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 has taken to identify the (a) location and (b) severity of capacity constraints in the energy transmission network.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

National Energy System Operator (NESO) is responsible for strategic network planning of transmission infrastructure. NESO considers the network design objectives of economic efficiency, deliverability and operability, environmental impacts, and community impacts when making recommendations for infrastructure. Recommendations were previously based on NESO’s Network Options Assessment which considered network constraints in its analysis. In future recommendations will be based on NESO’s Future Energy Pathways, which includes modelling of energy supply and demand considering network capacity constraints, and the forthcoming Strategic Spatial Energy Plan.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of expanding (a) offshore wind, (b) onshore wind and (c) solar energy on environmental conservation.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

We have important checks and balances in the planning system that require extensive up-front environmental surveying, and for decision makers to ensure statutory environmental and habitats impact assessments are conducted as part of the planning determination.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of (a) police, (b) ambulance and (c) fire rescue services located near solar photovoltaic farm battery energy storage systems.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government has updated Planning Practice Guidance to encourage battery storage developers and local planning authorities to engage with local fire and rescue services, and for local planning authorities to refer to guidance published by the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC). The NFCC’s current guidance proposes a minimum distance of 25 metres between grid-scale batteries and occupied buildings.

The Department only considers consenting for solar projects over 50MW, and under this regime no solar PV farm battery has been consented which has been deemed an unsafe distance from a residential dwelling. Projects below 50MW are considered under the local planning regime.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has made a determination of the recommended safe distance between residential dwellings and solar PV farm battery energy storage systems.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government has updated Planning Practice Guidance to encourage battery storage developers and local planning authorities to engage with local fire and rescue services, and for local planning authorities to refer to guidance published by the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC). The NFCC’s current guidance proposes a minimum distance of 25 metres between grid-scale batteries and occupied buildings.

The Department only considers consenting for solar projects over 50MW, and under this regime no solar PV farm battery has been consented which has been deemed an unsafe distance from a residential dwelling. Projects below 50MW are considered under the local planning regime.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, which solar PV farm battery energy storage systems are deemed to be within an unsafe distance from a residential dwelling.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government has updated Planning Practice Guidance to encourage battery storage developers and local planning authorities to engage with local fire and rescue services, and for local planning authorities to refer to guidance published by the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC). The NFCC’s current guidance proposes a minimum distance of 25 metres between grid-scale batteries and occupied buildings.

The Department only considers consenting for solar projects over 50MW, and under this regime no solar PV farm battery has been consented which has been deemed an unsafe distance from a residential dwelling. Projects below 50MW are considered under the local planning regime.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether an assessment has been made of the potential impact of expanding (a) onshore wind and (b) solar energy on the availability of agricultural land.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Current planning policies guide developments away from using Best and Most Versatile agricultural land where possible. Developers will submit information on land use and classification when seeking planning consent, and this information will be taken into account by decision makers. However, Government does not set a prescriptive approach and as such does not hold this information.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has identified the (a) location and (b) severity of capacity constraints in the energy distribution network.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Ofgem’s price control supports network reinforcement to enable Distribution Network Operators to increase network capacity where required. Ofgem has published analysis of current and future capacity constraints in its framework consultation for the next electricity distribution price control period, beginning in 2028.

Ofgem will also promote data sharing and digitisation across DNOs to improve network visibility and reduce constraints.

