Every parliamentary written question tabled by Ben Obese-Jecty this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 21–40 of 109 · Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
What assessment his Department has made of whether the National Energy System Operator needs to approve additional grid connection for the final phase of the rebuild of Hinchingbrooke Hospital.
I refer the hon Member to the answer I gave to him on 20 October to question UIN 82445
What assessment he has made of the potential merits of receiving approval from NESO for additional grid connection for the final phase of Hinchingbrooke Hospital’s rebuild.
Details of the requirements for individual connections to the electricity network are held in private connection contracts between the relevant parties. Faster grid connections are crucial to the Government's clean energy superpower and growth missions. We announced plans in the Industrial Strategy on a series of measures to accelerate connections for strategically important demand projects.
How much was allocated to the security and cybersecurity spend of the National Gas Business Plan in (a) 2024-25, (b) 2025-26 and (c) 2026-27.
Funding for National Gas Transmission is set by Ofgem’s RIIO (Revenue = Incentives + Innovation + Outputs) framework for each five-year regulatory period. Both the current RIIO-2 framework (covering the 2021-2026 regulatory period) and the draft RIIO-3 framework (which will cover 2026-2030) include a Cyber Resilience UIOLI (‘Use it or lose it’) allowance, providing flexible funding capped at up to 20% of total expenditure for network companies to improve cyber resilience.
How many vacancies are there at GB Energy.
Great British Energy (GBE) is currently in its initial start-up phase, with a strong focus on building staff capability to deliver against the Statement of Strategic Priorities. At present, there are 15 roles in recruitment, with numerous additional roles in development that are planned for recruitment in the coming months.
With reference to the Number 10 press release entitled UK to deliver on 5% NATO pledge as Government drives greater security for working people, published on 23 June 2025, if he will list his Department's (a) projects and (b) programmes by directorate that will contribute to the resilience and security element of national security spending for each year between 2025-26 and 2034-35 inclusive; and if he will list the amount of spending for each item (a) in real terms (b) as a proportion of concurrent forecast GDP.
The Departments primary spending on National Security is focused on resilience, critical infrastructure protection, and cross-cutting capabilities such as cyber security. Maintaining secure energy supplies is a key priority for Government as this underpins our economy, national security, and way of life. DESNZ works closely with industry, regulators and other stakeholders to continually improve and maintain the security and resilience of energy infrastructure and networks to reduce vulnerabilities.
What type of projects the the Great British Energy Community Fund is permitted to be spent on.
Great British Energy announced that £5 million will be allocated to the Great British Energy Community Fund (GBECF) in 2025/26, a grant funding scheme to support community energy groups to generate their own clean power projects. GBECF can support projects under two broad headings:Type A – Community energy asset project (such as renewable or low carbon energy, electric vehicles)Type B – Community energy efficiency or advice project Further information on project eligibility can be found in the scheme guidance document, which is available on the Local Net Zero Hubs websites. It provides funding for feasibility studies (stage 1 - up to £40k) and business case development (stage 2 - up to 100k).
With reference to the press release entitled Great British Energy to cut bills for hospitals and schools, published on 21 March 2025, over how many financial years the partnership with Great British Energy to increase solar generation across the NHS will take place.
The investment announced by Great British Energy and the UK government in March is for schools and hospitals for the 2025/26 financial year. Beyond 2025/26, we expect decisions on funding and investment to be made by Great British Energy as it becomes fully operational.
How many of the Warm Homes: Local Grant programmes will be delivered in Huntingdon constituency.
The Government does not hold data on Warm Homes: Local Grant delivery at the constituency level, as funding is awarded to local authorities and local authority consortia. Huntingdonshire is a member of the Cambridge consortium, which includes Cambridge, East Cambridgeshire, South Cambridgeshire, Fenland, Huntingdonshire and Peterborough. This consortium was allocated £8.57 million under this scheme and can spend up to an average of £15,000 on energy performance improvement and £15,000 on low carbon heat per eligible home. How the funding is allocated within the consortia is determined by the consortia lead through individual retrofit assessments and not by the Government.
How many staff GB Energy had on 5 July 2025.
On 5 July 2025, there were 38 people employed with Great British Energy (GBE), 2 Secondees and 8 Contingent Workers.
What estimate he has made of the number of current North Sea (a) oil and (b) gas fields that cease production by 2030.
The North Sea Transition Authority publishes this data at UKCS Decommissioning Cost and Performance Update 2025
Pursuant to the Answer of 8 September 2025 to Question 71955 on Compressed Natural Gas: Huntingdon, what steps his Department is taking to help to continually (a) improve and (b) maintain the (i) resilience and (ii) security of Huntingdon Gas Compressor.
