To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has asked his new permanent secretary i) if he has read the December 2022 report by the Drax company secretary on whisteblowing allegations ii) if he concluded that there was a cover up and iii) if...

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has asked his new permanent secretary i) if he has read the December 2022 report by the Drax company secretary on whisteblowing allegations ii) if he concluded that there was a cover up and iii) if...

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the candour and transparency of the Drax power station in its dealings with the Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the candour and transparency of the Drax power station in its dealings with the Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2026 to Question 102835, under what conditions would a contract be terminated.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2026 to Question 102835, under what conditions would a contract be terminated.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the December 2022 report by the Drax company secretary into whistleblowing activity including the transcripts of discussions with Stuart Cotten, Hillary Berger, Richard Fullilove and Tanisha...

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the December 2022 report by the Drax company secretary into whistleblowing activity including the transcripts of discussions with Stuart Cotten, Hillary Berger, Richard Fullilove and Tanisha...

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the (a) environmental and (b) ethical standards required for the continued provision of support to Drax.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the (a) environmental and (b) ethical standards required for the continued provision of support to Drax.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of Ofgem’s ability to scrutinise Drax.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of Ofgem’s ability to scrutinise Drax.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he will approve arrangements under which electricity generated by Drax from imported wood pellets is used to supply data centres; and what assessment he has made of the carbon and environmental impact of such use.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he will approve arrangements under which electricity generated by Drax from imported wood pellets is used to supply data centres; and what assessment he has made of the carbon and environmental impact of such use.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether Drax’s current Contract for Difference contains any binding obligations requiring the development and deployment of carbon capture and storage; and what assessment his Department has made of the continued burning of imported wood pellets for electricity generation...

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether Drax’s current Contract for Difference contains any binding obligations requiring the development and deployment of carbon capture and storage; and what assessment his Department has made of the continued burning of imported wood pellets for electricity generation...

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether the Low Carbon Contracts Company has powers to end Drax’s operations as distinct from withdrawing individual subsidy payments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether the Low Carbon Contracts Company has powers to end Drax’s operations as distinct from withdrawing individual subsidy payments.

To ask His Majesty's Government when they expect to publish their response to the findings of the Competition and Markets Authority's report into the subsidy regime for Drax.

To ask His Majesty's Government when they expect to publish their response to the findings of the Competition and Markets Authority's report into the subsidy regime for Drax.

To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the environmental credentials of Drax in view of the new investigation by Stand.earth which reported that Drax had purchased logged trees from old growth forests in British Columbia in 2024.

To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the environmental credentials of Drax in view of the new investigation by Stand.earth which reported that Drax had purchased logged trees from old growth forests in British Columbia in 2024.

I have read the report to which the noble Baroness refers with interest, and there are questions both for Drax and for the authors of the report. Compliance with biomass sustainability requirements under Drax’s existing subsidy arrangement is a matter for Ofgem, but we work closely with it to ensure that these arrangements remain fit for purpose. Ofgem’s detailed investigation into Drax in 2024 did not find evidence that unsustainable biomass had been used by Drax, but shortcomings in data governance were identified and Ofgem has required Drax to commission a global supply chain audit, which is currently ongoing.

I have read the report to which the noble Baroness refers with interest, and there are questions both for Drax and for the authors of the report. Compliance with biomass sustainability requirements under Drax’s existing subsidy arrangement is a matter for Ofgem, but we work closely with it to ensure that these arrangements remain fit for purpose. Ofgem’s detailed investigation into Drax in 2024 did not find evidence that unsustainable biomass had been used by Drax, but shortcomings in data governance were identified and Ofgem has required Drax to commission a global supply chain audit, which is currently ongoing.

I thank the Minister for his reply, which goes a bit further than I expected. Drax specifically claims to stop sourcing from old-growth deferral areas and old-growth management areas in British Columbia, but the majority of old-growth forests fall outside those designations. Will the Minister and the Government suggest to Ofgem that it should not accept Drax’s definition of old growth and perhaps exclude the majority of British Columbia old-growth forests from subsidies?

I thank the Minister for his reply, which goes a bit further than I expected. Drax specifically claims to stop sourcing from old-growth deferral areas and old-growth management areas in British Columbia, but the majority of old-growth forests fall outside those designations. Will the Minister and the Government suggest to Ofgem that it should not accept Drax’s definition of old growth and perhaps exclude the majority of British Columbia old-growth forests from subsidies?

