Graham Leadbitter

The Government regularly engages with its counterparts in Scotland on fireworks. These discussions include antisocial use and the impact of noise. The current regulatory framework is designed to support people to enjoy fireworks whilst lowering the risk of dangers and disruption to people, pets, and property.

No assessment has been made in bringing forward legislative proposals to protect wildlife parks and zoos from the impacts of fireworks. To inform any future decisions on fireworks policy I intend to engage with businesses, consumer groups and charities to gather evidence on the issues and impacts with fireworks, including on animal welfare.

DESNZ has published the Water Demand for Hydrogen Production report, which shows the variation in water demand for hydrogen production based on the production technology, water source and cooling system used.

We require projects to have robust plans in place for sustainable water sourcing, including gaining abstraction licenses from the EA in England and SEPA in Scotland where required, and assess these when support is sought under Hydrogen Allocation Rounds. The Government’s forthcoming Hydrogen Strategy will build on previous work to elaborate on how water supply constraints are being considered in planning for the hydrogen economy.

Nuclear power is central to our ambitions for clean energy and to meet our net zero commitments. It is therefore important that we have in place effective plans to manage the associated wastes that arise from nuclear operations. Approximately 94% of nuclear waste by volume is low in radioactivity and will be disposed of safely in existing facilities. For the remaining more hazardous radioactive waste, the UK Government’s policy is to implement geological disposal. A geological disposal facility is expected to be available for intermediate level waste in c.2050-2060 and c.2075 for high level waste and Spent Fuel. We require interim storage to manage this waste until disposal facilities are available - these interim stores vary depending on the nature of waste they are designed for.

We do not publish modelling on the likely impacts of terrorist attacks on the UK’s civil nuclear sites beyond the information included in the public National Risk Register on the grounds of national security. DESNZ officials contribute detailed modelling on potential impacts as part of their contribution to the National Security Risk Assessment, which underpins the National Risk Register.

The Department conducts power market modelling using the Dynamic Dispatch Model (DDM). The DDM is a comprehensive fully integrated power market model covering the GB power market over the medium to long term. Analysis published using this model, such as Modelling 2050 – electricity system analysis - GOV.UK, has shown the importance of nuclear to obtaining low-cost low-carbon solutions to future electricity supply. The DDM has also been used to inform value-for-money assessments, such as the final investment decision on Sizewell C. Sizewell C: Value for money assessment - GOV.UK.

As I sent out in my Written Ministerial Statement on 1 July 2025, the Government is providing the Official Receiver with short-term funding to cover the essential operating costs of the refinery as a result of the unexpected insolvency of the company. The final operating cost will depend on market conditions and the strategy adopted by the Official Receiver, and this will be subject to close scrutiny and governance by the Government and the insolvency office holders. This funding is necessary to provide the Official Receiver with the necessary tools to fulfil their statutory duties and to avoid an immediate, unsafe shutdown of the refinery.

Great British Energy is committed to working with the Devolved Governments to help enhance community energy across the UK, whilst respecting the devolution settlements. £9.3 million is being provided to the devolved governments to support clean energy projects and may be combined with existing or new funding from the three governments to support specific clean energy projects in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. This funding is part of the £100m announced in October 2024 to kick-start GBE’s work investing in clean energy project development.

Great British Energy (GBE) has announced £300 million to invest in offshore wind supply chains, and £700 million to help build manufacturing facilities in the UK. That totals £1 billion in funding, available across all four nations.

GBE is also providing £4.85 million for Scotland, £2.88 million for Wales, and £1.62 million for Northern Ireland to support clean energy projects. This may be combined with existing or new funding from the three governments, which host their own community energy schemes.

In England, GBE is providing £90 million for solar panels on schools and hospitals. A further £10 million is committed for the Mayor Renewables Fund.

The Government is working closely with the RTS Taskforce, industry and Ofgem to ensure the phase out process of RTS is planned effectively and consumers are appropriately protected.

