Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the potential capacity of the North Sea to assist with (a) ensuring a low cost and low carbon footprint and (b) energy security for the UK.

The North Sea will play an important role in enabling Government to meet the UK’s Carbon Budget 6 and net zero targets whilst delivering low-cost electricity for consumers. 11.3GW of offshore wind is already operating in the UK, the majority of which is in the North Sea with around a further 32GW under construction, or in earlier stages of development in UK waters. Further seabed leases totalling around 25GW were awarded to wind projects in the North Sea in the recent ScotWind leasing round. The Government has since published the British Energy Security Strategy, which sets out how the UK will become more self-sufficient, bolstering our energy security.