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 fully transitioning older renewable projects away from Renewable Obligation Certificates and on to Contracts for Difference.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The existing Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme has been successful in bringing forward new renewable generation at fixed, competitive prices. CfDs are already helping to reduce consumers’ exposure to gas price volatility.

The Government has announced plans to develop a voluntary Wholesale Contract for Difference (WCfD) for eligible legacy low-carbon generators whose revenues remain exposed to wholesale electricity prices. Under this current proposal, generators accredited under the Renewables Obligation (RO) would continue to receive RO support, with only their wholesale electricity revenues being exchanged for a fixed-price CfD. We are engaging with industry on detailed policy options, and plan to consult later this year, however, note that contracts will only being offered where they deliver clear value for money for the consumer.

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 opening up business energy data on forecasting, carbon reporting and decarbonisation in non-domestic buildings.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government recognises the importance of energy data in managing energy use and planning the deployment of energy savings measures. There is significant existing reporting for non-domestic buildings, much of which is already publicly available, including Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting and the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme.

Central government organisations report their energy consumption through the Greening Government Commitments. HM Treasury set mandatory requirements on central government annual reports and accounts aligned with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosure recommendations. This guidance can also be used by the wider public sector.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to develop the skills and apprenticeships required to support new jobs in the nuclear sector.

Answered by Andrew Western - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Skills England are currently working closely with employers and other stakeholders from across the nuclear sector to revise and update some of these standards, to ensure that they meet the current and future skills needs of the sector and can be delivered effectively.

This includes cross-sector work to address key shortages, such as introducing a new mechanised welding apprenticeship unit to support major projects like Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C.

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 remove the renewable obligation levy.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Since 1 April this year, 75% of the domestic costs of the Renewables Obligation (RO) have been funded by the Exchequer. This shifts the balance from levies on bills to public spending, resulting in an average £150 reduction in energy costs. Over three years, £7 billion worth of RO levies will be funded through public expenditure, providing short-term relief and greater long-term benefits for consumers.

DBT have also introduced the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme which aims to exempt over 10,000 manufacturing businesses from various levies, including the RO, with the aim of cutting industrial electricity bills by up to 25%.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has considered the potential merits of allowing customers to share their energy use data with suppliers to improve energy switching and market choice.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

A consumer’s energy supplier can already access their gas and electricity consumption data for regulated purposes such as billing. Consumers have a choice about the granularity of data that is provided to their supplier.

Smart meters automatically send household energy consumption data to energy suppliers via the smart metering communications network, removing the need for manual meter reading. This supports easier switching between suppliers.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of making household gas consumption data more available for energy suppliers.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

A consumer’s energy supplier can already access their gas and electricity consumption data for regulated purposes such as billing. Consumers have a choice about the granularity of data that is provided to their supplier.

Smart meters automatically send household energy consumption data to energy suppliers via the smart metering communications network, removing the need for manual meter reading. This supports easier switching between suppliers.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of moving the cost of the Renewables Obligation levy from household energy bills to general taxation.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

At last year’s Budget, the Chancellor took the decision to fund 75% of the domestic share of the Renewables Obligation through the Exchequer and ended the levy-funded Energy Company Obligation. These decisions took on average £150 of costs off household energy bills and are forecast to reduce inflation by over 0.2 percentage points in 2026/27.

The government keeps all taxes under review and is introducing a new framework to subject levies to enhanced scrutiny and ensure they are affordable, value for money and do not impose unnecessary costs.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on expanding and developing renewable infrastructure to match renewables expansion.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the infrastructure required to support the Government’s clean energy mission. Through our Clean Power 2030 mission, the Government is working across Whitehall to accelerate the development of new transmission infrastructure by reforming the planning system, supporting supply chains, streamlining regulation, and ensuring that the infrastructure needed to support renewable energy deployment is delivered alongside generation capacity.

Hedgehog Rescue

Essential energy guarantee

Russian sanctions

International Court of Justice's July 2024 Advisory Opinion on the Occupied Palestinian Territories

Retirement of Godfrey Asare and Margaret Labulo from the Members' Tea Room

Generation Z and the State Pension

Infrastructure Planning

100th anniversary of the Campaign to Protect Rural England

Royal Mail delivery standards

Government response to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman report on communication of changes to women’s state pension age

FIFA World Cup 2026 match bans

Palestinian children in Israeli military detention

Israel death penalty

UK arms sales to Israel

Two-state solution in Israel and Palestine

Found: Chair); Ms Polly Billington; Sir Christopher Chope; Lizzi Collinge; Melanie Onn; Mike Reader; Claire Young

Found: Chair); Ms Polly Billington; Sir Christopher Chope; Lizzi Collinge; Melanie Onn; Mike Reader; Claire Young

Found: Q169 Claire Young: I am going to turn to Matthew.

Found: Q169 Claire Young: I am going to turn to Matthew.

Energy support and decarbonisation funding for the chemicals and ceramics sectors was an encouraging sign that Government recognises a central challenge for industry: decarbonisation and electricity prices go hand in hand. It offers a potential model for future targeted support by linking help with energy costs to incentives for cleaner production. However, it also highlights the absence of a broader strategic framework for industrial decarbonisation/electrification across manufacturing. Current support remains uneven.  

The government will establish a Warm Homes Agency (WHA) – a dedicated public body to support the delivery of the Warm Homes Plan, and guide consumers through the transition. It will consolidate Salix, relevant DESNZ functions, and parts of Ofgem and work at both a national and local level (subject to agreement with the devolved governments). 

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Nuclear fusion is the process that powers the Sun, and for decades humans have been working towards harnessing its remarkable, "clean" power.