Alex Cunningham Portrait

Alex Cunningham

Labour - Stockton North

First elected: 6th May 2010

Shadow Minister (Justice)

(since April 2020)

Carer’s Leave Bill
2nd Nov 2022 - 9th Nov 2022
Public Order Bill
25th May 2022 - 21st Jun 2022
Judicial Review and Courts Bill
27th Oct 2021 - 23rd Nov 2021
Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill
12th May 2021 - 24th Jun 2021
Environmental Audit Committee
25th Feb 2019 - 8th May 2019
Shadow Minister (Work and Pensions) (Pensions)
14th Oct 2016 - 21st Dec 2017
Shadow Minister (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
18th Sep 2015 - 27th Jun 2016
Education Committee
7th Nov 2011 - 30th Mar 2015
Work and Pensions Committee
2nd Nov 2010 - 27th Jun 2011
Armed Forces Bill Committee
17th Jan 2011 - 8th Mar 2011


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Alex Cunningham has voted in 735 divisions, and never against the majority of their Party.
View All Alex Cunningham Division Votes

Debates during the 2019 Parliament

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
Chris Philp (Conservative)
Minister of State (Home Office)
(229 debate interactions)
James Cartlidge (Conservative)
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
(60 debate interactions)
Victoria Atkins (Conservative)
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
(44 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Home Office
(630 debate contributions)
Department of Health and Social Care
(79 debate contributions)
Ministry of Justice
(69 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
Legislation Debates
Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022
(28,314 words contributed)
Criminal Justice Bill 2023-24
(26,373 words contributed)
View All Legislation Debates
View all Alex Cunningham's debates

Stockton North Petitions

e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.

If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.

If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).

Petition Debates Contributed

As Parliament considers the Bill of Rights, the Government must reconsider including abortion rights in this Bill. Rights to abortion must be specifically protected in this legislation, especially as the Government has refused to rule out leaving the European Convention on Human Rights.


Latest EDMs signed by Alex Cunningham

23rd October 2023
Alex Cunningham signed this EDM on Tuesday 24th October 2023

Tribute to Sir Bobby Charlton

Tabled by: Ian Lavery (Labour - Wansbeck)
That this House notes with sorrow the passing of Ashington born World Cup winner Sir Bobby Charlton; further notes Bobby’s successful career with Manchester United for whom he played between 1956 and 1973 winning the English First Division three times, the FA Cup and the European Cup; notes Sir Bobby’s …
27 signatures
(Most recent: 26 Oct 2023)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 22
Democratic Unionist Party: 2
Independent: 1
Scottish National Party: 1
Alba Party: 1
30th March 2023
Alex Cunningham signed this EDM on Monday 24th April 2023

Show Racism the Red Card

Tabled by: Kim Johnson (Labour - Liverpool, Riverside)
That this House congratulates Show Racism the Red Card for engaging one million people through their anti-racist educational programmes; notes the contribution of footballers and other sportsmen and women in promoting equality and inclusion among adults and children in schools, workplaces and at sporting clubs; believes that Show Racism the …
46 signatures
(Most recent: 22 May 2023)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 30
Scottish National Party: 4
Independent: 3
Plaid Cymru: 3
Liberal Democrat: 3
Conservative: 2
Green Party: 1
View All Alex Cunningham's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Alex Cunningham, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.

MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.


Alex Cunningham has not been granted any Urgent Questions

1 Adjournment Debate led by Alex Cunningham

Thursday 9th December 2021

4 Bills introduced by Alex Cunningham


Lords Completed
Commons - 40%

Last Event - 2nd Reading: House Of Commons
Friday 2nd November 2012

A Bill to require utility companies to provide financial support to customers with a terminal illness; to make provision about the employment rights of people with a terminal illness; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 40%

Last Event - 2nd Reading
Friday 18th November 2022
(Read Debate)

A Bill to prohibit unpaid work experience exceeding four weeks; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 40%

Last Event - 2nd Reading
Friday 11th September 2020
(Read Debate)

The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress. A Bill to require the Secretary of State to make provision for a ban on smoking in private vehicles where there are children present; and for connected purposes

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Wednesday 22nd June 2011

Latest 50 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
4 Other Department Questions
7th Dec 2023
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, when she plans to publish the responses to her Department's consultation on banning conversion therapy.

