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My Lords, I add my congratulations to the four maiden speakers on their excellent speeches. As they arrive and I depart, I feel in this debate a sense of Groundhog Day as we are replaying Brexit 10 years later. I wonder what the electorate would make of this, especially when...
My Lords, I add my congratulations to the four maiden speakers on their excellent speeches. As they arrive and I depart, I feel in this debate a sense of Groundhog Day as we are replaying Brexit 10 years later. I wonder what the electorate would make of this, especially when...
My Lords, I congratulate the Minister on his recent appointment and welcome him to the Front Bench. The Secretary of State in the other place is fond of talking of the United Kingdom as a trailblazer. As the shadow Secretary of State in the other place outlined, we are—but for...
My Lords, I congratulate the Minister on his recent appointment and welcome him to the Front Bench. The Secretary of State in the other place is fond of talking of the United Kingdom as a trailblazer. As the shadow Secretary of State in the other place outlined, we are—but for...
To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the report of the Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce Review.
To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the report of the Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce Review.
We welcome and endorse the report and accept the principle of the recommendations it has set out. We will present a full implementation plan within three months. The task force will be engaged in the implementation phase to review progress and support delivery. We will complete implementation within two years, subject to legislative timelines on elements requiring primary legislation. We have already met the first recommendation with the publication of the Prime Minister’s strategic steer.
I am pleased to hear the Minister acknowledge that the Fingleton report makes it clear that government indecision and flawed legislation are largely to blame for nuclear regulatory failure. As part of this programme going forward, I think all sides of the House would agree we need to move forward expeditiously on nuclear. Can the Minister give some specific recommendations around how the Government will approach the new SMR site in Wylfa?
I am pleased to hear the Minister acknowledge that the Fingleton report makes it clear that government indecision and flawed legislation are largely to blame for nuclear regulatory failure. As part of this programme going forward, I think all sides of the House would agree we need to move forward expeditiously on nuclear. Can the Minister give some specific recommendations around how the Government will approach the new SMR site in Wylfa?
The noble Lord raises an important point about Wylfa. There are two aspects of this in relation to regulations. Small modular reactors are a way to ensure that we have a streamlined approach, because they will all be built in the same way and the regulation will apply to each one consistently. That in itself will speed up the process. But the first reactor will, of course, be the first and it will inevitably be a bit more complicated than the ones that follow. In terms of the application to Wales, the regulators that have UK-wide responsibilities will fall under the Fingleton review, and we will adopt the same processes. For those that have devolved accountabilities in Wales, we will discuss with Welsh Ministers and the Government.
My Lords, I thank the members of the committee for taking part in today’s debate and pay tribute to the committee for its report. As noble Lords across the committee know, the
Government’s unilateral clean power 2030 target is putting extreme pressure on the electricity system. Let us remind ourselves...
My Lords, I thank the members of the committee for taking part in today’s debate and pay tribute to the committee for its report. As noble Lords across the committee know, the
Government’s unilateral clean power 2030 target is putting extreme pressure on the electricity system. Let us remind ourselves...
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the costs associated with manufacturing infrastructure for clean energy industries in the UK, and what assessment they have made of the impact those costs have on energy prices for households and industries in the short and long term.
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the costs associated with manufacturing infrastructure for clean energy industries in the UK, and what assessment they have made of the impact those costs have on energy prices for households and industries in the short and long term.
Our Clean Power Action Plan will deliver Clean Power by 2030, with an expected £40bn of investment on average per year our to 2030. Government is also determined to secure associated growth and resilience opportunities alongside our world-leading deployment plans, by increasing domestic manufacturing in Clean Energy Industries and associated innovation and services. Clean Energy Industries have been prioritised as a frontier industry in the Industrial Strategy to enable us to capture these opportunities. This sets out a comprehensive policy package to secure private investment in clean energy manufacturing. These decisions lay the foundations for a future energy system that will grow the economy for local communities and real people by securing and creating new quality jobs and protecting bill payers.
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the national security risks of a strike by unionised energy sector workers; what plans they have to minimise those risks; and what steps they are taking to ensure that clean energy industries are appealing to private sector investors as...
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the national security risks of a strike by unionised energy sector workers; what plans they have to minimise those risks; and what steps they are taking to ensure that clean energy industries are appealing to private sector investors as...
This Government continually assesses risks to national energy security, including from industrial action, as reflected in the National Risk Register. Under the Civil Contingencies Act (2004), critical sectors including energy infrastructure must have in place plans for maintaining key services in the event of significant workplace absences including strikes.
As set out in our Industrial Strategy: Clean Energy Industries Sector Plan, we work in strong partnership with unions, industry, and investors to foster a thriving and skilled workforce, safeguard energy security, and maintaining investor confidence in the UK’s clean energy future.
