Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether his Department has had recent discussions with local authorities in Scotland on the Union Flag.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The UK Government issues flag flying guidance for UK Government buildings across the UK. Local Government is a devolved matter in Scotland. The Scottish Government issues its own guidance for Scottish Government buildings in which it states that local authority buildings and schools in Scotland are not affected by these guidelines. The matter of flag flying remains one for individual local authorities in Scotland to determine.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what steps he is taking to promote the Union Flag as a symbol of unity.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The UK Government issues flag flying guidance for UK Government buildings across the UK. Local Government is a devolved matter in Scotland. The Scottish Government issues its own guidance for Scottish Government buildings in which it states that local authority buildings and schools in Scotland are not affected by these guidelines. The matter of flag flying remains one for individual local authorities in Scotland to determine.
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, if he will publish the previous Government’s cost impact assessment for building a gigawatt scale nuclear plant at Wylfa.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Great British Energy–Nuclear acquired the Wylfa site last year and we will set out our plans in due course. No decision has yet been taken on whether to pursue a future large-scale project beyond Sizewell C, but all nuclear projects are subject to a detailed value for money assessment, including cost.
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 he has made of the size of the UK’s gas reserves in each year between 2025 and 2030.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Data on UK gas reserves is published in Energy in Brief; data for 2024 will be published on 31st July 2025. The North Sea Transition Authority publish projected production between 2025 and 2050.
The Midstream Gas System: Update to the Market published on 30th June highlights the government's focus on ensuring the resilience of gas supply and infrastructure as domestic production declines.
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 he has made of the potential impact of building a gigawatt scale nuclear plant at Wylfa on the (a) Welsh economy and (b) UK energy supply.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
No decision has yet been taken on whether to pursue a future large-scale project beyond Sizewell C or where such a project would be located. Therefore, the government has not carried out an assessment of the economic impact of any future project on the Welsh economy. However, by comparison, Hinkley Point C supports about 10,000 jobs during construction and will support approximately 900 permanent jobs during its 60 years of operation.
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 he has made of the potential contribution of heat networks in achieving the UK’s net zero targets as part of the 10-year Infrastructure Strategy.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government recognises that to achieve net-zero we will need to ensure all technologies including heat networks are able to meet their potential. The 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy will reduce uncertainty by bringing together a long-term plan for the social, economic and housing infrastructure across the UK. This will include clean energy sectors, which include heat networks. We will set out our long-term plans for heat networks in the Warm Homes Plan later this year, including the important role that they will play in achieving net zero, and in promoting local economic growth.
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 the contribution of heat networks will be included in the 10-year Infrastructure Strategy.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government recognises that to achieve net-zero we will need to ensure all technologies including heat networks are able to meet their potential. The 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy will reduce uncertainty by bringing together a long-term plan for the social, economic and housing infrastructure across the UK. This will include clean energy sectors, which include heat networks. We will set out our long-term plans for heat networks in the Warm Homes Plan later this year, including the important role that they will play in achieving net zero, and in promoting local economic growth.
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 he has made of the potential impact of heat networks on infrastructure-led economic growth.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The deployment of heat networks is predicted to have a positive impact on economic growth in the UK, however a full assessment of the scale of growth has not yet been undertaken. We will set out our long-term plans for heat networks in the Warm Homes Plan later this year, including the important role that they will play in achieving net zero, and in promoting economic growth.
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 - Minister 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 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 - Minister 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.