Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
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 support homeowners that had lcynene spray foam insultation installed under the Green Homes Grant scheme.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Any measures fitted under government schemes must be fitted to the highest standards with issues promptly and properly rectified. Installations of any insulation under current Government schemes must be installed in accordance with the PAS 2030 and PAS 2035 standards. In any instance where insulation is installed improperly under a government-backed scheme, consumers are entitled to remediation by their installer or, failing that, the insurance-backed guarantee.
If installed under a government scheme the TrustMark website contains further guidance on how consumers can complain if things go wrong and the dispute resolution process: https://www.trustmark.org.uk/homeowners/if-things-go-wrong.
Ministers will now press ahead with a sweeping overhaul of consumer protection through the Warm Homes Plan.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
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 promote renewable energy opportunities on the Isle of Sark.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Sark, a self-governing jurisdiction within the Crown Dependency of Bailiwick of Guernsey, is responsible for its own domestic affairs, including energy policy. The Government recognises the role of local energy initiatives in Sark and the need to improve and modernise their electricity grid. While there have been discussions between Sark and the UK Government regarding their investment needs, as Sark is outside of the UK, there is limited scope for direct support from DESNZ.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
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 promote energy self sufficiency on Sark.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Sark, a self-governing jurisdiction within the Crown Dependency of Bailiwick of Guernsey, is responsible for its own domestic affairs, including energy policy. The Government recognises the role of local energy initiatives in Sark and the need to improve and modernise their electricity grid. While there have been discussions between Sark and the UK Government regarding their investment needs, as Sark is outside of the UK, there is limited scope for direct support from DESNZ.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing legislation to ban the use of open fridges in supermarkets.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Regulations for products and appliances are covered by the Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products Regulations 2010 and are routinely reviewed by government. There is no work planned to amend the relevant regulation for commercial refrigeration at the present time.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
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 selection process for Small Modular Reactors.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Since summer 2023, Great British Nuclear (GBN) has been administering a small modular reactor technology selection process for UK deployment, and as announced at Autumn Budget in October, four vendors have been invited to negotiate.
Once negotiations have concluded, the companies will be invited to submit final tenders, which GBN will then evaluate. Final decisions will be taken in the spring.
GBN is working to a timeline that enables a robust process underpinned by fairness and transparency and ensures any selected technology provides best value for money.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what support his Department provides for (a) wind and (b) solar power in the Overseas Territories.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) leads the relationship with the Overseas Territories, and any work this Department has conducted in this area has been done via FCDO.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether the North Sea Transition Authority plans to award new licences for the (a) production and (b) extraction of oil and gas.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government will consult later this year on the implementation of our manifesto position not to issue new oil and gas licences to explore new fields.
The North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) has independently paused issuing any invitations to apply for new licences (including out-of-rounds invitations) pending the finalisation of the process related to delivery of the manifesto commitment and the plans for new environmental guidance for oil and gas firms.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether the Coal Authority plans to award new licences for the (a) mining and (b) extraction of coal.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Our manifesto was clear on our intention to not grant new coal licences, and we are exploring avenues to achieve this. We want to end coal licensing to support our net zero ambitions and our priority to lead on international climate action, based on our domestic achievements.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make supporting the growth of community-based renewable energy schemes an aim of Great British Energy.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Great British Energy’s Founding Statement is clear that the Local Power Plan will be one of Great British Energy’s core functions. Through the Local Power Plan, Great British Energy will support local and combined authorities – as well as community energy groups – to roll out small and medium-scale renewable energy projects. The Secretary of State will have the ability to set Great British Energy’s strategic priorities to ensure it remains focused on the Government’s aim to accelerate the delivery of homegrown clean energy. The Secretary of State will set out Great British Energy’s strategic priorities in due course.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
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 on the potential merits of the use of heat batteries in decarbonising homes.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Heat batteries are one of the most promising alternative electric heating technologies: they utilise time of use tariffs, do not require outside space and are cheaper to install than heat pumps in some circumstances.
However, they are less efficient than heat pumps and use more energy to meet the same heating demand. Although they can generally be charged off-peak, if a battery does not have sufficient storage capacity to meet heat demand it could draw electricity at peak times and add to the burden on the electricity network.
The government will continue to assess the evidence base as it develops.