Written questions by Bowie.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure investor confidence in the UK oil and gas sector following the withdrawal of legal support for the Rosebank and Jackdaw projects.

In August, in light of the Supreme Court Finch Judgment, the government accepted that the previous Environmental Impact Assessment decisions were unlawful. That decision was made following the taking of legal advice, the contents of which are privileged. In any event, all parties to Rosebank and Jackdaw claims, including the operators themselves, agreed that the previous decisions were unlawful. The Court has now confirmed this, and made provision for fresh decisions to be made in due course. We have already consulted on revised environmental guidance for development consents to take into account emissions from burning extracted oil and gas to provide stability for industry.

For what reason his Department withdrew legal support for the Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gas projects.

In August, in light of the Supreme Court Finch Judgment, the government accepted that the previous Environmental Impact Assessment decisions were unlawful. That decision was made following the taking of legal advice, the contents of which are privileged. In any event, all parties to Rosebank and Jackdaw claims, including the operators themselves, agreed that the previous decisions were unlawful. The Court has now confirmed this, and made provision for fresh decisions to be made in due course.

What steps his Department is taking to engage with the public on the nuclear energy industry.

The department regularly engages with the public on nuclear energy policy matters.

How many people have successfully obtained employment using the Energy Skills Passport.

The initial version of the Energy Skills Passport was launched on 22nd January 2025. As with all policies, DESNZ will be assessing the impact of the project and will use these findings to inform how the project evolves going forward.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of withdrawing legal support for the Rosebank and Jackdaw projects on the UK’s energy security and domestic production capacity.

In August, in light of the Supreme Court Finch Judgment, the government accepted that the previous Environmental Impact Assessment decisions were unlawful. That decision was made following the taking of legal advice, the contents of which are privileged. In any event, all parties to Rosebank and Jackdaw claims, including the operators themselves, agreed that the previous decisions were unlawful. The Court has now confirmed this, and made provision for fresh decisions to be made in due course.

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the National Nuclear Laboratory’s (a) research and development budget and (b) international relationships.

In December 2024 the Government carried out a Strategic Review of the UK’s National Nuclear Laboratory (UKNNL) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-nuclear-laboratory-strategic-review . The review concluded UKNNL is deeply valued by the sector, with its scientific capability being repeatedly praised as world leading, but there is a requirement for core government funding to ensure UKNNL retains and develops its critical capabilities, and continues specialist research and development. The optimal long-term model, that ensures UKNNL can deliver outcomes for Government and support sector growth, remains under consideration. The Government is currently working through a spending review and decisions will be made in due course. The review sets out UKNNL’s important role supporting Government as its trusted technical advisor, and it is crucial the laboratory engages internationally to further its research and development. Government is taking forward the review’s recommendation for a more proactive and strategic approach to UKNNL sponsorship, this will include assessing the scope of UKNNL’s role in international relationships.

What assessment his Department made of the potential (a) legal and (b) financial impacts of withdrawing legal support for the Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gas projects before taking that decision.

In August, in light of the Supreme Court Finch Judgment, the government accepted that the previous Environmental Impact Assessment decisions were unlawful. That decision was made following the taking of legal advice, the contents of which are privileged. In any event, all parties to Rosebank and Jackdaw claims, including the operators themselves, agreed that the previous decisions were unlawful. The Court has now confirmed this, and made provision for fresh decisions to be made in due course.

What discussions his Department had with industry stakeholders before withdrawing legal support for the Rosebank and Jackdaw projects.

Details of Ministers' and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK. Published declarations include the purpose of the meeting and the names of any additional external organisations or individuals in attendance.

What criteria his Department will use to measure the success of GB Energy in delivering (a) employment and (b) investment in Scotland.

Delivering jobs and investment is at the heart of Great British Energy’s (GBE) mission to drive clean energy deployment, to create jobs, boost energy independence, to ensure UK taxpayers, billpayers, and communities reap the benefits of clean, secure, homegrown energy. GBE will be held accountable through regular reporting to the Department. Parliament will also be presented with a copy of the annual report and accounts of Great British Energy which will include details of GBE’s performance in delivering its mission, such as supporting jobs and projects across the country, including Scotland.

What steps his Department is taking to help ensure that GB Energy creates 1,000 jobs in North East Scotland within a reasonable timeframe.

We have said that Great British Energy (GBE) will support thousands of jobs. This includes opportunities at its Aberdeen Headquarters, and through its activities and investments across the country. As an operationally independent company, GBE will be responsible for its own workforce planning, to ensure the right skills, across the right locations, that enable GBE to deliver maximum impact for the whole of the UK. The Department continues to work quickly to set GBE up for success and ensure the British people feel the benefits, including new jobs.

