Asked by: Lee Dillon (Liberal Democrat - Newbury)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the treatment of residential management companies as business energy customers; and whether she has considered extending domestic energy protections to such companies.
Answered by Polly Billington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The classification of an energy supply as domestic or non-domestic is determined in accordance with supplier licence conditions and guidance issued by Ofgem, the independent energy regulator. Suppliers are responsible for ensuring that premises are correctly classified, and whether a particular supply is treated as domestic or non-domestic depends on the specific circumstances of the case.
The Government and Ofgem recognise that indirect domestic energy consumers may not always benefit from the same protections as consumers who contract directly with suppliers.
Ofgem has started work on adopting a more consumer outcomes-based approach to regulating both the domestic and non-domestic energy suppliers, with their first consultation having closed over the summer. Stakeholders will have further opportunities to contribute their views to this work as it progresses, and the Government will continue to work closely with Ofgem to ensure all consumers get appropriate protections in the retail market.
Asked by: Steve Yemm (Labour - Mansfield)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether she plans to take steps to change the rules governing gas and electricity standing charges so that bereaved families are not required to pay standing charges on unoccupied properties while probate and the legal processes required for the sale of the property are being completed.
Answered by Polly Billington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises the difficulties bereaved families can face and continues to work with Ofgem and suppliers to ensure all consumers are treated fairly.
Standing charges form part of energy suppliers’ tariff structures and are regulated by Ofgem, as the independent regulator. The Supplier Licence Conditions do not set out a specific exemption from standing charges for unoccupied properties while probate or related legal processes are completed, and any changes to the Conditions are a matter for Ofgem.
During probate, a representative or next of kin can contact the energy supplier to request that the account be frozen, so that energy bills can be settled as part of the estate.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what considerations formed part of discussions relating to the timing of an announcement regarding the Jackdaw field.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Jackdaw field decision is currently going through the regulatory process. The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero will make a decision in due course on whether or not to agree to the grant of consent by the North Sea Transition Authority. There is no fixed timeline for an announcement, and it is imperative that all material is properly considered so that a robust decision can be taken. Given the quasi-judicial nature of the regulatory process, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further on the project.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether a date has been provisionally scheduled for the announcement of the decision on the Jackdaw field.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Jackdaw field decision is currently going through the regulatory process. The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero will make a decision in due course on whether or not to agree to the grant of consent by the North Sea Transition Authority. There is no fixed timeline for an announcement, and it is imperative that all material is properly considered so that a robust decision can be taken. Given the quasi-judicial nature of the regulatory process, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further on the project.
Asked by: Lord Spellar (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made with regard to their small modular reactor programme.
Answered by Baroness Curran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Great British Energy – Nuclear (GBE-N) is continuing to drive forward the UK’s flagship small modular reactor (SMR) programme.
GBE-N and Rolls-Royce SMR (RR SMR) entered into a Technology Partner contract earlier this year and are now jointly undertaking design work to progress the Gwyndod SMR project on Anglesey in North Wales.
GBE-N is also focused on reindustrialisation opportunities and delivering on its ambition that 70% of supply chain products are British built across the SMR fleet. To date, it has awarded nearly ÂŁ900m in supply chain contracts, with over 70% going to UK-registered companies.
GBE-N is working closely with RR SMR on its supply chain plan; it was recently announced that Siemens Energy will support UK jobs by manufacturing RR SMR steam turbine components in Newcastle.
Asked by: Gregory Stafford (Conservative - Farnham and Bordon)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what funding schemes are available to local authorities for solar panel installations.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Local authorities can support solar panel installations through several government schemes.
The Warm Homes: Local Grant is delivered through local authorities to low-income households in their areas, while local authorities that are social landlords can access the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund for eligible social homes. An additional ÂŁ100 million for that Fund will support delivery of up to 57,000 solar installations across Wave 3. A total of ÂŁ4.4 billion has been made available for grant schemes for low-income households up to 2030.
Great British Energy (GBE) supports public sector decarbonisation, and the GBE Solar programme is investing ÂŁ255 million to fund around 250 schools, around 260 NHS sites, and around 15 military sites to install solar panels across the country.
Great British Energy has launched the biggest public investment into community energy in UK history, ÂŁ30m of backing as a first downpayment on up to ÂŁ1bn, to help local places cut bills, grow wealth and act on climate.
Mayoral Strategic Authorities can also support renewable energy projects through Great British Energy’s £10 million Mayoral Renewables Fund, while eligible authorities receive devolved funding for home retrofit and public sector buildings through Integrated Settlements. Over 150 renewable projects have now switched-on for public buildings in England’s Mayoral Combined Authorities, with more to follow – which together could see up to £50 million in total energy bill savings reinvested in local services
Asked by: Gregory Stafford (Conservative - Farnham and Bordon)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what support is available to working households who own their homes and wish to install solar panels but cannot afford the upfront cost.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government’s £15 billion Warm Homes Plan represents the biggest public investment in home upgrades in British history and includes support for solar panels, as well as batteries, insulation, and other low-carbon technologies.
Asked by: Gregory Stafford (Conservative - Farnham and Bordon)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment Tahoe has made of the value for money of public funding used to install solar panels on council-owned housing.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Solar panels have the potential to reduce household energy bills and carbon emissions, supporting the Government’s objectives to tackle fuel poverty, deliver clean power, and improve energy security.
The Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund provides grant funding to local authorities and social housing landlords to upgrade social homes across England up to EPC Band C. This will support the installation of energy efficiency measures in social homes, including solar panels and batteries.
Throughout the delivery process, successful Grant Recipients must demonstrate that their proposed measures are appropriate for the homes being treated and represent good value for money.
Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the UN Environment Programme's report entitled Limiting Overshoot - Navigating exceedance of 1.5°C and pathways towards return, published on 2 September 2026.
Answered by Katie White - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The government recognises the important contribution the report makes to the scientific evidence base on the risks associated with exceeding 1.5°C of global warming and the actions needed to minimise those risks.
The Government agrees that every fraction of a degree of warming matters and that the magnitude and duration of any overshoot of 1.5°C should be limited.
That is why the Government remains fully committed to reducing emissions to net zero by 2050 and delivering on our commitments under the Paris Agreement.
Asked by: Andrew George (Liberal Democrat - St Ives)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the responsibilities of the Mining Remediation Authority, (a) how many claims relating to abandoned metal mines have been received by the Authority in each year since 2020, broken down by county, (b) how many such claims related to former tin mining areas in Cornwall and Devon, and (c) how those figures compare with the number of claims relating to former coal mining areas over the same period.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Mining Remediation Authority exists primarily to manage the legacy of Great Britain's coal mining past, and its statutory responsibilities remain focused on former coal mining activities, and as such the MRA does not hold data on metal mines.
The MRA’ provides technical advice, when requested, on hazards associated with historic metal mining, as part of its role as a 24/7 emergency response organisation and a Category 2 responder under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004.
Between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2026, the Mining Remediation Authority responded to 4,802 incidents and claims across Great Britain. Of these, 1,785 cases were determined to be attributable to former coal mining activities.