Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how his Department has accounted for the availability of decarbonisation alternatives on Northern Ireland ferry routes when assessing the proportionality of ETS implementation.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The UK ETS is technology-neutral, incentivising cost-effective decarbonisation.
Through UK ETS and policies in the Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy, the Government is providing strategic certainty for investment. For example, backed by NatPower Marine's £10m of private investment, Heysham is expected to have its first shore power plug this year. The UK SHORE research programme received £448m in September 2025 to accelerate clean maritime technologies. The use of eligible sustainable maritime fuels are incentivised under the UK ETS through zero-rating.
The Government continues to engage with industry, including Northern Ireland ferry operators, to support infrastructure delivery and uptake of clean maritime technologies.
Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
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 impact of the level of energy costs on businesses.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
The Government believes that our mission to deliver clean power by 2030 is the best way to break our dependence on global fossil fuel markets and protect billpayers permanently.
The creation of Great British Energy will help us to harness clean energy with less reliance on volatile international energy markets and help in our commitment to make Britain a clean energy superpower by 2030.
In the short-term, the Government wants to provide businesses with better protection from being locked into unfair and expensive energy contracts, and more redress when they have a complaint. Many businesses secure their energy contracts through Third-Party Intermediaries, such as energy brokers. Last year, the Government launched a consultation on introducing regulation of TPIs. This is aimed at enhancing consumer protections including to prevent opaque contracting practices or mis-selling, particularly for non-domestic consumers. a Government response will follow in due course once all feedback has been reviewed.
From 19 December 2024 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with fewer than 50 employees can now access free support to resolve issues with their energy supplier through the Energy Ombudsman. This means that 99% of British businesses can now access this service with outcomes ranging up to £20,000 in financial awards.
Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
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 publish a response to the consultation entitled Transitional support mechanism for large-scale biomass electricity generators, published on 18 January 2024.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Yes, the Government plans to publish a response to the consultation in due course.