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, if he will make an assessment of the potential for former coal mining communities to benefit from the estimated £86.5 billion in electricity system savings from heat networks as identified in the ADE: Heat Network's report, Electricity System Benefits of Heat Networks.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We welcome the research by ADE: Heat Networks, and agree that appropriate deployment of heat networks has the potential to reduce future electricity system costs by billions as we accelerate to net zero. We set out our long-term strategy for heat networks in the Warm Homes Plan, and our plan to increase flexible capacity on the grid through the Clean Flexibility Roadmap. Avoided electricity system investment will benefit all consumers through their electricity bill. Our focus is to explore all options to enable low-carbon heat networks, including in former coal mining communities, to compete fairly with their gas equivalent to boost energy security and lower consumer bills
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 made an assessment of the potential merits of using heat networks with thermal storage to provide cheaper flexibility for the electricity system in comparison with lithium battery storage, in the context of the ADE: Heat Network's report “Electricity System Benefits of Heat Networks”.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We welcome the research by ADE: Heat Networks, and agree that appropriate deployment of heat networks has the potential to reduce future electricity system costs by billions as we accelerate to net zero. We set out our long-term strategy for heat networks in the Warm Homes Plan, and our plan to increase flexible capacity on the grid through the Clean Flexibility Roadmap. Thermal storage in heat networks is location-specific whereas lithium battery storage can be deployed across a range of locations so both technologies will be needed and can offer benefits for the electricity system.
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, if he will direct the National Energy System Operator to account for the reduced need for offshore wind and solar capacity resulting from heat network expansion in its future strategic planning scenarios, in light of the findings of the ADE: Heat Networks report Electricity System Benefits of Heat Networks.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
I have met ADE to discuss their research. We welcome the research by ADE: Heat Networks, and agree that appropriate deployment of heat networks has the potential to reduce future electricity system costs by billions as we accelerate to net zero. We set out our long-term strategy for heat networks in the Warm Homes Plan in January, and the Department is already working with the National Energy System Operator to ensure its scenarios align with the latest Government policy.
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 steps he is taking to help mitigate potential job losses in the energy efficiency sector and associated supply chains following plans to close the Energy Company Obligation scheme.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We recognise that for those within the ECO supply chain, the decision to close the scheme presents immediate challenges. In the Warm Homes Plan, we committed to supporting the workforce to access opportunities through the £15bn funding and through regulations in the rented sector and for future homes which will support millions of households. We will engage the retrofit supply chain, housing associations and local authorities to agree an appropriate regime, in line with procurement law and their existing contractual arrangements, for awarding this new capital funding from April 2026.
We have also established the Warm Homes Plan Workforce Taskforce, with the trade unions and the industry, to facilitate the transition to clean energy sectors.
The Taskforce will consider how to build resilience in the workforce to meet evolving demand in the market, which includes assessing the knock-on effects of the ECO4 closure.
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 delivery mechanisms will be used to implement the Warm Homes Scheme to ensure effective and timely delivery of funding.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Warm Homes Agency will consolidate the existing delivery landscape and take on delivery of some of the existing schemes. The full scope of the Agency, including delivery mechanisms, is being finalised and will be confirmed in due course.
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, if he will consider the potential merits of a specific grant scheme for mine water heat projects.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The government is accelerating deployment of low-carbon technologies, including geothermal. Water from coal mines and sewer systems offers strong potential for heat networks. Projects can apply to the Green Heat Network Fund for support. The Mining Remediation Authority has published opportunity maps for geothermal deployment.
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 recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the release of the investment reserve fund of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Discussions continue with a view to reaching agreement on an outcome that can be implemented later this year which will benefit scheme members.
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, when he plans to respond to the consultation entitled Building the North Sea’s energy future which closed on 30 April 2025.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
DESNZ is currently analysing the responses received. We will publish a government response setting out our next steps in due course.
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, if he will discuss the position of contractor employees at Wood Group with trade union signatories to the Energy Services Agreement.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Ministers and officials regularly engage with trade union representatives to discuss a variety of issues.
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 recent assessment he has made of the viability of the Wood Group’s North Sea oil and gas contracts.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Wood Group’s North Sea oil and gas contracts are a commercial matter for the company.