The Government remains absolutely committed to taking action to tackle abhorrent conversion 'therapy' practices. These acts are aimed at changing someone else's identity, whether that be to or from being LGBT, and have no place in UK society.

Equality Ministers and officials have been carefully considering the issue, including all of the responses we received to our public consultation. This is to ensure any action we take is robust, measured and avoids any unintended consequences on parents, clinicians, teachers or religious groups.

A draft Bill setting out our approach will be published for pre-legislative scrutiny by a joint Committee of both Houses in the new year, alongside the Government’s response to the consultation.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
15th May 2023
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether her Department is taking steps to promote a respectful discourse on the rights of trans people.

The Government is clear that we want people who are transgender to be able to live their lives as they wish. We must also protect free speech and allow open and tolerant discussion.

The UK has a robust legislative framework to protect the rights of trans people, including the Gender Recognition Act 2004. Recently, the government modernised the process for obtaining a gender recognition certificate by reducing the fee and moving the application process online. We have also committed to banning conversion practices, including for transgender people.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
22nd Mar 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to paragraph 4.18 of the Spring Budget 2023, HC1183, published on 15 March 2023, whether the funds allocated to support swimming pools will be available for (a) new and (b) replacement facilities.

At the Budget, we announced a dedicated £63 million support package for swimming pools which is targeted at addressing cost pressures facing public swimming pool providers. It will also help provide investment in energy efficiency measures to reduce future operating costs and make existing facilities sustainable in the long-term.

This fund will not be available for new and replacement facilities.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
22nd Nov 2022
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, when the Government will publish its response to the consultation on its plan to ban LGBT+ conversion practices.

We are carefully considering all the responses to the consultation and will respond in due course. In the meantime, we have launched a support service open to all victims or those at risk of conversion practices regardless of their background or circumstances.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
25th May 2022
To ask the Attorney General, with reference to the guidance issued by the Crown Prosecution Service on 4 November 2021 entitled Gang related offences - Decision making in, whether she has made an assessment of the potential effect of the guidance on the use of the term gang by prosecutors during proceedings.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) guidance urges caution about the use of the word ‘gang’, explaining how it can properly be deployed in a prosecution, where substantiated by the evidence and relevant to a matter in issue in the proceedings. In drafting the guidance, the CPS assessed the potential effect of using ‘gang’ in proceedings and identified that the term is used in legislation and by criminal justice partners. The guidance clearly sets out that, given the negative connotations of the term ‘gang’, prosecutors should not refer to a group as a ‘gang’ in proceedings unless there is evidence to support the assertion. However, prosecutors must also ensure that where there is admissible evidence of gang membership, the case is put on a basis that reflects the often very serious gravity of the offending.

Alex Chalk
Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
9th Mar 2021
To ask the Attorney General, what proportion of young adults aged 18-25 who are charged by the CPS have received a maturity assessment prior to charge in the most recent period for which figures are available.

The Crown Prosecution Service (‘CPS’) does not hold data on the number of young adults aged 18-25 that have received a maturity assessment prior to charge.

However, the CPS recognises the importance of considering a suspect’s age and maturity when making a decision. This is included in the Code for Crown Prosecutors and relevant legal guidance, and is included in training for specialist youth prosecutors.

Lucy Frazer
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
19th May 2020
To ask the Attorney General, on how many occasions the Director of Public Prosecutions was informed of a failure to comply with custody time limits in April 2020.

The Director of Public Prosecutions is only informed of a custody time limit failure if it is deemed to be the responsibility of the CPS following review of the case. In April 2020, the Director of Public Prosecutions was informed of one custody time limit failure. This failure occurred in December 2019.

The CPS has made efforts to prioritise cases with a custody time limit during the pandemic, including via the interim charging protocol effective from 1 April.

28th Apr 2020
What discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on the use of the powers contained in the Coronavirus Act 2020.

I regularly meet ministerial colleagues to discuss important issues, including the Covid-19 outbreak. I am unable to talk about any legal content of those discussions because whether or not the Law Officers have given advice, by convention, is not disclosed outside Government.

2nd Jun 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to make (a) Returning Officers and (b) Electoral Registration Officers subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

It is the Government’s intention to bring forward proposals to make Returning Officers and Electoral Registration Officers subject to the Freedom of Information Act when legislative time allows and following appropriate consultation.

