Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to (a) prioritise a roofs first approach to solar panel installation to ensure efficient use of urban spaces and (b) incentivize homeowners and businesses to adopt rooftop solar technology.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Changes have been introduced to permitted development rights, enabling more solar installations to benefit from the flexibilities and planning freedoms permitted development rights offer. This includes a new permitted development right that allows for the installation of solar canopies in non-domestic, off-street, car parks.

For non-domestic rooftop solar, the 1MW cap was removed so that there is no limit on the electricity generated by solar installations.

Our Warm Homes Plan will transform homes across the country by making them cleaner and cheaper to run, from installing new insulation to rolling out low carbon heating like solar and heat pumps.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of proposals to reform the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP) process outlined in an open letter published on 15 November by the Club of Rome; and what actions they are taking to improve the (1) process and (2) outcomes for future COPs.

Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The changing climate is the greatest long-term global challenge our country faces, and the UNFCCC remains the most effective global forum for tackling climate change. We have seen its successes: the Glasgow Climate Pact, COP28’s Global Stocktake agreement to transitioning away from fossil fuels, the historic climate finance goal agreed at COP29. The UK continues to champion a transparent, inclusive, and effective COP process and is engaged in discussions within the UNFCCC on arrangements for COPs, where we advocate for increased efficiency within the process in a way that supports enhanced ambition and strengthened implementation in line with the science.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of heat pump installers; and what measures they are taking to ensure that there are sufficient numbers of them to meet the targets contained in the Government's heat pump strategy.

Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government is working closely with industry to ensure that sufficient installers are available to install heat pumps. The Heat Pump Association (HPA) estimate that as of 2023, the heat pump installer workforce is made up of between 4,000 and 10,000 trained and active installers. Nearly 8,000 individuals completed training in 2023, so we are well in line with current workforce training needs.

To meet future demand, the Government is supporting trainees in England taking training relevant to heat pumps and heat networks under the £5 million Heat Training Grant. Industry is also investing in upskilling the existing workforce. Octopus Energy has invested £10 million in a new training centre in Slough, Ideal Heating have announced a multi-million-pound training centre in Bridgehead near Hull, and Aira is investing £300m in the UK heat pump market, including setting up training academies.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the transition to net zero on energy security.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Switching to homegrown clean energy, including renewables and other clean technologies, offers security that fossil fuels simply cannot provide. The Government recognises the challenges in moving away from fossil fuels but the only way to ensure energy security is through homegrown clean power. The Government has empowered the independent National Energy System Operator with the responsibility to carry out resilience functions across the electricity and gas systems and it will continue to work with stakeholders to improve and maintain the resilience of energy infrastructure.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he plans to increase funding for renewable energy sources in Aldershot constituency.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

We've already had £34.8 billion of private investment announced into the UK’s clean energy industries since July.  Significant investment in our energy system is required no matter what, to replace retiring generation capacity and meet increasing demand. This investment is therefore one we cannot afford not to make. Our 2030 mission will ensure this investment is directed at the technologies, places and people that provide the most affordable, secure and prosperous future for the British public.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department plans to publish information on the development of carbon capture, usage and storage projects outside of the Track 1 and 2 processes.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Our £21.7 billion investment in CCUS will help launch an era of clean energy in Britain – boosting energy security, backing industries, and supporting thousands of highly skilled jobs across the country.

In the longer term, it is important that industry and government enable the development of a self-sustaining UK CCUS sector supporting good jobs and reducing emissions, putting the UK at the forefront of global CCUS.

Decisions for continued CCUS deployment will be taken in due course.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will hold discussions with the electrical contracting industry on estimated future trends in the level of demand for electricians for the implementation of low carbon technologies.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Alongside the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, The Office for Clean Energy Jobs published an evidence annex, which provides an initial assessment of the skills challenges for the Clean Energy Mission. This evidence will be used as a basis for the Government to better understand the 2030 workforce requirements and support targeted skills planning. DESNZ has longstanding links with the electrical contracting industry and looks forward to continuing working with them in the future.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what plans he has to sequence carbon capture, usage and storage projects after Track 1 and 2.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Our £21.7 billion investment in CCUS will help launch an era of clean energy in Britain – boosting energy security, backing industries, and supporting thousands of highly skilled jobs across the country.

In the longer term, it is important that industry and government enable the development of a self-sustaining UK CCUS sector supporting good jobs and reducing emissions, putting the UK at the forefront of global CCUS.

Decisions for continued CCUS deployment will be taken in due course.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 26 November (HL2661), whether they intend to make their 2030 Nationally Determined Contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions legally binding in UK law, in the same way as they have made carbon budgets legally binding under the Climate Change Act 2008.

Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The UK’s 2030 nationally determined contribution - to reduce economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions by at least 68% on 1990s levels – is a fair and ambitious contribution to global action on climate change and is in line with the Paris agreement temperature goal. The 2030 NDC was aligned with the advice of the independent Climate Change Committee (CCC) and built on the foundations of well-established UK analysis and policy development for domestic climate change mitigation. We do not consider it necessary to implement new legislation to bring the UK's 2030 NDC into domestic law because of its alignment with the existing, legally-binding carbon budgets framework.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential risks that the transition to net zero poses to (a) households and (b) businesses.

