Asked by: Earl Russell (Liberal Democrat - Excepted Hereditary)
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.
Asked by: Earl Russell (Liberal Democrat - Excepted Hereditary)
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.
Asked by: Earl Russell (Liberal Democrat - Excepted Hereditary)
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.
Asked by: Earl Russell (Liberal Democrat - Excepted Hereditary)
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.
Asked by: Earl Russell (Liberal Democrat - Excepted Hereditary)
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
Asked by: Earl Russell (Liberal Democrat - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce legislation that would enable people and businesses to buy community energy locally.
Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is hugely ambitious about the role that local energy will play in achieving our mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower.
The Department – with Great British Energy – are looking at the issue of local supply and the options available.
In parallel, Elexon have been progressing the P441 code modification through a series of workgroup roundtables and have recently concluded a consultation to gather wider sector responses on proposed P441 changes. These changes if supported would clarify and simplify balancing and settlement arrangements for complex metering sites, such as those likely to be used by many community energy schemes.
The Government will continue to monitor these developments closely and will publish the Local Power Plan in due course.
Asked by: Earl Russell (Liberal Democrat - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Environment Agency is investigating a large-scale illegal waste crime site in Wigan, as reported by Sky News on 28 October; whether it was on the list of six sites provided to the House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee; and, if not, why not.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Environment Agency (EA) is undertaking operations in response to an illegal waste site located at Bolton House Road, Wigan. These operations consist of two key components. The first is a complex criminal investigation involving multiple lines of enquiry. The second is a coordinated multi-agency effort, working alongside Wigan Council, Greater Manchester Police, and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, to assist in the development of a plan for the removal of the waste—subject to the identification of funding. The EA remains committed to collaborating with partners to safeguard the environment and protect the wellbeing and livelihoods of residents and workers affected by the site. Due to its smaller size and lower volume of waste compared to the site at Hoads Wood, the Bolton House Road site did not meet the criteria for inclusion on the list sent to the Committee.
Asked by: Earl Russell (Liberal Democrat - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what action they are taking to review the effectiveness of Ofcom in addressing complaints relating to climate change misinformation.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Ofcom, by law, carries out its duties independently of the Government. Ofcom is accountable to Parliament for the regulation of broadcasters, and the Government does not intervene in Ofcom's operational decisions. Ofcom is required by legislation to enforce a Broadcasting Code for television and radio, to ensure that audiences are adequately protected from harm. This includes rules that factual programmes do not materially mislead audiences, and that news, in whatever form, is reported with due accuracy.
Asked by: Earl Russell (Liberal Democrat - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many meetings ministers have held with climate scientists and scientific advisory bodies on climate change since July 2024; and whether they will publish a list of those meetings comparable to the published data on meetings with representatives of the fossil fuel industry.
Answered by Lord Wilson of Sedgefield - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Ministers engage regularly with the scientific community and trusted experts, including the Climate Change Committee, to ensure our climate policies are based on the best available advice and evidence. A list of ministers’ meetings with external organisations is published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.
Asked by: Earl Russell (Liberal Democrat - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that all cars sold in the UK meet appropriate anti-theft standards and are adequately protected from relay attacks.
Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Shadow Minister (Home Office)
All passenger cars placed on the UK market need to be Type Approved. This process ensures compliance with requirements for anti-theft and car alarm systems.
The Government is protecting vehicles from relay attacks through provisions in the Criminal Justice Bill. The Bill will create new offences to enable prosecution of those who possess, make, adapt, supply, or offer to supply electronic devices; where there are reasonable grounds to suspect those devices will be used for the purposes of vehicle theft.