Asked by: Richard Baker (Labour - Glenrothes and Mid Fife)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department plans to include decommissioning in its plan for the North Sea's energy transition.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The recent Government consultation on ‘Building the North Sea’s Energy Future’ recognised the importance of decommissioning and asked specific questions about changes that could be made to ensure an effective decommissioning framework is in place. The consultation is now closed, and we will respond in due course.
The Government’s priority is a fair, orderly and prosperous transition in the North Sea in line with our climate and legal obligations, which drives towards our clean energy future of energy security, lower bills, and good, long-term jobs.
Asked by: Richard Baker (Labour - Glenrothes and Mid Fife)
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 Glenrothes and Mid Fife constituency benefits from nuclear decommissioning.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority’s (NDA) mission is to clean up the nuclear legacy. Whilst the NDA do not have a site in Glenrothes and Mid Fife constituency, the decommissioning activity of the NDA and its supply chain provide social economic benefit to areas across Scotland. The longevity of their mission allows for positive economic benefits to be realised for years to come.
Asked by: Richard Baker (Labour - Glenrothes and Mid Fife)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on support for clean energy projects in Wales.
Answered by Nia Griffith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Wales Office)
The UK Government is delivering our clean energy mission in Wales as part of our Plan for Change.
Earlier this month, The Crown Estate announced that three Welsh ports have been shortlisted to develop floating offshore wind projects in the Celtic Sea. These windfarms will generate up to 4.5 gigawatts of renewable energy, create up to 5,000 jobs and deliver a £1.4 billion boost to the economy.
Asked by: Richard Baker (Labour - Glenrothes and Mid Fife)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of UK industrial capacity to deliver floating dry docks required for Programme Euston.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Programme Euston is currently in the Concept Phase and no procurement decisions have been made. A detailed assessment of market capacity and capability will take place as the requirements develop.
Asked by: Richard Baker (Labour - Glenrothes and Mid Fife)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure (a) supply chain resilience and (b) sovereign capability in the procurement strategy for Programme Euston.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Programme Euston will draw on a broad range of suppliers to deliver the infrastructure needs at HMNB Clyde.
Programme Euston will engage with UK based and international suppliers to assess whether they have the required capability and capacity to deliver. No decisions have been made as this time.
Asked by: Richard Baker (Labour - Glenrothes and Mid Fife)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of ensuring Programme Euston’s floating dry docks are manufactured in the UK on (a) economic growth and (b) skills development.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Following normal process, economic and social value benefits will be assessed by Programme Euston as it progresses through its business case approvals. No assessment has yet been undertaken.
Asked by: Richard Baker (Labour - Glenrothes and Mid Fife)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he plans to publish his Department's updated Disability Inclusion and Rights Strategy.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The 2022 - 2030 Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Disability Inclusion and Rights strategy provides a long-term framework for the FCDO's international approach to disability inclusion. When we published it, we committed to updating it at midpoint to ensure that it would remain current and reflective of Government priorities.
On 25th February, the Prime Minister delivered the government's commitment to increase defence spending to 2.5% of gross domestic product from April 2027, to be funded by a reduction to Official Development Assistance spending. While we had anticipated updating the strategy in advance of the Global Disability Summit in Berlin on 2-3 April, we will explore the options for updating it following the conclusion of the multi-year Spending Review and resource allocation processes.
Asked by: Richard Baker (Labour - Glenrothes and Mid Fife)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether (a) Ministers and (b) officials from his Department plan to attend the Global Disability Summit in April 2025.
Answered by Anneliese Dodds
The 2025 Global Disability Summit is an important moment for the UK to reinforce our commitment to galvanising international efforts on disability inclusion and launch the refresh of our FCDO Disability Inclusion and Rights strategy (2022-30), setting out new priorities. The Cabinet Office and FCDO are working closely together to draw up the UK's delegation and final decisions will be made soon.
Asked by: Richard Baker (Labour - Glenrothes and Mid Fife)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he is having with disabled people to help ensure that their views are represented at the Global Disability Summit in Berlin on 2-3 April 2025.
Answered by Anneliese Dodds
The FCDO Disability Inclusion and Rights strategy was developed in extensive consultation with the disability movement, including Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs). The 2025 Global Disability Summit will be co-hosted by Germany, Jordan and the International Disability Alliance, which represents OPDs and works to amplify their voice around the world. FCDO officials have engaged with the Summit co-hosts to share the UK's experience of hosting the 2018 Global Disability Summit, reinforcing the importance of positioning the voice and rights of people with disabilities at its heart. I met the BOND Disability and Development Group in early January to discuss FCDO priorities and the Global Disability Summit. I also incorporated consultation with OPDs in my travel schedule, including meeting an organisation of women with disabilities in South Sudan.
Asked by: Richard Baker (Labour - Glenrothes and Mid Fife)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what his priorities are for the third Global Disability Summit in April 2025.
Answered by Anneliese Dodds
The UK is committed to accelerating the pace of progress on disability inclusion globally. In a context of increased conflict and crises in which people with disabilities are disproportionally affected, disability must not fall down the political agenda. At the Global Disability Summit in April 2025, the FCDO will reinforce our commitment to galvanising international efforts on disability inclusion and launch the refresh of our FCDO Disability Inclusion and Rights strategy, setting out new priorities. The voice and rights of people with disabilities will remain a core focus of the strategy and our global work on disability inclusion, as guided by the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD).