Written questions by Kearns.

Whether the £530,000 community compensation payment listed in the Community funds for transmission infrastructure guidance for the installation of a substation applies to substations installed as part of a wider solar development.

The £530,000 figure is not compensation. It is a community benefit recognising, transparently, the vital role that host communities play in delivering nationally important clean energy infrastructure. The guidance applies only to onshore electricity transmission assets including transmission substations delivered by transmission network project developers. Whether a substation is associated with a solar farm or another project does not alter this: applicability is determined by its status as an in‑scope onshore transmission asset. DESNZ has consulted on a mandatory community benefits scheme for low carbon energy infrastructure, including solar, a response will be published in due course.

When he will announce Government plans for community benefit funds for solar developments following the Community Benefits and Shared Ownership for Low Carbon Infrastructure consultation which closed in July 2025.

This government has made clear that where communities host clean energy infrastructure, we will ensure they benefit from it. We are in the process of reviewing responses to our community benefits and shared ownership for low carbon energy infrastructure working paper and intend to publish a response setting out our next steps in due course. In the meantime, Solar Energy UK, the industry trade body, are planning to publish a voluntary community benefit protocol later this year.

What his planned timetable is for publication of the solar roadmap.

The Solar Roadmap was published on 30th June. It is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/solar-roadmap.

What discussions his Department has had with the National Grid on the potential impact of the cost to the public purse for compensation for communities in relation to the erection of pylons on its decisions to opt for (a) electric pylons and (b) subsea cables for energy transmission.

Details of Ministers' and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.

What steps he is taking to support the use of subsea cables for energy transmission.

An extensive offshore network is being built to meet the rising demand for electricity and connect new renewable generation. The strategic, coordinated approach National Energy System Operator (NESO) is taking to network planning has allowed them to recommend extensive use of offshore “bootstraps” to reinforce the onshore grid, and design integrated offshore networks in some areas, where they are the most optimised designs. The recommendations in NESO’s recent strategic network plans (‘Pathway to 2030’ (2022) and ‘Beyond 2030’ (2024)) could mean that by 2035, three times as much undersea cabling could be laid than new pylons across Britain.

What comparative estimate his Department has made of the costs of transmitting energy by (a) undersea cables and (b) pylon networks.

The Department has not conducted its own assessment of the comparative costs of undersea cables and pylon networks. However, in April 2025, the Institution of Engineering and Technology published average lifetime cost estimates which suggest that 400kV AC overhead lines cost approximately £1,190/Megawatt-kilometre (MWkm), while subsea HVDC connections between onshore substations cost around £6,170/MWkm—over 5.2 times more.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of Mingyang supplying the Green Volt offshore wind project on national security.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon Friend the Minister for Climate gave on 12 February to the Urgent Question tabled by the hon Member for Edinburgh West (Christine Jardine). We cannot comment on individual investment cases, but investment into the energy sector is subject to the highest levels of national security scrutiny, and we will continue to work closely with industry to build secure supply chains and ensure the UK remains one of the most attractive investment destinations in the world.

What steps he is taking to ensure that nuclear power development does not use Chinese funding.

The Government has robust powers under the National Security & Investment Act 2021 to scrutinise and intervene in acquisitions that pose a national security risk to critical national infrastructure. The National Security & Investment Act requires mandatory notification of some of the most sensitive acquisitions, including some acquisitions in the UK’s civil nuclear sector.

If he will publish the clean energy partnership memorandum of understanding signed with China in March 2025.

The Clean Energy Partnership, signed by the Energy Secretary, allows UK officials to engage with the equivalent Chinese ministry to share policy best practice and technical knowledge in support of enabling the UK and China’s respective energy transitions, which is key in tackling the climate crisis. It also provides a platform to address any concerns we may have around energy security directly with China. This partnership is a private document, consistent with the precedent agreed by the previous government and China’s National Energy Administration. We will always take a consistent, long-term strategic approach to managing relations with China, ensuring that we have the appropriate measures in place to mitigate any risks.

Whether he has plans to introduce minimum community compensation funding for communities impacted by (a) Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project solar developments and (b) solar developments assessed through the local planning system.

Through the Clean Power Action Plan, we have made clear that where communities host clean energy infrastructure, we will ensure they benefit from it. There are many options in this area, and we are exploring all options to ensure communities can benefit from our clean power mission. In the meantime, Solar Energy UK, the main trade body for the solar sector, will publish later this year a voluntary community benefits protocol and guidance for solar.

Whether his Department plans to introduce community benefit measures for solar developments as part of the Plan for Change.

