Asked by: Tristan Osborne (Labour - Chatham and Aylesford)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether the proposed Energy Independence Bill will amend the deterrence regime to help prevent environmental damage from oil and gas operations.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is committed to ensuring that the offshore environmental regulatory regime provides an effective deterrent against environmental damage and keeps the regime under review.
The proposed Energy Independence Bill does not include provisions to amend the deterrence regime. Decisions on whether to make changes to the regime through future legislation have not yet been taken.
Asked by: Tristan Osborne (Labour - Chatham and Aylesford)
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 merits of removing the existing cap on variable monetary penalties for offshore oil spills, including to align with the equivalent regulations for onshore oil spills.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government keeps the effectiveness of the offshore environmental enforcement regime under review. Removing the cap on variable monetary penalties for offshore oil spills could provide greater flexibility in applying sanctions in the most serious cases. Any penalty must remain proportionate to the circumstances of the case. No decision has been taken to remove the current cap.
Asked by: Tristan Osborne (Labour - Chatham and Aylesford)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what comparative assessment he has made of the maximum level of financial penalties that can be issued for offshore oil spills between the UK and other countries, including Norway and the United States.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department has not undertaken a formal comparative assessment of the maximum financial penalties that may be imposed for offshore oil spills in other countries. The UK operates a comprehensive offshore environmental regulatory regime which includes civil sanctions, criminal offences and other enforcement measures designed to secure compliance and protect the marine environment. The Government keeps the effectiveness of this regime under review.
Asked by: Tristan Osborne (Labour - Chatham and Aylesford)
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 increase the production of domestic clean power in supporting energy security.
Answered by Ed Miliband - Foreign Secretary
We are accelerating investment in homegrown clean power to boost energy security and cut exposure to volatile fossil fuel markets. In response to this crisis, we’re bringing forward the next renewables auction to July, introducing low‑cost “plug‑in solar” for households, and we will implement the Fingleton Review to speed up delivery of critical zero carbon infrastructure.
Asked by: Tristan Osborne (Labour - Chatham and Aylesford)
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 ensure that the Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy is aligned with the Critical Minerals Strategy and the Circular Economy Growth Plan.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We are ensuring our upcoming plan for industrial decarbonisation aligns with the Critical Minerals Strategy and the Circular Economy Growth Plan through joint working across government and coordinated policy development. This approach aims to strengthen supply chain resilience and embeds resource efficiency into policy design, helping industry decarbonise while supporting sustainable growth.
Asked by: Tristan Osborne (Labour - Chatham and Aylesford)
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 (a) the UK's nuclear energy capacity on delivering the AI Opportunities Action Plan, (b) the costs of regulatory processes on building new nuclear and (c) existing plants being decommissioned without replacement on AI.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
As outlined in the AI Opportunities Action Plan, AI datacentres are a potential new consumer of nuclear power. We see the potential benefits of nuclear-powered datacentres and are considering how to unlock this potential.
Regulatory processes involve multiple steps to demonstrate the nuclear power plant will be safe, secure and can manage its waste, non-proliferation, and environmental obligations. There are multiple variables that drive timelines and costs.
The Department undertakes regular modelling on future energy scenarios, including on demand changes driven by new technology and plans for generating assets. This forms part of the considerations on the wider AI sector.