Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made towards finalising a cap-and-floor revenue arrangement to support a £2 billion investment by Centrica in the site to extend Rough’s production consent beyond April 2027.
Answered by Baroness Curran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government values the role of gas storage sites like Rough in supporting our security of supply and recognises the challenging commercial environment facing storage operators.
In the interim response to the Gas System in Transition: Security of Supply consultation, published in August, Government committed to exploring whether a revenue support model for gas infrastructure, including storage, is necessary. We will set out our full minded-to positions and next steps in due course. Any decision will need to balance maintaining a secure and resilient energy system and securing value for money for consumers and taxpayers.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they consider the National Energy System Operator’s report, Whistleblowing investigation: final report, published on 19 October, as sufficiently comprehensive to ensure no local or nationwide blackouts will occur over the next three years.
Answered by Baroness Curran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The whistleblowing investigation was launched to consider specific allegations of record keeping and control room influence. It was led by an external law firm and was independent of senior management.
The report shows none of the allegations can be substantiated by the evidence. However, the independent review raised areas for cultural improvement in NESO where we expect significant action without delay. The Government will keep progress under close review and reserves the right to intervene further.
Great Britain has a highly resilient electricity system and the likelihood of large-scale power outages remains low. The separate Ofgem update on the technical review (based on NESO’s preliminary report) confirms customer demand was met and electricity system frequency maintained in statutory limits throughout the summer. However, it is right that we learn lessons from the summer heatwave to ensure NESO continue to have the right tools available to manage the system under a wide range of scenarios. We will support Ofgem and NESO in delivering the full review as soon as possible.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the findings of the National Energy System Operator’s report, Whistleblowing investigation: final report, published on 19 October.
Answered by Baroness Curran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The whistleblowing investigation was launched to consider specific allegations of record keeping and control room influence. It was led by an external law firm and was independent of senior management.
The report shows none of the allegations can be substantiated by the evidence. However, the independent review raised areas for cultural improvement in NESO where we expect significant action without delay. The Government will keep progress under close review and reserves the right to intervene further.
Great Britain has a highly resilient electricity system and the likelihood of large-scale power outages remains low. The separate Ofgem update on the technical review (based on NESO’s preliminary report) confirms customer demand was met and electricity system frequency maintained in statutory limits throughout the summer. However, it is right that we learn lessons from the summer heatwave to ensure NESO continue to have the right tools available to manage the system under a wide range of scenarios. We will support Ofgem and NESO in delivering the full review as soon as possible.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have for Shell Haven to feed directly into the United Kingdom oil pipeline to provide Indian fuel exporters a direct route into the United Kingdom oil pipeline.
Answered by Baroness Curran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Operational and commercial decisions on the arrangements for the import and transportation of fuel, including the use of pipeline infrastructure, are matters for the companies concerned. However, Shell Haven is connected to the UK Oil Pipeline (UKOP), which can be used for the import of compliant fuels.
The Government is confident in the resilience of the UK’s fuel supply, which benefits from diverse sources, suppliers and routes to market.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government how much diesel and jet fuel have been imported into the UK from Türkiye and India using refined Russian crude oil since 20 May.
Answered by Lord Sarwar - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
Traders can only import Russian oil products refined in third countries into the UK using General Licence GBSAN0004, which has an end date of 1 January 2027.
Regulation 76 of the Russia Regulations (2019) requires individuals or businesses acting under a General Trade Licence to notify BIST within 30 days of use, including the country the goods are being exported from.
Due to low volumes, figures of the exact volume notified to Government of diesel and jet fuel imported into the UK are withheld to prevent the identification of individuals or businesses as details of individual imports could be identifiable from this information.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they exempted the imports of oil products refined abroad from Russian crude for an indefinite duration under the General Trade Licence exemption which took effect on 20 May.
Answered by Lord Sarwar - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
On 20 May 2026, the UK introduced new measures to strengthen sanctions on Russia. The licence is a temporary measure to support the phasing in of the ban on oil products refined in third countries from Russian crude. The Government committed to reviewing the licence every two weeks. This involves continually assessing its impact on energy supply, market conditions and other relevant considerations, against our objective to lift the licence as soon as is practicable to further target Russian revenues and degrade its ability to wage its illegal war in Ukraine.
As part of this process, we have set an end date to the licence of 1 January 2027.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of how much aviation fuel used by flights out of London Gatwick and London Heathrow airports currently contains a proportion of fuel refined from Russian crude.
Answered by Lord Sarwar - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
On 20 May 2026, the UK introduced new measures to strengthen sanctions on Russia. A General Licence was introduced as a temporary measure to support the phasing in of the ban on oil products refined in third countries from Russian crude.
The Government has not made an assessment on the volume of Russian crude derived jet fuel used at London Gatwick and London Heathrow.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Wood of Anfield on 1 October (HL3718, HL3719, and HL3721), whether the Foreign Secretary has consented to the Sea Lion Northern Oil field development as set out in the Offshore Minerals Ordinance 1994 (Ordinance No.16, 1994).
Answered by Lord Wood of Anfield - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Noble Lord to the answer provided in the House of Lords on 1 October in response to Question HL3718, which - for ease of reference - is reproduced below:
The UK Government maintains a consistent position on the right of the Falkland Islands to develop their natural resources. It is integral to their right of self-determination, which this Government will resolutely uphold. Any new hydrocarbons licences require the consent of the Secretary of State, who acts in accordance with applicable Falkland Islands legislation, we do not comment on individual licences.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what mechanisms they propose to support technology and delivery models to prove the demonstration phase of tidal range technologies in order to encourage the private sector to commit capital to major tidal range projects at scale.
Answered by Baroness Curran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government remains open to considering well-developed proposals for harnessing tidal range energy, including barrages and other models. Proposals must demonstrate strong value for money compared with other low-carbon technologies, system benefits and credible environmental mitigation.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government, in light of the work undertaken by the Severn Estuary Commission and other recent assessments of tidal range energy, whether they will develop a national tidal range strategy setting out a pathway for technology demonstration, environmental assessment, financing, grid integration, supply-chain development, and commercial deployment.
Answered by Baroness Curran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Whilst there are no current plans to develop a national tidal range strategy, the Government remains open to considering well-developed tidal range proposals, including barrages and other alternatives. Any proposal must demonstrate value for money, wider energy system and economic benefits, effective mitigation of environmental impacts, and suitable financing arrangements, while limiting risks to taxpayers and billpayers. Analysis by the National Energy System Operator of the system impacts and value of tidal range will help inform consideration of future proposals.