What recent discussions he has had with representatives of the North Sea (a) energy sector and (b) trade unions on the estimated timeline for the creation of jobs by GB Energy.

Details of Ministers' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly on gov.uk.

If he will take steps to increase the amount of funding provided to GB Energy for increasing employment opportunities in Aberdeen for workers transitioning from the oil and gas sector.

Great British Energy (GBE) will be capitalised with £8.3 billion over the parliament. GBE will begin its work with £125 million to spend in 2025, boosting jobs through its own investments, and by crowding in billions more from the private sector. Government-backed training, and the Energy Skills Passport for oil and gas workers, that we delivered in collaboration with industry and Scottish Government, will ensure workers have the right skills to benefit from the thousands of jobs GBE creates.

Whether he has had recent discussions with private sector investors on the expansion of GB Energy’s operations in Aberdeen.

Details of Ministers' and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK. Published declarations include the purpose of the meeting and the names of any additional external organisations or individuals in attendance.

What estimate his Department has made of the number of jobs GB Energy will create in the (a) Aberdeen City Council and (b) Aberdeenshire Council areas in the next five years.

Over the next five years, in the early stages of Great British Energy, we expect that the company will employ 200-300 people at its Aberdeen headquarters. Through its activities and investments, GBE will also support thousands of jobs across the country, including in Aberdeen. Our ambition is to build GBE up to the size and scale of the world’s leading publicly owned energy companies, creating significantly more jobs in the longer term.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the estimated timeline for the creation of new jobs by GB Energy on workers employed in the North Sea oil and gas industry.

Our priority is a fair, orderly and prosperous transition in the North Sea, which drives towards our clean energy future of energy security, and good, long-term jobs. Across this Parliament, we expect Great British Energy (GBE) will create 200-300 roles in Aberdeen. In the longer term, through its activities, GBE will support thousands of jobs across the country. Government-backed training, and the Energy Skills Passport for oil and gas workers, that we delivered in collaboration with industry and Scottish Government, will ensure workers have the right skills to benefit from the jobs GBE creates.

What discussions he has had with the companies involved with the Jackdaw and Rosebank fields proposals on the potential financial risks relating to the time taken for those proposals to be considered; and if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the time taken for those to be considered on levels of future investment in the North Sea.

Details of Ministers' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly on gov.uk.The Government is still considering the Court’s decision, and the responses to the recent consultation on updated Environmental Impact Assessment guidance, and will engage further with all relevant stakeholders as soon as possible.

What discussions he has had with (a) Equinor, (b) Shell, and (c) Ithaca Energy on the regulatory process for reassessing the environmental impact of the (i) Rosebank and (ii) Jackdaw fields.

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

If he will take steps to accelerate the environmental reassessment process required for the (a) Rosebank and (b) Jackdaw oil and gas fields.

It would not be appropriate to comment on individual projects as this risks prejudicing future regulatory decision-making by the Government and the independent North Sea Transition Authority. The Government acted quickly to respond to the Finch judgment on scope-3 emissions and consult on updated guidance. The consultation closed on 8 January 2025 and the Government is working to have the guidance in place as soon as possible. Once the updated guidance is in place, the assessment of environmental statements for offshore Oil and Gas projects can be resumed.

If he will take steps to ensure that the revised environmental assessments for the (a) Rosebank and (b) Jackdaw fields reflect the potential emissions reductions achieved by domestic oil and gas production compared to higher-emission imports.

It would not be appropriate to comment on individual projects as this risks prejudicing future regulatory decision-making by the Government and the independent North Sea Transition Authority. The Government acted quickly to respond to the Finch judgment on scope-3 emissions and consult on updated guidance. The consultation closed on 8 January 2025 and the Government is working to have the guidance in place as soon as possible. Once the updated guidance is in place, the assessment of environmental statements for offshore Oil and Gas projects can be resumed.

What assessment he has made of the impact of potential delays to the (a) Rosebank and (b) Jackdaw oil and gas projects on the UK’s (i) future energy needs and (ii) ability to regulate energy market pricing.

It would not be appropriate to comment on individual projects as this risks prejudicing future regulatory decision-making by the Government and the independent North Sea Transition Authority. The Government acted quickly to respond to the Finch judgment on scope-3 emissions and consult on updated guidance. The consultation closed on 8 January 2025 and the Government is working to have the guidance in place as soon as possible. Once the updated guidance is in place, the assessment of environmental statements for offshore Oil and Gas projects can be resumed.