Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
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 planning to take to ensure that Great British Energy will work in collaboration with (a) the National Wealth Fund and (b) Great British Nuclear.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Initially, while it is established, we expect Great British Energy’s (GBE) investment activity to be undertaken by the National Wealth Fund (NWF). This will enable GBE to invest quickly and draw on the NWF's experience and pipeline of projects. As GBE scales up, we will set out how the two institutions will collaborate and complement each other.
Great British Nuclear (GBN) will remain an independent sister company to GBE. The Government is considering how GBE and GBN can work best together to ensure that the UK achieves energy security and clean power whilst securing thousands of skilled jobs.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department is taking steps to (a) invest in nuclear fusion and (b) expand the use of small modular nuclear reactors.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
At the Autumn Budget the Government announced significant support in 2025-26 for UK fusion energy research, to build on the UK’s position as a global leader in fusion energy. On small modular reactors (SMRs), the government welcomes the opportunity for SMRs to play a wider role in Britain’s clean energy future. In addition to the SMR competition being delivered by Great British Nuclear, the government is considering responses on new uses of nuclear energy as part of the Alternative Routes to Market consultation for Advanced Nuclear Technologies and will publish a factual response in due course.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to construct grid connections for Sizewell C.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The policy position outlined in the National Energy System Operator (“NESO”) open letter [https://www.neso.energy/document/349496/download] (published 10th December 2024) indicates that, given Sizewell C received planning consent in July 2022, the existing arrangements for Sizewell C grid connection should be eligible to be grandfathered, subject to NESO’s proposals for reforming the connections process being approved by Ofgem and taking effect.
National Grid Electricity Transmission has also confirmed that Sizewell C will retain the same enabling works identified in previous connection agreements (2007-2009).
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department is taking steps to extend the operation of existing nuclear power plants beyond 2030.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
EDF have recently announced extensions to the Advance Gas-cooled Reactor nuclear power stations. Heysham 1 and Hartlepool are now expected to operate until March 2027 and Heysham 2 and Torness are now expected to operate until March 2030. Sizewell B is currently scheduled to operate until 2035.
The Government is not involved in the decision-making process to extend the operating lifetime of nuclear power stations. The recent decisions to extend the Advance Gas-cooled Reactor fleet have been taken by EDF based on safety and commercial assessments.
As set out in our Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, nuclear will continue to play a key role in the energy system out to 2030 and beyond with the operation of Sizewell B and delivery of Hinkley Point C.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what his planned timetable is for announcing Green Industries Growth Accelerator grants.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises the need for strong, home-grown clean energy supply chains to support sustainable jobs and secure growth as we decarbonise our economy.
As part of the of next year’s Industrial Strategy, the Government is developing plans, aligned with the multi-year Spending Review, for each of the key growth sectors, which include Clean Energy technologies.
These sector plans will set out how Government and industry intend to achieve long-term growth through bespoke arrangements for each sector.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what progress he has made on the Green Industries Growth Accelerator programme.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises the need for strong, home-grown clean energy supply chains to support sustainable jobs and secure growth as we decarbonise our economy.
As part of the of next year’s Industrial Strategy, the Government is developing plans, aligned with the multi-year Spending Review, for each of the key growth sectors, which include Clean Energy technologies.
These sector plans will set out how Government and industry intend to achieve long-term growth through bespoke arrangements for each sector.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to construct grid connections for North Lincolnshire Energy Park.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Northern Powergrid (NPg) and National Grid Electricity Transmission are responsible for the construction of the connections. I understand from NPg that the connection infrastructure is expected to be completed in 2027. Energisation dates will be specific to each customer in the energy park.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate his Department has made of the requirement for imported Liquified Natural Gas in each year between 2025 and 2030.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We expect UK gas demand to continue declining as we make Britain a clean energy superpower and accelerate to net zero. While the Department routinely assesses a range of factors that could impact future energy security, we do not hold departmental estimates on required volumes of imported LNG between 2025 and 2030.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on the number and proportion of 999 calls that were made in Scotland and handled by an Ambulance Service in England and Wales since 2020.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The information requested is not held by the Department.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the impact of the proposed increase in national insurance contributions on general practices in Scotland.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We have taken necessary decisions to fix the foundations in the public finances at Autumn Budget 2024, which enabled the Spending Review settlement of a £22.6 billion increase in resource spending for the Department from 2023/24 outturn to 2025/26. The employer national insurance rise will be implemented in April 2025, with the Department setting out further details on allocation of funding for next year in due course.
Whilst the Department holds some reserved functions, health is predominantly devolved. This includes the National Health Service in Scotland, which is therefore the responsibility of the Scottish Government.
It is for the devolved governments to allocate their funding across devolved areas as they see fit, and they are accountable to their respective legislatures for the decisions they take.