Andrew Bowie MP: written questions 2025
235 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Biofuels: USADepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 15 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52637More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that wood pellets from the US are not sourced from (a) environmentally important and (b) rare forests.
Answer: Existing sustainability requirements for current subsidy arrangements include robust land-use criteria to ensure biomass is sourced from sustainably managed forests. This includes requirements around sustainable harvesting and biodiversity protection. Ofg...
Answered 23 May 2025
Original Parliament recordBiofuels: USADepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 15 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52636More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate his Department has made of the potential impact of transatlantic shipments of wood pellets on carbon emissions.
Answer: The government sets robust supply chain emissions thresholds as part of the sustainability criteria for large-scale biomass generation. Shipping, and all other transport, emissions are included in that requirement. As announced on 10 February, the supply ...
Answered 23 May 2025
Original Parliament recordBiofuels: USADepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 15 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52635More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has held recent discussions with his US counterpart on whether wood pellets exported to the UK meet the UK’s sustainability criteria.
Answer: My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero engages regularly with international counterparts on a number of issues.
Answered 23 May 2025
Original Parliament recordBiofuels: USADepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 15 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52634More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the sustainability of using US-produced wood pellets for energy generation in the UK.
Answer: The government only supports the use of sustainable biomass, and generators only receive subsidies for biomass that meets our robust sustainability criteria. Domestically sourced and imported wood pellets, regardless of the country of origin, are subject ...
Answered 23 May 2025
Original Parliament recordOffshore Industry: North SeaDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 7 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50547More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to ensure the North Sea Transition Authority maximises the economic recovery of oil and gas in the North Sea.
Answer: The Department is responsible for the policy framework within which the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) operates. The OGA Strategy outlines how the NSTA’s principal objective will be met. The NSTA does so in several ways – for example, facilitating ...
Answered 16 May 2025
Original Parliament recordHouse of Commons: MeatHouse of Commons CommissionTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49416More
Question: To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, whether (a) bacon, (b) ham, (c) other cured meats and (d) other processed meats procured by the House and served on the parliamentary estate contain added
Answer: The House has no policies on the procurement of meat products processed with nitrites.Nitrites are present in the following meat products served on the estate: Bacon, Chorizo, Salami, Pancetta, Prosciutto, Salted Beef Brisket.
Answered 12 May 2025
Original Parliament recordGreat British Energy: ContractsDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42759More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 28 March 2025 to Question 39646 on Photovoltaics: Import Controls, whether the Government considers Great British Energy to be a public sector contracting authority
Answer: Yes, Great British Energy (GBE) will be considered a “public authority”, and thereby a “contracting authority”, where it is not operating on a commercial basis. Under the Procurement Act 2023, GBE can reject bids and terminate contracts with suppliers tha...
Answered 8 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordCarbon Capture, Usage and StorageDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42758More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when he plans to make a decision on the selection of new emitter projects assigned to Track-2 carbon capture, usage and storage clusters.
Answer: CCUS requires significant resources, and it is right that it is considered within the Spending Review. We continue to engage at both working and ministerial level with all future projects, including Track-2, and further decisions for future CCUS deploymen...
Answered 8 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: HeatingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42757More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what guidance his Department has issued on the methods of decarbonising home heating that cause the least disruption.
Answer: Guidance on recommended home energy efficiency improvements is devolved. In Scotland, constituents can visit the Home Energy Scotland webpage for advice. The Warm Homes Plan will help people find ways to save money on energy bills and transform our ageing...
Answered 8 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordBiomethane: ProductionDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42756More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of setting a national target for the production of biomethane.
Answer: In February 2024, the Department issued a Call for Evidence (CfE) on a future policy framework for biomethane production, which included consideration of a national target. We are considering the responses to the CfE as part of policy development and will...
Answered 8 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordCarbon Emissions: IndustryDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42754More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an estimate of the cost to industrial producers of decarbonising their operations.
Answer: Carbon savings through fuel switching from fossil fuels to low carbon alternatives and improvements in resource and energy efficiency are needed for the industrial sector to transition to net zero. We are developing a suite of policies to enable industry ...
Answered 8 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordCarbon Emissions: IndustryDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42753More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has issued guidance to industrial producers on how they can effectively decarbonise their operations.
Answer: Since July last year, we have provided a host of support and guidance to industry. This has included: guidance to SMEs through our Business Energy Advice Service (BEAS) pilot and to local clusters through our Local Industrial Decarbonisation Plans scheme;...
Answered 8 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordBiomethane: UK Emissions Trading SchemeDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42752More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of making biomethane eligible for the UK Emissions Trading Scheme.
