Asked by: Carla Denyer (Green Party - Bristol Central)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether her Department plans to establish an industrial strategy to support the North Sea oil and gas supply chain to diversify into future industries.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The North Sea Future Plan set out the Government's approach to managing North Sea oil and gas production while expanding clean energy industries and supporting workers through the transition. This included measures to support supply chain businesses and investors so they can benefit from future energy projects.
The North Sea Jobs Service will support oil and gas workers to move into jobs in clean energy and other Industrial Strategy priority sectors. We are almost tripling the number of clean energy jobs in Scotland to around 60,000 by the end of the decade, creating new opportunities across the North Sea economy.
Asked by: Carla Denyer (Green Party - Bristol Central)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will provide funding to effectively support the futureproofing of North Sea oil and gas ports.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises the strategic importance of North Sea ports to both existing energy industries and future clean energy growth. Through the National Wealth Fund, at least £5.8 billion will be invested over this Parliament in sectors including ports, helping to unlock opportunities in offshore wind, hydrogen and carbon capture. This investment supports our wider commitment to creating good jobs across the UK, with more than 860,000 workers projected to be employed in clean energy sectors and their supply chains by 2030, including around 60,000 jobs in Scotland.
Asked by: Carla Denyer (Green Party - Bristol Central)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the proposed Rosebank oil field development on the UK’s obligations under international humanitarian law.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Rosebank decision is currently going through the regulatory process. The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero will make a decision in due course on whether or not to agree to the grant of consent. Final consenting decisions are the responsibility of the North Sea Transition Authority. Given the quasi-judicial nature of the regulatory process, it would be inappropriate for me to comment on specific aspects relating to the project.
Asked by: Carla Denyer (Green Party - Bristol Central)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what her planned timetable is to determine the Rosebank and Jackdaw development application decisions.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Jackdaw and Rosebank decisions are currently going through the regulatory process. The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero will make decisions in due course on whether or not to agree to the grant of consent. Final consenting decisions are the responsibility of the North Sea Transition Authority. Given the quasi-judicial nature of the regulatory process, it would be inappropriate for me to comment on specific aspects relating to the projects.
Asked by: Carla Denyer (Green Party - Bristol Central)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will include a ban on coal tip extraction in the Energy Independence Bill.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Local authorities are the primary authority for coal recovery schemes from tips through planning permission and enforcement.
The full detail of the Energy Independence Bill and its policy measures will be set out in due course when it is introduced to Parliament.
Asked by: Carla Denyer (Green Party - Bristol Central)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the existing cap on fines for offshore oil and gas companies for breaches of environmental regulations.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government expects offshore oil and gas operators to meet the highest environmental standards and supports appropriate enforcement action where non-compliance occurs. A range of enforcement powers is already available in respect of breaches of offshore environmental requirements, including civil sanctions and, where appropriate, prosecution. The Government keeps the operation of the regulatory regime under review to ensure that it remains effective, proportionate and capable of protecting the marine environment. The priority is to ensure that the existing regime operates as an effective deterrent and secures compliance with relevant offshore environmental obligations.
Asked by: Carla Denyer (Green Party - Bristol Central)
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 support the adoption of electrification across foundation industries.
Answered by Katie White - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is committed to supporting electrification across industry by addressing key barriers and enabling investment. This is a crucial aspect of delivering clean power by 2030, decarbonising UK industry and securing its long- term competitiveness.
We are continuing to develop policies to bring down electricity costs relative to gas for the industrial sector and intend to consult on options to reduce costs and make low carbon heat the economically rational choice for a wider range of businesses. Stakeholders will have a voice in shaping future electrification policy.
Asked by: Carla Denyer (Green Party - Bristol Central)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent assessment he has made of the potential emissions reductions achievable by transitioning the Scunthorpe steelworks to electric arc furnace production.
Answered by Katie White - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
No recent assessment has been made of the potential emissions reductions achievable from transitioning the Scunthorpe steelworks to electric arc furnace production. However, British Steel stated in December 2023 that moving to electric arc furnaces could reduce the carbon intensity of its steelmaking operations by around 75 per cent. More broadly, as set out in the Steel Strategy, the Government sees electric arc furnaces as the most viable form of production as traditional blast furnaces reach the end of their operational life, and we continue towards our net zero ambitions.
Asked by: Carla Denyer (Green Party - Bristol Central)
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 impact of the indexation of feed in tariffs to align with CPI rather than RPI from financial year 2026-27 on community energy schemes.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Changing indexation of the Feed‑in Tariffs scheme from RPI to CPI is estimated to reduce average revenue for a generator remaining on the scheme until 2036/37 by around 4.2%, compared with a scenario where indexation is unchanged. Generators that exit the scheme earlier would experience a smaller average impact. The available data does not allow for analysis on specific groups of generators such as community energy schemes. An analytical annex, including an assessment of the potential impacts of this policy, was published alongside the government response.
Asked by: Carla Denyer (Green Party - Bristol Central)
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 impact of the the crude oil and diesel spill from the Piper Bravo Platform on 6 January 2026 on the marine environment.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The crude oil and diesel spills on the Piper Bravo Platform on 6th January 2026 were reported to the Health & Safety Executive in accordance with their hydrocarbon release reporting requirements. Both spills were contained on the installation with no spill to the marine environment.