To ask His Majesty's Government how small businesses will be included in the Clean Energy Industries Sector Plan, published on 23 June, and what mechanisms will be available for local, non-corporate organisations to build onshore wind turbines and solar farms, such as the Orkney Community Wind Farms.
To ask His Majesty's Government how small businesses will be included in the Clean Energy Industries Sector Plan, published on 23 June, and what mechanisms will be available for local, non-corporate organisations to build onshore wind turbines and solar farms, such as the Orkney Community Wind Farms.
The Clean Energy Industries Sector Plan, launched on 23 June 2025 under the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, targets regional growth and aims to double clean energy investment to over £30 billion a year by 2035, with small businesses playing a key role. The Plan proposes streamlining planning, improving grid access, and supporting innovation to benefit SMEs and local firms.
Additionally, Great British Energy will boost investment in local and community energy projects, ensuring communities play a central role in the UK’s clean energy transition. For 2025/26, we have set up £5 million in grant funding through the Great British Energy Community Fund, which is available to community energy groups to help communities develop their own clean energy projects, including solar-powered generation and onshore wind.
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support the Scottish Government to develop new nuclear power stations.
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support the Scottish Government to develop new nuclear power stations.
Planning policy is devolved to the Scottish Government and they have made it clear they oppose the building of new nuclear power stations.
The UK Government works productively with the Scottish Government on a range of energy issues and we would welcome engagement on new nuclear given the growing interest in the potential for projects in Scotland and the opportunity for jobs and skills across the country, should the position on planning change.
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to ensure that the carbon capture projects in Aberdeenshire and the Humber are successful.
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to ensure that the carbon capture projects in Aberdeenshire and the Humber are successful.
The government has announced its support for the Acorn (Scotland) and Viking (Humber) clusters and is providing the development funding to advance their delivery. A final investment decision (FID) will be taken later this Parliament, subject to project readiness and affordability.
The government has been working with clusters to understand what they need to keep them progressing to FID and are confident the Spending Review outcome will enable us to continue collaborating on that.
As agreed with Acorn, the government has established a ministerial-led forum, where UK and Scottish governments, regulators and industry representatives come together on a regular basis to drive forward momentum for the Scottish cluster. The forum convened for the first time on 22/07/25 and was chaired by the Minister for Industry.
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of threats to national security as a result of importing clean energy industry infrastructure such as wind turbines and solar panels, in particular from China; and what steps they are taking to minimise those risks.
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of threats to national security as a result of importing clean energy industry infrastructure such as wind turbines and solar panels, in particular from China; and what steps they are taking to minimise those risks.
The department is committed to working closely across Government and industry stakeholders to take forward the actions needed to develop supply chains that are resilient, sustainable, innovative and secure. Investment in the energy sector is subject to the highest levels of national security scrutiny – we take a consistent, long-term and strategic approach to managing relations with China and will co-operate where we can, compete where we need to, and challenge where we must.
DESNZ works closely with industry and other government departments to maintain a detailed picture of ownership and foreign involvement in energy infrastructure, including for investors from key manufacturing regions such as China, other Asian countries, and Europe.
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the National Energy System Operator’s estimate that network delays could add £4.2 billion to consumer energy bills by 2030; and what steps they are taking to minimise these costs to consumers.
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the National Energy System Operator’s estimate that network delays could add £4.2 billion to consumer energy bills by 2030; and what steps they are taking to minimise these costs to consumers.
Upgrading and expanding the electricity network is critical to the government’s mission of making Britain a Clean Energy Superpower. NESO analysis suggests that bringing forward critical transmission network projects and avoiding delays to wider network build could deliver savings of approximately £4bn in 2030 by reducing constraint costs. That is why we are taking bold steps to accelerate infrastructure build, speed up planning, and reform grid connections.
Over the past year alone, we’ve delivered the most significant investment in clean, homegrown energy in British history, laying the foundations for a clean, secure future energy system that protects bill payers.
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of increased use of (1) heat pumps, and (2) electric cars, on electricity demand; and whether they anticipate that this will result in (a) increased prices for consumers, and (b) increased use of gas-fired power stations, or importation of electricity.
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of increased use of (1) heat pumps, and (2) electric cars, on electricity demand; and whether they anticipate that this will result in (a) increased prices for consumers, and (b) increased use of gas-fired power stations, or importation of electricity.
As part of their advice on delivering Clean Power 2030*, the National Energy System Operator found that electricity demand growth of approximately 11% by 2030 would be required to electrify transport, heat and industry at the pace required to meet the Nationally Determined Contribution emissions target for 2030. This advice also found that overall costs to consumers would not increase from the shift to a clean power system whilst unabated gas should provide less than 5% of Great Britain’s generation in a typical weather year.
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have commissioned or will publish a detailed feasibility assessment of the Clean Power 2030 target, including projected generation capacity, system balancing requirements, and potential risks to energy affordability and security.
