Asked by: Sarah Pochin (Reform UK - Runcorn and Helsby)
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 bringing industrial energy prices in line with international competitors on UK manufacturing jobs.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The only way to bring energy bills down sustainably is by reducing Britain’s exposure to volatile fossil fuel markets. Our mission for Clean Power by 2030 will get us off the rollercoaster of fossil fuel prices, to cut bills for businesses and households for good.
In the nearer term, through the British Industry Supercharger (BIS), we are reducing electricity costs for energy‑intensive industries. Since April 2026, the discount on electricity network charges for these firms has increased from 60% to 90%.
The British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS) will also reduce electricity costs by up to £40/MWh for over 10,000 businesses across the Industrial Strategy’s growth sectors and key manufacturing supply chains.
Asked by: Sarah Pochin (Reform UK - Runcorn and Helsby)
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 Department's policy of encouraging the import of higher‑carbon cement as an alternative to UK production.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The government does not encourage the import of higher-carbon cement as an alternative to UK-production and is taking action to protect domestic industry and level the playing field. The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) scheduled to take effect on 1 January 2027, will ensure that imported cement from overseas faces carbon pricing comparable to domestically produced cement. The British Industry Supercharger (BIS) is reducing the cost of electricity for the cement sector, helping it compete internationally.
Asked by: Sarah Pochin (Reform UK - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, from which countries the UK imports cement; and what assessment he has made of the comparative carbon intensity of those imports versus UK‑produced cement.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
In 2023, approximately 90% of cement imports by value were from European countries, including Ireland, Spain. Germany, and Portugal. No assessment has been made of the carbon intensity of cement imports versus UK produced cement.
Asked by: Sarah Pochin (Reform UK - Runcorn and Helsby)
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 Government policy on industrial energy costs on levels of long term energy intensive manufacturing capacity.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government understands the pressure on businesses facing high energy costs.
Our mission for Clean Power by 2030 will cut bills for good and will reduce the risk of carbon leakage by reducing Britain’s exposure to volatile fossil fuels.
In the nearer term, through the British Industry Supercharger (BIS), we are reducing electricity costs for energy‑intensive industries. Since April 2026, the discount on electricity network charges for these firms has increased from 60% to 90%.
The British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS) will also reduce electricity costs by up to £40/MWh for over 10,000 businesses across the Industrial Strategy’s growth sectors and key manufacturing supply chains. This will bring British electricity costs more in line with other economies in Europe, and level the playing field for British businesses.
Asked by: Sarah Pochin (Reform UK - Runcorn and Helsby)
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 UK energy policy on the offshoring of energy‑intensive manufacturing capacity.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government understands the pressure on businesses facing high energy costs.
Our mission for Clean Power by 2030 will cut bills for good and will reduce the risk of carbon leakage by reducing Britain’s exposure to volatile fossil fuels.
In the nearer term, through the British Industry Supercharger (BIS), we are reducing electricity costs for energy‑intensive industries. Since April 2026, the discount on electricity network charges for these firms has increased from 60% to 90%.
The British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS) will also reduce electricity costs by up to £40/MWh for over 10,000 businesses across the Industrial Strategy’s growth sectors and key manufacturing supply chains. This will bring British electricity costs more in line with other economies in Europe, and level the playing field for British businesses.
Asked by: Sarah Pochin (Reform UK - Runcorn and Helsby)
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 support dispersed sites without access to potential CCUS infrastructure and pipelines to decarbonise.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Government recognises that non-pipeline methods of CO2 transportation (for example, road, rail, barge and ship) will play an integral role in achieving decarbonisation across multiple regions and sectors of the economy, to meet our carbon budget targets and net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Non-pipeline transport (NPT) will be required where it is not technically or economically feasible to connect to a store via a pipeline.
The government’s consultation on its proposals for NPT deployment across the UK has just concluded and we are in the process of analysing responses.
Alongside this, the government launched the NPT Pathfinder Selection Process on the 9 April. This is the first time NPT projects will be eligible to apply for storage at the East Coast Cluster and we look forward to seeing which projects come forward to take up this exciting opportunity.
Both initiatives will help inform further NPT deployment in the future.
Asked by: Sarah Pochin (Reform UK - Runcorn and Helsby)
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 timing of the announcement of successor arrangements to the Energy Company Obligation on the number of jobs at risk in the energy efficiency supply chain.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
ECO4 has played a part in delivering clean heat technologies; however, issues identified by the NAO and PAC support a shift to a more direct, publicly-funded approach focused on technologies that cut bills and accelerate the transition to clean heat such as heat pumps, solar PV and batteries. The government is providing an additional £1.5 billion—taking planned capital investment to almost £15 billion—to upgrade low‑income homes and scale clean home‑energy technologies. Deployment will be further supported through wider policies and details of this will be set out soon in the Warm Homes Plan.
Asked by: Sarah Pochin (Reform UK - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the planned end of the Energy Company Obligation on levels of redundancy in the energy efficiency and home retrofit sector.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
ECO4 has played a part in delivering clean heat technologies; however, issues identified by the NAO and PAC support a shift to a more direct, publicly-funded approach focused on technologies that cut bills and accelerate the transition to clean heat such as heat pumps, solar PV and batteries. The government is providing an additional £1.5 billion—taking planned capital investment to almost £15 billion—to upgrade low‑income homes and scale clean home‑energy technologies. Deployment will be further supported through wider policies and details of this will be set out soon in the Warm Homes Plan.
Asked by: Sarah Pochin (Reform UK - Runcorn and Helsby)
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 is taking to compensate local communities in Runcorn and Helsby constituency for potential impacts arising from the HyNet Scheme.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The government is working with a range of departments, regulators, and other public bodies to ensure the UK’s regulatory environment is well placed to support the deployment of CCUS and is committed to ensuring that the HyNet Cluster delivers tangible benefits for local communities.
The first two capture projects in the cluster—Padeswood Cement Works and Protos Energy Recovery Facility—are now under construction and will directly support 500 skilled jobs as part of 2,800 roles across the wider HyNet network.
These projects will generate significant local supply chain investment with substantial spend in the North West as part of the industry led, voluntary 50% UK content target and expand engineering apprenticeships, supporting regional growth and green employment opportunities.