Through the Clean Power Action Plan, we have made clear that where communities host clean energy infrastructure, we will ensure they benefit from it. There are many options in this area, and we are exploring all options to ensure communities can benefit from our clean power mission. In the meantime, Solar Energy UK, the main trade body for the solar sector, will publish later this year a voluntary community benefits protocol and guidance for solar.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of delaying the requirement to replace gas boilers with heat pumps whilst the minimum EPC rating is being increased.

The Government launched a consultation on increasing minimum energy efficiency standards in the domestic private rented sector on 7th February 2025, this includes proposals for rented homes to achieve Energy Performance Certificate C or equivalent by 2030. The Government will not force anyone to rip out a working boiler. Instead, Government is focused on incentivising moves to cleaner, affordable heating and making this attractive and easy for the public. Our Warm Homes Plan will support investment in heat pumps and other energy efficiency upgrades to help cut bills. Further details on the Warm Homes Plan will be set out in due course.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Solar Stewardship Initiative Traceability Standard on helping to tackle forced labour in solar supply chains.

The Solar Stewardship Initiative (SSI), developed by Solar Energy UK in partnership with Solar Power Europe, works across the global value chain to ensure responsible production and sourcing of materials. Members of the SSI have committed to applying its Environmental, Social, Governance and traceability standards, while encouraging its adoption throughout their supply chain. The Government is closely monitoring the Initiative’s progress as it carries out its first round of traceability audits.

If he will publish a plan to help tackle the use of Uyghur slave labour in solar supply chains.

The Government opposes all forms of slave labour. The Government is clear UK businesses should monitor their supply chains and do everything in their power to remove any instances of forced labour they may find.Through the reconvened Solar Taskforce, the Government is working across Whitehall and closely with industry stakeholders to take forward the actions needed to develop supply chains that are resilient, sustainable, innovative, and free from forced labour. Further information will be set out in the Solar Roadmap, to be published in Spring 2025.

What assessment process his Department uses to determine if solar companies operating in the UK have supply chain links to forced labour.

The Government opposes all forms of forced labour and is determined to ensure that all UK business do everything in their power to remove any instances of it from their supply chains. However, the UK Government does not hold data about the supply chains of individual companies. Solar Energy UK, who co-chair the Solar Taskforce, is leading the industry’s response on this matter by developing and launching the Solar Stewardship Initiative (SSI), in partnership with Solar Power Europe. Members of the SSI have committed to applying its traceability standards and audits, while encouraging its adoption throughout their supply chain.

How many solar companies based in the UK his Department has assessed to have supply chain links to forced labour.

The UK Government does not hold data about the supply chains of individual companies. The Solar Roadmap, to be published in Spring 2025, will outline the actions required develop supply chains that are resilient, sustainable, and free from forced labour. The UK’s main solar industry trade association – Solar Energy UK, who co-chair the Solar Taskforce - is leading the industry’s response on this matter by developing and launching the Solar Stewardship Initiative (SSI), in partnership with Solar Power Europe. Members of the SSI have committed to applying its traceability standards and audits, while encouraging its adoption throughout their supply chain.

Whether the Solar Taskforce plans to take steps to (a) assess the prevalence of and (b) tackle the use of Uyghur forced labour in solar supply chains.

No company operating in the UK should have forced labour in its supply chain. We are working with colleagues across Government to tackle the issue of Uyghur forced labour in supply chains. The Solar Taskforce is focussed on identifying and taking forward the actions needed to develop supply chains that are resilient, sustainable and free from forced labour. This will support the significant increases in deployment of solar panels needed to meet our ambition of radically increasing solar deployment by 2030. Recommendations from the Solar Taskforce will be contained in the Solar Roadmap, which will be published in due course.

What steps he is taking to (a) help tackle reductions in the effectiveness of loft insulation during its lifetime and (b) increase (i) awareness of and (ii) access to new technologies to help improve energy efficiency within homes.

Loft insulation installed under government schemes must be compliant with the Publicly Available Specification (PAS) 2030 and 2035 standard documents to reduce the risks and unintended consequences associated with poor-quality installations. The British Standards Institute (BSI), who publish PAS 2030 and 2035, will consider how to address more innovative products that do not fit within existing annexes in their next update. Independent impartial government advice in relation to energy efficiency measures and clean heat technologies is available at https://www.gov.uk/improve-energy-efficiency, a national phoneline and over 30 in-person advice projects across England.

Whether he plans to respond to the consultation entitled Home Energy Model: Future Homes Standard assessment which closed on 27 March 2024.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero officials are analysing the responses received for the Home Energy Model: Future Homes Standard assessment consultation. The Government will publish the government response to the consultation in due course.