18 Mar
Question
Topical Questions

In this Topical Questions session, the focus primarily revolved around the UK's energy strategies, climate change commitments, and the implications of transitioning towards net zero emissions. Speakers raised various issues about pressing energy projects and policies.

Key Discussion Points:

  1. Climate Engagement with China:
    • Ed Miliband highlighted the necessity of international cooperation by referencing his visit to Beijing to push for climate action, especially as China is the largest global emitter of carbon emissions.
  1. Bacton Energy Hub and Green Transition:
    • Steff Aquarone emphasized the potential of the Bacton energy hub and the integration of wind power for green hydrogen production, seeking governmental support.
  1. Nuclear Energy Development:
    • Gurinder Singh Josan inquired about the inclusion of varied nuclear technologies in the industrial strategy, with Sarah Jones reiterating the Government's openness to nuclear projects.
1%

Britain's contribution to global climate emissions.

  1. Cost of Climate Commitments:
    • Andrew Bowie questioned the financial feasibility of climate commitments outlined by the Climate Change Committee, while Miliband countered this by stressing the higher long-term costs of inaction.
  1. Local Infrastructure and Community Benefits:
    • Several MPs like Andrew Cooper, Alan Strickland, and others raised concerns about local community impacts, infrastructure, and benefits related to energy developments.
  1. Inclusivity in Energy Policies:
    • Issues like disabled residents' access to energy schemes (raised by Joshua Reynolds) and the emphasis on community ownership of renewable projects prompted urgency in policy adaptation.

Outcomes and Follow-up:

£319 billion

Estimated cost for meeting the UK's climate commitments over the next 15 years, as noted by the Climate Change Committee.

  • Commitment to Resolving Local Challenges:
    • Government representatives expressed willingness to engage with local and industry stakeholders, demonstrated through commitments like ministerial visits and meetings.
  • Highlighting Infrastructure Needs:
    • Strategies for reducing costs and integrating new technologies were discussed, with promises of consideration for infrastructure investment.
  • Encouragement of Community Energy Initiatives:
    • Acknowledgment of community energy schemes as pivotal to the UK's energy future, with strategies for greater inclusivity.

Key Statistics:

  1. "1% of global climate emissions" - Britain's share, as articulated by Miliband.
  2. "£319 billion over 15 years" - Cost of meeting climate obligations (source: Climate Change Committee).

Outcome

The session concluded with affirmed government intentions to continue its engagement in climate policies, support for nuclear and renewable energy sectors, and an emphasis on inclusive infrastructure developments. Multiple commitments to revisit specific local concerns were made, although comprehensive explicit new policy changes remained unspecified during this session.

Key Contributions

Steff AquaroneMP
Liberal Democrats

Advocated for government support in transitioning the Bacton energy hub to integrate wind power, emphasizing the dual economic and environmental benefits of the project.

Ed MilibandShadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change
Labour

Stressed the importance of UK's international engagement on climate issues, defended Climate Change Committee's recommendations, and criticized the Conservative party's approach to energy policy and climate targets.

Gurinder Singh JosanMP
Labour

Pressed for diversification and inclusivity in nuclear technology strategies within the UK's industrial strategy.

Sarah JonesMinister
Labour

Highlighted clean energy as a central element in the industrial strategy and assured openness to nuclear energy projects.

Andrew BowieMP
Conservative

Raised concerns on the economic implications of the Climate Change Committee's estimates and urged a reevaluation of energy policy approaches.

Andrew CooperMP
Labour

Criticized conservatives for not delivering on locally beneficial infrastructure projects, urging the continuation of community benefit frameworks.

Edward MorelloSpokesperson
Liberal Democrats

Questioned the Government on efforts to alleviate household energy costs through reforming policy costs, as part of transitioning away from gas heating.

Alan StricklandMP
Labour

Sought clarity on progress and timelines concerning the British Coal staff superannuation scheme following previous ministerial remarks.

