Asked by: Kirsty Blackman (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen North)
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 implications for his Department's renewable energy targets that developers in the north of Scotland face higher transmission charges than those in southern England, in the context of the region possessing some of Europe's greatest renewable energy resources.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Electricity transmission charging arrangements are a matter for Ofgem as the independent regulator. Transmission charges are designed to be cost‑reflective, meaning they reflect the costs imposed on the network by generators connecting in different locations. Generators located further from centres of demand, and which drive higher levels of network investment, therefore face higher charges.
Our Reformed National Pricing (RNP) programme will deliver the necessary market reforms to ensure that planning and price signals work together, so that new energy sources are built in the best places and the grid develops in line with future need.
Asked by: Kirsty Blackman (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen North)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what target timescales his Department has set for the determination of offshore wind and grid connection planning applications; and what steps he is taking to reduce delays in consenting for nationally significant energy infrastructure.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
In England and Wales, the Planning Act 2008 sets statutory deadlines for the Examining Authority and the deciding Secretary of State. These do not differ by infrastructure type.
The Government is taking multiple actions to speed up the planning process including in the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025, and in its response to the Nuclear Regulatory Review in March 2026.
Planning applications relating to the grid in Scotland are a matter for Scottish Ministers.
Asked by: Kirsty Blackman (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen North)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to reform TNUoS charging arrangements ahead of CfD Allocation Round 8.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
By law, transmission charging arrangements are a matter for Ofgem as the independent regulator. Ofgem are currently reviewing the arrangements and are holding a call for input. Government is supporting Ofgem closely on the review, as part of our wider Reformed National Pricing programme and our delivery of the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan. We will ensure that transmission charging is reformed as soon as possible.
Asked by: Kirsty Blackman (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen North)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answers of 13 June 2025 to Questions (a) 57249, (b) 57250 and (c) 57251, how many departmental roles are based in Aberdeen; what additional roles are planned for the city following the establishment of the UK Energy Campus; and what his planned timeline is for establishing the Campus.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
As of July 2025, there were 100 staff members based in Aberdeen, comprising a wide variety of roles within the department.
The development of the Aberdeen Energy Campus is in its initial stages. In line with the Cabinet Office Thematic Campus principles, we are looking to determine the most appropriate model for the location, working closely with other government departments and arms-length bodies. Additionally, departmental workforce strategy and business planning outcomes will play a significant role in shaping and influencing this process.
Asked by: Kirsty Blackman (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen North)
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 respond to the consultation on Building the North Sea’s Energy Future, which closed on 30 April 2025.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
DESNZ is currently analysing the responses received. We will publish a government response setting out our next steps in due course.
Asked by: Kirsty Blackman (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen North)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what his planned timeline is for establishing the UK Energy Campus in Aberdeen; and over what period departmental roles will be transferred or created there.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Aberdeen was announced as one of DESNZ’s second headquarters in December 2023.
This commitment to the location underlines the importance of Aberdeen in our Net Zero planning.
As of May 2025, there were 100 staff members based in Aberdeen, comprising a wide variety of roles within the department. The ambition is to increase this number and for DESNZ to continue to grow in Aberdeen, with the creation of Great British Energy and the possibility of other Scotland-based Arm's Length Bodies also becoming part of the Energy Campus.
The establishment of a new Energy Campus in Aberdeen is part of the UK Government’s Plan for Change, aimed at fostering collaboration. By relocating skilled roles to the same town or city, government campuses bring together civil servants with diverse skills and expertise through a shared policy or delivery focus. This approach aims to address issues and improve services for working people across the country.
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has indicated that further details on the Energy Campus will be set out in due course following the completion of the current Spending Review process.
Asked by: Kirsty Blackman (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen North)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many of his Department's jobs are based in Aberdeen; and how many additional Department roles will be based there once the UK has established its Energy Campus.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Aberdeen was announced as one of DESNZ’s second headquarters in December 2023.
This commitment to the location underlines the importance of Aberdeen in our Net Zero planning.
As of May 2025, there were 100 staff members based in Aberdeen, comprising a wide variety of roles within the department. The ambition is to increase this number and for DESNZ to continue to grow in Aberdeen, with the creation of Great British Energy and the possibility of other Scotland-based Arm's Length Bodies also becoming part of the Energy Campus.
The establishment of a new Energy Campus in Aberdeen is part of the UK Government’s Plan for Change, aimed at fostering collaboration. By relocating skilled roles to the same town or city, government campuses bring together civil servants with diverse skills and expertise through a shared policy or delivery focus. This approach aims to address issues and improve services for working people across the country.
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has indicated that further details on the Energy Campus will be set out in due course following the completion of the current Spending Review process.
Asked by: Kirsty Blackman (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen North)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, which departmental roles are based in Aberdeen; and what kinds of additional roles he expects to be located there following the establishment of the UK Energy Campus.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Aberdeen was announced as one of DESNZ’s second headquarters in December 2023.
This commitment to the location underlines the importance of Aberdeen in our Net Zero planning.
As of May 2025, there were 100 staff members based in Aberdeen, comprising a wide variety of roles within the department. The ambition is to increase this number and for DESNZ to continue to grow in Aberdeen, with the creation of Great British Energy and the possibility of other Scotland-based Arm's Length Bodies also becoming part of the Energy Campus.
The establishment of a new Energy Campus in Aberdeen is part of the UK Government’s Plan for Change, aimed at fostering collaboration. By relocating skilled roles to the same town or city, government campuses bring together civil servants with diverse skills and expertise through a shared policy or delivery focus. This approach aims to address issues and improve services for working people across the country.
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has indicated that further details on the Energy Campus will be set out in due course following the completion of the current Spending Review process.
Asked by: Kirsty Blackman (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen North)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many (a) press, (b) media and (c) other communications posts there are in his Department; and what the salary band is for each post.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
In the central Communications team of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, there are a total of 86 Full Time Equivalent Government Communications Service posts.
Of this 24 work in media relations.
This is the latest available data from March 2025.
Asked by: Kirsty Blackman (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen North)
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 that Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage is deployed in Scotland.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
We are committed to supporting UK industry to decarbonise, enabling the country to take advantage of new opportunities that can promote growth and wealth creation, and protecting thousands of jobs in regions and industries across the UK. The Scottish Cluster Acorn has received £40 million in development funding in recent years, and officials continue to engage with the cluster to understand their plans. Following the announcement in October 2024 of funding for the initial Track 1 cluster configurations, further decisions for continued CCUS deployment, including for Track 2 clusters, will be taken in due course.