Climate Change: Government Action

Baroness Bloomfield of Hinton Waldrist Excerpts

Tuesday 19th May 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Whitehead (Lab)]

The question of food production is obviously bound up, among other things, with how the environment of our country is changing due to the effects of climate change and what effect that has on crops and food production security in general. The Government are actively involved in ensuring that the way we produce food is brought up to date with the changes that are taking place and, indeed, giving support to farmers and agricultural communities in making those changes. It is a very important part not just of the mitigation of climate change but of adaptation, and that is something that the Government take very seriously.

[Baroness Bloomfield of Hinton Waldrist (Con)]

My Lords, Drax emits more than 13 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, more than the six largest gas power plants combined. Despite this, it has recently been reported that it is ditching its plans for carbon capture and storage technology. Given this fact, and that Drax receives nearly £0.5 billion in supposedly green subsidies, can the Minister outline whether the Government are reconsidering the entitlements they currently offer the power station?

[Lord Whitehead (Lab)]

The noble Baroness will understand that the arrangements that were made for Drax as far as the period up to 2032 is concerned are half as costly as the support arrangements for Drax which were made under the previous Government and they require Drax to produce much less power and be a marginal power producer, along with other power stations, rather than the baseline arrangements that there were previously. The Government have acted to both curtail and balance what Drax is doing, but this agreement ends in 2032 if Drax does not undertake further activities to ameliorate its emissions from biomass—which, admittedly, is lower carbon in the first place—so watch this space. The present arrangement is running its course on a better basis than previously, but there is undoubtedly more to come if Drax does not stand by its obligations for the future.