Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent West)
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 transparency over contract terms agreed with Lynemouth under new low-carbon dispatchable power arrangements.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We are in discussions with Lynemouth Power Station to assess whether a Low Carbon Dispatchable Contract for Difference agreement could appropriately support security of supply and deliver value for consumers. Should we proceed following a full internal decision-making process with an agreement the core elements of the Heads of Terms will be announced prior to the publication of the full contract in due course.
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent West)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the answer of 21 November 2025 to question 90099, what his evidential basis is for Drax's policy of not sourcing material directly from old growth areas; and whether his Department has the same definition of old growth forest as Drax.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government’s definition of old-growth forest is set out in the terms of the new Low-Carbon Dispatchable Contract for Difference published by the Low Carbon Contracts Company (LCCC) on 1 December. From 2027 there is no reliance on any other definition for determining eligibility subsidy.
Any breaches of the contractual restriction on sourcing biomass directly from old-growth forest will result in significant financial penalties and could lead to termination of the contract for serious or repeated breaches. The contract also contains strengthened Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) measures, and gives LCCC powers to conduct audits throughout the biomass supply chain.
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent West)
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 new contracts for biomass do not lead to long-term reliance on imported feedstocks.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
It is for generators to ensure they can source sufficient biomass to meet generation requirements and sustainability standards set out in Government support schemes.
The new low-carbon dispatchable CfD with Drax incorporates strengthened sustainability standards, including a reduction in the allowable supply chain emissions threshold from 50gCO2e/MJ to 36.6gCO2e/MJ, regardless of where material is sourced.
The UK does not have sufficient forest capacity to meet current and projected short-term demand for bioenergy feedstocks. The majority of biomass imported currently is a byproduct of the wider timber industry.
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent West)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether biomass subsidies are compatible with the recommendations of the Independent Review of the UK's Greenhouse Gas Removal Strategy.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Independent Review considered the long-term potential for greenhouse gas removals and recommended that the UK adopt a strategic aim to minimise the use of imported biomass. The sourcing of biomass is a commercial decision for generators. However, under the terms of the new short-term Low Carbon Dispatchable Contract for Difference with Drax, large-scale biomass will play a much more limited role in the power system, operating less than half as often as it currently does. This will result in a reduction in the UK’s reliance on imported biomass feedstock going forward.
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent West)
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 help tackle deforestation, air pollution and community health impacts linked to imported biomass supply chains.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The new Low-Carbon Dispatchable Contract for Difference strengthens environmental protections, and enhances monitoring, reporting and verification of compliance. The government has recently published the common biomass sustainability framework consultation. The proposals we are consulting on will ensure that the highest industry standards continue to apply to biomass power generation in the UK.
International biomass supply chain operations are licensed and regulated in the jurisdiction in which they are situated. We have ongoing engagement with relevant authorities regarding the full range of sustainability, environmental and other relevant matters.
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent West)
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.
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent West)
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.
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent West)
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.
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent West)
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.
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent West)
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.