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have commissioned or will publish a detailed feasibility assessment of the Clean Power 2030 target, including projected generation capacity, system balancing requirements, and potential risks to energy affordability and security.
On 23 August 2024, the Government commissioned the National Energy System Operator (NESO) to provide practical advice on achieving a zero-carbon electricity system by 2030. NESO consulted publicly in September and October 2024 on its approach and assumptions and published its advice in November 2024. We accepted independent advice from the National Energy System Operator (NESO), on the energy infrastructure required to deliver Clean Power 2030. Last December, we launched our Clean Power 2030 Action Plan which set out a detailed plan for achieving the target of clean power by 2030.
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the UK's current energy security in the light of increasing reliance on intermittent renewable sources such as wind and solar; and what steps are being taken to ensure a resilient and reliable electricity grid.
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the UK's current energy security in the light of increasing reliance on intermittent renewable sources such as wind and solar; and what steps are being taken to ensure a resilient and reliable electricity grid.
Great Britain is expected to have sufficient supplies of electricity and gas to meet consumers’ demands over the short and long-term (Statutory Security of Supply Report 2024). The UK’s diverse power mix reduces dependence on one generation source, ensuring security of supply in a range of conditions. By complementing renewables with flexible capacity, we ensure we can meet demand no matter the weather.
Through the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, we have taken significant steps to ensuring a resilient electricity grid, including reforming grid connections, streamlining the planning system, and supporting investment in supply chains and green jobs.
To ask His Majesty's Government what proportion of wind and solar generation was curtailed in each of the past three years, and what the estimated cost of this curtailment was to taxpayers and bill-payers.
To ask His Majesty's Government what proportion of wind and solar generation was curtailed in each of the past three years, and what the estimated cost of this curtailment was to taxpayers and bill-payers.
The National Energy System Operator (NESO) is responsible for operating Great Britain’s electricity system and managing constraints. Constraint payments are part of Balancing Use of System charges and NESO publishes total balancing costs, which are paid for by energy users and totalled £1.7bn in 2024. Published costs are not split between different types of generators.
Constraints are a natural part of operating an efficient electricity system and constraint payments are used around the world. However, Government is working to reduce constraints and improve energy security by accelerating the building of new electricity network infrastructure to increase capacity on the system.
To ask His Majesty's Government how much they have spent to date on advertising, branding and marketing in relation to the establishment of Great British Energy; and what the projected total expenditure is for these activities.
To ask His Majesty's Government how much they have spent to date on advertising, branding and marketing in relation to the establishment of Great British Energy; and what the projected total expenditure is for these activities.
Spend by Great British Energy will be published in the usual way through annual reports and accounts.
The Government’s commitment to the SMR rollout is welcome, as indeed is today’s announcement on Sizewell C being given the green light. The Opposition believe that nuclear can be a significant contributor to a balanced scorecard alongside gas and renewables to give us a secure, affordable and clean energy system. Will the Government use the current Planning and Infrastructure Bill as an enabler for nuclear, to remove the often spurious and vexatious blockages of long-term planning?
The Government’s commitment to the SMR rollout is welcome, as indeed is today’s announcement on Sizewell C being given the green light. The Opposition believe that nuclear can be a significant contributor to a balanced scorecard alongside gas and renewables to give us a secure, affordable and clean energy system. Will the Government use the current Planning and Infrastructure Bill as an enabler for nuclear, to remove the often spurious and vexatious blockages of long-term planning?
I thank the noble Lord for that question. Obviously, we will do everything we can to expedite the planning process. We are very keen on infrastructure projects that are in the national interest. I want to refer to something that the noble Lord said yesterday about this Government’s approach to renewable energy. He said that it is
“anti-science, anti-jobs, anti-energy security and anti-future generation
”.—[Official Report, 21/7/25; col. 92.]
As far as anti-science is concerned, I do not think that there are many eminent climate scientists who think that we are anti-science. There are 1 million jobs now reliant on green energy. Energy security is important, and that is what we want. We want more homegrown energy. That is why our investment in nuclear is important. On anti-future generation, I have three grandchildren, and if we do not do something now, they will never forgive us. It is for not just my grandchildren but everybody in this House’s grandchildren that we are doing this. We need to invest in it. We need to get the country around it. It is the patriotic thing to do.
My Lords, I welcome the opportunity to respond to the Statement made by the Secretary of State in the other place a week ago.
The state of climate and nature is one of the most important areas of policy that we can discuss in both Houses. However, true to form, the...
My Lords, I welcome the opportunity to respond to the Statement made by the Secretary of State in the other place a week ago.
The state of climate and nature is one of the most important areas of policy that we can discuss in both Houses. However, true to form, the...
Lords motion to consider. Agreed to on question.
Lords motion to consider. Agreed to on question.