Asked by: Jamie Stone (Liberal Democrat - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, which nuclear technologies are being considered by Great British Energy - Nuclear as part of its investigation into Scottish sites for new nuclear development.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Secretary of State has asked Great British Energy – Nuclear (GBE-N) to assess Scotland’s capability for new nuclear power. That includes the potential for large-scale and small modular reactor projects.
Asked by: Jamie Stone (Liberal Democrat - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether Great British Energy - Nuclear’s assessment of potential Scottish sites for new nuclear development includes (a) previously used nuclear sites and (b) new sites.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Secretary of State has asked Great British Energy – Nuclear (GBE-N) to assess Scotland’s potential for new nuclear power, including around areas that have previously hosted nuclear stations.
New nuclear can play an important role in helping achieve energy security and clean power, while securing thousands of skilled jobs.
The UK Government remains open to discussions with the Scottish Government regarding the deployment of new nuclear technologies in Scotland.
Asked by: Jamie Stone (Liberal Democrat - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when he expects Great British Energy – Nuclear to (a) complete its study into potential Scottish sites for new nuclear development and (b) make the findings of that study publicly available.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Great British Energy – Nuclear will complete its study on the potential for new nuclear development in Scotland in the first half of 2026.
We will provide an update once this study has been completed.
Asked by: Jamie Stone (Liberal Democrat - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what the (a) scope and (b) expected timetable for Great British Energy – Nuclear’s assessment of Scotland’s capability for new nuclear power stations.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Ministers have asked GBE-N to assess Scotland’s potential for new nuclear power, including around areas that have previously hosted nuclear stations.
New nuclear projects can deliver millions of pounds of investment and thousands of high-quality jobs to a region.
GBE-N will advise UK Ministers on the potential for new nuclear development in Scotland in due course.
Asked by: Jamie Stone (Liberal Democrat - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
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 Scottish Government on the potential impact of its ban on new nuclear projects on future employment opportunities.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
There is considerable potential for hosting new nuclear projects in Scotland, building on decades of experience of existing nuclear power across the country. Given the Scottish Government’s presumption against new nuclear, the UK Government cannot actively consider projects within Scotland at this time
At peak construction, Sizewell C will support 10,000 jobs directly employed in the project, thousands more in the nationwide supply chain, and plans to create 1,500 apprenticeships, whilst the Great British Energy - Nuclear-led small modular reactor project could support up to 3,000 jobs at peak construction.
Asked by: Jamie Stone (Liberal Democrat - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
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 (a) reforms to Energy Performance Certificates and (b) how Energy Performance Certificates measure the performance of traditionally constructed buildings.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Ministers engage regularly with Scottish Government counterparts across a range of policy areas, including through the Net Zero, Energy and Climate Change Interministerial Group (IMG). Departmental officials meet Scottish Government counterparts regularly, most recently in February 2025, on matters including Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) reforms. HM Government and Scottish Government will make independent decisions on what the EPC will measure but it is intended that both will use a common calculation framework, the Home Energy Model (HEM). It will support options for building types that are especially prevalent in Scotland including for traditional dwellings.
Asked by: Jamie Stone (Liberal Democrat - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of her Department's funding schemes providing support with the cost of energy.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
The Government delivered over £40 billion in support last winter to households and businesses, covering half of a households’ energy bill, between October 2022 and June 2023.
This provided an average of £1,500 to households to support their energy bill costs.
Asked by: Jamie Stone (Liberal Democrat - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
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 potential merits of including measures in the contracts for difference scheme that allow developers to prioritise projects within geographical areas that have high levels of fuel poverty.
Answered by Graham Stuart
In the UK's wholesale electricity market, power generated from Contracts for Difference (CfD) projects is delivered to the National Grid and so is not allocated to specific geographical areas.
The Government has recently published a Call for Evidence on introducing non-price factors into the CfD scheme. Non-price factors being considered include investments in assisted areas.
Asked by: Jamie Stone (Liberal Democrat - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether the Government has plans to provide funding to whiskey distilleries in the Highlands to assist the transition from fossil fuels to green energy, such as biogas and hydrogen.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Green Gas Support Scheme provides tariff-based support for biomethane produced via anaerobic digestion injected into the gas grid in Great Britain. The scheme requires that at least 50% of all biomethane (by energy content) produced must use waste or residue feedstocks, which may include residues from the whiskey distilling process.
Achieving the Government's legally binding net zero targets will require a range of technologies. Low carbon hydrogen will be critical to helping vital British industries transition away from expensive oil and gas, as well as providing greener energy for power, transport, and potentially home heating.
Asked by: Jamie Stone (Liberal Democrat - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps the Government is taking to secure manufacturing investment in the renewable energy industry to help ensure that the UK remains a competitive market for clean energy investment.
Answered by Graham Stuart
Through the Offshore Wind Manufacturing Investment Scheme, the Government has made funding available to support major port and manufacturing infrastructure. The Government has also announced a £160 million investment scheme to support floating offshore wind port and infrastructure development.