Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment has been made of the relative cost to the public purse of (a) providing transitional support for landfill gas generation and (b) responsible parties bearing the unsupported cost of flaring once generation ceases.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Landfill Directive (1999/31/EC) requires landfill operators to manage gas emissions to minimise risks to human health and the environment, including through flaring or, to the extent possible, by generating electricity from captured methane.
The Renewables Obligation (RO) incentivises methane capture through support for electricity generation. As the RO comes to an end, government is exploring options for a long-term methane capture support scheme, including appropriate transitional arrangements.
Any future support will be subject to robust value-for-money assessments, taking account of economic and environmental impacts.
We will shortly consult on possible transitional arrangements.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what his planned timetable is for taking a decision on transitional arrangements for landfill gas operation before the closure of the Renewables Obligation in April 2027.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Government is aware that the commercial viability of some landfill gas sites may be affected when the Renewables Obligation begins to expire from 2027.
DESNZ will shortly consult on proposals and an anticipated delivery timetable for a possible transitional scheme. A decision on whether to proceed with the scheme will be made following the consultation process.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to adopt recommendation 3 of the report Backdoors to Britain, published by the honourable Member for Mid Bedfordshire on 4 March 2026.
Answered by Mike Tapp
The Government keeps the sponsorship system under review.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to adopt recommendation 1 of the report Backdoors to Britain, published by the honourable Member for Mid Bedfordshire on 4 March 2026.
Answered by Mike Tapp
The Government keeps the sponsorship system under review.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to adopt recommendation 4 of the report Backdoors to Britain, published by the honourable Member for Mid Bedfordshire on 4 March 2026.
Answered by Mike Tapp
The Government keeps the sponsorship system under review.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to adopt recommendation 2 of the report Backdoors to Britain, published by the honourable Member for Mid Bedfordshire on 4 March 2026.
Answered by Mike Tapp
The Government keeps the sponsorship system under review.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps her Department has taken to increase the supply of (a) sustainable aviation fuel and( b) domestic aviation fuel production.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Low Carbon Fuels Fund (LCFF) will support UK sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) supply by funding first-of-a-kind SAF production plants through the project pipeline to aid their commercialisation. Up to £219m has been made available through to 2029/30, with the first competition window opening this summer. The LCFF will build on the work of the Advanced Fuels Fund, which allocated over £198m to support private investment in 21 UK SAF projects between 2022 and 2026.
We are working closely with the aviation industry and international partners to monitor risks and support resilient aviation fuel supplies.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to adopt Recommendation 9 of the report Backdoors to Britain, published by the hon. Member for Mid Bedfordshire on 4 March 2026.
Answered by Mike Tapp
The Government keeps the immigration system under review.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to adopt Recommendation 8 of the report Backdoors to Britain, published by the hon. Member for Mid Bedfordshire on 4 March 2026.
Answered by Mike Tapp
The Government keeps the immigration system under review.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to adopt Recommendation 7 of the report Backdoors to Britain, published by the hon. Member for Mid Bedfordshire on 4 March 2026.
Answered by Mike Tapp
The Government keeps the immigration system under review.