The Government has made clear to industry that energy suppliers must fulfil their obligations to customers and must increase the rate of Radio Teleswitch (RTS) meter replacements. We expect suppliers to be taking measures, such as deploying roaming teams of installers, to ensure consumers receive replacement meters in a timely manner.

I am meeting with Energy UK and Ofgem on a fortnightly basis to discuss progress.

The electricity networks in Great Britain are owned and operated by private companies and regulated independently by Ofgem, who ensure the network companies are investing to operate, maintain and upgrade their infrastructure. To enable the Government’s Clean Energy Superpower and Growth missions, significant investment in new capacity ahead of need is required. This will be based on, among other considerations, strategic planning and projections of future demand across the network and will support the connection of new on-site renewable generation and demand projects, including electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

As of 1 May 2025, the Government and industry have supported the installation of 79,326 publicly available charging devices (including 15,856 rapid charging devices). This reflects a year-on-year percentage increase of 30%. Policy on charging infrastructure is devolved in Scotland.

My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have regular meetings with Ofgem on a range of issues.

Quotes on energy pricing and how those quotes are broken down for customers are a matter for energy suppliers. However, the Government takes the issue of accurate billing very seriously. All suppliers must take all reasonable steps to reflect accurate meter readings in bills or statements sent to customers where these have been provided by a customer or obtained by the supplier. This is laid out in the Supplier Licence Conditions (SLCs) for both electricity and gas.

Under 31E.10 of both sets of SLCs where the licensee provides a Domestic Customer with any information about the Charges for the Supply of Electricity, gas or any other type of charge or fee (the “Applicable Charges”), the licensee must inform the Domestic Customer of whether the Applicable Charges include or exclude value added tax.

Communal areas in apartment blocks are charged on a non-domestic energy contract as the organisation who is responsible for them is a business. As such, domestic consumers living in the apartment block are usually charged a non-domestic energy rate for these areas. Ofgem’s Maximum Resale Direction protects tenants from being charged inflated electricity costs from their landlord. It sets a maximum price that can be charged for electricity and gas which has already been bought from a licenced supplier.

Suppliers are ultimately responsible for correctly classifying the customers they contract with as domestic or non-domestic, in line with Ofgem criteria. Suppliers are also responsible for the correct classification of electricity meters, in accordance with ‘meter profile classes’ managed by Elexon in the Balancing and Settlement Code (BSC).

Ofgem has made clear in guidance on this subject that ‘meter profile class’ should not be the deciding factor in whether a customer is domestic or non-domestic, this should be based on the intended purpose of consumption at the premises (i.e. domestic or non-domestic) Bespoke contracts should be offered where needed

The classification of whether a communal electricity supply is considered domestic or business depends on whether the organisation or individual who manages the building has a domestic or commercial energy contract. Businesses are required to have a commercial energy contract, even if they provide electricity to domestic properties.

Ofgem provides guidance to consumers on whether they need a business energy contact on its website - https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/information-consumers/energy-advice-businesses/get-energy-your-business.

Communal areas in apartment blocks are charged on a non-domestic energy contract as the organisation who is responsible for them is a business.

A Call for Evidence regarding domestic customers with a non-domestic energy supply was published in July 2023 and explored the advantages and disadvantages of these arrangements. The responses highlighted the complexity of energy supply and contract arrangements, and due to the physical set-up of these residences, the majority of these consumers will continue to receive their energy via a non-domestic contract. The Call for Evidence is now closed, and a summary of responses was published in April 2024.

Ofgem is taking action to ensure these consumers are protected by raising awareness of the Maximum Resale Price direction, and planning work with network companies to produce a clear route for vulnerable consumers to be added to the Priority Services Register.

Communal areas in apartment blocks are charged on a non-domestic energy contract as the organisation who is responsible for them is a business.

A Call for Evidence regarding domestic customers with a non-domestic energy supply was published in July 2023 and explored the advantages and disadvantages of these arrangements. The responses highlighted the complexity of energy supply and contract arrangements, and due to the physical set-up of these residences, the majority of these consumers will continue to receive their energy via a non-domestic contract. The Call for Evidence is now closed, and a summary of responses was published in April 2024.

