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 future needs of research and development for advanced modular reactors.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department commissioned the Nuclear Innovation and Research Advisory Board (NIRAB) to produce a report on the Research Development & Innovation required for a UK High Temperature Gas Reactor Demonstration in October 2024. This can be found at https://www.nirab.org.uk/our-work/publications and explores both the technical and commercial areas for development to enable an Advanced Modular Reactor in the UK.
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 discussions his Department had with industry stakeholders before withdrawing legal support for the Rosebank and Jackdaw projects.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Details of Ministers' and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.
Published declarations include the purpose of the meeting and the names of any additional external organisations or individuals in attendance.
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, how the remit of Great British Nuclear will interact with Great British Energy.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Considering the importance of the two entities’ remits, Great British Nuclear and Great British Energy will remain independent sister companies for the time being to ensure that both organisations are best placed to deliver on the government’s ambitions for energy security and our pathway to net zero. The Government will provide further detail 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, how much investment his Department plans to allocate to (a) training centres, (b) training courses and (c) training advisors in the nuclear industry.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is committed to ensuring that the UK nuclear industry has the necessary skills needed to deliver our nuclear ambitions.
Recognising the need to act now to grow the workforce, the nuclear sector across civil and defence are collaborating to deliver sustained long-term action that will develop a robust nuclear skills base, including through the delivery of the National Nuclear Strategic Plan for Skills.
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 engage with the public on the renewable energy industry.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
This government is committed to ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to contribute to the transition to net zero, supporting people and communities to take action and realise the benefits.
For large-scale renewable electricity developments, we encourage developers to engage with local communities at the earliest opportunity. We will integrate best practice principles of engagement into planning guidance, so that when developers consult with the local community on a proposed project, they do so in a considered, inclusive and responsive manner. We also use the Public Attitudes Tracker to poll the public on their views regarding renewable technologies on a quarterly basis.
We will publish a Net Zero Public Participation Strategy in 2025, which will set out how we will support people to adopt new technologies, as well as opportunities to ensure that public views are considered in policy development.
Government can’t achieve this alone. People also look to businesses, charities, scientists and local communities for advice and support. We have an opportunity to work in partnership to provide information, help people access grants and wider support and ensure that benefits of the net zero transition can be realised by all.
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, for what reason his Department withdrew legal support for the Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gas projects.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
In August, in light of the Supreme Court Finch Judgment, the government accepted that the previous Environmental Impact Assessment decisions were unlawful. That decision was made following the taking of legal advice, the contents of which are privileged.
In any event, all parties to Rosebank and Jackdaw claims, including the operators themselves, agreed that the previous decisions were unlawful. The Court has now confirmed this, and made provision for fresh decisions to be made 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, how much public investment has been committed to the development of a High Temperature Gas Reactor with the Japanese Government.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Public funding provided by DESNZ is laid out in DESNZ annual reports and accounts.
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 engage with the public on the nuclear energy industry.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The department regularly engages with the public on nuclear energy policy matters.
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, how many people have successfully obtained employment using the Energy Skills Passport.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The initial version of the Energy Skills Passport was launched on 22nd January 2025. As with all policies, DESNZ will be assessing the impact of the project and will use these findings to inform how the project evolves going forward.
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, how many Energy Skills Passports have been issued in each UK region since its introduction.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The initial version of the Energy Skills Passport was launched on 22nd January 2025 with DESNZ having come onboard as a project partner to accelerate delivery in October 2024. The passport is a tool which can be accessed by workers across the country, but the initial version focuses on oil and gas workers looking to transition into certain roles in offshore wind.
As with all policies, DESNZ will be assessing the impact of the project and will use these findings to inform how the project evolves going forward.