Written questions by Denyer.

What recent assessment he has made of the potential emissions reductions achievable by transitioning the Scunthorpe steelworks to electric arc furnace production.

Awaiting answer.

What steps he is taking to support the adoption of electrification across foundation industries.

Awaiting answer.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the existing cap on fines for offshore oil and gas companies for breaches of environmental regulations.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the indexation of feed in tariffs to align with CPI rather than RPI from financial year 2026-27 on community energy schemes.

Changing indexation of the Feed‑in Tariffs scheme from RPI to CPI is estimated to reduce average revenue for a generator remaining on the scheme until 2036/37 by around 4.2%, compared with a scenario where indexation is unchanged. Generators that exit the scheme earlier would experience a smaller average impact. The available data does not allow for analysis on specific groups of generators such as community energy schemes. An analytical annex, including an assessment of the potential impacts of this policy, was published alongside the government response.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the the crude oil and diesel spill from the Piper Bravo Platform on 6 January 2026 on the marine environment.

The crude oil and diesel spills on the Piper Bravo Platform on 6th January 2026 were reported to the Health & Safety Executive in accordance with their hydrocarbon release reporting requirements. Both spills were contained on the installation with no spill to the marine environment.

What definition his Department uses for new exploration in the context of a Transitional Energy Certificate; and whether that definition includes seismic activity.

The North Sea Transition Authority will publish detailed guidance on the application and assessment process for Transitional Energy Certificates in due course, including plans to ensure that the changes do not adversely impact seismic and other activity which is not for the purposes of oil and gas exploration.

With reference to the North Sea Future Plan published on 26 November 2025, if he will clarify his Department's definition of a (a) managed, (b) prosperous and (c) orderly transition; and how these terms will be applied when deciding whether to approve a Transitional Energy Certificate.

The North Sea Transition Authority will publish detailed guidance on the application and assessment process for Transitional Energy Certificates in due course.

Whether Transitional Energy Certificates will be required to supply environmental statements that (a) include Scope 3 emissions and (b) consider potential environmental impacts in line with what is required from other production.

Transitional Energy Certificates will give the holder exclusivity over a specific area of the seabed. These areas of the seabed must be adjacent to an existing licensed block and will be managed on an ‘out of round’ basis by the North Sea Transition Authority. Prior to undertaking any development activities within areas covered by Certificates, project developers will need to submit applications for consents or directions in accordance with the requirements of offshore environmental impact assessment legislation and associated guidance.

Whether his Department's proposed policy on tiebacks in oil and gas drilling allows for the exploitation of new fields via tiebacks to existing infrastructure in fields that have already been licenced.

On 26 November, the Government published its North Sea Future Plan.The plan implements the Government’s manifesto commitments to manage existing fields for the entirety of their lifespan, and to not issue new licences to explore new oil and gas fields. As part of this, the government will introduce new Transitional Energy Certificates which will enable limited oil and gas production on or near to existing fields, so long as this additional production does not require new exploration, is already part of or links back to existing fields and infrastructure, and is necessary for a managed, orderly and prosperous transition.

For what reason he plans to end grant funding for the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme after 2028; and if he will provide funding to support the decarbonisation of the public sector beyond 2028.

The decision not to provide further funding for the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme was taken in the context of wider fiscal pressures and competing priorities which required difficult choices during the 2025 Spending Review. In addition to the £1bn for public sector decarbonisation between 2025/26 and 2027/28, the Government and Great British Energy Solar programme is investing £255 million to fund around 250 schools, 260 NHS sites and 15 military sites to install solar panels. Additional detail on the Government’s approach will be set out in the forthcoming Carbon Budgets and Growth Delivery Plan.

If he will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of the (a) funding required to fully decarbonise the public sector and (b) adaptation costs from not fully decarbonising that sector.

The internal estimate made by the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero in 2022 suggests that fully decarbonising the public sector would cost between £25–30 billion. The Department is currently updating this based on more recent cost assumptions. No estimate has been made regarding the adaptation costs that may arise from not decarbonising the public sector.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of ending the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme after 2028 on (a) commitments to reach 100% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and (b) public sector (i) emissions and (ii) climate resilience.