Alex Burghart
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
30th Mar 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much the Government has paid in fees to all counsel to public inquiries in each of the last ten years.

Under the Inquiries Rules 2006, the appointment of Counsel to the Inquiry is a matter for an inquiry’s independent chair.

Baroness Hallett, the chair of the Covid-19 Inquiry, has appointed Hugo Keith QC as Lead Counsel to the Inquiry.

Information as to fees paid to inquiry counsel is not held centrally. Statutory inquiries publish information on their expenditure on their own independent websites.

30th Mar 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the process is for the selection of counsel for the forthcoming public inquiry into the covid-19 pandemic.

Under the Inquiries Rules 2006, the appointment of Counsel to the Inquiry is a matter for an inquiry’s independent chair.

Baroness Hallett, the chair of the Covid-19 Inquiry, has appointed Hugo Keith QC as Lead Counsel to the Inquiry.

Information as to fees paid to inquiry counsel is not held centrally. Statutory inquiries publish information on their expenditure on their own independent websites.

30th Mar 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will confirm the process by which counsel to public inquiries are selected.

Under the Inquiries Rules 2006, the appointment of Counsel to the Inquiry is a matter for an inquiry’s independent chair.

Baroness Hallett, the chair of the Covid-19 Inquiry, has appointed Hugo Keith QC as Lead Counsel to the Inquiry.

Information as to fees paid to inquiry counsel is not held centrally. Statutory inquiries publish information on their expenditure on their own independent websites.

9th Mar 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many offshore oil and gas workers were resident in (a) Teesside, (b) north east England, (c) England and (d) Scotland in (i) 2000, (ii) 2010 and (iii) 2020.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have, therefore, asked the Authority to respond.

26th Feb 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many road haulage businesses trading under SIC code 49410 entered insolvency in each of the last five years.

Estimated numbers of companies with the SIC code 49410 that entered insolvency in the UK in each of the last five calendar years are presented in the table below.

Calendar Year

Companies entering insolvency (SIC code 49410 – Freight Transport by Road)

2019

280

2020

189

2021

265

2022

408

2023

494

Kevin Hollinrake
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
14th Nov 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent estimate she has made of when (a) her Department will reach an agreement with British Steel on and (b) work will begin on the construction of an arc furnace for processing steel on Teesside.

The Government made an extremely generous offer of support to British Steel earlier this year, to help them invest in a sustainable future. Since the offer was made, officials have continued to work intensively with British Steel to explore options. The detail of these conversations is highly confidential.

British Steel’s plans for starting work on an electric arc furnace on Teesside are a commercial matter for the company.

Nusrat Ghani
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
4th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent discussions she has had with the Department for Transport on the regulation of helicopter transport services for offshore oil and gas workers.

The regulation of helicopter transport services for offshore oil and gas workers is a matter for other bodies, such as the Civil Aviation Authority. Officials are in regular contact with Offshore Energies UK (OEUK), which engages directly on this issue on behalf of the offshore oil and gas sector with relevant bodies such as the Health and Safety Executive, the Civil Aviation Authority, helicopter operators, oil and gas operators and contractors, offshore trade unions, and the pilots’ union BALPA

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
4th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will have discussions with (a) ministerial colleagues in the Department for Transport, (b) operators, (c) the offshore oil and gas industry and (d) trade unions on the safety of offshore helicopter transport operations.

My Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State meets regularly with her ministerial colleagues and other stakeholders, including the offshore oil and gas trade association, Offshore Energies UK (OEUK), to discuss a wide range of subjects.

Officials also meet regularly with OEUK, who are working closely on offshore safety issues with helicopter operators, oil and gas operators and contractors, offshore trade unions, the pilots’ union BALPA, the relevant regulators (Health and Safety Executive and the Civil Aviation Authority) and trade associations.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
5th Jan 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how much the oil and gas industry’s annual expenditure on decommissioning was in each financial year between 2013-14 and 2022-23.

The North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) publishes estimates for the upstream oil and gas industry’s annual expenditure on decommissioning by calendar year up to 2022 on its website.

The information can be found here: https://www.nstauthority.co.uk/data-and-insights/insights-and-analysis/income-and-expenditure/

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
5th Jan 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will have discussions with (a) the Secretary of State for Transport and (b) industry representatives on the planned availability of heavy-lift vessels for work in the North Sea (i) oil and gas decommissioning and (ii) offshore wind sectors in each year to 2030.

My Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State discusses a range of issues with my Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, including offshore wind, and oil and gas.

My Hon Friend the Minister for Nuclear and Renewables (Andrew Bowie) will meet with the Offshore Wind Industry Council (OWIC) on a regular basis to discuss sector issues such as supply chain strategy and the Industrial Growth Plan.

In addition, I meet regularly with the oil and gas sector, including through the North Sea Transition Forum, which includes industry stakeholders from the supply chain.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
5th Jan 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the British energy security strategy, published on 7 April 2022, if she will make an estimate of the number of (a) fixed and (b) floating offshore wind turbines that would need to be installed in the UK's exclusive economic zone in each financial year from 2024-25 to 2027-28 inclusive to meet the Government's ambition of generating up to 50 gigawatts of power from offshore wind by 2030.

The UK currently has 14.7GW of operational offshore wind capacity and 7.7GW under construction. The number of turbines that will need to be installed annually to meet the ambition of up to 50GW by 2030 including up to 5GW of floating wind will depend upon the power of the turbines that projects deploy.

Andrew Bowie
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
8th Nov 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will make an estimate of the number of offshore oil and gas workers that were affected by the suspension of helicopter transport services as a result of Storm Babet.

The Department is unable to estimate the number of offshore oil and gas workers that were affected by the suspension of helicopter flights because of Storm Babet. The Government is aware that some workers were impacted for up to four days, but also understands that flights offshore have since returned to normal operation. There are approximately 9,000 workers offshore at any given time.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
8th Nov 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the impact of Storm Babet on operations in the offshore oil and gas industry.

The UK’s offshore oil and gas industry is well-prepared for extreme weather through its long history of North Sea operations, with regular winter preparedness workshops held between regulators, industry trade bodies, and their members.

Storm Babet had a limited impact on offshore oil and gas industry operations overall. One reported incident involved the Stena Spey semi-submersible, which lost four of its eight anchors. The Government is aware that another offshore installation lost an anchor. Additionally, storm-related disruption to helicopter flights impacted workers for up to four days, although flights have since returned to normal operation.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
23rd Oct 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the impact of Storm Babet on operations in the offshore oil and gas industry.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
23rd Oct 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will make an estimate of the number of offshore oil and gas workers that were affected by the suspension of helicopter transport services as a result of Storm Babet.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
20th Jul 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what progress he has made on extending the Skills Passport for offshore oil and gas workers to work in (a) renewables, (b) Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage and (c) hydrogen industries; and how many workers are involved in the pilot version of the Skills Passport.

The Energy Skills Passport was initially envisaged to enable the transition of workers between offshore oil and gas and offshore wind, but is now planned to be applicable to workers in emerging sectors such as Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage and hydrogen.

The mapping of technical qualifications between the oil and gas and offshore wind sectors has been completed, and work is underway with representatives from emerging energy sectors to explore the mutual recognition of training to support the transition of offshore oil and gas workers.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
19th Jun 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if his Department will issue project-specific feedback to (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful Track-2 expressions of interest.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 21 June 2023 to the hon Member for East Lothian to Question UIN 189401.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
19th Jun 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department plans to name a Track-2 reserve cluster as part of the wider Track-2 cluster selection process.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 21 June 2023 to the hon Member for East Lothian to Question UIN 189401.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
19th Jun 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when his Department plans to issue a final decision on selected Track-2 participants following the conclusion of the expression of interest process.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 21 June 2023 to the hon Member for East Lothian to Question UIN 189401.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
19th Jun 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department will take a one or two-phase approach to Track-2 cluster sequencing for carbon capture.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 21 June 2023 to the hon Member for East Lothian to Question UIN 189401.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
5th Jun 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent discussions he has had with (a) EDF Renewables and (b) the Low Carbon Contracts Company on the increase in the strike price for energy produced by the Neart na Gaoithe Offshore Wind Farm; and when he expects the updated Generator's Expected Start Date to be published.

