Angus MacDonald MP: written questions
4 Jul 2025–3 Jul 2026
How these years work
Our reporting years run from 4 July to 3 July, starting with the 2024 general election. They are not official parliamentary sessions. Office costs keep IPSA’s April–March financial years. Records may cover only part of a year; a missing record does not mean no work was done.
Read what this MP said, asked and contributed in Parliament.
61 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Energy: IndustryDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 8 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 7858More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to help reduce industrial energy costs.
Answer: The Government recognises the pressure high energy costs place on businesses. Our Clean Power by 2030 mission will bring down bills, reducing exposure to volatile fossil fuel markets and the risk of carbon leakage. In the near term, we are acting through ...
Answered 16 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordElectricity: BillingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 15 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1804More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his department has made of the potential merits of rebalancing policy costs currently levied on electricity bills across gas and electricity bills equally.
Answer: The Government recognises that policy costs fall disproportionately on electricity bills and are taking forward work to ensure that prices reflect the cheaper wholesale price of clean energy.On the distribution of costs between electricity and gas, the Go...
Answered 26 May 2026
Original Parliament recordElectricity: BillingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 15 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1803More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his department has made of the potential merits of rebalancing policy costs levied on electricity bills across gas and electricity bills equally.
Answer: The Government recognises that policy costs fall disproportionately on electricity bills and are taking forward work to ensure that prices reflect the cheaper wholesale price of clean energy.On the distribution of costs between electricity and gas, the Go...
Answered 3 Aug 2026
Original Parliament recordHeating Oil: Price CapsDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 15 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1802More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his department has made of the potential merits of introducing a price cap on domestic heating oil for households that are not connected to the gas grid.
Answer: The Government has announced its intention to introduce new consumer protections in the heating oil market. The Competition and Markets Authority is currently examining how the market is working for consumers, with its final report expected in June.
Answered 26 May 2026
Original Parliament recordElectricity: Standing ChargesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 15 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1800More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his department has made of the potential merits of equalising standing charges for electricity consumers across the United Kingdom.
Answer: Standing charges vary by region because the costs of the transmission and distribution networks differ from place to place; a ‘common tariff’ for the most isolated areas would smooth out those higher local costs so customers there avoid very high prices, ...
Answered 26 May 2026
Original Parliament recordElectricity: PricesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 15 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1799More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his department has made of the case for extending the Common Tariff Obligation to apply across the whole of the United Kingdom, so that no comparable domestic consumer is char
Answer: Standing charges vary by region because the costs of the transmission and distribution networks differ from place to place; a ‘common tariff’ for the most isolated areas would smooth out those higher local costs so customers there avoid very high prices, ...
Answered 26 May 2026
Original Parliament recordEnergy: Community DevelopmentDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1054More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent estimate his Department has made of the amount of community benefits paid to a) the United Kingdom, b) Scotland and c) the Scottish Highlands in 2025.
Answer: Using the Scottish Register of Community Benefits and Shared Ownership, DESNZ estimates that the amount of community benefits paid in Scotland was approximately £30 million in 2025 of which £7 million was paid to communities in the Scottish Highlands. Com...
Answered 22 May 2026
Original Parliament recordEnergy: Community DevelopmentDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 22 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129370More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent estimate his Department has made of the amount of community benefits paid to a) the United Kingdom, b) Scotland and c) the Scottish Highlands in 2025.
Answer: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordWind PowerDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 14 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127405More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Oral Question of 24th March 2026, what steps his Department is taking to introduce a trial for free wind power for people living near energy infrastructure.
Answer: In line with statements made to Parliament on 24th March 2026, the Department is working with UKRI to launch a trial this winter. The trial will test the removal of final consumption levies from increased consumer demand that responds to instances where t...
Answered 22 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordEnergy and Water: Data CentresDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126377More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate his Department has made of the total (a) energy and (b) water demands of all proposed AI data centres.
Answer: The Department’s published Energy and Emissions Projections include growth in power demand from computing services like data centres. To ensure a comprehensive view, the methodology projects at a broader sector level, not disaggregating specific estimates...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordEnergy: Artificial IntelligenceDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 26 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108573More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to ensure transparency from AI companies on the level of their energy usage.
Answer: Large AI companies in the UK must report energy and carbon use under The Streamlined Energy & Carbon Reporting (SECR) framework. Many companies also voluntarily report their Power Utilisation Effectiveness, which is the industry standard measure of ef...
Answered 3 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordElectricity: NoiseDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 19 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106919More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what guidance his Department provides on escalation mechanisms available to communities where an electricity network operator has acknowledged non-compliance with permitted noise levels but r
Answer: For operational infrastructure, in England and Wales any noise concerns should be raised to local planning authorities in line with the Environmental Protection Act 1990. You can report an noise nuisance via: Report a noise nuisance to your council - GOV....
