Written questions by Wood.

What steps the Accounting Officer and Permanent Secretary has taken since July 2024 to prevent conflicts of interest regarding Quadrature.

Awaiting answer.

With reference to the written statement of 30 June 2026, HCWS165, on Defence funding update, what reductions in programme spending will be made to (a) deliver further savings and (b) reduce departmental capital budgets by one per cent.

Awaiting answer.

With reference to the International Court of Justice's Climate Change advisory opinion of July 2025, whether he plans to pay reparations on climate change.

Awaiting answer.

With reference to the news story, "New appointment to the Committee on Fuel Poverty", of 18 May 2026, whether Fallon Wilkinson made a declaration of previous political activity; and whether t

The appointment of Fallon Wilkinson to the Committee on Fuel Poverty was a regulated appointment made in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of alignment with EU Single Electricity Market regulations on the ability of the UK to innovate on commercial nuclear (a) fission and (b) f

The detailed scope of alignment will be determined through negotiations. The Secretary of State’s priority is to drive delivery in the sector, including through the Government’s approach to nuclear fission—taking a Final Investment Decision on Sizewell C,...

With reference to the Independent research into government transparency releases published by the Ethics and Integrity Commission on 12 May 2026, page 16, whether ministerial meetings took pl

Details of Ministers' and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.

Pursuant to the answer of 20 May 2026, to Question 216, on UK Relations with EU, whether the UK will also be required to contribute to the EU Cohesion programme in order to participate in the

The UK is currently negotiating with the EU to link our two Emissions Trading Schemes. We are not seeking to rejoin or participate in the EU ETS. To achieve a link between the UK ETS and EU ETS, we will not be required to contribute to the EU Cohesion Pro...

With reference to the answer of 11 March 2026 to Question 110793, on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Flexible Working, how many and what proportion of full-time staff o

As of 19th June 2026, there were 4,812 staff employed by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Information on the individual working patterns of staff on compressed hours is not held centrally, and the Department is therefore unable to provide ...

With reference to the Regulatory Policy Committee document entitled Post-implementation reviews outstanding across government 2015 to 2026, updated 12 May 2026, what steps his Department is t

All five of the Post-implementation reviews (PIRs) referenced in the Regulatory Policy Committee document of 12 May 2026 have now been published.

Whether his special advisers (a) undertake any work for and (b) been seconded to the Labour Party.

Awaiting answer.

With reference to the answer of 22 April 2026 to Question 126590 on Electricity: UK Trade with EU, how will the deregulatory reforms set out in the Fingleton Nuclear Regulatory Review 2025 be

The regulatory changes we are making will provide the best outcomes for both nuclear development and the environment, by offering a more streamlined and co-ordinated pathway to deliver environmental protections. There will be no change to the high environ...

Whether his Department has signed agreements with the Chinese Government that have not been published.

The Government has published all DESNZ ministerial MoUs agreed with China since it came to power. This includes an updated Energy MoU signed in March 2025 and a Climate MoU signed in June 2025, noting increased public interest in the agreements and misinf...

With reference to the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers, updated November 2024, whether his special advisers undertake any work for the Labour Party, or have been seconded to the Labour Pa

As per the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers, where a special adviser wishes to undertake work for a political party which does not arise out of government business they may do this either in their own time, outside office hours, or under a separate co...

Whether a Regulatory Impact Assessment has been produced in relation UK membership of the EU Electricity Market and the ETS scheme.

We will negotiate an electricity agreement with the EU to cut the cost of trading electricity with European partners, strengthen our energy security, drive investment in the North Sea, and help to achieve our Clean Power 2030 Mission. In parallel, the Government is negotiating the potential for linking the UK and EU Emissions Trading Schemes, which could help UK companies avoid paying taxes on up to £7 billion of exports. The detailed commitments under any such agreement, including any assessment of impacts, will be developed as part of the negotiations.

Pursuant to the answer of 25 March 2026, to Question 119897, and of 3 February 2026, to Question 108241, on Mission Boards, on what dates the Make Britain a Clean Energy Superpower Mission Board meet since it ceased to be a Cabinet committee in November 2025.

The Clean Energy Superpower Mission remains a key priority across government and is being driven by a number of different groups at Ministerial and official level, including the Clean Power 2030 Advisory Commission itself. As a result of this the Mission Board itself has not met since the change in Cabinet Committee structures.

With reference to the UK-EU Summit - Common Understanding on linking the Emission Trading Systems of the European Union and the United Kingdom, of December 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the proposed reform of the EU Emissions Trading System.

The UK and EU agreed to work towards linking their respective emissions trading schemes at the May 2025 Summit and linking negotiations to that end are underway. The EU Emissions Trading System is undergoing review currently and proposals emanating from that review are expected to be issued this summer.

Pursuant to the Answer of 24 February 2026 to Question 113596 on Mission Boards, if he will publish the current terms of reference of the Make Britain a Clean Energy Superpower Mission Board; and whether the terms of reference have been amended.

The Clean Energy Superpower Mission Board was a Cabinet Level Committee until November 2025. Information about the proceedings of the Cabinet, or of any committee of the Cabinet, is not normally shared publicly. The terms of reference for the Board are under review and have not yet been finalised.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of dynamic alignment with the EU electricity market on deregulation.

We will negotiate an electricity agreement with the EU to cut the cost of trading electricity with European partners, strengthen our energy security, drive investment in the North Sea, and help to achieve our Clean Power 2030 Mission. The detail of commitments in this agreement, as with other areas, is a matter for negotiations. This does not change the Government’s plans to ensure regulators and regulation support growth.

Whether Nigel Topping has made a declaration of political activity.

The appointment of Nigel Topping as Chair of the Climate Change Committee was made in line with the Governance Code on Public Appointments. In supporting evidence for his pre-appointment scrutiny by the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee on 16 July 2025, Nigel Topping confirmed he had no political activity to disclose. Nigel Topping brings a wealth of experience to the CCC Chair position, having been appointed to several public roles under previous governments, including as High-Level Climate Action Champion for COP26 in 2020 and as a Board Member of the UK Infrastructure Bank in 2022.

With reference to page 91 of his Department’s Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25, published on 15 September 2025, HC 1274, for what reason was facility time increased from £49,777 in 2023-24 to £69,892 in 2024-25; what was the increase in facility time as a proportion of the pay bill; and what assessment he has made of the potential merits of funding trade union activities from facility time.

The increase results from an increased headcount and pay bill in the department; ongoing transformation work necessitating high levels of Trade Union engagement and increased engagement following the change of Government in July 2024. The increase in pay bill from 2023/24 to 2024/25, accounted for 0.0058% of the 2024/25 paybill. No assessment has been made.