Nov. 12 2025
Source Page: UK Net Zero Research and Innovation Framework Delivery Plan: progress report 2022 to 2025Nov. 12 2025
Source Page: UK Net Zero Research and Innovation Framework Delivery Plan: progress report 2022 to 2025Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the financial viability of SolarFive Ltd and Photovolt Development Partners to undertake the development of Botley West Solar Farm.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
An applicant seeking development consent for an energy-related nationally significant infrastructure project must submit a Funding Statement as part of the application process.
Given the Secretary of State’s quasi-judicial role in taking decisions on applications for development consent for energy infrastructure proposals, it would not be appropriate to comment on specific matters related to the individual projects, as this could be seen as prejudicing the decision-making process.
Asked by: Christopher Chope (Conservative - Christchurch)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 4 November to Question 86604, how many full time equivalent staff are employed in his office to (a) answer invitations and (b) answer Parliamentary Questions.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The answering of Ministerial invitations and Parliamentary Questions is shared across Private Offices and the Parliamentary Unit. Full time equivalency on these work streams fluctuates with business needs.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of (a) the Planning Inspectorate and (b) Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project processes to safeguard against national security risks from investment by (i) inappropriate or (ii) hostile overseas sources.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
National security risk assessments are matters for the Investment Security Unit within the Cabinet Office.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has sought the advice of the office of the Financial Sanction Implementation on reported Russian-linked funding associated with the proposed Botley West Solar Farm.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Given the Secretary of State’s quasi-judicial role in taking decisions on applications for development consent for energy infrastructure proposals, it would not be appropriate to comment on matters relating to specific proposals
Asked by: Ann Davies (Plaid Cymru - Caerfyrddin)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister of State for Energy during the Westminster Hall debate on Coal Tip Safety and Prohibition of New Coal Extraction Licences on 22 October 2025, whether the further work which has been done on mapping coal tips since 2020 has produced a new provisional figure for the cost of remediating coal tips in Wales.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Coal tips are a devolved matter and it would be for the Welsh Government to produce any updated estimate of the cost of remediating coal tips in Wales. The Welsh Government has done a considerable amount of work mapping recorded coal tips and they believe that £118m, which they have received from the UK Government and is additional to the funding they have already committed to coal tip safety, is a sufficient amount of funding that can be used to protect and help communities living near coal tips.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when he will announce Government plans for community benefit funds for solar developments following the Community Benefits and Shared Ownership for Low Carbon Infrastructure consultation which closed in July 2025.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
This government has made clear that where communities host clean energy infrastructure, we will ensure they benefit from it.
We are in the process of reviewing responses to our community benefits and shared ownership for low carbon energy infrastructure working paper and intend to publish a response setting out our next steps in due course.
In the meantime, Solar Energy UK, the industry trade body, are planning to publish a voluntary community benefit protocol later this year.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Planning Inspectorate and Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project processes in evaluating the financial viability of funding commitments made by developers of major energy projects.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
An applicant seeking development consent for an energy-related nationally significant infrastructure project must submit a Funding Statement as part of the application process. This is assessed by both the Planning Inspectorate and the Secretary of State prior to a decision on whether to consent the project being made.