Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
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 impact of the escalation of conflict in the Middle East on UK oil and liquefied natural gas prices.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department is closely monitoring the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the impacts for global oil and gas markets. We assess that between February 27th and March 10th, global oil prices (Brent crude) have risen over 20% and gas wholesale prices in Great Britain have risen over 50%.
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
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 the impact of the escalation of conflict in the Middle East on Industrial Gas prices.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
As was the case when Russia invaded Ukraine, the UK will be exposed to price competition in international oil and gas markets, which is pushing up wholesale prices as other countries seek to replace lost supplies from the region. That reflects our position, regardless of our domestic production, as a price taker not a price maker in these markets, leaving us exposed to their volatility, no matter where the fossil fuels come from.
On business and industry, we are taking action to expand the British industry supercharger from April to reduce costs for the most energy-intensive businesses, and a significant proportion of businesses are on fixed-term contracts that shield them from market volatility for the contract duration. However, we recognise that at the point of contracting, businesses are exposed to international fossil fuel markets, and clearly, for both businesses and consumers, much will depend on the length of this crisis.
Just as we are looking across Government at the situation that households face, the Government are absolutely focused on the impact of the crisis on business and industry, and we will not hesitate to act.
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to protect households and businesses from potential increases in energy costs arising from disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises that households and businesses across the country will see the recent global events and once again be concerned about the impact on their energy bills. We continue to monitor the situation closely and we are looking at what further support may be needed.
At the Autumn Budget we committed to taking money off energy bills and we have. The energy price cap will provide protection for households until the start of July, regardless of developments in the Middle East. Ofgem has confirmed that the price cap will fall by 7% or £117 annually for the period covering April to June. The price cap for that period is fixed and will not change.
In addition to this, around 6 million families are benefitting from the expansion of the £150 Warm Home Discount, and through the Warm Homes Plan the Government is delivering the biggest investment in home upgrades in British history.
We’ll shortly publish details of how we will reduce electricity bills by up to 25% for over 7,000 businesses, while our Supercharger package of support will also cut businesses’ electricity costs by up to £420 million per year.
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what conversations he has had with OFGEM about the withdrawal of time-of-use tariffs by some energy providers.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The pricing and availability of tariffs is a matter for suppliers and Ofgem as the independent regulator.
At times of extreme volatility in global energy markets suppliers may alter their approach to pricing and tariffs as part of their commercial risk management. Default tariffs remain available and are covered by the Price Cap, which has been confirmed and is now fixed for the period between April and end June 2026.
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to expedite long-term investment and skilled jobs at the Grangemouth industrial cluster as part of the transition to net zero.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The UK Government is working closely with the Scottish Government and our investment agencies on options for investment in Grangemouth and have received over 140 enquiries. At the 2025 Autumn Budget, we announced £14.5 million funding to support these projects, complementing the National Wealth Fund’s £200 million commitment for co-investment in Grangemouth.
On 11 December 2025, the UK Government awarded up to £1.5 million to MiAlgae to build its first commercial facility at Grangemouth, a biotechnology project expected to create 130 jobs over the next five years. As a condition of the grant funding, eligible Grangemouth oil refinery workers will be given a job interview guarantee.
Retaining skilled jobs at Grangemouth is important and we are also funding a ‘training guarantee’ for all Grangemouth refinery staff to receive training to help them into new, good jobs with local employers.
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions his Department has had with the Scottish Government on ensuring economic and skills impacts for communities in Scotland hosting nationally significant energy infrastructure, including grid reinforcement and subsea transmission projects.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The department engages regularly with the Scottish Government to maximise the positive impacts from energy infrastructure investments on local economies and skills. Engagement is both at the ministerial and official level through formal fora such as the Interministerial Group on Net Zero, Energy & Climate Change, Grangemouth Investment Taskforce and ad-hoc when useful. This includes coordinated work on workforce needs such as our joint approach and funding on reskilling Grangemouth employees; coordinating work between the governments on ensuring developers provide community benefits and discussions on network connections.
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
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 policy paper entitled Clean energy jobs plan, published on 19 October 2025, what steps his Department is taking to support the development of sustainable aviation fuel production at the Grangemouth industrial cluster.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The UK Government is working closely with the Scottish Government on options for investment in Grangemouth supported by the Office for Investment and Scottish Enterprise. This is backed by £200 million from the National Wealth Fund for co-investment with the private sector, so far we have received over 100 enquiries.
In line with the Clean Energy Jobs Plan, the Grangemouth Training Guarantee will support the transition for refinery workers into in-demand industries including into clean energy sectors and future project at Grangemouth.
The Department for Transport is supporting the UK sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) industry through the SAF mandate, providing revenue certainty for SAF producers and the £63 million Advanced Fuels Fund available for SAF producers.
Together these measures will give investors confidence to support commercial scale production of SAF in the UK, creating green jobs and developing skills.
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when his Department plans to complete its consideration of the relevant Project Willow recommendations.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We are working as quickly as possible to understand what we can do to support investors interested in developing projects at Grangemouth, including what policy or regulatory support is needed to enable investment. The inaugural Grangemouth Investment Taskforce, jointly chaired by the HMG and the Scottish government took place on May 21, 2025, to drive forward potential investment propositions.
The National Wealth Fund stands ready, and we encourage investors to come forward to join us in this major opportunity to secure a long-term industrial future in Grangemouth.
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department considered Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil production facility within the recommendations of Project Willow.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Project Willow – an independent feasibility study led by Ernst and Young and jointly funded by the UK and the Scottish Governments – evaluated over 300 technologies to identify those that could be effectively deployed in Grangemouth. This included options to produce hydrogenated vegetable oil products, such as sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel.
We are now ready to take these opportunities forward. Backed by £200 million from the National Wealth Fund, our UK and Scottish Government investment agencies are working together to find investors for clean energy proposals in the Grangemouth area.
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
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 assessment of the potential merits of introducing a renewable liquid heating fuel obligation for off-grid heating fuel suppliers.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
As sustainable biomass is a limited resource, the Government expect to prioritise its use in sectors like aviation, which have fewest options to decarbonise. Renewable liquid heating fuels are also much more expensive to use than other heating solutions.
Before taking decisions on whether to support the use of renewable liquid fuels in heating, the Government would require stronger evidence on their affordability for consumers, and the availability of sustainable feedstock.