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 41–60 of 109 · Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
How many days were lost to sickness absence by civil servants in their Department (a) in total and (b) on average per employee between 5 July 2024 and 4 July 2025.
Between the 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025 the department lost 18,203 days to sickness absence. The average days lost per employee was 3.9.
What assessment has he made of the adequacy of (a) fire service and (b) police coverage of the Huntingdon Gas Compressor.
The Government works closely with the energy industry, regulators and other stakeholders to continually improve and maintain the resilience and security of energy infrastructure, including sites such as the Huntingdon Gas Compressor. Government also works to reduce the vulnerability of assets, and to ensure an effective response to actual or potentially disruptive incidents considering a range of risks.
With reference to the Sun-Ways project in Switzerland, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of using photovoltaic panels between rail tracks for electricity generation.
The Government is committed to working with industry to radically increase our existing solar capacity by 2030 through a variety of methods. Rail track solar could be a feasible solution. However, there are some current obstacles that may inhibit the deployment of this technology in all areas. We will continue to look into these issues with Network Rail to determine what is possible.
How much has been paid in compensatory (a) constraint payments and (b) balancing payments to operators of solar power generating facilities following switch-off orders issued by the National Energy System Operator since 5 July 2024.
The National Energy System Operator (NESO) is responsible for operating Great Britain’s electricity system, which includes managing constraints. Constraint payments are part of Balancing Use of System charges, which are the costs incurred to balance the supply and demand of the grid. NESO publishes total balancing costs here, and more detail on specific bids and offers can be found by Elexon here. The Government is working to reduce constraints and improve energy security and resilience by accelerating the building of new electricity network infrastructure to increase capacity on the system.
How many switch-off orders have been issued to solar power generating facilities by the National Energy System Operator since 5 July 2024.
The National Energy System Operator (NESO) is responsible for operating Great Britain’s electricity system, which includes managing constraints. NESO publishes total balancing costs. Constraints are a natural part of operating an efficient electricity system and electricity systems around the world use the constraint payment model. Government is working to reduce constraints and improve energy security and resilience by accelerating the building of new electricity network infrastructure to increase capacity on the system.
What steps he is taking to ensure a gas supply at MBR Acres in Wyton in Cambridgeshire.
The Department is aware of concerns regarding the continuity of supply of LPG to MBR Acres in Wyton due to ongoing protests and the potential impact on the delivery of liquefied petroleum gas. We have and are continuing to engage cross-government as well as with LPG suppliers to ensure that lawful supply chains can continue to operate safely.
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz on (a) oil prices and (b) the economy.
Oil and gas markets are well supplied and functioning normally. Though they have responded to events in the Middle East, prices remain within the bounds we have seen over the last year. We have not witnessed any material reduction of traffic passing through the Strait of Hormuz. DESNZ will continue monitoring closely for any future impacts. The Government's Clean Energy Superpower Mission, supported by the largest investment in home-grown clean energy in British history, will enhance energy security by boosting our energy independence, protecting billpayers, and reducing exposure to global supply shocks.
Pursuant to the Answer of 29 May 2025 to Question 53710 on Private Rented Housing: Energy, how the total undiscounted capital expenditure required to meet the standards was calculated.
DESNZ’s National Buildings Model, which is based on a representative sample of properties in England, was used to simulate landlords installing measures to bring their properties up to the proposed standards. For the preferred consultation option, the measures that landlords were modelled to install by 2030 are shown in Table 5 of the Options Assessment. The total undiscounted capital expenditure incurred by landlords is based on summing the costs of installing all measures, using measure cost assumptions that are based on a range of evidence sources. Undiscounted means that costs are not discounted over time with a social discount rate.
With reference to the press release entitled Warm homes and cheaper bills as government accelerates Plan for Change, published on 7 February 2025, what estimate he has made of the number and proportion of remaining properties not at energy performance certificate level C that will not be able to be upgraded to that level owing to the nature of the property.
As outlined in the consultation-stage Options Assessment (DESNZ001(OA)-25-NZBI), there are 5.1 million privately rented properties in England and Wales, with 55% below the current EPC C. Under the preferred option, 2.8 million properties could reach the proposed new EPC C standard by 2030. Some properties may remain below standard as the consultation proposed a range of exemptions for those unable to reach EPC C. Government is currently analysing responses to decide on a final policy outcome and will publish a government response and further impact assessment in due course.
With reference to the press release entitled Warm homes and cheaper bills as government accelerates Plan for Change, published on 7 February 2025, what assessment he has made of the feasibility of upgrading the 52% of rented homes in England that are not already at Energy Performance Certificate C level.
