Asked by: Dave Doogan (Scottish National Party - Angus and Perthshire Glens)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many full-time equivalent roles are being recruited at Great British Energy.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Great British Energy (GBE) is currently developing its operating model and the capabilities it will need. Ultimately this will be a matter for GBE to determine, within their agreed budget.
Asked by: Dave Doogan (Scottish National Party - Angus and Perthshire Glens)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate he has made of when the Aberdeen headquarters of Great British Energy will be operational.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Great British Energy is initially headquartered in DESNZ’s second headquarters in Aberdeen, Crimon Place, to ensure the organisation can get to work as quickly as possible. As a Government Property Agency (GPA) onboarded department, DESNZ is pursuing property options through the GPA. Due to the commercial sensitivity of any lease negotiations, specific details or timescales cannot be provided at this time.
Asked by: Dave Doogan (Scottish National Party - Angus and Perthshire Glens)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many vacant posts there are at Great British Energy.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
I can confirm that seventeen vacant posts have been advertised by Great British Energy either on or after 1st April 2025. The Great British Energy Bill received Royal Assent on 15th May 2025 which allows the company to now move forward with the set-up in Aberdeen including workforce planning.
Asked by: Dave Doogan (Scottish National Party - Angus and Perthshire Glens)
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 (a) an estimate of the number of radio teleswitch service meters in use in Scotland in the latest period for which data is available and (b) it his policy to delay the RTS signal switch off to avoid loss of service for customers who have not yet transitioned from RTS meters.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Data on the number of remaining RTS meters is collected by Ofgem. The latest data as of 18 April indicates that there are c.125,000 RTS meters remaining in Scotland.
The industry-led RTS is reaching the end of its operational life and can no longer be adequately maintained. The switch-off will start from the end of June, and the Government and Ofgem have called on suppliers to rapidly increase the pace of RTS replacements, so that there is a smooth transition and consumers are protected. We continue to closely monitor progress.
Asked by: Dave Doogan (Scottish National Party - Angus and Perthshire Glens)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of contract for difference projects that have recently been cancelled due to increasing cost pressures; and whether he plans to reform the contract for difference scheme given increased volatility in global inflation.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We recognise the effect that globally high inflation and supply chain constraints are having on industry and we will work with Orsted to get Hornsea 4 back on track.
We have a strong pipeline of projects, and our mission-led approach ensures we can steer our way through global pressures and individual commercial decisions to reach our targets. The Government has consulted on reforms to the CfD scheme, with the aim of moving towards energy independence and protecting against volatile global fossil fuel prices. A full response to the consultation will be published before AR7 opens in the summer.
Asked by: Dave Doogan (Scottish National Party - Angus and Perthshire Glens)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent discussions he has had with Drax Group plc on the postponement of the Cruachan II pumped hydro storage project.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Details of Ministers' and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.
Asked by: Dave Doogan (Scottish National Party - Angus and Perthshire Glens)
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 estimate of the number of Radio Teleswitch meters remaining in Scotland.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Latest figures from Ofgem state that as of 4 April 2025, there were 129,814 Radio Teleswitch meters remaining in Scotland.
Asked by: Dave Doogan (Scottish National Party - Angus and Perthshire Glens)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, on what date GB Energy's annual report and accounts will be published.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Clause 7 of the Great British Energy Bill requires Great British Energy to report its accounts to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. It also requires the Secretary of State to lay a copy of these before Parliament.
As The Bill has not yet received Royal Assent, we are unable to confirm a specific date on which the first annual reports and accounts will be laid before Parliament.
Asked by: Dave Doogan (Scottish National Party - Angus and Perthshire Glens)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what the budget is for GB Energy in the 2024-25 financial year; how much and what proportion of that budget has been spent; and what GB Energy has spent its funding on.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Great British Energy (GBE) was allocated £11.1million for 2024/25, and a further £125 million was allocated in the Autumn Budget 2024 to set up GBE in FY 25-26. This will enable GBE to begin the roll out of local projects alongside other functions.
Information on departmental expenditure is made publicly available the usual way through the Department's annual report and accounts.
Asked by: Dave Doogan (Scottish National Party - Angus and Perthshire Glens)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether Ofgem have made an estimate of the relative costs per KM of installing (a) overhead, (b) underground and (c) offshore electricity transmission cables for energy transmission infrastructure.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Ofgem estimates of the relative costs of overhead, underground and offshore electricity transmission cables vary significantly depending on various factors such as technology types, voltage levels and locations. Due to commercial sensitivity, Ofgem cannot not share specific estimates. However, as set out in the Institution of Engineering and Technology’s 2012 study, offshore cables have considerable cost and technical challenges and can have substantial impacts on the marine environment. Undergrounding is usually by open trenching with costs between 5-10 times those of overhead lines.