Original Transcript
Steff Aquarone
North Norfolk
LD
12:20
Question
UIN: 903253

T1.   If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.

The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
Ed Miliband
12:20

Britain produces 1% of global climate emissions. China is the world’s largest emitter, yet no UK Energy Secretary has visited it in eight years to make the case for it to do more. That is why I have been in Beijing making the case for climate action.

Engagement, not negligence, is what fighting for Britain looks like. On climate, as on so much else, this Government believe that Britain can only protect our national interests by engaging on the international stage.

Steff Aquarone
12:20

The Bacton energy hub in my constituency is undergoing a green transition, which I support because I believe in protecting our natural environment and boosting our economy through net zero—two things the Conservatives seem to have abandoned.

Green hydrogen at Bacton needs wind power to be brought in from the coast. Will the Secretary of State help to make that happen, and will he visit Bacton with me to see the potential for himself?

Ed Miliband

This, among many others, is a very, very important potential project and the hon. Gentleman is right to make the case for it. Green hydrogen is absolutely part of our energy mix in the future.

Gurinder Singh Josan
Smethwick
Lab
12:20
Question
UIN: 903255

T3. I welcome the Government’s commitment to nuclear energy.

I recently met representatives of Newcleo, a company developing small modular reactors using lead-cooled fast reactor technology that uses depleted uranium and plutonium: waste materials of which we have an abundance from our existing nuclear programme.

Will the Secretary of State detail what he is doing to ensure that the industrial strategy takes account of all aspects of the nuclear jigsaw, including the wide variety of technologies on offer?

The Minister of State, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
Sarah Jones
12:20

Clean energy is one of the eight growth sectors in the industrial strategy and will provide a core part of that strategy. If anybody wants to build new nuclear in this country, our door is always open.

Ed Miliband
12:20

I deeply regret the direction in which the hon. Gentleman is going. The Climate Change Committee does incredibly important work. We will look at CB7, but the biggest cost we face as a country is if we do not act on the climate crisis.

That is what would leave hundreds of billions of pounds of costs to future generations.

Andrew Bowie

The right hon.

Gentleman might be content with signing our energy sovereignty over to the People’s Republic of China, and he might be happy with his Government’s arbitrary targets and bans, pushing bills up and leaving us more reliant on importing and costing jobs, but we think it is time for a new approach, as the Leader of the Opposition said this morning, focused on security and cost to the consumer, not pie-in-the-sky targets with no plan to reach them.

Will he recommission the review into the whole-systems cost? If not, what is he trying to hide?

Ed Miliband
12:24

It is the Tory party that has an energy surrender policy: surrendering us to fossil fuel markets controlled by petrostates and dictators.

The Tories would keep us locked in to fossil fuels, threaten billions of pounds of investment in net zero and leave our children and grandchildren a terrible legacy. That is the Conservative party in 2025: anti-jobs, anti-growth, anti-business and anti-future generations.

Andrew Cooper
Mid Cheshire
Lab
Question
UIN: 903256

T4.   I welcome the plans brought forward last week to provide money off for people living near new energy infrastructure. Does the Minister agree that this is yet another thing that the Conservatives promised, but never had the ability to deliver?

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
Michael Shanks

My hon. Friend is absolutely right that we have moved forward on delivering our plan that people hosting important infrastructure in their constituencies should benefit from it.

The Conservatives consulted on it, like so many policies that they talked and talked and talked about, but failed to deliver over 14 years—we are moving on with delivering it.

Mr Speaker
12:24

I call the Liberal Democrat spokesperson.

Edward Morello
West Dorset
LD
12:24

In the recent advice for its seventh carbon budget, the Climate Change Committee highlighted the urgency of ensuring cheaper electricity so that households can transition away from gas heating.

When will the Government act to improve energy security and reduce costs for the households seeking to adopt low-carbon heating by reforming policy costs on energy bills?

Ed Miliband

As we discussed earlier, the CCC raised an important issue that we need to look at.

