Asked by: Lord Spellar (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the performance of the National Energy System Operator.
Answered by Baroness Curran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) regulates and assesses the National Energy System Operator’s (NESO’s) performance against its regulatory Business Plan, and compliance with its other statutory and licence obligations. Ofgem’s most recent assessment, published on 2 September 2026, found that overall, NESO met expectations.
Asked by: Lord Spellar (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that electricity networks are adopting new technologies to more effectively utilise existing network infrastructure.
Answered by Baroness Curran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises the importance of making the best use of existing network infrastructure alongside investing in additional capacity. Ofgem’s regulatory framework supports innovation, and the Government is working with Ofgem and NESO to encourage innovative network technologies. One example, Dynamic Line Rating, uses real-time data to calculate overhead line capacity, helping operators manage network constraints. All three transmission owners have confirmed plans for further rollout. DLR is estimated to have saved £36 million in constraint costs in 2025-2026. Additionally, DESNZ is procuring an independent review of barriers to smart grid innovation and comparing UK technology adoption with networks abroad.
Asked by: Lord Spellar (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government, in light of disruptions to the international flow of gas, whether they are reassessing the level of gas storage necessary for UK energy resilience.
Answered by Baroness Curran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is confident in our gas security of supply, thanks to our diverse range of supply sources, including domestic production, Norwegian imports, interconnectors with continental Europe, and significant LNG import capacity, which are supported by storage.
Gas storage provided 5% of our supply last winter. However, government recognises our infrastructure needs, including gas storage, may evolve during the energy transition. Government set out plans to explore whether support for the gas sector, including new infrastructure, is required, and will update in due course.
Asked by: Lord Spellar (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of liquefied natural gas imports into the EU from the Russian Yamal field; and whether any Russian gas is being imported into the UK through the interconnection.
Answered by Baroness Curran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The EU has prohibited Russian LNG imports under short-term contracts since 25 April 2026 and will ban all remaining imports from 1 January 2027. The UK banned imports of Russian LNG in January 2023.
The UK’s gas supply comes from a range of sources: 42% is sourced from the UK continental shelf; Norway’s continental shelf provides 37%; LNG accounts for 20%; and Interconnectors supply 1%.
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 £900m 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: Lord Spellar (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to resume uranium conversion in the UK.
Answered by Baroness Curran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises the importance of conversion for our nuclear industry and has a stated ambition to re-establish conversion services in the UK. In 2023, through the Nuclear Fuel Fund, we invested £13m, match-funded by Westinghouse, into their conversion project at the Springfield’s site in Preston.
The UK continues to be supportive of this ambition, and the role UK based conversion can play in delivering secure and reliable fuel supply chains.
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 in implementing the recommendations of the Fingleton review.
Answered by Lord Vallance of Balham
This Government is taking forward all of the Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce’s recommendations and has published an implementation plan. Delivery is already under way, including establishing a lead regulator model and taking forward reforms to cut duplication and improve proportionality.
Our reforms focus on outcomes over process, accelerating nuclear deployment while maintaining the UK’s robust safety and environmental standards.
Delivery is overseen by a cross sector Nuclear Regulatory Implementation Panel, ensuring accountability and pace. I will chair this Panel with the first meeting scheduled for 30 June.
The Government response commits to completing implementation by the end of 2027, supporting faster, more cost-effective delivery of new nuclear projects.
Asked by: Lord Spellar (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what percentage of the UK's offshore wind capacity is generated by machinery manufactured in the UK; and what steps they are taking to increase UK manufacturing for future offshore wind projects.
Answered by Lord Whitehead
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. I will correspond directly with my noble Friend.
Asked by: Lord Spellar (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero have had with the Ministry of Defence about potential involvement of Sheffield Forgemasters in the programme for small modular nuclear reactors.
Answered by Lord Vallance of Balham
While it would not be appropriate to speculate at this time on specific commercial contracts, Great British Energy – Nuclear’s ambition is for 70% British built products across the small modular reactor fleet, including both on-site and off-site activity.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has regular dialogue with the Ministry of Defence on a range of policy matters, including increased collaboration and alignment between civil and defence nuclear capabilities to maximise associated benefits. These include driving economic growth, boosting the role of nuclear energy and developing innovative nuclear technologies.
Asked by: Lord Spellar (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what weight is being given to social value and regional economic growth as part of the small modular nuclear reactors programme.
Answered by Lord Vallance of Balham
Great British Energy-Nuclear's (GBE-N) SMR competition evaluated bids across technical, commercial, and social value criteria, though any specific commitments would remain subject to final government approvals and GBE-N entering into contract with Rolls-Royce SMR.
GBE-N's ambition is for 70% British built products across a Small Modular Reactor (SMR) fleet, including both on-site and off-site activity.
The government wants UK supply chains to develop world-leading expertise across a range of civil nuclear activities and be competitive both domestically and internationally.
To achieve this, we will continue to engage with industry to address barriers to entry in the nuclear sector so that UK companies are well placed to take advantage of the opportunities created.