Answered 27 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordElectricity: NoiseDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 19 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106918More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what guidance Ofgem provides to electricity network operators on timescales for rectifying infrastructure found to be operating above permitted noise levels.
Answer: Noise from electricity network infrastructure is not regulated by Ofgem. Ofgem’s remit covers the economic regulation of network operators and the protection of consumers.
Answered 27 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordElectricity: NoiseDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 19 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106917More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions his Department has had with Ofgem on the enforcement of noise standards for electricity transmission infrastructure.
Answer: Noise from electricity network infrastructure is not regulated by Ofgem. Ofgem’s remit covers the economic regulation of network operators and the protection of consumers.
Answered 27 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordRenewable Energy: ScotlandDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 15 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106219More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions his Department has had with the Scottish Government on community benefit expectations for renewable energy developments, including the real-terms value of the £5,000 per inst
Answer: As the government explores options for community benefits, we have engaged with stakeholders across Great Britain, including the Scottish and Welsh Governments.
Answered 23 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordRenewable Energy: ScotlandDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 15 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106218More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent discussions his Department has had with the Scottish Government on its public consultation on Community Benefits which ended in April 2025.
Answer: The government engages regularly with the Scottish Government regarding community benefits.
Answered 23 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordRenewable Energy: InfrastructureDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 15 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106217More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what progress his Department has made since the publication of the working paper Community benefits and shared ownership for low carbon energy infrastructure on 21 May 2025.
Answer: The government is in the process of reviewing responses and intends to publish a response setting out our next steps in due course.
Answered 23 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordEnergy: BillingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 14 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105971More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of energy suppliers holding large aggregate customer credit balances on household finances.
Answer: The level of customer credit balances held by energy suppliers is a matter for Ofgem, as the independent regulator. Energy suppliers use credit balances as a way to smooth customer direct debit payments over a year, accounting for seasonal variations in u...
Answered 23 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordEnergy: BillingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 14 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105970More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions his Department has had on the potential impact of debit card payments on levels of customer credit balances.
Answer: The level of customer credit balances held by energy suppliers is a matter for Ofgem, as the independent regulator. Energy suppliers use credit balances as a way to smooth customer direct debit payments over a year, accounting for seasonal variations in u...
Answered 23 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordEnergy: BillingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 14 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105969More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what guidance his Department issues to energy suppliers on the level of customer credit balances that are considered reasonable for (a) domestic and (b) business energy accounts.
Answer: The Department issues no such guidance to energy suppliers. Requirements for how energy suppliers should treat customer credit balances are included within the Supplier Licence Conditions. These set out consumer standards, rules on credit balances, and wh...
Answered 23 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordEnergy: BillingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 14 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105968More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of energy suppliers requesting increases to Direct Debit payments from customers who are already in credit on those customers.
Answer: The level of customer credit balances held by energy suppliers is a matter for Ofgem, as the independent regulator. Energy suppliers use credit balances as a way to smooth customer direct debit payments over a year, accounting for seasonal variations in u...
Answered 23 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordDrax Group: TimberDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 16 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100762More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether Drax is contractually required to disclose to the Government where the trees used in the pellets it purchases were cut down.
Answer: Biomass generators must currently comply with the reporting requirements of the Renewables Obligation and Contract for Difference (CfD). These include reporting sustainability profiling data for biomass which includes the country of purchase of each fuel ...
Answered 24 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordDrax Group: TimberDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 16 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100761More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department plans to take to verify the proportion of wood burnt at Drax that is sustainable.
Answer: Monitoring and enforcement under the existing Renewables Obligation (RO) and Contract for Difference (CfD) schemes are the responsibility of the Low Carbon Contracts Company (LCCC) and Ofgem respectively, who conduct independent checks to ensure complianc...
Answered 24 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordDrax Group: TimberDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 16 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100760More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what standards of forest sustainability are required of Drax for the supply of electricity to (a) private data centres and (b) the National Grid.
Answer: Drax must ensure its power generation complies with the terms of its subsidy agreements, currently provided for by the Renewables Obligation (RO) and Contract for Difference (CfD) schemes. These agreements include wide-ranging environmental protections ad...
Answered 24 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordEnergy: PricesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 1 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96067More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that households do not face further rises in energy bills if the support announced in the recent Budget is not extended beyond the initial three-
Answer: The Government is funding the majority of the legacy Renewables Obligation for 3 full years, covering the period for which the Government set resource budgets at the Spending Review, while it takes steps to address the underlying issues of high bills. Our...
Answered 9 Dec 2025
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4 Jul 2025–3 Jul 2026. One record per UIN and tabled date; the named department is not a measure of answer quality.
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