The key question on this so-called rebalancing is that it must be looked at in the context of understanding the principled case, while also ensuring that if we go down that or another route, we do so in a way that is fair. That is the work that my Department is engaged on.

Alan Strickland
Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor
Lab
Question
UIN: 903257

T5.   I have recently met a number of families who are members of the British Coal staff superannuation scheme. While I know they will welcome the Minister’s earlier comments, as has been said, many are in their 70s and 80s, and they are keen for answers.

Could the Minister expand on her earlier comments to say more about the next steps and when my constituents might get a sense of the timeline and progress going forward?

Sarah Jones

I thank my hon. Friend for his concern for his constituents. As I said, I am very receptive to calls from BCSSS trustees. I wrote to the Chancellor, who sent back a positive response, and we are now taking the next steps in this process.

I will be reconvening trustees to meet and talk about it again.

Mr Joshua Reynolds
Maidenhead
LD
Question
UIN: 903254

T2. Martin, a disabled resident, lives in his park home in Maidenhead. After his boiler broke down two months ago, he has faced significant challenges.

He is unable to apply for the boiler upgrade scheme, as park homes do not get energy performance certificates, and the National Energy Foundation, which visited him three weeks ago, has still not provided him with a response.

Will the Secretary of State outline what support he can give Martin and other elderly residents without heat or hot water?

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
Miatta Fahnbulleh

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. We are very aware of the issues with park homes, and industry support is provided to residents.

As we think about expanding the warm home discount and the support we provide for households that cannot afford their energy, we will, of course, have park homes in our mind.

Chris  Murray
Edinburgh East and Musselburgh
Lab
Question
UIN: 903258

T6.   Does the Minister agree that community ownership projects will be crucial to achieving our world-leading net zero goals, and will he come to Edinburgh to see some of our fantastic community power projects?

Ed Miliband
12:24

Yes, that sounds really good. Community energy is a crucial part of our energy future.

Sir Edward Leigh
Gainsborough
Con
Question
UIN: 903259

T7. The Secretary of State and I are near neighbours. Will he take a short car journey to Gainsborough to visit the new fusion site at West Burton? It is probably the most exciting development in green energy that we have ever had in this country, creating unlimited jobs and unlimited green energy.

Will he join me in Gainsborough?

Ed Miliband

The right hon. Gentleman and I do not necessarily agree on everything, but on this we do agree. The transformation of the West Burton site from a fossil fuel-fired power station to a fusion power plant is an incredibly exciting project, and we should all be battling for it.

Michael Shanks

I thank my hon. Friend for his question. He underlines the importance not just of delivering on energy projects but the wider economic benefits from building infrastructure—the kind of infrastructure that the Conservatives now oppose.

He is right that in order to deliver these projects, we need to see investment in rural communities by the Scottish Government. We will continue to press them on those issues.

Mike Martin
Tunbridge Wells
LD
Question
UIN: 903262

T9.   Kent county council plans to introduce 10,000 on-street car chargers over the next decade. To put that in context, Kent has a population of 1.6 million people. At this rate, Kent will have burned down by the time we all have electric on-street car charging.

What can the Secretary of State do to speed this up?

Ed Miliband

The hon. Gentleman raises a really important issue. Rolling out electric car infrastructure is incredibly important. If he writes to my Department, we will ensure that he gets the best possible reply.

Chris Hinchliff
North East Hertfordshire
Lab

Will Ministers consider exercising the community electricity right within the Infrastructure Act 2015 to require commercial renewable energy developers to offer communities the opportunity to part-own schemes developed in their area?

Ed Miliband

My hon. Friend raises an important matter. As an energy nerd, I am really interested in this 2015 power, which, despite my nerdery, I did not actually know about. We are actively looking at this really important power, which was put in place by the previous Government.

Ben Obese-Jecty
Huntingdon
Con

In response to a written question to me last week, the Minister confirmed that no nationally significant infrastructure projects have been consented to that will use greater than 50% best and most versatile agricultural land.

