Asked by: Brian Leishman (Labour - Alloa and Grangemouth)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what engagement the UK government has had with the trade unions representing the workers at ExxonMobil Mossmorran.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Both UK government Ministers and officials have engaged extensively with ExxonMobil regarding the Mossmorran Fife Ethylene Plant.
Following the closure announcement, Ministers met with Unite and GMB union representatives to discuss workforce support options.
The UK Government has not had access to ExxonMobil's internal management accounts for Mossmorran operations.
Asked by: Brian Leishman (Labour - Alloa and Grangemouth)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what access the UK government has had to the business accounts of ExxonMobil at Mossmorran.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Both UK government Ministers and officials have engaged extensively with ExxonMobil regarding the Mossmorran Fife Ethylene Plant.
Following the closure announcement, Ministers met with Unite and GMB union representatives to discuss workforce support options.
The UK Government has not had access to ExxonMobil's internal management accounts for Mossmorran operations.
Asked by: Brian Leishman (Labour - Alloa and Grangemouth)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what engagement the UK government has had with ExxonMobil.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Both UK government Ministers and officials have engaged extensively with ExxonMobil regarding the Mossmorran Fife Ethylene Plant.
Following the closure announcement, Ministers met with Unite and GMB union representatives to discuss workforce support options.
The UK Government has not had access to ExxonMobil's internal management accounts for Mossmorran operations.
Asked by: Brian Leishman (Labour - Alloa and Grangemouth)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether the UK Hydrogen Strategy will consider the strategic potential of Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Government continues to consider a range of potential hydrogen carriers, including Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers (LOHCs), and their role in the transport, storage and trade of hydrogen. While we cannot comment on the contents of the Hydrogen Strategy ahead of its publication, we welcome further evidence and engagement from stakeholders on the strategic potential of LOHCs.
Asked by: Brian Leishman (Labour - Alloa and Grangemouth)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what comparative assessment his Department has made of the costs of (a) Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers and (b) geological storage for hydrogen in the UK.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Government continues to develop its evidence base on the costs of hydrogen storage and consider the potential role of using hydrogen storage across the hydrogen value chain. The previous Government’s Hydrogen Transport and Storage Cost Report (2023) includes a comparative assessment of the expected levelised cost of above ground and geological storage. The International Energy Agency’s Global Hydrogen Review (2023) includes an assessment of the potential levelised cost of Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers used for international trade.
Asked by: Brian Leishman (Labour - Alloa and Grangemouth)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if his Department plans to amend its Hydrogen Storage Business Model to include Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier storage.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Whilst chemical storage technologies such as liquid organic hydrogen carriers may have a role to play, such as for users with limited access to large-scale storage, there are no plans to include this type of storage in the initial allocation of the storage business model.
The business model focus on large-scale geological storage is because we consider this type of storage essential to establishing the UK’s first regional hydrogen network as it can provide greater storage capacity and best support energy security. This type of storage is unlikely to be built without government support.
Asked by: Brian Leishman (Labour - Alloa and Grangemouth)
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 help support businesses to invest in (a) Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers and (b) other chemical hydrogen storage, including revenue certainty.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers, and other chemical hydrogen storage, is a nascent technology that the Government has previously supported through the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio.
As the Government considers geological storage to be the most strategic value to the hydrogen economy in the near-term, this will be the focus of the Hydrogen Storage Business Model. The Government will however continue to review technological developments and in the long-term, a mix of storage technologies with complementary characteristics may be required to support the development of the hydrogen economy.
Asked by: Brian Leishman (Labour - Alloa and Grangemouth)
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 of the potential merits of Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier conversion projects being eligible for Net Zero Hydrogen Fund grant funding.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Net Zero Hydrogen Fund was designed to bring forward the first UK low carbon hydrogen production projects, and was not intended to support other parts of the hydrogen value chain, such as hydrogen carriers. It made its final funding allocations in 2023.
Asked by: Brian Leishman (Labour - Alloa and Grangemouth)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will have discussions with the Financial Conduct Authority to ensure that (a) Vulnerability Assessments and (b) a Consumer Duty Review are conducted before the withdrawal of the Family Protection Plan by C Mutual and Maiden Life Försäkrings.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
It is for the FCA as the regulator of financial services to decide whether to take any steps in relation to this issue and I can confirm that HMT has asked the FCA to look into this matter. The FCA will respond directly to the Honourable Member by letter. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Asked by: Brian Leishman (Labour - Alloa and Grangemouth)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will liaise with the Financial Conduct Authority to prevent the removal of the Family Protection Plan by C Mutual and Maiden Life Försäkrings until policy holders have secured alternative provision.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
It is for the FCA as the regulator of financial services to decide whether to take any steps in relation to this issue and I can confirm that HMT has asked the FCA to look into this matter. The FCA will respond directly to the Honourable Member by letter. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.