Neart na Gaoithe’s strike price was increased in April in accordance with the annual strike price adjustment exercise undertaken by the Low Carbon Contracts Company (LCCC) in its role as Contracts for Difference (CfD) Counterparty. Strike prices are adjusted annually for all current CfD generators using a formula set out in the contract terms and conditions. The Government does not have a role in this process and has not discussed this case with EDF Renewables or the LCCC. The CfD Register, published on the LCCC’s website, indicates that Neart na Gaoithe expects to start generating on 1st June 2024.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
15th May 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to (a) explore and (b) capitalise on the potential of (i) industrial heat pumps, (ii) electric boilers and (iii) other industrial electrification to boost efficiency and reduce emissions (A) the chemicals sector and (b) other industries.

The Government provides grants for fuel switching through the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund and Industrial Fuel Switching Competition, which includes support for industrial heat pumps, electric boilers and other electrification technologies. This year, the Government will publish a Call for Evidence on enabling industrial electrification, looking at the specific barriers and how these may be overcome.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
15th May 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department plans to support more resource efficient, circular business models for (a) the chemicals sector and (b) related downstream products.

The Government is supporting research that will identify opportunities for the chemicals sector to become more circular, delivering resource efficiency and waste reduction objectives throughout the chemicals supply chain. This includes support for the UKRI-funded National Interdisciplinary Centre for the Circular Chemical Economy. UKRI is also providing grants to support the use of sustainable feedstocks.

The Government has commissioned further research exploring barriers and opportunities around improving resource efficiency across UK industry, including the chemicals sector and related downstream products. This research will be published in due course, and will inform an assessment of policy options to support increased circularity.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
15th May 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero what plans his Department has to help support the chemicals industry to transition away from fossil fuel feedstocks in their products.

The Government is supporting research that will identify opportunities for the chemicals sector to become more circular, delivering resource efficiency and waste reduction objectives throughout the chemicals supply chain. This includes support for the UKRI-funded National Interdisciplinary Centre for the Circular Chemical Economy. UKRI is also providing grants to support the use of sustainable feedstocks.

The Government has commissioned further research exploring barriers and opportunities around improving resource efficiency across UK industry, including the chemicals sector and related downstream products. This research will be published in due course, and will inform an assessment of policy options to support increased circularity.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
12th May 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on eligible persons not receiving the Warm Home Discount because of delays to documents being sent to energy suppliers by that Department.

Over 90% of households eligible for a Warm Home Discount rebate this year were identified through data matching and received their rebates automatically from their energy supplier.

The Government is aware of delays affecting some households’ rebates. This primarily affects customers who submitted their claim for a rebate via correspondence or where additional information was needed about a customer’s claim. These claims are being processed as quickly as possible.

Amanda Solloway
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
9th Dec 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on the preparedness of the planning system for the development of green hydrogen production facilities.

Officials are working to ensure the planning system is optimised to support the development of a rapidly expanding UK hydrogen economy. This includes through the BEIS Hydrogen Regulators Forum and bilateral engagement. The Government will continue to work with industry and regulators to identify, prioritise and implement any changes to the existing framework, including addressing any gaps, to support the growth of the hydrogen economy. BEIS recently consulted on the optimality of existing planning arrangements through a consultation on hydrogen transport and storage infrastructure business models and regulation, and is currently reviewing the submitted responses.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
9th Dec 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to increase the production of low-carbon hydrogen in the UK.

The Government has doubled its ambition to up to 10GW of low carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030, subject to affordability and value for money.

The Government's increased ambition will drive significant private sector investment, delivered by a strong investable proposition through the Hydrogen Production Business Model, which will help to address the key barrier to deployment, the cost gap compared to fossil fuels. The Net Zero Hydrogen Fund will also provide up to £240 million to 2025 to support the development and construction of new low carbon hydrogen production plants.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
30th Nov 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department has taken recent steps to help ensure that (a) Whitetail Clean Energy and (b) other energy projects can be deployed at full commercial scale.

The Government took a significant step forward in the Cluster Sequencing process by announcing in August a shortlist of projects that represented a range of innovative CCUS technologies to progress to the due diligence stage for Track-1. CCUS-enabled clusters will be the starting point for a new carbon capture industry, which could support up to 50,000 jobs in the UK in 2030.

Officials are speaking to representatives from shortlisted projects, including Whitetail Clean Energy, to ensure they remain on track to support the delivery of 20-30Mt per annum of CO2 capture and storage by 2030, [subject to the results of due diligence and negotiations].

