would have been added by last winter. That is the equivalent of powering 1.5 million homes for the entire winter, and it would have avoided between 2% and 3% of the UK’s annual net gas imports being burned in our power stations.

[John Redwood]

Does my right hon. Friend accept, on the cost argument, that we also need to build a new gas turbine station as back-up for when the wind does not blow?

[Sir Alok Sharma]

We do need a diversified energy system, and I think the Minister set out all the work that is going on on nuclear, for example. However, as we drive forward for greater energy security, we need to change the planning rules to allow more onshore wind. The objectives of new clause 43 are to ensure a more permissive planning regime. The new clause seeks to lift the current planning restriction that in effect means that a single objection can block a development. It also seeks to ensure that local communities willing to take onshore wind developments will receive direct community benefits.

The Government have today responded to new clause 43 by bringing forward a written ministerial statement on onshore wind. I thank the Government for the constructive dialogue we have had over the past days on this issue. I acknowledge that that written ministerial statement, and indeed the accompanying changes to the national planning policy framework, move things forward and will help to deliver a more permissive planning regime for onshore wind.

The de facto ban is lifted. The statement clarifies that the policy intent is not to allow very limited objections or even a single objection to ban a planning application, and it is explicit that local communities willing to host onshore wind farms should directly benefit, including potentially through energy discounts. That is positive, but we do need to see the Government’s formal response to their consultation on this issue to understand the detail of the precise mechanism by which the benefits regime will work.

I also welcome the fact that local plans will not be the only route to delivering more onshore wind, with more agile and targeted routes available. Of course it is now a requirement for local planning authorities to support community-led initiatives for renewable and low-carbon energy. Vitally, those policy changes are effective today.

[Angus Brendan MacNeil]

The right hon. Gentleman talks about bill payers, but for the previous wind that was built under renewables obligation certificates, there were big profits because the prices were denominated in gas. Under the CfDs, money is not going to the bill payers, but to the Government—it was creamed off the top. The mechanism has to change; I applaud what he is trying to say and do, but there is a missing link on how the bill payer will see a benefit, as they should.

[Sir Alok Sharma]

The hon. Gentleman will know that onshore wind has been back as part of the CfD process in the last couple of years. I am very happy at a future date to have a detailed discussion on that but, in the interest of time, I will move on.

I understand that some people would like the planning regime for onshore wind to be even more permissive and for onshore wind to be treated like any other infrastructure. I get that, but we also have to recognise that it has been a contentious issue in the past, and it is important that we take communities with us on this journey. That is why the community benefits mechanism will be so vital. Frankly, people respond better to a carrot than to a stick.

[Dame Maria Miller (Basingstoke) (Con)]

My right hon. Friend talks about the importance of taking people with us. More wind power will need more energy storage so that we can smooth out for the times when the wind is not blowing. Does he agree that the sort of lithium ion battery storage plants that are proliferating in our country are in need of proper permitting? My new clause 37, which I have been discussing with my hon. Friend the Minister, will help to bring in that sort of permitting and ensure that lithium ion battery storage facilities are sited in the right places.

[Sir Alok Sharma]

I certainly agree with my right hon. Friend that we need more battery storage. That is being rolled out and I am pleased that she has had a discussion with the Minister.

In conclusion, I welcome the written ministerial statement because it moves us forward. It is for that reason that we will not seek to press new clause 43 to a Division.

[Dave Doogan (Angus) (SNP)]

I start by paying tribute to my predecessor in this role, my hon. Friend the Member for Kilmarnock and Loudoun (Alan Brown), whose work on energy, particularly on access to clean and affordable energy, was exceptional. I base my ambitions in this role on his record. I also note the Minister’s kind remarks about my hon. Friend and thank him for them.

I want to highlight the abject abandonment of community-owned energy projects in this Bill. It is patently obvious that any just transition to net zero is simply not possible if local communities cannot sell the energy they produce to local customers. Local energy trading provides manifold improvements, including lower prices, protections against price shocks, enhanced energy security, network redundancy and a return on investment back to communities.

The UK Government kicking this can down the road is a hammer blow to efforts to achieve a just transition, and they are doing so without even trying to disguise the fact. Worse still, they have instead provided a paltry £10 million over two years—the Minister left out the “over two years” bit—to fund feasibility studies in England. That is not seedcorn funding; it is chicken feed served up with extra disdain for Scotland and Wales, as the UK Government have steadfastly refused to apply Barnett consequential to this admittedly pitiful sum.

