Written questions by Bowie.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of new electricity transmission infrastructure on the (a) economy and (b) environment of rural Scotland.

My officials work closely with colleagues in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to ensure the needs of Scottish people are represented in policy development.My Ministerial colleagues and I continue to engage regularly with all parts of the energy sector in Scotland.The UK Government is committed to delivering our Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, which will require investment in and expansion of our transmission network. We will work with all interested parties to deliver our plan, which will guarantee energy security, lower bills, and good jobs across the UK.

If he will have discussions with with (a) National Grid and (b) Scottish transmission operators on technological solutions to reduce the need for overhead pylons in Scotland’s rural landscapes.

My Ministerial colleagues and I continue to engage regularly with all parts of the energy sector in Scotland.The UK Government is committed to delivering our Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, which will require investment in and expansion of our transmission network. We will work with all interested parties to deliver our plan, which will guarantee energy security, lower bills, and good jobs across the UK.

What discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on GB Energy’s job creation in Aberdeen.

This government’s priority is a fair, orderly and prosperous transition in the North Sea in line with our climate and legal obligations, which drives towards a future of clean energy security, lower bills, and good, skilled jobs. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is in the process of establishing GB Energy, which will drive our clean energy mission. The company will employ staff in its Headquarters in Aberdeen and in additional sites in Edinburgh and Glasgow, making the most of the local skills and expertise available across Scotland. The North East of Scotland is at the forefront of the UK becoming a clean energy superpower by 2030, the Secretary of State and I are in contact with a range of interested parties across the private sector on GB Energy’s potential to attract investment and create thousands of jobs in Scotland and across the UK.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the estimated timeline for the creation of jobs by GB Energy on Scotland’s transition from oil and gas to renewable energy.

This government’s priority is a fair, orderly and prosperous transition in the North Sea in line with our climate and legal obligations, which drives towards a future of clean energy security, lower bills, and good, skilled jobs. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is in the process of establishing GB Energy, which will drive our clean energy mission. The company will employ staff in its Headquarters in Aberdeen and in additional sites in Edinburgh and Glasgow, making the most of the local skills and expertise available across Scotland. The North East of Scotland is at the forefront of the UK becoming a clean energy superpower by 2030, the Secretary of State and I are in contact with a range of interested parties across the private sector on GB Energy’s potential to attract investment and create thousands of jobs in Scotland and across the UK.

Whether he has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero on bringing forward funding for the GB Energy headquarters in Aberdeen.

This government’s priority is a fair, orderly and prosperous transition in the North Sea in line with our climate and legal obligations, which drives towards a future of clean energy security, lower bills, and good, skilled jobs. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is in the process of establishing GB Energy, which will drive our clean energy mission. The company will employ staff in its Headquarters in Aberdeen and in additional sites in Edinburgh and Glasgow, making the most of the local skills and expertise available across Scotland. The North East of Scotland is at the forefront of the UK becoming a clean energy superpower by 2030, the Secretary of State and I are in contact with a range of interested parties across the private sector on GB Energy’s potential to attract investment and create thousands of jobs in Scotland and across the UK.

Whether he has had recent discussions with the business community in Aberdeen on GB Energy’s long-term job creation strategy.

This government’s priority is a fair, orderly and prosperous transition in the North Sea in line with our climate and legal obligations, which drives towards a future of clean energy security, lower bills, and good, skilled jobs. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is in the process of establishing GB Energy, which will drive our clean energy mission. The company will employ staff in its Headquarters in Aberdeen and in additional sites in Edinburgh and Glasgow, making the most of the local skills and expertise available across Scotland. The North East of Scotland is at the forefront of the UK becoming a clean energy superpower by 2030, the Secretary of State and I are in contact with a range of interested parties across the private sector on GB Energy’s potential to attract investment and create thousands of jobs in Scotland and across the UK.

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 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 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 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 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 discussions he has had with Scottish (a) energy companies and (b) supply chain businesses on the potential impact of legal and regulatory uncertainty on future investment in Scotland’s oil and gas sector.

The Secretary of State and I regularly meet with Scottish energy companies, as well as the relevant business representative organisations, to discuss Scotland's oil and gas sector. We have been clear that North Sea oil and gas will continue to have a role in the UK's energy mix for decades to come.

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 the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero on next steps in relation to the (a) Rosebank and (b) Jackdaw field projects.

Oil and gas will be an important part of our energy mix for decades to come, but diversifying the North Sea industries is also key to protecting jobs and industries in the long-term. We have worked at pace to consult on updated environmental guidance so we can provide certainty to industry. Scotland Office and DESNZ Ministers have been in regular contact regarding the issue and have jointly engaged with the industry on next steps.

What steps his Department is taking to help support Scotland’s oil and gas industry, in the context of the Court of Session judgement of 30 January 2025 in relation to the Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gas fields.

The recent decision made in the Court of Session regarding the Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gas fields is an independent matter for the courts.The Government has consulted on revised guidance for Environmental Impact Assessments to take account of scope 3 emissions from burning the extracted oil and gas, in anticipation of the outcome of this caseWe will respond to this consultation in due course and developers will be able to apply for consents under this revised regime. We continue to engage regularly with all parts of the energy sector in Scotland.Our priority is a fair, orderly and prosperous transition in the North Sea in line with our climate and legal obligations, which drives towards our clean energy future of energy security, lower bills, and good, long-term jobs.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the time taken to consider the (a) Rosebank and (b) Jackdaw oil and gas fields on energy sector jobs in (a) Scotland, (b) Aberdeen and (c) Shetland.

The recent decision made in the Court of Session regarding the Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gas fields is an independent matter for the courts.The Government has consulted on revised guidance for Environmental Impact Assessments to take account of scope 3 emissions from burning the extracted oil and gas, in anticipation of the outcome of this caseWe will respond to this consultation in due course and developers will be able to apply for consents under this revised regime. We continue to engage regularly with all parts of the energy sector in Scotland.Our priority is a fair, orderly and prosperous transition in the North Sea in line with our climate and legal obligations, which drives towards our clean energy future of energy security, lower bills, and good, long-term jobs.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential long-term impact of repeated legal challenges to approved oil and gas sector sector projects on that sector; and what steps he is taking to help provide greater regulatory certainty for investors.

The Department has not carried out any sector-specific assessment of this type. However, we recognise the importance of striking the right balance between ensuring ongoing access to justice and protections against genuine issues of propriety. That is why we have worked at speed to consult on updated environmental guidance so we can resume assessments as quickly as possible. We will also publish a consultation on our commitment not to issue new licences to explore new fields in due course. Our aim is a fair, orderly and prosperous transition that provides certainty to industry.

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.