The recently closed consultation proposed new minimum energy efficiency standards for private rented homes and was accompanied by an options assessment. We have engaged widely with stakeholders during the consultation process and will use this feedback to inform the Government’s response to the consultation, which will be published in due course with a further impact assessment.
With reference to his Department's press release entitled Warm homes and cheaper bills as government accelerates Plan for Change, published on 7 February 2025, how the figure of the average cost to landlords of complying with the proposals to upgrade their properties was calculated.
Estimates were provided in the consultation stage Options Assessment (DESNZ001(OA)-25-NZBI). The average cost to landlords of complying with the proposals to upgrade their properties was calculated by dividing the total undiscounted capital expenditure required to meet the standards by the number of properties upgraded. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
With reference to his Department's press release entitled Warm homes and cheaper bills as government accelerates Plan for Change, published on 7 February 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of extending the upgrading of rented homes to Energy Performance Certificate C on housing supply.
The Government recently consulted on increasing minimum energy efficiency standards in the domestic private rented sector. The consultation included proposals for rented homes to achieve Energy Performance Certificate C or equivalent by 2030 and was accompanied by the Department’s impact assessment. The assessment makes clear that we are unable to quantify the extent to which this will impact the supply of properties, as landlords may take different approaches and the policy is not yet finalised. The consultation closed on the 2nd May and we are currently reviewing responses and supporting evidence. Following this, a government response and further impact assessment will be published.
Pursuant to the Answer of 9 April 2025 to Question 43313 on Energy: Land Use, what definition he uses for the most appropriate areas, in that context.
On 15th May 2025 NESO published their methodology for the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP), which includes details of how they will identify optimal locations, types and quantities of energy generation and storage infrastructure. This can be found on the NESO website https://www.neso.energy/news/milestone-reached-first-blueprint-great-britains-future-energy-infrastructure .
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the proposed East Park energy solar park on (a) local and (b) national energy bills.
The East Park Energy project is current at the pre-application stage and is expected to be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate by September 2025: https://national-infrastructure-consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/EN010141. This stage of the planning process, including the pre-application consultation process, is developer led. In taking the decision on any development consent application, I follow the relevant requirements in the Planning Act 2008 and have regard to all relevant matters.
What the total acreage of land is within active applications for nationally significant infrastructure projects that are solar farms.
This information can be found on the Planning Inspectorate website.
At what stage the nationally significant infrastructure project application for the East Park Energy Solar Park from Brockwell Storage and Solar is at.
The East Park Energy project is currently at the pre-application stage and is expected to be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate by September 2025: https://national-infrastructure-consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/EN010141 Brockwell Storage and Solar recently consulted on their detailed plans for East Park Energy as part of a statutory consultation, which ran between 24 September and 29 October 2024: https://eastparkenergy.co.uk/our-proposals/
Pursuant to the Answer of 6 May 2025 to Question 48217 on Great British Energy: Staff, whether the employees listed were the only employees of Great British Energy as of 20 April 2025.
To ensure Great British Energy can begin delivering quickly once the parliamentary process has been completed, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has taken steps to assign resource including the appointment of Juergen Maier to the role of start-up chair for Great British Energy, Dan McGrail as interim CEO, and five start-up non-executive directors. Additional DESNZ resource has been assigned to Great British Energy, focusing on a small number of essential roles.Once Great British Energy is formally established by the Bill, work will begin to fully resource Great British Energy.DESNZ senior and junior roles are published every quarter on data.gov.uk, including those assigned to GBE. The most recent publication was 28 April 2025.
Pursuant to the Answer of 6 May 2025 to Question 48217 on Great British Energy: Staff, from which budget Great British Energy (a) staff and (b) non-executive directors are remunerated; and what their individual remuneration totals are.
Great British Energy (GBE) was allocated £11.1 million for 2024/25, and £25 million in 2025/26 for set up costs. Salaries are paid from these budgets which are managed by DESNZ whilst GBE is being established. DESNZ senior and junior roles and salaries are published every quarter on data.gov.uk, including those assigned to GBE. The most recent publication was 28 April 2025.
Pursuant to the Answer of 29 April 2025 to Question 46114 on Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme: Finance, what the projected decrease in the annual funding is in the next five years.
Funding arrangements for the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme in future financial years will be confirmed following the current Spending Review.
How many job vacancies were being advertised by Great British Energy as of 1 April 2025.
I can confirm that as of 1 April 2025 there were sixteen vacancies advertised by Great British Energy.