Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Michael Shanks and Calum Miller
Tuesday 15th July 2025

(1 week, 4 days ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Calum Miller Portrait Calum Miller (Bicester and Woodstock) (LD)
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

5. What steps he is taking to increase electricity grid capacity.

Michael Shanks Portrait The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Michael Shanks)
- View Speech - Hansard - -

We are working with Ofgem and the National Energy System Operator to accelerate network infrastructure through reforms to planning, supply chains and other areas, delivering the capacity needed to achieve clean power by 2030 and to drive economic growth.

Calum Miller Portrait Calum Miller
- View Speech - Hansard - - - Excerpts

In my constituency of Bicester and Woodstock, the local plan anticipates significant new employment sites to create jobs and growth. Tritax Big Box tells me that it wants to put solar panels on 100% of usable roof areas on the buildings that it intends to create. Local planning policies would support that, yet I was shocked to learn that Tritax expects to install solar panels on only 25% of usable roof space. It cannot get a permit to generate electricity or consent to export to the grid. Will the Minister or his officials meet me to discuss how we can turn this into a win-win opportunity for rooftop green solar?

Michael Shanks Portrait Michael Shanks
- View Speech - Hansard - -

That sounds like a fantastic opportunity. Our ambition is to see solar panels on as many rooftops across the country as possible. It is a win-win opportunity, as the hon. Gentleman rightly puts it. He and I have spoken about a number of these issues previously, and I am happy to discuss this one with him. If he could write to me with the specifics, we will certainly look at the matter. In the meantime, we are looking at reforming all those processes to make sure that we can get as much power as possible.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Michael Shanks and Calum Miller
Tuesday 10th June 2025

(1 month, 2 weeks ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Michael Shanks Portrait Michael Shanks
- View Speech - Hansard - -

My hon. Friend raises an important point. The UK’s energy grid is very resilient, but we are investing to make sure that remains the case in the decades ahead. Ofgem requires transmission owners and distribution network operators to make sure that there is an efficient, economic and co-ordinated system of electricity transmission in the country—and to make sure that it works—but if he wishes to raise any specific issues, I would be happy to hear from him.

Calum Miller Portrait Calum Miller (Bicester and Woodstock) (LD)
- View Speech - Hansard - - - Excerpts

T2. On 21 May, the Government published their working paper on community benefits, but contributions are unlikely to be made mandatory before a decision is made about the huge Botley West plant in my constituency. Does the Minister agree that a responsible developer would offer my constituents a level of benefit in line with that proposed by the Government?

Michael Shanks Portrait Michael Shanks
- View Speech - Hansard - -

Yes, and I was grateful for the opportunity to meet the hon. Gentleman recently to discuss exactly those points. We encourage all developers to provide a range of local community benefits, and we are consulting on whether that should go further, but in the meantime we want to see community benefit schemes that are as strong as possible for all energy projects, right across the country.