Asked by: Claire Coutinho (Conservative - East Surrey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to his Department's press release entitled UK and California deepen ties on clean energy to boost investment, published on 16 February 2026, if he will set out each individual agreement, treaty or Memorandum of Understanding signed between his Department and a foreign (a) national government or (b) local, regional, federal or state arms of government since 4 July 2024.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department works closely with counterpart ministries to develop and maintain a range of ongoing partnerships that help advance our Clean Power 2030 Mission and wider priorities including the Growth Mission.
We have signed a range of non-legally binding partnerships and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) since July 2024. These are not routinely published or notified to Parliament, in line with HMG policy on non- legally binding instruments.
Asked by: Claire Coutinho (Conservative - East Surrey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what memoranda of understanding were signed by Ministers in his Department with i) national governments and ii) representatives of national governments in 2025.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Departmental Ministers engage with a range of national governments and representatives to support delivery of the department’s objectives.
The Department works closely with counterpart ministries to develop and maintain a range of ongoing partnerships that help advance our Clean Power 2030 Mission and wider priorities including the Growth Mission.
Asked by: Claire Coutinho (Conservative - East Surrey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether (a) his Department and (b) the arms length bodies sponsored by his Department are compliant with the Supreme Court ruling in the case of For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers [2025].
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We have set out our expectation that all duty bearers, including Departments and arm’s-length bodies, follow the law as clarified by the Supreme Court ruling and seek specialist legal advice where necessary. The Prime Minister has underlined this recently.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission has submitted a draft Code of Practice on services, public functions and associations to Ministers, and we are reviewing it with the care it deserves. This will provide further guidance to duty bearers.
Asked by: Claire Coutinho (Conservative - East Surrey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to his Department's press release entitled New auction delivers unprecedented clean, homegrown power, published on 10 February 2026, if he will publish the internal analysis showing that the renewable generation capacity awarded in Allocation Round 7 will reduce household bills.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The press notice 'Notes to editors' section provides a published summary of the analysis. We are not planning any further publications on AR7.
Asked by: Claire Coutinho (Conservative - East Surrey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether any cost benefit analysis conducted by his Department on linking the UK Emissions Trading Scheme with the EU Emissions Trading Scheme assessed the potential impact of higher UK Allowance prices on UK industry and consumers as a result of price convergence.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The price of carbon allowances in the UK Emissions Trading Scheme is set by the market.
As the conveners of the market the Government is not able to comment on current prices and price movements.
Linking the UK ETS and EU ETS is expected to bring significant economic benefits to the UK.
These include for example providing businesses with access to a larger, stable carbon market; and the removal of some of the regulatory barriers in sectors like CO2 storage.
Additionally, linking is expected to create the conditions for mutual CBAM exemptions, removing a major barrier to trade and lowering costs for UK firms.
Asked by: Claire Coutinho (Conservative - East Surrey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department conducted a cost-benefit analysis to support the decision to link the UK Emissions Trading Scheme with the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Government analysis indicates linking could stimulate economic growth, adding billions annually to our economy each year in the long run.
Linking the UK and EU ETSs is expected to bring significant economic benefits to the UK. These include for example providing businesses with access to a larger, stable carbon market; and the removal of some of the regulatory barriers in sectors like CO2 storage.
Additionally, linking is expected to create the conditions for mutual CBAM exemptions, removing a major barrier to trade and lowering costs for UK firms.
Asked by: Claire Coutinho (Conservative - East Surrey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what the source is for the Government's claim that aligning the UK Emissions Trading Scheme to the EU Emissions Trading Scheme will save British businesses £800 million.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Linking the UK ETS and EU ETS is expected to bring significant economic benefits to the UK.
These include providing businesses with access to a larger, stable carbon market; the removal of regulatory barriers in sectors like CO2 storage; supporting UK renewable rollout; and lowering electricity costs in the long run.
Additionally, linking is expected to create the conditions for mutual CBAM exemptions, removing a major barrier to trade and lowering costs for UK firms. The £800m estimate is from a Frontier Economics report and refers to cumulative savings between 2026 and 2030.
Asked by: Claire Coutinho (Conservative - East Surrey)
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 additional cost to businesses and consumers since the beginning of 2025 arising from increase UK ETS Allowance prices following the announcement of the Government’s intention to link the UK Emissions Trading Scheme with the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The price of carbon allowances in the UK Emissions Trading Scheme is set by the market.
As the conveners of the market the Government is not able to comment on current prices and price movements.
Linking the UK ETS and EU ETS is expected to bring significant economic benefits to the UK.
These include for example providing businesses with access to a larger, stable carbon market; and the removal of some of the regulatory barriers in sectors like CO2 storage.
Additionally, linking is expected to create the conditions for mutual CBAM exemptions, removing a major barrier to trade and lowering costs for UK firms.
Asked by: Claire Coutinho (Conservative - East Surrey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether the Government's position that aligning the UK Emissions Trading Scheme to the EU Emissions Trading Scheme will prevent an £800 million impact from the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, refers to savings in a single year or to a cumulative impact over multiple years.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Linking the UK ETS and EU ETS is expected to bring significant economic benefits to the UK.
These include providing businesses with access to a larger, stable carbon market; the removal of regulatory barriers in sectors like CO2 storage; supporting UK renewable rollout; and lowering electricity costs in the long run.
Additionally, linking is expected to create the conditions for mutual CBAM exemptions, removing a major barrier to trade and lowering costs for UK firms. The £800m estimate is from a Frontier Economics report and refers to cumulative savings between 2026 and 2030.
Asked by: Claire Coutinho (Conservative - East Surrey)
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 oral answer by the Prime Minister of 3 December 2025, Official Report, column 980, what the evidence basis is for the statement that the energy bills package announced in the Budget will cut energy bills for every family by £150.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The recent Budget acts to take an average £150 of costs off household energy bills from April 2026. As a result of this action, people can expect to see a significant saving on their bills.