Asked by: John Cooper (Conservative - Dumfries and Galloway)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department is taking steps to reduce UK dependency on Chinese supply chains for clean energy technologies.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is taking steps to strengthen the resilience and diversity of supply chains for clean energy technologies; including through measures to increase UK domestic capability to unlock the economic potential of the UK's energy transition.
The UK's Industrial Strategy is about doubling down on our strengths by identifying frontier clean energy industries where we have the greatest growth potential, and provides a policy package that drives supply chain growth up and down the country - including the announcement of a £1bn Great British Energy supply chain fund and investment from the £27.8bn National Wealth Fund.
Internationally the Government is working with partners, including through initiatives such as the Global Clean Power Alliance, to promote more secure, sustainable and diverse global clean energy supply chains.
The Government continues to welcome international investment, including in the clean energy sector, where it supports growth and jobs, at the same time it will always act to protect national security and ensure the resilience of critical energy infrastructure and supply chains.
Asked by: John Cooper (Conservative - Dumfries and Galloway)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many permanent civil servants in his Department are staff without assigned posts; and how many are placed in an equivalent (a) people action team, (b) priority movers list, (c) redeployment register, (d) talent pool and (e) skills match hub in the most recent period for which data is available.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department for Energy, Security and Net Zero currently has 34 individuals in the redeployment register.
Asked by: John Cooper (Conservative - Dumfries and Galloway)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how much (a) his Department and (b) each of its Arm’s Length Bodies has spent on external public relations since 5 July 2024; and which firms that funding went to.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has nil spend on external public relations since 5 July 2024. DESNZ conducts all public relations in house and does not use any external providers/firms.
The Department’s Arm’s Length Bodies record and publish their own spend data on public relations. This information is not held centrally and can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: John Cooper (Conservative - Dumfries and Galloway)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how much their Department spent on (a) media and (b) voice training for Ministers since 5 July 2024.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
There has been no spend on either (a) media or (b) voice training for Ministers since 5th July 2024 in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
Asked by: John Cooper (Conservative - Dumfries and Galloway)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what (a) evaluation and (b) assessment process his Department undertook when choosing Aberdeen as the headquarters of GB Energy.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We considered a range of factors including (1) labour market analysis, (2) mapping of Government estate availability and costs, and (3) proximity to strategic partners and establishments.
I am confident that Aberdeen is the right place for Great British Energy’s Headquarters. This decision recognises that Aberdeen is at the heart of the energy transition away from fossils fuels. The city also has an excellent talent pool to support the delivery of Great British Energy. Additional smaller sites in Edinburgh and Glasgow will enable us to take advantage of the expertise, skilled workforce and diversity of projects in place across Scotland.