The Government is immensely proud of its record on climate change. The Carbon Budget Delivery Plan remains Government policy and sets out over 300 policies and proposals that the Government has in place to reach its ambitious carbon budgets.

The judgment contains no criticism of these detailed plans nor the policies themselves, which will keep the UK on track to meet net zero by 2050.

Officials are now considering the best approach to comply with the court order and the Government will publish a new report within 12 months.

The global renewables sector is growing at unprecedented rate putting extreme pressure on supply chains across the world. HM Government has chosen to invest in developing and maintaining a supply chain to support British renewables growth.

This includes over £1 billion of funding through the Green Industries Growth Accelerator to support investments in manufacturing capabilities for key clean energy sectors.

In addition, Government has recently announced the introduction of Sustainable Industry Rewards through the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme as well as the ‘primary list’ projects for the £160m Floating Offshore Wind Manufacturing Investment Scheme.

Energy prices have fallen significantly since winter 2022-23, and the Quarter 2 2024 price cap of £1,690 has fallen by nearly 60% since the Quarter 1 2023 price cap peak. Despite this, the Government has committed to supporting households in 2024-25, with a further cut to National Insurance contributions down to 8%, an increase to benefits of 6.7%, and the largest increase to the National Living Wage.

The Warm Home Discount continues to provide a £150 rebate off energy bills for eligible low-income households until 2025-26.

Renewables need to be complemented by flexible technologies which can provide power when the wind is not blowing, or the sun does not shine.

The Climate Change Committee’s independent analysis finds that a power sector without unabated gas in 2035 would be “likely to increase costs and delivery risks”. Their power sector analysis sees unabated gas providing around 2% of total electricity generation in 2035.

In the future, unabated gas plants will only run a limited number of hours per year, and we expect all new plants to be net zero ready.

The setting of the default tariff (price) cap is a matter for Ofgem.

On 23 February Ofgem confirmed the price cap is to be £1,690 for the second quarter of this year, which is a reduction of 12% on the previous quarter and the lowest level for two years. The Government has a package of targeted cost of living support for households and is increasing pensions and the national living wage.

As stated in Powering Up Britain, published in 2023, the mission of the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero is to replace reliance on imported fossil fuels with cheaper, cleaner, domestic sources of energy. This set out our strategy to increase supply of low-carbon energy by enhancing our strengths on wind, solar and nuclear power electricity generation alongside hydrogen production and carbon capture, usage and storage. This includes the infrastructure to produce, store and transport low-carbon energy around the country and to capture, transport and store carbon dioxide.

The UK has halved its emissions, ahead of every other major economy. The transitions set out in the Net Zero Strategy for every sector of the UK economy keep it on track for Carbon Budgets 4, 5 and 6, the 2030 Nationally Determined Contribution, and net zero by 2050.

The Government has consistently seized the opportunity to attract investment in renewables, with around £120 billion of new investment since 2010 alongside around £80 billion of UK levy funded support. For example, it continues to support new renewable deployment through the Contracts for Difference Scheme, which now runs on an annual basis.

Hinkley Point C is not a Government project. The financing of Hinkley Point C is a matter for EDF and its shareholders.

The Government’s Net Zero Strategy sets out our aim to fully decarbonise our power system by 2035, subject to security of supply. The latest update from EDF is that Hinkley Point C’s first reactor unit will start generating between 2029 and 2031 helping to achieve this aim. Hinkley Point C will serve Britain until well into the next century, making an important contribution to the UK’s Net Zero commitments.

The Government is continuing to support those most in need, with millions of vulnerable households receiving up to £900 in further Cost of Living Payments. This is in addition to support available to low-income and vulnerable households, including £250 - £600 through the Winter Fuel Payment and an annual rebate of £150 off their energy bills through the Warm Home Discount.

Energy prices have also significantly fallen in the past year alone and the Q1 2024 price cap of £1,928 has more than halved compared to Q1 2023 when the price cap peaked at £4,279.

The Government is committed to maximising economic benefits, including job creation, from all electricity network projects. To address emerging and future workforce demands across the economy, we will publish a Green Jobs Plan in the first half of 2024, which will include a focus on electricity networks.

Energy suppliers are obligated under licence conditions to ensure their customers’ smart meters continue to function. Ofgem is responsible for regulating energy suppliers against their obligations. The Department is actively working with suppliers to increase the number operating in smart mode.

Around 92% of smart meters are operating as they should. Smart meters not operating in smart mode will continue to record consumption accurately like a traditional meter, with meter readings taken manually to ensure billing on the basis of actual energy use.

Government encourages any consumer experiencing a loss of smart services to speak to their supplier for further advice and remedy.

The publication on 16 November of core parameters, including Administrative Strike Prices (ASPs) for the next Contracts for Difference (CfD) round, does not determine impacts on consumer bills. The ASPs are the maximum prices available for renewable electricity, with the actual price being achieved through a competitive auction process. Renewable electricity procured through the CfD continues to provide value for money for consumers by capping the price paid to generators.

The Government has committed to consult on the design of the statutory open data scheme for road fuel prices this autumn.

Part 3 of the Data Protection and Digital Information (No.2) Bill will extend the government’s ability to establish and mandate participation in smart data schemes via regulations.

The King’s Speech on 7 November confirmed that the Bill will carryover and resume passage this Parliamentary session. Following conclusion of the consultation process and Royal Assent of the Bill, the government will lay regulations using the smart data powers to set up the statutory open data scheme for road fuel prices.

The Carbon Budget Delivery Plan, published in March, sets out the proposals and policies that enable carbon budgets 4, 5 and 6 to be met.

My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State keeps under review the UK's progress towards net zero. The Government has exceeded every carbon budget to date and is confident in its ability to meet its targets and net zero by 2050.

The Government recognises the cost-of-living challenges families are facing and in response last winter we launched a package of support for households and businesses, spending £40 billion and paying around half a typical household’s energy bill.

In order to continue protecting the most vulnerable, in 2023-24 the Government is already providing additional cost of living payments of up to £900 to households on means-tested benefits, of £300 to pensioner households, and of £150 to those on eligible disability benefits. The vast majority of this support has been and will be made available automatically to households and without the need for an application process.

The Department for Energy Security & Net Zero and Ofgem continue to work closely with National Grid, the Electricity System Operator and National Gas Transmission to establish the Future System Operator. This has included taking forward legislation as part of the Energy Bill; undertaking further consultation on the roles of the Future System Operator; and developing the relevant licences and detailed implementation plans. Depending on a number of factors, including passage of the Energy Bill and discussing timelines with key parties, our aim continues to be for the FSO to be operational in 2024.

As set out in the 2022 autumn statement, we are exploring the best approach to consumer protection, as part of wider retail market reforms. The Government continues to monitor the situation and will keep options under review, including with respect to the most vulnerable households.

The Government awaits the publication of the National Infrastructure Assessment. The Government will work with stakeholders including Ofgem and industry counterparts to evaluate all pathways for gas networks in the transition to net zero. The gas system will play a vital role in the UK's energy mix out to 2050, supporting renewables and contributing towards security of supply. The resilience of infrastructure, and appropriate investment in gas networks, is a priority.

National Grid Electricity System Operator’s (ESO) Power Responsive campaign is one of the principal stakeholder forums that promotes a more flexible approach to electricity consumption (known as demand side response), which can help to drive decarbonisation, bolster our energy security and create savings for consumers.

The Government will continue to work with ESO, Ofgem and industry to support Power Responsive in its work to remove barriers to increased participation in demand side response.