The Government is also accelerating many other key energy projects, as outlined in the British Energy Security Strategy.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
22nd Nov 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department has taken recent steps to help progress (a) Whitetail Clean Energy and (b) other energy projects that would help retain (i) supply chains and (ii) decarbonisation technologies within the UK.

CCUS-enabled clusters will be the starting point for a new carbon capture industry, which could support up to 50,000 jobs in the UK in 2030. The Government took a significant step forward in the Cluster Sequencing process by announcing, in August, a shortlist of projects that represented a range of innovative CCUS technologies to progress to the due diligence stage for Track-1.

BEIS policy officials are engaging shortlisted projects to ensure they remain on track to support the delivery of 20-30Mt per annum of CO2 capture and storage by 2030.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
8th Nov 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much and what proportion of national energy demand was met by domestic sources of offshore oil and gas in each month from January to September 2022.

The table below shows the proportion of total UK energy demand met from domestic oil and gas production, alongside production and demand for each month from January to August 2022. Data for September will be published on the 24th of November 2022.

Month

Domestic oil and gas production* (million tonnes of oil equivalent)

Total energy demand (million tonnes of oil equivalent)

Domestic oil and gas production* as a % of total demand

January 2022

7.1

17.1

41%

February 2022

6.4

15.6

41%

March 2022

6.9

15.5

44%

April 2022

6.7

14.4

46%

May 2022

6.8

12.9

53%

June 2022

6.2

11.9

52%

July 2022

6.7

12.2

55%

August 2022 [provisional]

5.5

12.2

45%

* Domestic oil and gas production includes a small amount (on average less than 5% per annum) of onshore production which is not separately identified within these monthly data.

Source: Energy Trends Tables 1.1 and 1.2

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
8th Nov 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate he has made of the proportion of the offshore oil and gas workforce employed on contracts requiring a three-week on, three-week off shift pattern.

The Government does not collect data which would allow it to make such an estimate.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
8th Nov 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make an estimate of the number of offshore workers who have left the oil and gas sector for roles on higher salaries in the (a) offshore wind and (b) nuclear industry in the last three years.

The Government does not collect data which would allow it to make such estimates.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
8th Nov 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to estimate the demand for workers in the offshore oil and gas industry in the next two years.

The Government has not estimated future demand for workers in the offshore oil and gas industry over the next two years.

The sector’s trade body Offshore Energies UK produces an annual Workforce Insight Report that includes some analysis and discussion of future demand for offshore oil and gas workers. Their 2021 report can be found here : https://oeuk.org.uk/product/workforce-insight-report-2021/.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
8th Nov 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he has had recent discussions with the North Sea Transition Authority on local content in decommissioning projects in the offshore oil and gas industry.

No recent discussions have been held with the North Sea Transition Authority on local content in decommissioning projects in the offshore oil and gas industry.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
8th Nov 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what progress he has made on the development of the Offshore Energy Passport as set out in the Offshore Wind Sector Deal in March 2019.

The Offshore Wind Industry Council committed to explore qualification passporting between different offshore sectors, as part of the Offshore Wind Sector Deal.

In March 2022, a significant agreement was reached between the three organisations that oversee training and qualifications for the offshore wind sector – the Offshore Petroleum Industry Training Organisation, the Global Wind Organisation and the International Contractors Association - to align training standards enabling workforce mobility.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
8th Nov 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make it his policy to assess levels of commercial pressure on contractors employed in the production of offshore oil and gas on the UK Continental Shelf.

The Department does not currently assess levels of commercial pressure on contractors on the UK Continental Shelf.

The North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) works with industry, governments and trade associations to facilitate and promote effective collaboration with the supply chain to meet the voluntary commitments outlined in the North Sea Transition Deal, and develop a globally competitive, capable and innovative supply chain. ​These objectives are driven through the NSTA Stewardship Expectation 12, Supply Chain Action Plans (SCAPs), Energy Pathfinder, and formal supply chain stewardship reviews with operators. See weblink for more:

https://www.nstauthority.co.uk/supply-chain/overview/.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
11th Jul 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he is taking steps to encourage additional investment in the life sciences cluster in the North East.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave him today to Questions 32527 and 32528.

11th Jul 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he is taking steps to support life sciences manufacturing in the North East.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave him today to Questions 32527 and 32528.