Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will meet the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme to discuss support for the ceramics industry in relation to rises in energy costs.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government believes that our mission to deliver clean power by 2030 is the best way to break our dependence on global fossil fuel markets and protect billpayers permanently.
The creation of Great British Energy will help us to harness clean energy with less reliance on volatile international energy markets and help in our commitment to make Britain a clean energy superpower by 2030.
Companies in the ceramics sector are eligible to apply to the British Industry Supercharger scheme, which has provided energy bill support to hundreds of firms in energy intensive sectors. Financial relief to support energy intensive industries with electricity costs is worth £470 million per year through a mixture of spending and bill discounts.
I meet frequently with representatives of the ceramics sector to discuss challenges faced by manufacturers, including high energy costs. Government is committed to continuing to listen and engage with the sector.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to help reduce levels of fuel poverty in Newcastle-under-Lyme; and if he will meet with the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency to discuss those steps.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
There are multiple targeted schemes to deliver energy efficiency measures to low-income and fuel poor households. The Warm Home Discount schemes also provide a £150 rebate off bills to eligible low-income households across Great Britain, and we have recently consulted on expanding this scheme to an extra 2.7 million households from next winter. We published a Review of the Fuel Poverty Strategy which closed in April, and we are currently considering the responses received.
The Government has also kickstarted delivery of the Warm Homes Plan, including an initial £1.8 billion to support fuel poverty schemes over the next 3 years, helping around 225,000 households reduce their energy bills by around £200.
We continue to monitor energy prices and the price cap and are working to ensure bills are affordable for consumers in the long-term.
Invitations to meet should be sent in the normal way by post or by email.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to help reduce energy prices for energy intensive industries.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
This Government recognises high energy prices are a key challenge for UK businesses. Our Clean Power 2030 target is the key to long-term sustainable price reductions. Our mission is for clean power by 2030 because clean, homegrown energy is the best way to protect billpayers and boost Britain's energy independence. This Government is also already bringing energy costs for UK industries closer in line with other major economies through the British Industry Supercharger. This fully exempts eligible firms from certain costs linked to renewable energy policies, particularly those exposed to the high cost of electricity.
UK businesses using more electricity and less fossil fuels is the future. The latest advice from the Climate Change Committee expects electricity to meet 61% of industrial energy demand by 2040. My department is developing options to enable them to do that.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of UK energy security.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Great Britain’s energy system is diverse and reliable, with the annual Statutory Security of Supply Report 2024 assessing that GB is expected to have sufficient supplies of electricity and gas to meet consumers’ demands over the short and long-term. However, our dependence on fossil fuels has left us vulnerable to global supply shocks and unstable energy prices. The Government's Clean Energy Superpower Mission, supported by the largest investment in home-grown clean energy in British history, will enhance energy security by boosting our energy independence, protecting billpayers, and reducing exposure to global supply shocks.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will publish the report of the Green Jobs Delivery Group on skills for the green energy sector.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We are building on the progress that the Green Jobs Delivery Group previously made by setting up the Office for Clean Energy Jobs (OCEJ). The OCEJ has been created to ensure that clean energy jobs are abundant, high quality, paid fairly, and have favourable terms and good working conditions. We published our analysis on the future of the clean energy workforce as part of the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan in December 2024, including the accompanying 'Assessment of the Clean Energy Skills Challenge' annex.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes to the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme on the living standards of the recipients of that pension in Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government and Trustees of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme (BCSSS) have not yet agreed on any changes so we cannot yet make such an assessment. We are currently working with the BCSSS Trustees to consider their proposals.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will meet with the hon. Member for Newcastle-under Lyme to discuss (a) the potential merits of releasing the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme (BCSSS) investment reserve and (b) support for BCSSS Members in (i) Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency, (ii) Staffordshire and (iii) the United Kingdom.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
This matter is currently under consideration. I am happy to update my honourable friend.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent steps he has taken to ensure that people in Newcastle-under-Lyme can access the Warm Homes Plan.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government’s ambitious Warm Homes Plan will upgrade millions of homes across the country, including in Newcastle-under-Lyme. The plan will make homes cleaner and cheaper to run, from installing new insulation to rolling out solar and heat pumps.
We will partner with combined authorities and local and devolved governments to roll out the Warm Homes Plan. Full details will be announced in due course.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he plans to return money the Government (a) has received and (b) will receive from the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme to mineworkers in (i) Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency and (ii) Staffordshire.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Pursuant to my answer to PQ UIN 5215 of 18 September 2024, our Manifesto committed to reviewing the surplus sharing arrangements and transferring the Investment Reserve back to scheme members. We are committed to ending the injustice of the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme and work on delivering these commitments is already underway.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many people in Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency are in receipt of the Warm Home Discount.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The most recent published statistics on Warm Home Discount can be found here: Warm Home Discount statistics, 2023 to 2024 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Table 5 shows that 4,992 households in Newcastle-under-Lyme received Warm Home Discount in the 2023-24 scheme year, making up approximately 12.1% of the overall number of households in the constituency (boundary as defined prior to the 2024 General Election).