Asked by: Elaine Stewart (Labour - Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate she has made of the potential for Pumped Storage Hydro in ensuring grid stability and reducing constraint payments in respect of renewable energy generated in the south and south west of Scotland.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Long duration electricity storage (LDES) allows excess renewable generation to be stored and then used at peak times, helping to maximise the use of low-cost homegrown energy and reduce reliance on expensive global gas markets. New LDES will be built for the first time in over forty years under the cap and floor policy brought in by this government.
Ofgem is the independent regulator and decision maker for the cap and floor scheme appointed by government to deliver the policy. It assessed all projects through its Multi Criteria Assessment framework, with analytical support from NESO on whole system impacts. This assessment included consideration of system balancing and constraint management costs and resulted in Ofgem’s minded to decision on projects to support through window one, which includes 3.9GW of Pumped Storage Hydro in Scotland.
Asked by: Elaine Stewart (Labour - Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the geographical location of the Long Duration Energy Storage projects on Ofgem's ‘minded-to’ decisions list for cap & floor support in the context of the concentration of intermittent renewable generation capacity operating and planned in the south and south-west of Scotland; and what consultation she has had with Ofgem to ensure that cap and floor support is appropriately correlated with the regional presence of large-scale renewable generation, with particular reference to that area.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Long duration electricity storage (LDES) allows excess renewable generation to be stored and then used at peak times, helping to maximise the use of low-cost homegrown energy and reduce reliance on expensive global gas markets. New LDES will be built for the first time in over forty years under the cap and floor policy brought in by this government.
Ofgem is the independent regulator and decision maker for the cap and floor scheme appointed by government to deliver the policy. It assessed all projects through its Multi Criteria Assessment framework, with analytical support from NESO on whole system impacts. This assessment included consideration of locational factors.
Asked by: Elaine Stewart (Labour - Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help tackle child poverty in Scotland.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Secretary of State for Scotland
Poverty scars the lives and life chances of our children.
Tackling child poverty is at the heart of this government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and give every child the very best start in life.
In December, we set out our ambitious and comprehensive Child Poverty Strategy. It sets out the steps we are taking to reduce child poverty in the short-term, as well as putting in place the building blocks we need to create long-term change across the UK. Our decision to lift the two-child cap alone will benefit 95,000 Scottish children.
Asked by: Elaine Stewart (Labour - Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to support Typhoon production.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Defence is an engine for growth, as demonstrated by the recent deal this Government signed with Türkiye for 20 Eurofighter Typhoons, worth £8 billion to the UK economy and supporting a key NATO ally. This deal secures thousands of skilled jobs for the UK, including those workers in Warton and Samlesbury who I had the pleasure of meeting recently.
Asked by: Elaine Stewart (Labour - Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how much of the onshore wind pipeline in the Eskdalemuir consultation zone his Department plans to see unlocked in the forthcoming solution to onshore wind development around the Seismic Array.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The interference that onshore wind turbines can cause to seismological monitoring stations was a priority area of focus for the Onshore Wind Industry Taskforce. In the recent Onshore Wind Taskforce Strategy my Department committed to working with Scottish Government and the Ministry of Defence to consult on new policy and guidance, aiming to unlock 3-6GW of onshore wind capacity around the Eskdalemuir Seismic Array.
Asked by: Elaine Stewart (Labour - Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock)
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 the potential impact of the exclusion zone on the development of wind farms around the Eskdalemuir Seismic Array.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The interference that onshore wind turbines can cause to seismological monitoring stations was a priority area of focus for the Onshore Wind Industry Taskforce. In the recent Onshore Wind Taskforce Strategy my Department committed to working with Scottish Government and the Ministry of Defence to consult on new policy and guidance, aiming to unlock 3-6GW of onshore wind capacity around the Eskdalemuir Seismic Array.
Asked by: Elaine Stewart (Labour - Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to support grassroots football in Scotland.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
Grassroots sports are the backbone of Scottish communities, and that is why we are investing a further £8.6 million this year in sports facilities across Scotland.
Through this scheme, almost 100 facilities across Scotland, including in our island and rural communities, have been built or upgraded and with this new funding, we can look forward to many more.
This scheme will increase participation, improve health and help people of all ages to enjoy the benefits of sport.
Asked by: Elaine Stewart (Labour - Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock)
Question
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to promote equality as part of the Government mission entitled Break Down Barriers to Opportunity.
Answered by Bridget Phillipson - Minister for Women and Equalities
Through the Opportunity Mission, we’re creating a fairer Britain, giving every child the best start in life and building the skills to drive economic growth and open up opportunities for all. We’re already making progress to ensure where you're from doesn't determine where you end up in life. For example, we have named the first 750 schools introducing free breakfast clubs, helping 180,000 children start the day ready to learn, including 67,000 children in deprived areas.