Asked by: Charlie Dewhirst (Conservative - Bridlington and The Wolds)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 30 October 2025 to Question 71247 on Military Aircraft: Ministers, which Senior Ministers have been authorised to have occasional use of RAF CSAT aircraft.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The following Senior Ministers have been authorised to have occasional use of RAF CSAT aircraft:
This is consistent with policies to CSAT travel from previous Governments.
Asked by: Charlie Dewhirst (Conservative - Bridlington and The Wolds)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the policy paper entitled Outcome of the exploratory discussions on the possible participation of the United Kingdom in the European Union’s internal electricity market, published on 22 December 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of dynamic alignment on the Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce: interim report of 24 November 2025.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The detail of commitments for a future agreement for the UK’s participation in the EU’s internal electricity market is a matter for negotiations.
As the Chancellor set out at Budget, the government will present a full response to the Nuclear Regulatory Review within three months, taking account of our international obligations, national security considerations, and planning, environmental and court processes.
The government will complete implementation of the Nuclear Regulatory Review within two years, subject to legislative timelines on elements requiring primary legislation.
Asked by: Charlie Dewhirst (Conservative - Bridlington and The Wolds)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 3 December 2025 to Question 75027 on Military Aircraft: Ministers, how many of the 44 tasks were (a) domestic and (b) overseas.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
It has been the practice of successive administrations not to publish granular information relating to the official movements of Ministers and those accompanying them within the United Kingdom. Information about official overseas Ministerial travel is published as part of the Cabinet Office transparency returns and made available on the GOV.UK website.
Asked by: Charlie Dewhirst (Conservative - Bridlington and The Wolds)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether any of the members of the Clean Power 2030 Advisory Commission have made a declaration of political activity; and where their declarations of interest are published.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Members of the Clean Power 2030 Advisory Commission were asked to declare political activity during the application process and none were declared. We do not publish their conflicts of interest.
Asked by: Charlie Dewhirst (Conservative - Bridlington and The Wolds)
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 16 December 2025 to Question 98794 on Mission Boards, who the internal and external members are of the Clean Energy Superpower Mission Board.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Clean Energy Superpower Mission Board is chaired by the DESNZ Secretary of State, the Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP. The board does not have a fixed list of internal or external members, rather we engage with other government departments, external organisations and industry experts depending on the issues for discussion.
Asked by: Charlie Dewhirst (Conservative - Bridlington and The Wolds)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether (a) he and (b) his Permanent Secretary approved the use of paid facility time for trade union activities outlined in the 2024-25 departmental annual report and accounts.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The departmental Trade Union Facility Time Guidance sets out a provision for paid activity time to be requested and approved, by exception. This is managed/agreed locally by management from a day to day perspective. The overall levels of activity time are monitored by HR and any concerns are dealt with on behalf of the Secretary of State/Permanent Secretary.
Asked by: Charlie Dewhirst (Conservative - Bridlington and The Wolds)
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 September 2025 to Question 74317 on DESNZ: Social Media, which social media influencers have been paid to undertake advertising for his Department since July 2024.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Due to commercial confidentiality, we are unable to release this information.
Asked by: Charlie Dewhirst (Conservative - Bridlington and The Wolds)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the policy paper entitled Outcome of the exploratory discussions on the possible participation of the United Kingdom in the European Union’s internal electricity market, published on 22 December 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive on (a) consumers, (b) business and (c) the economy.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
An electricity agreement with the EU will cut the cost of trading electricity with the EU - this means lower wholesale costs and ultimately lower bills. Any agreement will naturally involve a balance of rights and obligations to ensure a level playing field in the trade of electricity between the Parties.
In line with the outcome of exploratory discussions, we will discuss the relevant rules on the promotion of renewables. The detail of commitments in this area, as with other areas, is a matter for negotiations.
Asked by: Charlie Dewhirst (Conservative - Bridlington and The Wolds)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is his policy on members of the Armed Forces (a) being members of single-sex private members’ clubs in a personal capacity and (b) participating in such clubs in a professional capacity.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
Defence does not hold a specific central policy on individual membership of single-sex private members’ clubs. Participation with external organisations in a professional capacity is subject to formal approval through the Chain of Command.
Asked by: Charlie Dewhirst (Conservative - Bridlington and The Wolds)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled New Ministry of Defence Permanent Secretary announced, published on 31 October 2025, whether the outgoing Permanent Secretary will receive any (a) exit and (b) severance payment.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
It is anticipated that any severance payments received, would be published in the Ministry of Defence annual report and accounts for 2025 to 2026.