Asked by: Josh MacAlister (Labour - Whitehaven and Workington)
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 small modular reactor competition run by Great British Nuclear, whether his Department is taking other steps to support the development of privately (a) funded and (b) operated nuclear power projects.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Great British Nuclear (GBN), the Government’s nuclear delivery body, is pushing forward with the small modular reactor competition – at the Autumn Budget it was confirmed GBN had entered negotiations with the four remaining bidders, with final decisions expected in the spring. In parallel, the government is continuing to consider responses to the Alternative Routes to Market consultation for Advanced Nuclear Technologies and will publish a factual response in due course. The Government is the majority shareholder in Sizewell C, and the Budget provided £2.7bn of funding to continue supporting the project's development in 2025/26.
Asked by: Josh MacAlister (Labour - Whitehaven and Workington)
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 (a) Government and (b) industry data on household (i) income and (ii) energy needs to develop a targeted support mechanism for energy bills (A) for low-income households and (B) generally.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government’s Warm Home Discount (WHD) scheme provides targeted support to eligible low-income households across Great Britain with a £150 rebate off their winter energy bill, the vast majority of which are provided automatically. The WHD scheme provides rebates to pensioners in receipt of Pension Credit Guarantee Credit (Core Group 1) and those in receipt of one of the qualifying means-tested benefits and are living in properties which have an energy cost score, calculated from certain property characteristics, exceeding a high-energy-cost threshold (core Group 2).
In 2023/24 the WHD scheme delivered rebates to 3.14 million households in Great Britain. This represents an increase of around 646 thousand households receiving rebates and an increase of around £97 million of support, compared to 2022/23. Since the WHD scheme began in 2011, over £4 billion in support has been provided to households.
Asked by: Josh MacAlister (Labour - Whitehaven and Workington)
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 provide further details on the (a) implementation and (b) scope of the Warm Homes Plan.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Through the Warm Homes Plan, we will invest an extra £6.6 billion over the next five years in clean heat and energy efficiency, upgrading five million homes through solutions like low carbon heating and improved insulation. We will set out the full details of our Warm Homes Plan, and the approach to Net Zero Buildings more broadly, after the completion of the Spending Review Process.
Asked by: Josh MacAlister (Labour - Whitehaven and Workington)
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 the Warm Homes Plan integrates with existing energy efficiency schemes.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Through the Warm Homes Plan, we will invest an extra £6.6 billion over the next five years in clean heat and energy efficiency, upgrading five million homes through solutions like low carbon heating and improved insulation. We will set out the full details of our Warm Homes Plan, and the approach to Net Zero Buildings more broadly, after the completion of the Spending Review Process.
Asked by: Josh MacAlister (Labour - Whitehaven and Workington)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether decisions have been (a) requested of and (b) made by his Department on alternative uses of land licensed for new nuclear use owned by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority at Moorside in West Cumbria.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
To date, no decisions have been made, but discussions are ongoing regarding the most effective use of the land at Moorside. The Department is considering options to maximise public benefit.
Asked by: Josh MacAlister (Labour - Whitehaven and Workington)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority have sought approval for the purchase of land in West Cumbria in the last ten years.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Yes, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority has sought, and received, approval for the purchase of land in West Cumbria in the last ten years. This includes land parcels adjacent to the Low Level Waste Repository at Drigg.
Asked by: Josh MacAlister (Labour - Whitehaven and Workington)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many approval processes Great British Nuclear undertake before final decisions are made on (a) technology and (b) sites for new nuclear power plants.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Great British Nuclear, the Department’s arm’s-length body responsible for helping deliver the Government’s nuclear programme, is currently running a small modular reactor technology selection process for UK deployment. The window for submitting tenders has closed and Great British Nuclear is evaluating bids. This is a complex procurement, and it is important Great British Nuclear ensures a fair and robust process that delivers sustainable outcomes. Further updates will be made on this, as well as setting out plans for associated sites, in due course.
Asked by: Josh MacAlister (Labour - Whitehaven and Workington)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he will prioritise new nuclear power generation on land designated for new nuclear over other potential uses.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The New nuclear National Policy Statement (EN-7) is being developed to provide updated planning guidance to developers. This will be subject to the usual public consultation and Parliamentary scrutiny. The potential sites listed in EN-6 are likely to retain many inherent advantages and it is for those landowners to decide how to manage their assets. For those sites within the wider government estate, optimal land use will be considered to best maximise public benefit.
Asked by: Josh MacAlister (Labour - Whitehaven and Workington)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he will prioritise government owned land that remains (a) unused and (b) licensed for new nuclear use in siting decisions for deployment of new nuclear power plants.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Government will always consider strategic land use opportunities for its estate and is committed to managing its land to best maximise public benefit.
Asked by: Josh MacAlister (Labour - Whitehaven and Workington)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether the eight sites identified for new nuclear use in the 2011 National Policy Statement are intended for new nuclear use.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
New nuclear National Policy Statement (EN-7) is being developed to provide updated planning guidance to developers. This will be subject to the usual public consultation and Parliamentary scrutiny. The potential sites listed in EN-6 are likely to retain many inherent advantages and it is for those landowners to decide how to manage their assets. For those sites within the wider government estate, optimal land use will be considered to best maximise public benefit.