Answer: The Government recognises biomethane as a practical and cost-effective way of contributing to net zero greenhouse gas emissions. The UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) applies a zero emissions factor to combustion of biomethane where supplied directly to E...
Answered 8 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordRenewable Energy: RegulationDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42751More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether any renewable energy compliance regulations are under review by his Department.
Answer: The government has inherited a fragmented consumer protection framework for installation of measures that improve the energy efficiency of homes. This will be reviewed and reforms brought forward in the Warm Homes Plan, so that people can be confident of ...
Answered 8 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordCarbon EmissionsDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42750More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to review compliance costs related to net-zero regulations.
Answer: Regulation plays a critical role in supporting the low-carbon technologies of the future, whether in electric vehicles or sustainable aviation fuel. DESNZ is taking steps to review the compliance costs of regulation as part of the Government’s Regulation ...
Answered 8 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordGreat British Energy: AberdeenDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 19 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 39532More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has identified suitable locations in Aberdeen in which to house the headquarters of GB Energy.
Answer: Great British Energy will be headquartered in Aberdeen, Scotland, recognising the expertise, skilled workforce, and diversity of projects already in place. As a Government Property Agency (GPA) onboarded department, DESNZ is pursuing property options thro...
Answered 28 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordGreat British Energy: AberdeenDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 19 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 39531More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what plans his Department has for his existing departmental offices in Aberdeen.
Answer: The plan for the Department’s offices in Aberdeen is to continue to provide value for money office space in the right location, which meets minimum standards to facilitate the activities that are located there. This includes the core Department 2nd HQ, al...
Answered 28 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordGreat British Energy: StaffDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 19 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 39530More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, which city GB Energy executive staff will be based.
Answer: Dan McGrail, the interim CEO, will work from Great British Energy’s (GBE) Aberdeen HQ, and we have recently launched the recruitment campaign for the permanent CEO, which is also advertised as Aberdeen-based. The first recruitment campaigns for the senior...
Answered 28 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordWhisky: Origin MarkingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 19 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 39529More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions (a) he and (b) his Department had with the (i) Scotland Office and (ii) Department for Business and Trade on the application for an English Whisky geographical indicat
Answer: The application to register English Whisky as a geographical indication was submitted in February 2022. There are no recorded discussions on the application held with other departments prior to that time.
Answered 28 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Grid: Concrete and MetalsDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 4 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35359More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate his Department has made of the amount of (a) copper, (b) aluminium, (c) steel, (d) concrete and (e) other metals required to upgrade the electricity (i) transmission and (ii) di
Answer: Grid expansion will be dependent on equipment manufacturers securing the materials required to produce grid components to meet global demand. The UK Critical Mineral Intelligence Centre (CMIC) recently published a study into requirements of our national g...
Answered 12 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordEnergy: PaymentsDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 4 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35358More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, which companies have received curtailment payments; and what those payments were in each year since 2015.
Answer: The Department does not hold this information. The National Energy System Operator (NESO) is responsible for managing constraints and publishes yearly breakdowns by cost and volume, which can be found here: Constraint Breakdown Costs and Volume | National...
Answered 12 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordElectricity: PricesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 4 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35357More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the gap between market prices and average tariffs charged by electricity suppliers over the next five years.
Answer: Under the default tariff cap, Ofgem has capped the profits of energy suppliers in the retail market to ensure excessive profits aren’t made. There are different costs included in the price cap and any changes to these costs affect how much the price cap w...
Answered 12 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordEnergy: PricesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 4 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35356More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of monthly market price variability on plans to decarbonise the grid by 2030.
Answer: Currently, the market price varies strongly based on fossil fuel prices, which we do not expect to impact the delivery of Clean Power 2030. As the action plan makes clear, homegrown renewable energy is the key to energy independence. Clean Power 2030 will...
Answered 12 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordClimate Change and Environment ProtectionDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 4 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35355More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how much civil service time is spent on organising the Civil Service Climate + Environment Network each week.
Answer: The Civil Service Climate + Environment Network is run by volunteers across government who typically dedicate around 5% of their time to network activities, often as part of their learning and development. The annual conference is delivered primarily thro...
Answered 12 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordClimate Change and Environment ProtectionDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 4 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35354More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how much civil service time has been spent organising the Climate and Environment Conference hosted by the Civil Service Climate + Environment Network.
Answer: The Civil Service Climate + Environment Network is run by volunteers across government who typically dedicate around 5% of their time to network activities, often as part of their learning and development. The annual conference is delivered primarily thro...
Answered 12 Mar 2025
Original Parliament record
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