Asked by: Joy Morrissey (Conservative - Beaconsfield)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have met (i) Dale Vince and (ii) representatives of Ecotricity since 5 July 2024.
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.
Published declarations include the purpose of the meeting and the names of any additional external organisations or individuals in attendance.
Asked by: Joy Morrissey (Conservative - Beaconsfield)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he plans to provide trade unions with a role on the board of GB Energy.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
As stated in Great British Energy’s Founding Statement, trade unions will have a voice and representation within Great British Energy. When deciding upon the composition of the board, GBE will follow best practice in its governance and structures, including around its relationships and engagement with trade unions and its workforce.
Asked by: Joy Morrissey (Conservative - Beaconsfield)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what his policy is on the potential creation of new unabated gas power plants.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
To ensure security of supply, the electricity system requires generating capacity that can dispatch power in the event of high peak demand, unexpected outage or during periods of low renewable output. As we transition to clean power the government will work with the private sector to ensure flexible technologies such as hydrogen, long duration electricity storage and power with carbon capture and storage are deployed. Unabated gas will increasingly move to a backup role as low carbon alternatives deploy. We will continue to develop our strategy to enable a transition away from unabated gas whilst maintaining security of supply.
Asked by: Joy Morrissey (Conservative - Beaconsfield)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have met with the owners of the Grangemouth oil refinery.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Details of Ministers’ meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.
Asked by: Joy Morrissey (Conservative - Beaconsfield)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he plans to extend the lifetime of existing unabated gas power stations.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
To ensure security of supply, the electricity system requires generating capacity that can dispatch power in the event of high peak demand, unexpected outage or during periods of low renewable output. As we transition to clean power the government will work with the private sector to ensure flexible technologies such as hydrogen, long duration electricity storage and power with carbon capture and storage are deployed. We will continue to utilise unabated gas generating capacity, which will increasingly move to a backup role as low carbon alternatives deploy. TheGovernment is considering the policies required to maintain security of supply.
Asked by: Joy Morrissey (Conservative - Beaconsfield)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether new unabated gas power stations will be required to maintain energy security.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
To ensure security of supply, the electricity system requires generating capacity that can dispatch power in the event of high peak demand, unexpected outage or during periods of low renewable output. As we transition to clean power the government will work with the private sector to ensure flexible technologies such as hydrogen, long duration electricity storage and power with carbon capture and storage are deployed. We will continue to utilise unabated gas generating capacity, which will increasingly move to a backup role as low carbon alternatives deploy. TheGovernment is considering the policies required to maintain security of supply.
Asked by: Joy Morrissey (Conservative - Beaconsfield)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will commission the ESO to make an estimate of the additional number of kilometres of transmission network that will be added to the electricity grid.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Secretary of State and Head of Mission Control wrote to the ESO on 23rd August to formally commission advice regarding the key requirements for the Government to meet its clean power commitment by 2030. This includes the transmission network
More detail will be provided in the autumn.
Asked by: Joy Morrissey (Conservative - Beaconsfield)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Chris Stark to lead Mission Control to deliver clean power by 2030, published on 9 July 2024, what resources his Department has allocated to Mission Control for (a) administration, (b) personnel and (c) communications.
Answered by Kerry McCarthy - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department is in the process of establishing the Clean Power 2030 Unit, which will play a crucial role in supporting Chris Stark. Currently, the unit comprises of individuals with a mix of roles and skills ranging from policy and subject matter expertise to project delivery, analysis and other roles. As with all teams within the Department, the team is supported by corporate functions including communications, finance and human resources, which operate across the organisation.
Asked by: Joy Morrissey (Conservative - Beaconsfield)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he consulted (a) Unite the Union, (b) GMB and (c) other trade unions on the potential closure of oil and gas refineries in the North Sea.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Details of Ministers’ meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.
This Government will ensure a phased and responsible North Sea transition. We will manage the North Sea in a way that does not jeopardise jobs. As Britain becomes a clean energy superpower, the government is determined to create new high-quality jobs, working with business and trade unions.
Asked by: Joy Morrissey (Conservative - Beaconsfield)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether the new chair of Great British Energy was appointed through open competition; what his remuneration is; and what provisions have been put in place to prevent potential conflicts of interest.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
I refer the hon Member to the answer I gave to Question UIN 2492.