Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of their policy to issue no new oil and gas exploration licences on UK energy import dependency.
Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
North Sea oil and gas production is in natural decline, with a 75 per cent reduction in production occurring between 1999 and 2024.
While we will manage existing oil and gas fields for their lifespan, the government will not issue licences to explore new fields which would only make a marginal difference to overall production.
The UK became a net importer of energy over two decades ago in 2004.
Given the maturity of the basin, further licensing would not reverse its natural decline, nor change the UK’s status as a net importer of oil and gas.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the emissions implications of replacing domestic liquefied natural gas (LNG) production with imported LNG.
Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
While the UK produces natural gas, it does not produce LNG domestically; LNG is imported and regasified for use in the gas system.
The North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) published analysis in September 2025 comparing the emissions intensity of domestically produced gas with imported liquefied natural gas. This analysis is available on the NSTA’s website. In 2024, domestic gas production made up 43% of gross supply, LNG imports accounted for 14%, with the remainder coming from pipeline imports – principally from Norway.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether UK continental shelf domestic gas production has a lower lifecycle emissions intensity than that of imported liquefied natural gas from the United States of America and Qatar.
Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) published analysis in September 2025 comparing the emissions intensity of domestically produced gas with imported liquefied natural gas (LNG). This analysis is available on the NSTA’s website. In 2024, domestic gas production made up 43% of gross supply, LNG imports accounted for 14%, with the remainder coming from pipeline imports – principally from Norway.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of a ban on issuing new oil and gas exploration licences on (1) supply chain capacity, and (2) retention of skilled offshore workers in the oil and gas sector.
Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The natural decline of North Sea oil and gas has seen more than 70,000 jobs lost in the last decade. New exploration licences will not reverse this trend. We published the North Sea Future Plan (November 2026), setting out how we will support supply chains, protect jobs and secure the next generation of good jobs.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government why the Clean Energy Partnership Memorandum of Understanding, agreed with the government of China in March 2025, has not been published.
Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The MoU provides a strong platform for deepening cooperation across the full breadth of our shared energy priorities – from power market reform and system flexibility to carbon capture, utilisation and storage –and creates space for structured exchanges on the UK’s experience transitioning away from coal, enabling both sides to share lessons and support an accelerated, orderly and affordable clean‑energy transition. There is no presumption that Memoranda of Understanding be made publicly available, a decision that varies from agreement to agreement; indeed, the previous government did not publish the first clean‑energy agreement signed with China in 2015.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have commissioned independent audits and data tracking on Chinese imports of all products, services and components required for the roll-out of the UK's Warm Homes Plan.
Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is introducing sustainable supply chain requirements in contracts and grants. The Procurement Act 2023, now in force, allows contracting authorities to exclude suppliers, helping prevent government contracts from being awarded to those who cannot meet ethical and industry-specific standards. The Overseas Business Risk Guidance highlights regional risks and urges companies to carry out strong due diligence. The Trade Strategy published last year launched a review of responsible business conduct policy.
The Warm Homes Plan is backing British manufacturing, with £140million of investment including through the Heat Pump Investment Accelerator to strengthen supply chains, drive innovation, support workforce training and create high-quality jobs across the UK.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will publish the protocol agreed between Great British Energy and solar companies operating in the UK regarding supply chain validation from China.
Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Solar purchasing thus far has been undertaken by Devolved Governments, Other Government Departments, and relevant Mayoral Combined Authorities and the terms are commercially confidential. However, there have been clear expectations that they must comply with UK procurement rules, including requirements under the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and Procurement Act 2023.
Great British Energy will lead the way in ethical supply chains by engaging with stakeholders to raise standards and explore alternatives to diversify high-risk supply chains.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have undertaken routine checks under the Great British Energy Act 2025 of all shipments of components from China required for solar panel installation in the UK since the date on which Great British Energy began installing solar panels on 250 schools across England.
Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department for Education are procuring the solar panels for schools under the Solar Partnerships Scheme and have done so under the requirements set out by the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and UK procurement controls, as well as making use of Crown Commercial Service frameworks where appropriate.
As a publicly owned company, Great British Energy is expected to lead by example when adhering to the UK’s legislation and guidance on modern slavery, including the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will publish the sources of all imports of polycrystalline silicon into the UK from China associated with the construction and assembly of solar panels during 2025.
Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government does not hold or publish data on the specific sources of polycrystalline silicon imported into the UK from China for use in solar panel manufacturing.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government which UK-registered firms imported component parts for solar panels that include polycrystalline silicon from China; and how many of these components were sourced from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government does not hold or publish data identifying which UK‑registered firms imported component parts for solar panels containing polycrystalline silicon from China, nor data on how many of these components may have originated from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.