There are two points to make in response to the noble Baroness. The report to which she refers talks only circumstantially about old-growth forests and not old-growth forests that are in any way directly sourced by Drax. As regards the new contract for difference for the next four years that the Government have entered into with Drax, the criterion is now 100% sustainability, which obviously excludes old-growth forests.

There are two points to make in response to the noble Baroness. The report to which she refers talks only circumstantially about old-growth forests and not old-growth forests that are in any way directly sourced by Drax. As regards the new contract for difference for the next four years that the Government have entered into with Drax, the criterion is now 100% sustainability, which obviously excludes old-growth forests.

My Lords, why is Drax sourcing sustainable wood from abroad when we now have a very intensive tree-planting growth policy in this country? Also, Yorkshire farmers would benefit if we were to go back to sourcing fast-growing willow coppice trees and miscanthus and sending them to Drax to use. Why did we stop doing that?

My Lords, why is Drax sourcing sustainable wood from abroad when we now have a very intensive tree-planting growth policy in this country? Also, Yorkshire farmers would benefit if we were to go back to sourcing fast-growing willow coppice trees and miscanthus and sending them to Drax to use. Why did we stop doing that?

The noble Baroness will know that Drax is the largest single power producer in the UK and is responsible for about 5% of UK power. That means that it uses an enormous amount of biomass in its process, having converted from coal some while ago. The question, then, is where Drax gets its biomass from, bearing in mind that the amount of biomass that is being grown in this country falls far short of the desideratum in terms of sourcing—particularly in view of the length of time that it has taken to grow that biomass. Therefore, sourcing from abroad appears to make some sense, though not necessarily for the long-term future.

The noble Baroness will know that Drax is the largest single power producer in the UK and is responsible for about 5% of UK power. That means that it uses an enormous amount of biomass in its process, having converted from coal some while ago. The question, then, is where Drax gets its biomass from, bearing in mind that the amount of biomass that is being grown in this country falls far short of the desideratum in terms of sourcing—particularly in view of the length of time that it has taken to grow that biomass. Therefore, sourcing from abroad appears to make some sense, though not necessarily for the long-term future.

My Lords, the Minister’s own department is consulting on sustainability criteria for biomass as we speak, which will inform future subsidy eligibility and reporting requirements for the rest of the market. In addition, the Financial Conduct Authority is still investigating Drax’s biomass sourcing statements. What safeguards have been built

into the new Drax contract that covers 2027-31? Will the results of these two inquiries produce changes to the terms of the recently signed Drax contract?

My Lords, the Minister’s own department is consulting on sustainability criteria for biomass as we speak, which will inform future subsidy eligibility and reporting requirements for the rest of the market. In addition, the Financial Conduct Authority is still investigating Drax’s biomass sourcing statements. What safeguards have been built

into the new Drax contract that covers 2027-31? Will the results of these two inquiries produce changes to the terms of the recently signed Drax contract?

I cannot assure the noble Baroness that terms will be changed during the new contract. However, the LCCC will be responsible for making sure that the 100% sustainability criteria that have been entered into in the new contract will be strictly observed. That is a substantial step forward from the previous oversight arrangements.

I cannot assure the noble Baroness that terms will be changed during the new contract. However, the LCCC will be responsible for making sure that the 100% sustainability criteria that have been entered into in the new contract will be strictly observed. That is a substantial step forward from the previous oversight arrangements.

My Lords, the Minister appears to be completely unaware that “Panorama” proved conclusively two or three years ago that Drax does indeed burn old-growth forests. However, the new agreement that the Government have negotiated with Drax for 2027-31 will require Drax not to burn wood from primary or old-growth forests and to enhance the system for an independent audit to monitor compliance with that obligation. What will the sanctions be if Drax is non-compliant?

My Lords, the Minister appears to be completely unaware that “Panorama” proved conclusively two or three years ago that Drax does indeed burn old-growth forests. However, the new agreement that the Government have negotiated with Drax for 2027-31 will require Drax not to burn wood from primary or old-growth forests and to enhance the system for an independent audit to monitor compliance with that obligation. What will the sanctions be if Drax is non-compliant?

If Drax is non-compliant, the subsidy goes. There is no subsidy in the case of a non-compliant organisation of any kind. If that happens, it will be the end of Drax.

If Drax is non-compliant, the subsidy goes. There is no subsidy in the case of a non-compliant organisation of any kind. If that happens, it will be the end of Drax.