Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what plans he has to include tidal lagoons in the 2030-50 clean energy mix.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The UK possesses tremendous tidal resource which could play a role in balancing the intermittency of wind and solar generation as we transition towards a carbon-neutral power sector.
The Government's position on tidal range generation, is that we remain open to considering well-developed proposals for harnessing the tidal range energy in the bays and estuaries around our coastlines, including lagoons and other alternatives.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
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 investigate the business practices of rent-a-roof companies under the (a) Feed-In-Tariff and (b) Renewable Heat Incentive scheme.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department is aware of allegations that have been made about the business practices of some companies that operated rent-a-roof or leasing models in the Feed-in Tariff and Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive schemes. Ofgem is currently looking into these allegations.
If Ofgem finds evidence of wrongdoing, then the Department will support Ofgem in using the full extent of its powers to address the issue.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
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 aviation objections on the deployment of new onshore wind in Wales.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Wales will play an important role in increasing the UK's onshore wind capacity and meeting our Net Zero Ambitions.
The Government has set up an Onshore Wind Industry Taskforce to identify and address the barriers to increased onshore wind deployment, including in relation to airspace management and aviation. As a reserved matter, we recognise that this will have implications for onshore wind projects being built in the Devolved Administrations. We engage regularly with the Welsh Government, who are represented on the Onshore Wind Industry Taskforce.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of levels of energy (a) poverty and (b) security in (i) Newport West constituency and (ii) Wales.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
Fuel poverty is devolved.
The UK has a secure and diverse energy system – including through access to our own North Sea gas reserves, the second largest Liquefied Natural Gas port infrastructure in Europe, investment in renewable energy sources and steady pipeline gas imports from reliable partners like Norway.
The annual Statutory Security of Supply Report 2023 (December 2023) concluded that Great Britain is anticipated to maintain adequate supplies of electricity and gas to meet consumers’ demands over the short- and long-term.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of plans to grant new oil and gas licences.
Answered by Graham Stuart
New oil and gas licences will aid the UK’s delivery of net zero, reduce imports of LNG with much higher emissions than UK gas, strengthen UK and European energy security as UK oil is overwhelmingly refined and predominantly consumed in the UK and Europe, will help lower production emissions, manage the decline of production in the basin, support and protect the 200,000 jobs dependent on the industry, preserve tax revenues, strengthen the UK’s balance of payments and retain the skills, expertise, investment, and supply chains needed to support the transition to low carbon and renewable technologies necessary for net zero to be reached by 2050.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the energy mix in (a) Newport West and (b) Wales.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Shadow Minister (Energy Security and Net Zero)
Given energy moves between different parts of the UK to balance supply and demand, the Department assesses the adequacy of the energy mix on a national basis. The annual Statutory Security of Supply Report 2023 (December 2023) concludes that Great Britain is anticipated to maintain adequate supplies of electricity and gas to meet consumers’ demands over the short- and long- term.
UK Energy Mix for | 2022 |
Coal | 2% |
Primary oils | 34% |
Natural gas | 38% |
Bioenergy & waste | 10% |
Primary electricity | 11% |
Other | 4% |
|
Source: DUKES Table 1.1, Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics (DUKES) Chapter 1, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, 24 Aug. 2023
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will meet the hon. Member for Newport West to discuss a complaint about the mis-selling of Green Deal loans by HELMS submitted by a constituent in 2019.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
I would invite the hon. Member to write to provide further detail on the complaint she is referring to. The Department will then be able to advise on the status of the complaint to inform the request for discussion.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many members of His Majesty's Government (a) have attended and (b) plan to attend COP28 as of 5 December 2023.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
A total of 11 Government Ministers from across different Government Departments are due to have attended COP28.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, which Ministers will attend COP28.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Shadow Minister (Energy Security and Net Zero)
My Rt hon Friends the Prime Minister and Secretary of State will attend COP28, as well as Ministers from the following departments: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, HM Treasury, Department for Transport, and Department for Health and Social Care.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps she has taken to help (a) lower energy costs and (b) improve energy security for (i) households and (ii) businesses in Newport West constituency.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
Since October 2022, the Government has covered nearly half a typical household’s energy cost and continues to support the most vulnerable with Cost-of-Living payments, including in Newport West. The Government is delivering on energy efficiency, lower electricity costs and energy security by boosting diverse sources of homegrown energy.
The default tariff price cap will continue to protect households, and the Energy Price Guarantee will remain in place as a safety net through to April 2024. Eligible businesses will also continue to receive support under the Energy Bills Discount Scheme and Energy and Trade Intensive Industries schemes.