In 2026, National Energy System Operator will publish Regional Energy Strategic Plans (RESP). RESPs will support coordinated development of the distribution system and enable long-term investment in capacity to be made with confidence and ahead of need.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how much public investment has been directed to Sizewell C in each year since 2022.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government has announced funding provided to Sizewell C in the following financial years: £100m in 2021/22, £679m in 2022/23, £1,811m in 2023/24 and £1,200m in 2024/25 to date.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he is taking steps to consult (a) angling clubs and (b) fishery owners on reforms to the Bathing Water Regulations 2013.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra and the Welsh Government are currently running a six-week consultation on proposed reforms to the Bathing Water Regulations 2013, which closes on 23 December. We encourage all interested parties to respond to the consultation. Both Defra Minsters and officials have engaged with stakeholders before and following the launch of the public consultation. We have engaged with fishery stakeholders including the angling community and fishery conservation organisations in public forums and correspondence. We will continue to work closely with stakeholders as we progress with any proposed changes.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to consult on the proposal in Wider Reform 1 to redefine multiple watercrafts and others as ‘bathers’.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra and the Welsh Government are currently running a six-week consultation on proposed reforms to the Bathing Water Regulations 2013, which closes on 23 December. In this consultation, we are calling for evidence on a wider reform for potential future development, regarding the clarification and expansion of the definition of ‘bathers’. We are seeking views on whether a wider range of water users should be considered, and if so, what other types of users should be included and how their needs can be balanced against current users. We encourage all parties to respond to the consultation.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has carried out an impact assessment for proposed changes to the Bathing Water Regulations 2013 on (a) fisheries, (b) fish spawning grounds, and (c) riparian rights.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra and the Welsh Government are currently running a six-week consultation on proposed reforms to the Bathing Water Regulations 2013, which closes on 23 December. We have engaged with fishery stakeholders and encourage all interested parties to respond to the consultation. The Government will consider all responses to the consultation before publishing a government response to the consultation. Following this response, an assessment of impacts will be considered if appropriate.

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 mitigate against the risk of potential price increases in (a) offshore wind, (b) onshore wind, and (c) solar energy.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

To protect against rising costs for clean energy supply chains the Government is working across the economy on specific clean power policy actions. These include exploring where international collaboration can support supply chains, including via trade agreements and international co-operation. The Government is further determined to work with other countries to diversify supply chains. To match the scale of the deployment challenge the Government will be driving an increase in capacity of our domestic clean energy workforce. As set out in the Clean Power Action Plan, the Government is also minded to implement a package of targeted reforms to the Contracts for Difference scheme, designed to secure the volumes of clean electricity we need at a competitive price.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many staff work in the Border Security Command; and how many of those staff were not previously working on small boat crossings.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office)

I refer the Right Honourable Member to the answer I gave on 14 October to Question UIN 6818.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what information his Department holds on the number of foreign nationals employed at (a) Sizewell and (b) Hinckley nuclear power station by country of origin in each year from 2010 to 2024.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The department does not collect information on the number of foreign nationals employed on the Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C projects.

Access to the critical systems for both reactors would be restricted to UK nationals only. The nuclear license holder will be obliged to meet security standards as set out by the Regulator.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will have discussions with representatives from the banking sector on the adequacy of property valuations for mortgage applications.

Answered by Tulip Siddiq

The Government is regularly in contact with mortgage lenders on all aspects of their business, including the mortgage application process.

The specific details of how property valuations are carried out for mortgage applications is a commercial decision for lenders in which the Government does not intervene.

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 the effectiveness of the processes put in place by his Department to ensure that the Contracts for Difference Allocation Round 7 (a) is open and transparent and (b) will allocate contracts according to which bid achieves the highest value for money.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

We are reviewing the Contracts for Difference scheme, as we do before every round, to ensure it continues to deliver value for money and all other objectives. We set out some of the changes to the scheme we are considering in the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan and will be consulting on these early next year. We will open Allocation Round 7 in the summer of 2025, and publish further details for the round in due course.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if her Department will publish an impact assessment for a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism on UK exporters.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The aim of the UK CBAM is to ensure imported products are subject to a carbon price comparable to that incurred by UK production, mitigating the risk of carbon leakage. By its very nature, a CBAM can only apply to imported goods, so it cannot mitigate any risk of carbon leakage in export markets.

The government will continue to consider whether there is a role for existing or future carbon leakage policies to address the risk associated with exports. Any policies applied to exported products would need to be compliant with the UK’s WTO obligations and our commitment to free and open trade.

A more detailed assessment of CBAM impacts on the economy and carbon leakage will be provided before legislation is introduced.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of UK carbon emissions from imports from (a) China and (b) the rest of the world in each year since 2010.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Information about the Carbon footprint for the UK is published here : Carbon footprint for the UK and England to 2021 - GOV.UK

Data is available up to 2021.

