Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to mandate the use of emission reduction technology at UK ports as part of the maritime decarbonisation strategy; and what assessment they have made of the potential of emission reduction technology to reduce nitrogen oxide and diesel particulate emissions.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

In March, the Government published the Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy and a call for evidence on Net Zero Ports which asked about potential options to reduce emissions from vessels at berth. This includes whether an at berth emission requirement would be effective in reducing air pollutants, such as nitrogen oxide and diesel particulate emissions, and what technologies could help achieve it. We continue to analyse responses and will publish a summary of responses and set out next steps in due course.

In September this year, this Government announced an additional £448m of Research and Development investment for the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) programme. Through previous rounds of UK SHORE, we have already funded clean maritime solutions, including nearly £20m for a shore power installation at Portsmouth International Port, which will soon allow visiting cruise ships to connect, reducing air pollution around the port. Future rounds of funding will continue to support clean maritime solutions.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government when their response to the Net Zero Ports consultation will be published; and whether their response will include a detailed implementation timeline for emissions reduction measures at berth.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

In March, the Government published the Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy and a call for evidence on Net Zero Ports which asked about potential options to reduce emissions from vessels at berth. This includes whether an at berth emission requirement would be effective in reducing air pollutants, such as nitrogen oxide and diesel particulate emissions, and what technologies could help achieve it. We continue to analyse responses and will publish a summary of responses and set out next steps in due course.

In September this year, this Government announced an additional £448m of Research and Development investment for the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) programme. Through previous rounds of UK SHORE, we have already funded clean maritime solutions, including nearly £20m for a shore power installation at Portsmouth International Port, which will soon allow visiting cruise ships to connect, reducing air pollution around the port. Future rounds of funding will continue to support clean maritime solutions.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the large-scale illegal waste dumping sites in (1) Sittingbourne in Kent, and (2) Camborne in Cornwall, which were listed as "active" in the letter from Baroness Hayman of Ullock to Lord Krebs on 5 November, are currently still receiving waste; and if so, why and what steps they are taking to close those sites.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Waste input ceased at the site in Sittingbourne in 2021. The site at Camborne experienced a period of cessation from June 2025 until the end of November 2025. At the end of November one further deposit of waste was discovered.

The original letter to Lord Krebs on 5 November gave descriptions of ‘active’ and ‘inactive’ sites. The description of an ‘active’ site said it continued to accept waste – this was incorrect. Defra apologises for this mistake and has issued a correction to Lord Krebs accordingly.

A site is considered ‘active’ in this context if the Environment Agency is taking action at the site. A site having ‘active’ status does not necessarily mean that the site is actively receiving waste

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to develop a roadmap for replacing large-scale biomass generation with renewable and low-carbon alternatives by 2030.

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

Last December, we published the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan. This set our goal for 95% of electricity to come from clean sources by 2030.

There are multiple pathways and technology mixes that can help us achieve this. Large-scale biomass generation plays an important role by providing dispatchable power that complements intermittent renewables and is valuable for maintaining security of supply.

We are reviewing options beyond unabated biomass generation to ensure we have sufficient reliable capacity going forwards. This includes supporting low carbon dispatchable plants, like the Net Zero Teesside CCUS plant. We have also recently consulted on reforms to the Capacity Market, our mechanism for ensuring security of supply, including proposals aimed at procuring new dispatchable enduring capacity.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero on 10 February (HC Deb cols 41–43), what plans they have to phase out subsidies for large-scale biomass generation.

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

Our decision to provide support to Drax was based on the need to ensure security of supply out to 2031. There are no plans to extend subsidies beyond that date.

To ensure that we have a greater set of options available to secure supply post 2031 we are supporting low carbon dispatchable generation like the Net Zero Teeside CCUS plant. We have also recently consulted on reforms to the Capacity Market, our mechanism for ensuring security of supply, including proposals aimed at procuring new dispatchable enduring capacity.

Found: Earl Russell: I will ask a quick supplementary to that question.

Found: (The Chair); Lord Ashcombe; Lord Duncan of Springbank; Lord Layard; Lord Lennie; Lord Rooker; Earl Russell

Found: John Russell (Earl Russell) - Liberal Democrat spokesperson for energy and climate change in the House