Asked by: James McMurdock (Reform UK - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
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 considered alternative energy transmission methods.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The National Energy System Operator considers a range of different technologies when conducting strategic network planning to make the most optimal recommendations for electricity transmission infrastructure.
It is the responsibility of the developers of electricity network projects to propose the detailed route design, including technology choice, and obtain planning permission. The Government sets the rules for a robust and independent planning process that communities can participate in.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Reform UK - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether compensation schemes are available to businesses whose operations are impacted by the construction of (a) new electricity pylons and (b) electricity related infrastructure.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Landowners, businesses and homeowners that have electrical equipment, such as pylons or towers, sited on their land have the right to compensation for the value of their land, as well as for any losses or expenses incurred. Acquiring authorities can also put in place discretionary schemes offering additional compensation.
We have published guidance on community funds for electricity transmission infrastructure which outlines government’s recommendations on how to communities living near clean energy infrastructure can benefit.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Reform UK - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
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 recent discussions with the National Grid on the potential merits of establishing (a) financial compensation and (b) support for businesses impacted by pylon developments.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Details of Ministers' and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Reform UK - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
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 engage with the public on the construction of new electricity network infrastructure.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
In England and Wales, the Planning Act 2008 requires developers to demonstrate that they have consulted adequately with communities and to ensure their feedback is considered and incorporated into any new projects.
Our objective is to ensure communities hosting transmission network infrastructure can directly benefit. The Government will publish guidance on community funds by Spring 2025. Our guidance will recommend early engagement with communities, ideally alongside initial project discussions.
The Government is also supporting the launch of a public communications campaign, developed by industry, to encourage public awareness of the importance of electricity network infrastructure in delivering clean power.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Reform UK - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
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 ensure engagement with (a) the public and (b) relevant stakeholders on the environmental impact of pylon projects before Development Consent Orders are granted to private energy companies.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
In England and Wales, the Planning Act 2008 requires developers to demonstrate that they have consulted adequately with local communities and relevant stakeholders before they submit applications for consent. This includes engagement on the environmental impacts of pylon projects. As part of their applications developers are required to engage with the public and relevant stakeholders to ensure their feedback is considered and incorporated into the project. The Government does not make assessments for specific projects until they come to the Secretary of State for a final planning decision.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Reform UK - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate he has made of the cost of net zero targets for Fire and Rescue services.
Answered by Kerry McCarthy - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Fire and Ambulance Stations account for around 2% of greenhouse gas emissions from public sector buildings in England according to the Building Energy Efficiency Survey (www.gov.uk/government/publications/building-energy-efficiency-survey-bees).
The Government has previously estimated the cost of decarbonising all UK public sector buildings at £25bn to £30bn in 2022 prices. This estimate will be reviewed this year. The cost of retrofitting different sub-sectors of the public sector will vary according to several factors, including the types of buildings used and their age. This leads to different relative costs across these sub-sectors.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Reform UK - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
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 plans to increase funding to the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Answered by Kerry McCarthy - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) budget is negotiated by parties on a biennium basis. The 2024-2025 budget was agreed in 2023, and this year parties will negotiate the budget for 2026-2027. The UK has historically advocated for a core budget that is in line with the needs of the UNFCCC and reflects the increase in mandates from the parties. This position was reflected in the UK's 2024 contributions, and the recently delivered 2025 core and supplementary budget contributions. The Government is assessing our position for the upcoming biennium negotiations alongside our broader negotiating objectives.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Reform UK - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has plans to (a) increase awareness of fire risks for residents living near to Coryton Energy Park and (b) provide information to residents about what they can do to stay safe in the event of a fire.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Planning applications for battery storage are determined by the local planning authority under the Town and Country Planning Act regime. The operation of this regime and the decisions made under it are the responsibility of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. The Health and Safety Executive regulates grid-scale batteries within a robust framework which requires industry to act at all stages of the battery’s deployment to ensure safety. Of particular relevance to fire safety, the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (2002) set out requirements to protect workers and others from fire risks.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Reform UK - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether an impact assessment has been conducted on the fire risk for residents living near Coryton Energy Park.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Planning applications for battery storage are determined by the local planning authority under the Town and Country Planning Act regime. The operation of this regime and the decisions made under it are the responsibility of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. The Health and Safety Executive regulates grid-scale batteries within a robust framework which requires industry to act at all stages of the battery’s deployment to ensure safety. Of particular relevance to fire safety, the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (2002) set out requirements to protect workers and others from fire risks.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Reform UK - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he plans to take to help reduce fire risk at Coryton Energy Park.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Planning applications for battery storage are determined by the local planning authority under the Town and Country Planning Act regime. The operation of this regime and the decisions made under it are the responsibility of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. The Health and Safety Executive regulates grid-scale batteries within a robust framework which requires industry to act at all stages of the battery’s deployment to ensure safety. Of particular relevance to fire safety, the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (2002) set out requirements to protect workers and others from fire risks.