The total carbon footprint now includes the seven main Greenhouse Gases comprising: CO₂, Methane (CH₄), Nitrous oxide (N₂O), Hydro-flourocarbons (HFC), Perflurocarbons (PFC), Nitrogen trifluoride (NF₃) and Sulphur hexafluoride (SF₆).

We do not hold information on total UK emissions but can provide those associated with consumption. UK consumption emission figures are provided in the table below.

Table 1: Breakdown of UK consumption emissions by region of import 2010 to 2021, million tonnes CO2 equivalent, UK

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of UK carbon emissions by consumption in each year since 2010.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Information about the Carbon footprint for the UK is published here : Carbon footprint for the UK and England to 2021 - GOV.UK

Data are available up to 2021.

The total carbon footprint now includes the seven main Greenhouse Gases comprising: CO₂, Methane (CH₄), Nitrous oxide (N₂O), Hydro-flourocarbons (HFC), Perflurocarbons (PFC), Nitrogen trifluoride (NF₃) and Sulphur hexafluoride (SF₆).

Figures up to 2021 for the UK can be found in the table below.

Table 1: Greenhouse gas emissions associated with UK consumption, million tonnes CO2 equivalent, UK, 2010-2021

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to reform the current right to roam regime.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Our countryside and green spaces are a source of great national pride, but too many across the country are left without access to the great outdoors. That is why the last Labour Government expanded public access by introducing the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, which provided the public a right of access to large areas of mountain, moor, heath, down, registered common land and coastal margin in England. 2024 marked 75 years since the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, which secured public access and preserved natural beauty.

This Government will continue to increase access to nature for families to enjoy, boosting people’s mental and physical health and leaving a legacy for generations to come. We will create nine new National River Walks, plant three new National Forests and empower communities to create new parks and green spaces in their communities with a new Community Right to Buy. We will announce further details on our plans for improving access to nature in due course.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Prime Minister and the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East discussed (a) delivering UNRWA operations in Hamas-controlled areas and (b) steps UNRWA is taking to ensure the political neutrality of its staff during their meeting on 11 December 2024.

Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the read-out of the meeting on GOV.UK

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether there is specific support for haemophiliacs impacted by the infected blood scandal.

Answered by Andrew Gwynne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The victims of the infected blood scandal have suffered immeasurably. It is the Government’s utmost intention to deliver what justice and compensation it can to all those impacted, as quickly as possible.

Haemophiliacs infected via National Health Service blood or blood products are eligible for financial and psychological support from the United Kingdom’s infected blood support schemes, as well as a bespoke Infected Blood Psychological Service that has been introduced by NHS England. They may also apply for comprehensive compensation from the Infected Blood Compensation Authority.

As set out in the Government’s response to the inquiry’s recommendations on protecting the safety of haemophilia care in their final report, NHS England is undertaking work on a peer review of haemophilia centres, networks for haemophilia care, recombinant products, and a national haemophilia database. Work is also underway in the Department to review the support being offered to the relevant charities for the infected and affected community in England.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the size of the current court case backlog is in England and Wales.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

We publish court open caseloads across the criminal court, family court, and tribunals jurisdictions in the following publications:

Criminal court statistics quarterly: July to September 2024 - GOV.UK.

HMCTS management information - September 2024 - GOV.UK.

Tribunals statistics quarterly: July to September 2024 - GOV.UK.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what estimate he has made of the number of employers in the (a) private and (b) public sector that have recognised a trade union in 2024.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Management and Wellbeing Practices Survey estimates the percentage of employers with recognised unions and employers with union members included within the table below:

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what funding has been provided to the counter-extremism centre of excellence since 4 July 2024.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office)

The March 2024 announcement of a new centre of excellence for counter-extremism within the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government was a commitment by the previous administration and has not been continued by this Government.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent estimate he has made of of the number of employers in the (a) private and (b) public sector whose employees are members of an unrecognised trade union.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Government does not hold information on the number of employers in the private and public sectors whose employees are members of an unrecognised trade union.

The Management and Wellbeing Practices Survey estimates the percentage of employers with recognised unions and employers with union members. The difference in percentages could be used as a proxy to estimate the percentage of employers whose employees are members of an unrecognised trade union.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will take steps to consult on (a) secondary legislation and (b) policy on trade union voluntary access (i) agreements and (ii) adjudication.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Clause 46 of the Employment Rights Bill provides a framework for trade unions to access workplaces where an access agreement is reached between an independent trade union and an employer, making it easier for union representatives to recruit, organise and carry out other union-related activities.

The Government ran a consultation that closed on 2 December about the approach to enforcement of the right of access provisions. We are currently considering the responses to that consultation and will publish a government response in due course.

The Government will also consult on secondary legislation relating to the right of access framework following Royal Assent of the Employment Rights Bill.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to his Department’s consultation, Making Work Pay: Consultation on creating a modern framework for industrial relations, published in October 2024, what his planned timetable is for the consultation on lowering the admissibility requirements for the statutory trade union recognition ballot process.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Employment Rights Bill includes a provision to provide Ministers with the power to bring forward secondary legislation to vary the trade union recognition admissibility threshold between 2% and 10%. Once the Bill obtains Royal Assent the Government intends to consult on lowering the admissibility threshold prior to issuing secondary legislation.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of changing the threshold for the number of employees within an organisation for it to be eligible for the statutory trade union recognition ballot process.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Government is simplifying the process and the law around statutory recognition thresholds, so that working people have a meaningful right to organise through trade unions.

As part of this, we are removing the antiquated rule that means that unions must show at the application stage that they are likely to get a majority in a subsequent recognition ballot. We will also consult on whether the 10% membership requirement on application should be reduced following Royal Assent of the Employment Rights Bill.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to remove (a) diversity and inclusion advisers and (b) champion positions in her Department.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)

The type of positions referred to by the Hon. Member were established under the previous Government, for the reasons set out in the answer of 10 January 2017 to Question 58238, which remain relevant today.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to follow the Prevent duty guidance, published on 12 March 2015, during meetings with Islamist organisations.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office)

In 2024 a new definition of extremism was published, alongside a set of engagement principles, to ensure that the Government is not inadvertently providing a platform, funding or legitimacy to groups or individuals who attempt to advance extremist ideologies.

The definition sits alongside a set of cross-government engagement principles. The definition and engagement principles are used by Government departments when considering with whom to engage.

The Prevent duty guidance advises specified authorities on best practice to help them comply with the Prevent duty. It includes advice on how they can limit exposure to radicalising narratives and ensure radicalising ideologies are challenged and are not permitted to flourish.

The latest iteration of the Prevent duty guidance came into force in December 2023.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many officials at each civil service grade have been allocated to the EU Directorate within his Department.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The EU Relations Secretariat was established in the Cabinet Office to give effect to the Government's manifesto commitments to reset the relationship with the EU, implement the Windsor Framework in good faith and protect the UK's internal market, as well as responsibility for the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement and Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

The EU Relations Secretariat brings together civil servants who were already working on EU relations from across the government. The data on this headcount will be published in 2025.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what senior leadership positions are vacant in the EU Directorate within his Department.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The EU Relations Secretariat was established in the Cabinet Office to give effect to the Government's manifesto commitments to reset the relationship with the EU, implement the Windsor Framework in good faith and protect the UK's internal market, as well as responsibility for the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement and Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

All Senior Civil Servant roles within the EU Relations Secretariat are currently filled. We are recruiting for the new role of Second Permanent Secretary; the advert for which closed on 8 December.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many civil servants have been suspended due to allegations of misconduct since in each year since 2020.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Decisions to suspend an employee are delegated to individual departments. Data on the number of civil servants who have been suspended due to allegations of misconduct are therefore not held centrally.

Civil Service statistics on the composition of the Civil Service workforce, including data on those leaving the Civil Service due to dismissals, are available on GOV.UK.

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Found: Letter dated 16/12/2024 from Justin Madders MP to Nick Timothy MP regarding questions raised during the