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 he has held recent discussions with his US counterpart on whether wood pellets exported to the UK meet the UK’s sustainability criteria.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero engages regularly with international counterparts on a number of issues.
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 meetings he has had with the US Agriculture Secretary since 4 July 2024.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero engages regularly with international counterparts on a number of issues.
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 taking to ensure that energy generators accurately report sources of wood pellets from the US.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Biomass generators are required to submit monthly sustainability data and annual audit reports from an independent verifier under existing subsidy arrangements. These data returns are scrutinised by Ofgem, and include compliance with land and GHG greenhouse gas (GHG) emission criteria, volume of biomass, fuel name, fuel type and voluntary certification scheme used. This applies to biomass sourced from the UK, US or any other nation.
At the announcement of the new Heads of Terms with Drax on 10 February, we made clear that sustainability assurance arrangements for future large-scale generation will be strengthened further. We are working closely with expert bodies including Ofgem, LCCC and SBP to enhance reporting, ensuring best practice in sustainability and land use.
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 ensure that wood pellets from the US are not sourced from (a) environmentally important and (b) rare forests.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Existing sustainability requirements for current subsidy arrangements include robust land-use criteria to ensure biomass is sourced from sustainably managed forests. This includes requirements around sustainable harvesting and biodiversity protection. Ofgem, as the independent energy regulator, is responsible for monitoring profiling data on land criteria and enforcing wider sustainability standards.
To further reduce the risk of wood pellets being sourced from environmentally significant areas, we will be excluding material sourced from primary and old growth forest from being eligible for subsidy under the proposed Heads of Terms with Drax announced on the 10th February.
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 has made a comparative estimate of carbon emissions when using (a) US produced and (b) UK produced wood pellets.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
All biomass pellets for UK generation, regardless of country of origin, must meet supply chain emissions thresholds; these have been tightened further to 36.6 gCO2eq/MJ in the Heads of Terms agreed with Drax and announced on 10 February.
It is for generators to determine how and where to source compliant sustainable biomass pellets to meet the required volumes of generation.
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 potential impact of transatlantic shipments of wood pellets on carbon emissions.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The government sets robust supply chain emissions thresholds as part of the sustainability criteria for large-scale biomass generation. Shipping, and all other transport, emissions are included in that requirement. As announced on 10 February, the supply chain emissions threshold for eligible large scale biomass generators is proposed to be tightened further under proposed arrangements with Drax, from 55.6 gCO2e/MJ to 36.6 gCO2e/MJ.
It is for individual generators to determine how and where to source sufficient, eligible material to meet the requirements set out by government.
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 assessment his Department has made of the sustainability of using US-produced wood pellets for energy generation in the UK.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The government only supports the use of sustainable biomass, and generators only receive subsidies for biomass that meets our robust sustainability criteria. Domestically sourced and imported wood pellets, regardless of the country of origin, are subject to the sustainability requirements in the current subsidy arrangements for biomass generators, which include supply chain emission thresholds and land-use criteria.
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 agreements he has made with the US Government on the potential import of wood pellets.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government does not enter into agreements with other governments on the supply of biomass for UK power generation. Rather, it sets sustainability criteria which must be met for generation to be eligible for subsidy, and it is for individual generators to determine how and where to source material to meet these requirements.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, with reference to StandWithUs' report entitled StandWithUs UK Report: Voice of Students 2024/25 Report, published in May 2025, if he will have discussions with vice chancellors of universities in Scotland on antisemitism on campuses.
Answered by Ian Murray - Secretary of State for Scotland
The Scotland Office and I meet regularly with Scottish universities on a wide range of issues and this Government utterly condemns antisemitism in the strongest possible terms. We are committed to ensuring a safe learning environment for all students while upholding freedom of speech and academic freedom on campus.
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 taking to ensure the North Sea Transition Authority maximises the economic recovery of oil and gas in the North Sea.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department is responsible for the policy framework within which the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) operates. The OGA Strategy outlines how the NSTA’s principal objective will be met. The NSTA does so in several ways – for example, facilitating collaboration across the basin.
The Building the North Sea’s Energy Future consultation, which closed on 30 April 2025, sought views on whether the NSTA’s principal objective of maximising economic recovery adequately reflects the current context in the North Sea and supports the Government’s strategic objectives. The Government will respond in due course.