Ofgem is taking action to ensure these consumers are protected by raising awareness of the Maximum Resale Price direction, and planning work with network companies to produce a clear route for vulnerable consumers to be added to the Priority Services Register.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero works collaboratively with other government departments and relevant regulators to understand the water impacts of a developing hydrogen economy, including the potential impact of abstraction on water bodies.

The Government expects all planned hydrogen production projects to have robust plans in place for sustainable sourcing of water that comply with relevant regulations.

The Data Communications Company (DCC) is required to assess opportunities to increase the overall level of communications network coverage for Great Britain beyond its currently provisioned minimum level of 99.25%.

The DCC are examining a number of options to reach homes not currently able to get smart metering network coverage as part of its Future Connectivity strategy, which includes consideration of a full range of technical solutions including cellular options.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State gave on 4th July 2025 to Question 64258.

GOV.UK One Login’s total budget to onboard all central government services for the three years from 2022/23 to 2024/25 was £305.4 million, and is currently undergoing HMT approvals for a new Business Case which will run until 2027/28.

GOV.UK One Login works with third-party providers to help verify a user’s identity. These costs are included in the programme budget.

Companies House provides an alternative IDV route via Authorised Corporate Service Providers.

Project Gigabit is the government’s programme to roll out fast, reliable broadband to UK premises that are not included in suppliers' commercial plans. Over 35 contracts, with a combined value of over £2.3 billion, have already been signed to deliver gigabit-capable broadband to over 1 million premises, predominantly in rural areas.

Last week we announced a £157 million contract with Openreach to deliver gigabit-capable broadband to up to 65,000 rural and hard-to-reach premises across Central, Northern and Western Scotland, including in the Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey constituency.

The government wants all areas of the UK to benefit from reliable, high quality mobile coverage. We continue to work with Ofcom to ensure that their coverage reporting is as accurate as possible to allow us to reliably and accurately identify underserved areas.

4G geographic coverage from at least one mobile operator has now reached over 95% of the UK landmass, and we continue to work with the industry to deliver 4G mobile connectivity to places where there is either limited or no coverage.

Our ambition is to go further, and for all populated areas, including rural communities, to have access to higher-quality standalone 5G by 2030. We continue to work closely with the mobile network operators and are committed to ensuring we have the right policy and regulatory framework in place to support investment and competition in the market.

The UK offers one of the strongest science bases in the world, with world-leading universities and research institutions, with opportunities in growing areas like quantum and AI. The UK’s immigration offer enables talented scientists, researchers and innovators to come here through various fast-track visa routes, such as the Global Talent, High Potential Individual and Skilled Worker visas. Our Global Talent Network aims to grow our science and technology power by attracting top international science talent to pursue opportunities in the UK. The UK's association to Horizon Europe enables international researchers to come to UK research establishments and collaborate across Europe.

The Government is determined to ensure that any and all risks of the industry-led migration from the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) are mitigated, for all customers across the UK.

The Department has acknowledged that customers who may be considered vulnerable in the context of the digital switchover may require additional support. A definition of a vulnerable customers was published in November 2024. It includes those who are telecare users and those dependent on their landline. Any customer, including the elderly, can also self-identify as requiring additional support.

Communication providers and network operators signed voluntary charters in December 2023 and March 2024, committing to protect vulnerable consumers during the PSTN migration. On 18 November 2024, the major communication providers agreed to adhere to further safeguards set out in the non-voluntary migrations checklist before restarting non-voluntary migration of customers.

DSIT is made aware when there has been an online-related death by suicide through Coroner’s ‘Reports to Prevent Future Deaths’ and has responded to nine reports in the past 12 months. The department is very concerned about the number of reports of deaths.

Under the Online Safety Act, which is coming into effect in the coming months, all in-scope services must proactively prevent all users from encountering illegal suicide content, and children from encountering legal content which encourages, promotes or provides instructions for suicide.