Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government when they expect to publish a wildfire strategy and action plan.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government recognises the increasing risk posed by wildfires and the importance of a coordinated, cross-government approach to prevention, preparedness, response and recovery.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) are working closely with a wide range of partners to strengthen our collective approach to wildfire resilience.

We are taking action across critical areas such as response and national capabilities, forecasting, and risk assessment and ensuring these are drawn together into a coherent cross-government approach.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to decouple the price of wholesale electricity from the cost of gas beyond moving more renewables into Contracts for Difference.

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

Accelerating the deployment of renewable generation, as we are through our Clean Power 2030 Mission, will reduce the amount of time when gas is setting the price and will help to decouple electricity from gas prices without the need for more complex arrangements.

The Government is determined to increase the share of renewables on the system so that the electricity price is set by cheaper clean power sources rather than gas. Every wind turbine we switch on and solar panel we deploy helps push gas off as the price setter.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the proposal in the report by Greenpeace and Stonehaven, Power Shift, published in March, to move gas-fired power stations into a Regulated Asset Base strategic reserve.

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

This government has been clear that the answers to the challenges around energy security, affordability and sustainability point in the same direction – clean energy.

Under current market frameworks, technologies with the lowest marginal cost dispatch first. Unabated gas generators have high marginal costs so generally dispatch last.

By 2030 unabated gas will account for less than 5% of total generation. As low‑carbon technologies are deployed at scale, gas will increasingly shift to a reserve role in the system, meaning it will set electricity prices less often over time, reducing consumers’ exposure to volatile fossil fuel prices.

As the role of unabated gas diminishes, we continue to work with NESO and Ofgem to explore how market and system arrangements can evolve to minimise its impact on consumer bills, including considering the potential benefits and risks of alternative market reforms.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with Ofgem and the National Energy System Operator about the feasibility and potential impact of implementing a Regulated Asset Base model for gas-fired power stations.

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

This government has been clear that the answers to the challenges around energy security, affordability and sustainability point in the same direction – clean energy.

Under current market frameworks, technologies with the lowest marginal cost dispatch first. Unabated gas generators have high marginal costs so generally dispatch last.

By 2030 unabated gas will account for less than 5% of total generation. As low‑carbon technologies are deployed at scale, gas will increasingly shift to a reserve role in the system, meaning it will set electricity prices less often over time, reducing consumers’ exposure to volatile fossil fuel prices.

As the role of unabated gas diminishes, we continue to work with NESO and Ofgem to explore how market and system arrangements can evolve to minimise its impact on consumer bills, including considering the potential benefits and risks of alternative market reforms.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what research and support mechanisms they are providing to develop the agrivoltaics sector; and what assessment they have made of its potential contribution to energy generation and agricultural productivity.

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

The Government closely follows developments in the agrivoltaics sector, and supports innovative technologies, including through initiatives funded by UK Research and Innovation. In the Solar Roadmap, Government and industry committed to explore future research and demonstration opportunities for agrivoltaic systems.

Although the technology is fairly nascent in the UK, the Government believes that it can play an important role in the decarbonisation of agriculture (for example, where panels are arranged around a field). The technology also has the potential to ensure that land is used efficiently, by maximising agricultural output on land devoted to solar generation.

This short inquiry will consider pet parasite medication (PPM), with a focus on treatments containing pesticides of concern such as fipronil and imidacloprid. The inquiry will seek to understand distribution pathways, and the impact of PPM use and non-use on biodiversity and human health. It will also cover current regulation, monitoring, and the potential implications for pets and pet owners of alternative medications or application practices.