Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with the Financial Conduct Authority on strengthening climate-related disclosure requirements within IPO documentation for fossil fuel companies.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

Last year, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) delivered an ambitious modernisation of the UK’s listing rules, to bring the UK in line with international best practice. From 19 January 2026, the UK’s new Prospectus regime will cut the paperwork firms need to produce when they IPO and raise capital, while providing better, more relevant information to investors.

The government’s work to finalise the UK Sustainability Reporting Standards (UK SRS) is a core part of the government’s ambition to make the UK a global hub for green and transition finance activity. These standards are based on the interoperable standards published by the International Sustainability Standards Board in June 2023 and aim to support long-term investor decision making by providing high quality and comparable information and on sustainability-related risks and opportunities that businesses face.

The government consultation on UK SRS closed on 17 September. The government is currently processing feedback and will publish its response in due course along with the final set of standards for voluntary use. Separately, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has announced that they will be consulting soon on how UK SRS is applied to publicly listed companies.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to ensure that the new UK listing regime is aligned with climate and net zero policies, while maintaining investor protection and market integrity.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

Last year, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) delivered an ambitious modernisation of the UK’s listing rules, to bring the UK in line with international best practice. From 19 January 2026, the UK’s new Prospectus regime will cut the paperwork firms need to produce when they IPO and raise capital, while providing better, more relevant information to investors.

The government’s work to finalise the UK Sustainability Reporting Standards (UK SRS) is a core part of the government’s ambition to make the UK a global hub for green and transition finance activity. These standards are based on the interoperable standards published by the International Sustainability Standards Board in June 2023 and aim to support long-term investor decision making by providing high quality and comparable information and on sustainability-related risks and opportunities that businesses face.

The government consultation on UK SRS closed on 17 September. The government is currently processing feedback and will publish its response in due course along with the final set of standards for voluntary use. Separately, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has announced that they will be consulting soon on how UK SRS is applied to publicly listed companies.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to ensure that the UK listings requirements for fossil fuel companies are consistent with (a) the Supreme Court ruling in Finch v Surrey County Council and (b) the International Court of Justice’s Advisory Opinion, which both require Scope 3 emissions to be included in project Environmental Impact Assessments.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

Last year, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) delivered an ambitious modernisation of the UK’s listing rules, to bring the UK in line with international best practice. From 19 January 2026, the UK’s new Prospectus regime will cut the paperwork firms need to produce when they IPO and raise capital, while providing better, more relevant information to investors.

The government’s work to finalise the UK Sustainability Reporting Standards (UK SRS) is a core part of the government’s ambition to make the UK a global hub for green and transition finance activity. These standards are based on the interoperable standards published by the International Sustainability Standards Board in June 2023 and aim to support long-term investor decision making by providing high quality and comparable information and on sustainability-related risks and opportunities that businesses face.

The government consultation on UK SRS closed on 17 September. The government is currently processing feedback and will publish its response in due course along with the final set of standards for voluntary use. Separately, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has announced that they will be consulting soon on how UK SRS is applied to publicly listed companies.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will steps he will take to prevent Drax power station from burning old growth forest wood in its power station between now and 2027.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

We work closely with Ofgem on monitoring environmental regulations and forestry practices in areas where biomass is sourced to ensure the sustainability of the feedstock coming to the UK.

In October 2023 Drax adopted a policy of not sourcing material directly from old growth areas in British Columbia for Drax Power Station in Selby. As a result of Ofgem’s investigation, Drax are currently conducting a global review of their supply chain through an independent auditor. We will carefully consider the results of this audit.

From 2027 onwards, the new Low Carbon Dispatchable Contract for Difference strengthens sustainability requirements by ensuring no subsidy is paid for electricity generated from primary material harvested from primary forest or old growth areas.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether in implementing Schedule 17 of the Environment Act 2021 the government can strengthen the provisions of the Act to include an absolute standard of deforestation rather than focussing on producer country legality and whether this can be done in secondary legislation or would require an amendment to the Act itself.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The forest risk commodities regime in the Environment Act 2021 extends only to commodities that are illegally produced.

The Government recognises the urgency of taking action to ensure that UK consumption of forest risk commodities is not driving deforestation. The Government is actively considering the best regulatory approach to address deforestation in UK supply chains; we will set out this approach in due course.

Habitat regulations

Cumulative disruption proposals and the right to protest

Proposal for a wealth tax

Two-child limit

Freezing of Local Housing Allowance

Found: Barry Gardiner: Thank you.

Found: Barry Gardiner: Thank you.

Found: Sheffield Hallam) Julia Buckley (Labour; Shrewsbury) Carla Denyer (Green Party; Bristol Central) Barry Gardiner

Found: Barry Gardiner: It all comes out now.

Found: meeting Members present: Mr Toby Perkins (Chair); Olivia Blake; Julia Buckley; Carla Denyer; Barry Gardiner