Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the document entitled UKCS Decommissioning Cost and Performance Update 2024, published on 16 June 2024, whether the estimates of the annual cost of decommissioning offshore oil and gas infrastructure are net of annual relief on corporation tax granted for decommissioning expenditure in the oil and gas sector.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The decommissioning cost estimates referred to, which are published by the North Sea Transition Authority, are pre-tax. Any annual relief on corporation tax granted for decommissioning expenditure in the oil and gas sector has not been applied.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate his Department has made of the number of jobs in the decommissioning sector of the offshore oil and gas industry in each financial year from 2013-14 and 2024-25.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
No such estimates have been made. The planning and delivery of decommissioning is often integrated into the organisational capabilities of upstream oil and gas operators and supply chain companies. It is therefore difficult to determine how many of this workforce are, or have been, focused on decommissioning activities over the last 10 years.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on safety procedures for workers on the Seagreen offshore wind farm.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Secretary of State continues to have ongoing discussions with Cabinet colleagues concerning Departmental business.
Safety procedures for offshore wind farms is a matter for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). HSE recently served a prohibition notice to the Seagreen offshore wind farm developer under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has had discussions with (a) Cabinet colleagues, (b) the offshore wind industry and (c) trade unions on the collision between the Wind of Hope vessel and a turbine in the Hornsea 1 offshore wind farm on 20 September 2024.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Secretary of State continues to have ongoing discussions with Cabinet colleagues, the offshore wind industry and trade unions concerning Departmental business.
The collision involving the Wind of Hope vessel was reported to the appropriate authorities. It will be a matter for the Marine Accidents Investigation Branch.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many former employees were recipients of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme in (a) Easington constituency and (b) the UK in October 2024.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We are unable to provide the breakdown requested. However, information from the trustees shows that, as at 22 July 2024, the number of pensioner and dependant members in the UK was 39,251 and in Easington was 748.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many dependents were recipients of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme in (a) Easington constituency and (b) the UK in October 2024.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We are unable to provide the breakdown requested. However, information from the trustees shows that, as at 22 July 2024, the number of pensioner and dependant members in the UK was 39,251 and in Easington was 748.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many members of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme are yet to receive their pension because they have deferred their pension.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Information from the Trustees indicates that, as of 9 September 2024, there were 1,143 members who had yet to receive their pension because they have deferred.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many members of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme have not reached pension age.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Information from the Trustees indicates that there were 1,861 members who have not yet reached pension age as at 9 September 2024.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
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 direct payments to the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme under the guarantee arrangements before the surplus sharing arrangements ended.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
No such payments have been made.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
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 direct payments to the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme under the existing guarantee arrangements.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
No such payments have been made.