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 implications for his policies of the KPMG interim investigation of December 2022 into Drax Power Station’s claims for government subsidy.

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

Ofgem as the independent energy regulator is responsible for assuring the Government that large scale biomass generators, such as Drax, are in full compliance with sustainability requirements. Ofgem recently undertook a full investigation into Drax’s compliance and found that whilst Drax complied with the standards, it failed to report data accurately. The size of Drax’s redress payment in light of this, £25m, and the steps they’ve agreed to take to improve data accuracy, underscores the robustness of the regulatory system.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the finding by Ofgem that Drax had misreported data in relation to their annual profiling submission between 1 April 2021 and 31 March 2022, published on 29 August 2024, whether he plans to investigate its subsidies during the previous 10 years.

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

Compliance with biomass sustainability criteria is a priority and Ofgem as the independent regulator is responsible for ensuring generators’ compliance. Ofgem’s recent investigation found that whilst Drax complied with sustainability standards, it had failed to report data accurately. This is a serious matter and Government expects full compliance with all regulatory obligations. Ofgem did not find any evidence to suggest that Drax had been issued with subsidies incorrectly. Drax’s subsequent £25 million redress payment underscores the robustness of the regulatory system.

Import and sale of real fur

England men's cricket team's upcoming fixture against Afghanistan

Found: Q249 Rosie Duffield: Thank you; that was a really helpful answer.

Found: Liberal Democrat; North East Hampshire) David Burton-Sampson (Labour; Southend West and Leigh) Rosie Duffield

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Sarah Owen (Chair); David Burton-Sampson; Rosie Duffield; Kirith

Found: Friends the Members for Hemsworth (Jon Trickett) and for Canterbury (Rosie Duffield).

Found: Presented by Dr Rupa Huq supported by Jim Shannon , Rosie Duffield , Lillian Jones , Nadia Whittome

The Committee will hear evidence from charities, researchers, HR professionals, employers and trade unions about workplace support for women and their partners who experience miscarriage and pregnancy loss.  This will include examining the case for extending eligibility for parental bereavement leave.

The Women and Equalities Committee will examine community cohesion at a local and national level in the UK.  This inquiry aims to gather diverse evidence and investigate barriers to cohesion, examples of best practice and how to ensure cohsion for the next generation.

Submit Evidence (by 31 Jan 2025)

Unequal division of childcaring responsibilities is a key driver of wider gender inequality and the gender pay gap. The Women and Equalities Committee is examining options for reform of the statutory shared parental leave scheme and statutory paternity rights with the aim of identifying the most effective ways of incentivising more equal sharing of childcare and wider domestic responsibilities between mothers and their partners.

This is a one off session examining issues around gendered Islamophobia.