Fundamentally, this sop to Tory Back Benchers does not—as one of the Minister’s Back Benchers said—remove the barriers preventing community energy schemes from selling their power locally. The Local Electricity Bill would have done that, as would amendments made to the Energy Bill had they not been removed by Ministers in Committee in July. Why is this Tory Government so loth to put power in the hands of the people?

Turning to nuclear, English MPs maintain an enduring obsession with nuclear. Their total failure to concede or even rationally acknowledge the catastrophic decommissioning and clean-up costs of that energy source is, by any measure, incredible. As they drag Scotland and Wales along with them for the ride, it is almost as if those English MPs, and indeed the Government, can foresee a time in the not-too-distant future when they will need to buy Scotland’s energy rather than just taking it, as they have got used to doing over recent decades. Nuclear is their insurance policy against Scotland’s independent future.

New nuclear is a millstone around the neck of our net zero future, consuming disproportionate costs per megawatt-hour. If we contrast nuclear with offshore wind, we see that although construction costs for nuclear continue to spiral out of control, and SMR nuclear continues not to get off the ground, the cost of offshore wind has fallen by 80% in a decade. New offshore wind projects coming online within the next two years will be paid about £45 per MWh, which is half the wholesale power price of £90 per MWh forecast until at least the end of the decade, and 60% less than the £115 per MWh of electricity from Hinkley C nuclear power plant.

Tories and Labour Members alike will cry, “This is all about baseload for when the wind does not blow”—I am surprised they have not done so already. Of course, that is correct; we do need baseload, but it does not have to be nuclear. If successive Westminster Governments had invested nearly as much rhetoric and taxpayers’ money creating a renewable energy mix as they have done for nuclear, we would be in a very different place. It would be a place where tidal flow and barrage schemes complement widespread impoundment, pump storage and run-of-river hydro schemes, together with green hydrogen production, battery storage, solar on every appropriate elevation of a domestic or commercial property, and timely delivery of carbon capture, usage and storage.

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[Mr Deputy Speaker (Sir Roger Gale)]

I apologise to those Members who have not been called; a note will be made and a count taken. I call the Minister, Andrew Bowie.

[Andrew Bowie]

I am delighted to rise. I must apologise in advance of my closing remarks: given the time available, I will not be able to address every single point, question, statement and amendment raised today. [Interruption.] That is the first time I have ever been told to speed up my speaking style. However, I will commit to write to every Member who has raised a question, and certainly questions that are pertinent to how we implement some of the regulations that we are presenting here today and which will be subject to discussion in the Lords next week.

On new clause 47, presented by my hon. Friend the Member for Rutland and Melton (Alicia Kearns), we keep all sanctions under review and she knows that we cannot comment on any potential future designations. We have a global rights sanctions regime, which allows us to take action when the necessary legislative criteria are met and we assess sanctions are appropriate. I can confirm to her that we take an interest in the concerns she set out and will continue to act. We have introduced new guidance on the risks of doing business in Xinjiang, enhanced export controls and announced the introduction of financial penalties under the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

[Alicia Kearns]

I know the Minister has historically been very strong on this point. I am interested in the fact that the Government have raised that point about sanctions and the possibility of sanctions, because we have not heard that before. Both the US and EU have sanctioned those who use slave labour within their supply chains. If the Government—I hope they are saying this today; I know they cannot comment on sanctions designations—are saying that they will bring forward sanctions against companies that are completely complicit in slave labour—we have the evidence both from the US and our own work—that will be incredibly positive because it would send a strong deterrent message across the industry that we will not accept slave labour in our supply chains.

[Andrew Bowie]

I thank my hon. Friend for her comments and constructive engagement over the past couple of days and months. As I said, I commit to working with her and other interested parties on this matter as we continue to do what we can to combat the existence of slave labour in that market.

The energy efficiency amendments were raised a number of times. I want to be absolutely clear: we are simply seeking to replace the power to amend the energy performance of premises regime, which was lost as we departed the EU. Brexit gives us the power to do that. I can categorically guarantee before the House that we are not creating new offences. In any case, any new offences on anything—as is always the case—would have to be subject to debate, scrutiny and vote in this place, which Brexit has allowed us to do.

My hon. Friend the Member for South Thanet (Craig Mackinlay) raised the issue of a warrant for exercising power of entry with his amendment 50. I assure him that clause 152 modifies the Gas Act 1986 by building on existing provisions concerning the powers of entry. As such, the existing rules on powers of entry will continue to apply, whereby gas transporters must obtain a warrant from the magistrates court before use. I hope that satisfies my hon. Friend.

I thank my right hon. Friend the Member for South Northamptonshire (Dame Andrea Leadsom) for her amendment today. I pay tribute to her for her outstanding work, her support for this Bill during her time as Secretary of State in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and her continued work when she was chair of the departmental Back-Bench committee. I am delighted to be able to confirm that we will continue to work towards what her amendment seeks to do, and I am happy to continue to work with her in pursuance of that, alongside the industry and the Department.

It would be remiss of me not to mention and thank my right hon. Friends the Members for Reading West (Sir Alok Sharma) and for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland (Sir Simon Clarke) for their close work with the Government over recent weeks. Onshore wind is an important part of our energy mix, and the Government have always maintained that it should be built where there is local support, ensuring that the voices of local communities are heard. In December last year, the Government consulted on changes to national planning policy for onshore wind in England. Through that consultation, the Government have heard the strength of feeling and the range of views on this topic. We continue to believe that decisions on onshore wind are best made by local representatives who know their areas. Nevertheless, the feedback was clear that we need to strike the right balance, and that is why the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities published a written ministerial statement, as was described earlier, and we look forward to working with colleagues to implement that as we move forward.

I would also be remiss not to mention my right hon. Friend the Member for Basingstoke (Dame Maria Miller) and her comments today and constructive engagement over the past few months. Lithium-ion battery storage systems are a concern for many in this House. The Government acknowledge the concerns surrounding the potential safety and environmental impact of battery energy storage at grid scale. It is a priority for this Government to ensure the existence of an appropriate, robust and future-proofed regulatory framework that protects people and the environment. That is why I am pleased to confirm today that we have sought to provide further clarity through both the planning system and environmental permitting regulations.

The Government have recently updated planning practice guidance, which encourages battery storage developers to engage with local fire and rescue and local planning authorities to refer to the guidance published by the National Fire Chiefs Council. The Government intend to consult on including battery storage systems in the environmental permitting regulations at the earliest opportunity.

The main mechanisms for controlling emissions to air, land and water from industrial installations is through complying with an industrial installations permit. These permits set out mandatory conditions that operators must comply with to protect the health of local communities and the local environment. Installations are then inspected at a frequency according to their level of risk, and regulators have enforcement powers available to them if operators are not complying with their permit conditions. I hope that my right hon. Friend and other hon. and right hon. Members for whom this is an issue of great concern are reassured by those commitments today.

I thank all hon. and right hon. Members for their engagement in this debate, especially my hon. Friend the Member for Banff and Buchan (David Duguid), who is a real champion of the UK’s thriving CCUS industry. I thank him for his comments today. The licences issued by different authorities are designed to serve different purposes. The new requirement for an economic licence recognises the monopolistic nature of carbon dioxide pipelines and storage and is designed to protect users of the networks from anti-competitive behaviours, including monopolistic pricing. This is complementary, rather than duplicative of the existing carbon storage licensing framework. I can reassure my hon. Friend that the provision in clause 128(1)(a) is sufficiently broad to cover all methods of CO₂ transportation.

Finally, my hon. Friend spoke about offshore wind. As part of the development consent process, applicants are required to consult with stakeholders, including devolved Administrations where relevant, and consider the impacts of their development on other sea users. However, I am also happy to confirm that I will meet him at any time, as well as representatives of the fishing industry, for whom this is a big issue.

I thank Members across the House for their considered contributions. For the reasons that I have set out, I respectfully ask them not to press their amendments to any votes.

Question put and agreed to.

New clause 52 accordingly read a Second time, and added to the Bill.

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18:00

Division 315

Ayes: 192

Noes: 316

New Clause 39

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18:14

Division 316

Ayes: 235

Noes: 306

New Clause 57

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18:28

Division 317

Ayes: 188

Noes: 310

New Clause 59

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18:41

Division 318

Ayes: 223

Noes: 310

New Clause 61

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18:54

Division 319

Ayes: 189

Noes: 305

Clause 1

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19:10

Division 320

Ayes: 280

Noes: 19

Bill accordingly read the Third time and passed, with amendments.