The Government takes the protection and resilience of energy infrastructure incredibly seriously. We continue to work extensively with the energy sector, industry and other key stakeholders to identify and implement improvements to ensure energy infrastructure, including Huntingdon Gas Compressor, can safely operate and are resilient both now and in the future. Ofgem is currently developing the RIIO-3 price control framework 2026–2031, which will set the level of permitted investment in maintaining and upgrading the gas network. This ensures companies can continue to invest in safe and reliable infrastructure, while keeping costs fair and transparent for consumers.
With reference to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, when he plans to make a decision on the implementation of zonal pricing.
As part of the REMA Summer Update on the 10th of July 2025, we announced that we will not implement zonal pricing.
How many jobs there are within the civil nuclear sector.
DESNZ do not produce their own figures on the number of jobs within the civil nuclear sector. Cogent Skills, who published their industry-led 2024 Nuclear Workforce Assessment, estimated that the civil nuclear sector supported over 51,000 jobs in 2024.
With reference to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, what progress he has made on building the world’s first commercial scale High Assay Low Enriched Uranium fuel supply chain.
The UK’s £300m HALEU programme will be the first commercial scale capability outside of Russia and is due to deliver in the early 2030s.The programme is already underway with site preparation work having commenced on the £196 million enrichment project at Urenco’s Capenhurst site, to develop an enrichment capability. Further funding has been allocated to support the HALEU supply chain through awards to National Transport Solution on transportation prototypes (including testing and development of pilot transport packages for safely and securely moving HALEU), the regulators and our National Nuclear Laboratory building our technical capabilities. This project will support building resilient nuclear supply chains, free from political interference and reduce global reliance on Russia.
With reference to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, what progress he has made on strengthening connections to the EU energy market.
The Common Understanding between the European Commission and the United Kingdom, agreed at the UK-EU Summit on 19 May 2025, sets out the progress made on strengthening connections to the EU energy market. Both sides have committed to exploring the UK’s potential participation in the EU’s internal electricity market, including access to trading platforms across all timeframes. Discussions are ongoing to define the parameters of such an arrangement. The UK and European Commission also agreed to continue technical regulatory exchanges on new energy technologies such as hydrogen, carbon capture, utilisation and storage, and biomethane.
With reference to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, which energy infrastructure projects will receive quicker pre-application periods from the reduction in consultation requirements.
The Government is currently consulting on proposals to streamline the infrastructure planning process for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects.Our reforms aim to ensure the system is flexible, proportionate, and responsive to Government priorities and build on proposals in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill that could reduce the typical time spent in pre-application by up to 12 months. Subject to passage of the Bill this would apply to all projects seeking development consent under the Planning Act 2008.Once the consultation closes on 27 October 2025, the Government will carefully analyse all responses received to shape the final policy decisions and any legislative changes.
With reference to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, what work Great British Energy has undertaken with (a) Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, (b) Cambridgeshire County Council and (c) Huntingdonshire District Council on energy projects in Huntingdon constituency.
As announced in the Clean Energy Sector Plan of the Industrial Strategy, Great British Energy and Great British Nuclear will invest more than £8.3 billion over this Parliament in homegrown clean power. Specifically, as part of the £10 million Mayoral Renewables Fund announced by Great British Energy on 17 July 2025, the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority was awarded £700,000 to deliver clean energy projects in their communities helping to lower energy bills. Additionally, the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Authority received a share of 6.8m to host the Greater South East Net Zero Hub, and a further share of £5 million through the Great British Energy Community Fund, which it can use to support projects in the Greater South East region, including in Huntingdon.
By when does he plan to conclude the policy development phase of the Review of Electricity Market Arrangements.
As part of the REMA Summer Update on the 10th of July 2025, we concluded the REMA policy development and published our decision to retain a single national, GB-wide, wholesale market pricing regime and introduce an ambitious package of reforms to improve the efficiency of our power system. We will not implement zonal pricing. We will set out how the reforms will be implemented in our Reformed National Pricing Delivery Plan later this year.
With reference to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, when he plans to publish plans for (a) civil and (b) defence nuclear collaboration.
In the Industrial Strategy the Government has committed to further align our civil and defence nuclear capabilities. We plan to set out further details of our plans for future collaboration later this year.
With reference to the Modern Industrial Strategy, what recent progress he has made in delivering the STEP prototype fusion power station in West Burton.
The STEP prototype fusion powerplant will be delivered by UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd. (UKIFS), a wholly owned subsidiary of the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), itself sponsored by DESNZ and fully owned by the UK Government. STEP will be delivered in several phases. The first has been completed producing the powerplant concept design, site selection (West Burton) and identifying the appropriate regulatory framework. Site characterisation is ongoing, and a live tender is underway to select industrial partners to work on the plant with UKIFS, and Fusion R&D Partner UKAEA.