By the time the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme concludes in 2028, it will have delivered approximately £3.5 billion in capital funding to over 1,400 projects across England. These investments have supported heat decarbonisation and energy efficiency upgrades in public sector buildings, contributing to emissions reductions and progress toward net zero as well as climate resilience. The Government will shortly publish its Carbon Budgets and Growth Delivery Plan, which will outline plans for non-domestic buildings, including the public sector. The Warm Homes Plan will also set out plans to support the decarbonisation of buildings. No estimate has been made of the impacts on public sector climate resilience resulting from not decarbonising the public sector.

With reference to the UK’s 2035 Nationally Determined Contribution emissions reduction target, what his emissions reduction target is against a 2019 emissions baseline.

The UK has set an ambitious 2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), to reduce its net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 81% by 2035, compared to base year levels. The base year is 1990 for carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide and 1995 for hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulphur hexafluoride and nitrogen trifluoride. The latest 2019 emissions statistic can be found in the Government’s publication of UK territorial greenhouse gas emissions here. UK 2035 NDC performance will be assessed in 2037 based on the latest emissions estimates available at the time. Historical emissions estimates are revised annually to incorporate new data, improved methods and changes to international guidelines. Therefore, the % reductions on specific years (excluding the base year) are subject to change.

With reference to the UK’s 2035 Nationally Determined Contribution emissions reduction target under the Paris Agreement, what his emissions reduction target is in each year between 2025 and 2035.

The UK’s 2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) is a target to reduce economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions by at least 81% compared to 1990 levels. The 2035 NDC is consistent with the effort to deliver against the UK’s sixth carbon budget (2033-37), as set out in the Climate Change Act. The sixth carbon budget limits UK emissions to an annual average of 193 megatons carbon dioxide equivalent, including international aviation and shipping.

What the cost to the public purse was of legal services used by the Government in relation to potential Rosebank oil and gas field development since 4 July 2024; and whether further legal costs have been accounted for in his Department’s (a) current and (b) future budgets.

The Department has paid a total of £26,773 in legal fees relating to the Jackdaw and Rosebank fields since 4 July 2024.

Whether it is his policy to stop issuing development consents for all new oil and gas fields.

The Government has committed that it will not revoke existing licences and will partner with business and workers to manage our existing fields for the entirety of their lifespan. 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. This consultation closed in January, and we are working to have guidance in place as soon as possible.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that the oil and gas sector contributes to meeting global climate targets.

The UK is committed to transitioning away from fossil fuels and meeting global climate targets. The Government supports action on decarbonising oil and gas production and is consulting on new guidance to ensure the impact of burning oil and gas is considered in the Environmental Impact Assessment for new projects. The Government will consult on its commitment to not issue new oil and gas licences to explore new fields, in due course.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of opening new oil and gas fields in the North Sea on the Paris Agreement goal to limit the global average temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

At COP28, the UK and others agreed to transition away from fossil fuels in an orderly and equitable manner, accelerating action in this critical decade. This is essential to keep the global temperature limit of 1.5°C within reach. The Government has acted swiftly to consult on new environmental guidance for oil and gas firms to ensure that the impact of burning oil and gas is considered in the Environmental Impact Assessment for new projects. The Government will consult on the implementation of its manifesto position, not to issue new oil and gas licences to explore new fields, in due course.

Whether his Department plans to publish a consultation on licences to explore new oil and gas fields.

The Government will consult on its commitment to not issue new oil and gas licences to explore new fields in due course.

Pursuant to the Answer of 10 January 2025 to Question 21077 on Ithaca Energy: Occupied Territories, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of reports that the Rosebank oil field’s minority owner is owned by a firm operating in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

There are no current plans to make such assessment.We routinely update our guidance to British businesses on the Overseas Business Risk website.We advise British businesses to bear in mind the British Government's view on the illegality of settlements under international law when considering their investments and activities in the region.