In my constituency, the East Park Energy solar farm is close to 75%, but the overarching national policy statement for energy states at paragraph 5.11.

34: “The Secretary of State should ensure that applicants do not site their scheme on the best and most versatile agricultural land without justification.

” Can the Minister confirm whether nearly 1,500 acres of best and most versatile land is too much good-quality agricultural land to sacrifice?

Ed Miliband

The hon. Gentleman will know that any nationally significant project goes through a proper planning process, and it would not be right for me to comment on that. None the less, I am sure that the decision makers will be looking closely at the issues that he has raised.

Brian Leishman
Alloa and Grangemouth
Lab

There is to be a much reduced testing process for oil at the import terminal at Grangemouth. Is the Secretary of State concerned that, if imported oil does not pass these reduced tests, it cannot be used, leading to Scotland suffering a fuel shortage?

Michael Shanks

Throughout the seven months that we have been in government, we have been doing everything we can to work with the operators of the Grangemouth refinery. Of course we were disappointed by its closure. We have carried out a number of pieces of work on fuel security.

We are not concerned about that at this point, but, across the whole country, we keep constantly it under review.

Claire Young
Thornbury and Yate
LD

Although the Leader of the Opposition thinks that achieving net zero is impossible without “bankrupting us”, investment in low carbon energy for communities such as Severn Beach in my constituency could create valuable skilled jobs.

What steps will the Government take to ensure that the area around the River Severn will get the investment that it needs to realise its potential?

Ed Miliband

The hon. Lady is absolutely right on that. The Opposition are off to the “Wacky Races” when it comes to net zero. We in the Labour party know the truth: net zero is the economic opportunity of the 21st century and, under this Government, we will seize it.

Melanie Onn
Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes
Lab

Carbon capture, utilisation and storage is the central plank of the Humber 2030 vision. Does the Secretary of State have any plans to meet the Humber Energy Board, and if he does not will he join me in doing so?

Sarah Jones

I talk every day to my hon. Friend about her constituency and I am very happy to meet whoever she wants me to, because we think this is an incredibly important matter. The opportunities for her area and the Humber are great if we can harness the talents of the people in her constituency.

Ed Miliband

The hon. Gentleman raises an important point. We are actively working on that in government. Whatever one’s view on ground-mounted solar—we in the Labour party think that it has a role—we do need solar panels on rooftops. It is an important opportunity. While we are about it, perhaps the hon.

Gentleman can start supporting our plans on planning and infrastructure so that we can build the clean energy infrastructure that we need.

Mr Jonathan Brash
Hartlepool
Lab

The Secretary of State will be aware of the ongoing work to deliver new nuclear investment in Hartlepool. Billions of pounds are on the table, which will mean jobs and skills for generations to come. Will he meet me to discuss how we can get this deal over the line?

Ed Miliband

New nuclear is an essential part of our future energy plans. My Ministers and I would be absolutely delighted to meet my hon. Friend to discuss those plans.

Stephen Flynn
Aberdeen South
SNP

I welcome the warm words from the Secretary of State earlier about the Acorn project. How confident is he that the Chancellor is listening?

Ed Miliband
12:34

I speak as an old lag in these things: we have never had a Prime Minister and a Chancellor so enthusiastic and committed to the net zero agenda and what it can do economically for our country. The right hon. Gentleman should take heart from that.

Luke Myer
Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland
Lab
12:35

Teesside is seeing thousands of jobs coming on stream in carbon capture and storage, but the Conservatives’ new energy policy would put those jobs at risk.

Will the Secretary of State restate his commitment to this industry, and will he work to establish a Europe-wide CO2 market to bring investment and jobs to our region?

Ed Miliband
12:34

My hon. Friend puts it so well. This is the economic opportunity of our time. Our investment in carbon capture and storage shows what is possible. Today’s desperate request for attention from the Opposition is anti-business, anti-jobs, anti-growth, anti-investment and the wrong choice for Britain.

All content derived from official parliamentary records