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 he has made an assessment of the potential impact of opening new oil and gas fields in the North Sea on the Paris Agreement goal to limit the global average temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
At COP28, the UK and others agreed to transition away from fossil fuels in an orderly and equitable manner, accelerating action in this critical decade. This is essential to keep the global temperature limit of 1.5°C within reach. The Government has acted swiftly to consult on new environmental guidance for oil and gas firms to ensure that the impact of burning oil and gas is considered in the Environmental Impact Assessment for new projects.
The Government will consult on the implementation of its manifesto position, not to issue new oil and gas licences to explore new fields, in due course.
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 his Department plans to publish a consultation on licences to explore new oil and gas fields.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government will consult on its commitment to not issue new oil and gas licences to explore new fields in due course.
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, pursuant to the Answer of 10 January 2025 to Question 21077 on Ithaca Energy: Occupied Territories, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of reports that the Rosebank oil field’s minority owner is owned by a firm operating in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
There are no current plans to make such assessment.
We routinely update our guidance to British businesses on the Overseas Business Risk website.
We advise British businesses to bear in mind the British Government's view on the illegality of settlements under international law when considering their investments and activities in the region.
Asked by: Carla Denyer (Green Party - Bristol Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his plans to provide mental health professionals in schools include access to children and young people’s counsellors trained to Level 4 Diploma of Higher Education in counselling with clinical experience of working with children and young people.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We know that waits for mental health services are far too long, including for children and young people.
That is why we will recruit 8,500 additional mental health workers across children and adult mental health services, and introduce a specialist mental health professional in every school
We are not considering counsellors trained to Level 4 Diploma of Higher Education in counselling for these roles, however children and young people can be referred to higher qualified professionals if needs identified.
Asked by: Carla Denyer (Green Party - Bristol Central)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has had discussions with representatives of the Five Eyes on the potential implications for that community of President-elect Donald Trump’s plan to appoint Tulsi Gabbard as US Director of National Intelligence.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The US is our closest security ally and, as you would expect, we maintain an open and ongoing dialogue on a range of defence issues. The intelligence we share bilaterally and through alliances such as the Five Eyes is fundamental to our own national security.
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 he has had discussions with the Foreign Secretary about the potential implications for his Department’s policies of reports the Rosebank oil field’s minority owner is owned by a firm operating in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
My Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State has regular discussions with Ministerial Colleagues on a number of issues.
Asked by: Carla Denyer (Green Party - Bristol Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will have discussions with the Scottish Government's (a) Energy and Climate change directorate and (b) External Affairs directorate on whether any Scotland based companies are undertaking (i) recruitment, (ii) training, (iii) technical management services for Seapeak LLC in relation to the shipping of Russian Liquified Natural Gas to (A) EU and (B) other third countries.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK has taken extensive action to limit energy revenues that fund Russia's war. The UK prohibited the import of Russian LNG in January 2023 and banned the export of energy related goods, including those that support LNG production. We continue to consider all lawful and practical options to limit Russian energy revenues.
Asked by: Carla Denyer (Green Party - Bristol Central)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 15 October 2024 to Question 7788 on Air Pollution, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on the (a) legal threshold for future levels of NOx and (b) planning time required for councils with Clean Air Zones.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of issues, and Cabinet discussions are considered confidential. The Government remains committed to meeting legal targets for air quality and continues to review the policy measures needed to achieve them. The NO2 programme is working closely with local authorities to deliver air quality measures, including Clean Air Zones, to meet legal limits for NO2 and improve the health of their residents.
Asked by: Carla Denyer (Green Party - Bristol Central)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 15 October 2024 to Question 7788 on Air Pollution, what guidance his Department provides on safe limits of NOx.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Air Quality Standards Regulations (2010) set a limit of 40µg/m³ for the annual average concentration of NO₂ (a component of NOx). This threshold, determined with consideration of pertinent health guidelines, aims to safeguard human health.
NOx is extensively monitored across the UK, and monitoring data is made available to the public in near real-time on Defra’s UK-AIR website. Defra annually publishes Air Quality Accredited Official Statistics, available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/air-quality-and-emissions-statistics.
Through the NO₂ programme, Defra is working closely with local authorities to deliver air quality measures to meet legal limits for NO₂ and improve the health of their residents.
Further to this, in 2022, Defra updated the statutory policy and technical guidance for local authorities on their responsibilities for Local Air Quality Management, including achievement of legal air quality limits for local communities.
Asked by: Carla Denyer (Green Party - Bristol Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take steps to sanction the shipping of Russian Liquified Natural Gas by UK-based businesses to (a) the EU and (b) other third countries.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK has taken extensive action to limit energy revenues that fund Russia's war in Ukraine. This includes Russian Liquified Natural Gas (LNG). UK persons are prohibited from importing Russian LNG and acquiring Russian LNG with the intention of entering the UK. This prohibition also covers the provision of certain services relating to the import or acquisition of LNG with the intention of entering the UK. In September 2024 we used new powers to specify carriers transporting Russian LNG, followed by a second set of vessels in October. It would not be appropriate to speculate about potential future sanctions.