Answered by Kerry McCarthy - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The transition to net zero will be an incredible opportunity for jobs and growth all across the country. As the OBR has noted in its July 2021 Fiscal Risks Report, “the costs of failing to get climate change under control would be much larger than those of bringing emissions down to net zero”. The Government is taking coordinated action to ensure a fair and inclusive transition to clean energy and net zero, addressing workforce challenges and enabling workers to benefit from the economic opportunities.

Our priority is making it easier, clearer and more affordable for people to access new technologies and benefit from the transition.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assumptions they use for internal modelling purposes for traded carbon values in each year up to 2030.

Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s (DESNZ) traded carbon values for modelling purposes are used to estimate the financial cost of purchasing allowances in the United Kingdom Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS) under different scenarios. These values are owned by DESNZ and not by the UK ETS Authority which governs the UK ETS.

The most recent set of traded carbon values for modelling purposes, for 2024, were published on the Government’s website on 17^th December 2024 and are attached. The assumptions are listed on the publication.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to advocate for a ban on the presence of fossil fuel lobbyists at future United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conferences of the Parties.

Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The changing climate is the greatest long-term global challenge our country faces. The UNFCCC remains the most effective global forum for tackling this crisis.

The UK continues to champion a transparent, inclusive, and effective UNFCCC process that supports enhanced ambition and strengthened implementation of the Paris Agreement and COP outcomes, including the Global Stocktake agreement and the new climate finance goal agreed at COP29.

It is the joint responsibility of the UNFCCC Secretariat, their Presiding officers, and the annually nominated Presidency to uphold the rigorous standards which govern each meeting of the Conference of Parties, reflecting the importance of impartiality.

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Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 4 December 2024 to Question 12891 on Department for Science, Innovation and Technology: Ministers' Private Offices, how much the Government Property Agency spent on (a) new furniture and fittings and (b) other refurbishment of Ministerial offices of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and its predecessor Departments between 4 July 2022 and 4 July 2024; and on what items.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Government Property Agency confirmed £24,315.62 excluding VAT was spent during the period 4th July 2022 to 4th July 2024 on new furniture and fittings plus other refurbishment (including moves) This is broken down as follows;

• New Furniture and Fittings - £526.87

• Other Refurbishment of Ministerial Offices including moves - £23,788.75

The full itemised list can be found below:

(a) new furniture and fittings

Covering the period from the creation of DSIT, as announced by the Prime Minister on 7 February 2023 to 4 July 2024:

• Date reference: 01/03/2023

• What: Supply and installation of 4x key safe for private offices

• How much: £302.89 ex VAT

• Note: 1x key safe out of these 4 key safes was for the DSIT Permanent Secretary’s room (not ministerial) - however, we are not able to separate the cost of this from the overall costs for these fittings and works as a whole

• Date reference: 02/02/2024

• What: Supply and installation of key safe for private office

• How much: £68.25 ex VAT

• Date reference: 02/04/2024

• What: Installation of portrait of HM The King at ministerial offices

• How much: £51.91 ex VAT

• Note: Portrait was supplied under the government's His Majesty The King's Portrait Scheme

• Date reference: 16/04/2024

• What: Installation of a heavy duty key safe for private office

• How much: £103.82 ex VAT

(b) other refurbishment of Ministerial offices

Covering the period from the creation of DSIT, as announced by the Prime Minister on 7 February 2023 to 4 July 2024:

• Date reference: 26/7/2023

• What: Removal of whiteboards from wall, repair and redecoration (repainting) of damaged wall in ministerial office

• How much: £472.98 ex VAT

• Date reference: 7/8/2023

• What: Churn of furniture (relocation, repositioning, removal of furniture to storeroom and installing furniture from storeroom) in private offices

• How much: £311.47 ex VAT

• Date reference: 16/11/2023

• What: Churn of furniture (removal of furniture to storeroom and installing replacement furniture, reused from separate office) in ministerial office

• How much: £415.30 ex VAT

• Date reference: 15/12/2023

• What: Major churn of furniture (internal movement and relocation of furniture to move ministerial teams to different rooms from previous rooms) of ministerial and private offices

• How much: £13,661.92 ex VAT

• Date reference: 19/1/2024

• Removal of noticeboards and relocation of artwork, repair and redecoration (repainting) of damaged walls in 2x ministerial rooms

• How much: £1,855.57 ex VAT

• Date reference: 12/04/2024

• Removal of whiteboards from 3x walls, repair and redecoration (repainting) of damaged walls in ministerial office

• How much: £2,249.52 ex VAT

• Date reference: 21/06/2024

• What: Redecoration (repainting) of ministerial office

• How much: £1,539.77 ex VAT

• Note: Works completed prior to 4 July 2024

• Date reference: 27/06/2024

• What: Redecoration (repainting) of ministerial office, and installation of 7 pictures throughout ministerial office and private office

• How much: £3,281.99

• Note: Works completed prior to 4 July 2024

During this period DSIT was originally part of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) which was dissolved on 7th February 2023 and split into DESNZ, DSIT and DBT. As a result of this, the former BEIS departments were moved out of 1 Victoria Street and into different buildings. The GPA has no record of any ministerial furniture or refurbishment expenditure at the former BEIS office (1 Victoria Street) during the requested period.

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