Written questions by Bloore.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of network constraint payments on the unit cost of electricity for industrial consumers.

Awaiting answer.

What steps he is taking to ensure the publication of regional substation capacity data to support demand-side connections for housing and industry.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment his Department has made of the impact of global gas turbine supply chain lead times on the delivery of dispatchable power capacity.

Awaiting answer.

What steps his Department is taking to increase competition in the onshore connection market through the use of Independent Distribution Network Operators.

Awaiting answer.

What steps he is taking through the Energy Skills Passport to ensure a pipeline of specialist engineers for the (a) construction and (b) maintenance of energy infrastructure.

Awaiting answer.

What steps he is taking through the Energy Resilience Strategy to mitigate risks to national grid stability.

Awaiting answer.

What steps his Department is taking to identify alternative financing models for flexible gas generation that ensure price stability for households and businesses.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Contracts for Difference scheme in decoupling wholesale electricity prices from gas price volatility for household consumers.

Awaiting answer.

What steps his Department is taking to identify alternative financing models for flexible gas generation that ensure price stability for households and businesses as the grid decarbonises.

It has not proved possible to respond to my hon. Friend in the time available before Prorogation.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential impacts of different market models on decoupling wholesale electricity prices from gas price volatility.

It has not proved possible to respond to my hon. Friend in the time available before Prorogation.

What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Contracts for Difference scheme in decoupling wholesale electricity prices from gas price volatility for household consumers.

It has not proved possible to respond to my hon. Friend in the time available before Prorogation.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the marginal pricing mechanism on the revenues of renewable and nuclear electricity generators.

We will bring forward plans later this year to offer legacy low carbon generators the option of fixed price arrangements, with an intention to run an allocation process in 2027. Government will only offer contracts to electricity generators where it represents clear value for money for consumers. Further details will be set out in due course, with plans to consult later this year.

What consideration his Department has given to the potential merits of moving gas-fired power stations onto a regulated asset base model.

This government has been clear that the answers to the challenges around energy security, affordability and sustainability point in the same direction, clean energy. By 2030 unabated gas will account for less than 5% of total generation. As the role of unabated gas diminishes, we continue to work with NESO and Ofgem to explore how market and system arrangements can evolve to minimise its impact on energy bills, whilst retaining sufficient unabated gas capacity for security of supply. As part of this, officials have considered proposals to move gas-fired power stations onto a regulated asset base model. Whilst this option may have merits in the long-term, it also has some challenges and would take considerable time to develop and implement. No decisions have been taken at this stage.

What consideration he has given to the potential merits of decoupling regulated electricity prices from gas prices.

Accelerating the deployment of renewable generation, as we are through our Clean Power 2030 Mission, will reduce the amount of time when gas is setting the price and will help to rapidly decouple electricity from gas prices without the need for more complex arrangements. The Government is determined to increase the share of renewables on the system so that the electricity price is set by cheaper clean power sources rather than gas. Every wind turbine we switch on and solar panel we deploy helps push gas off as the price setter.

What recent discussions he has had with Ofgem regarding the designation of Great British Energy as a supplier of last resort, to strengthen market stability and protect consumers from future supplier failures.

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

What assessment he has made of the potential role of Great British Energy, including through a retail arm, in delivering a social tariff or national energy guarantee to support households facing high energy costs.

Great British Energy (GBE) as the government’s publicly owned energy development company is designed to deliver strategic, long-term investment in the UK’s energy infrastructure. GBE is a key part of the Government’s mission to deliver clean power by 2030 to protect billpayers from volatile international fossil fuel markets by increasing domestic energy production and bring down energy bills for good. Whilst GBE has been set up to participate in the production, distribution, storage and supply of clean energy there are currently no plans for it to have a retail arm.

If he will take steps to provide support for rural households to switch renewable liquid heating fuels in the Warm Homes Plan.

For most off-grid properties, decarbonising heat will involve installing a heat pump. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme grants offer £7,500 for heat pumps, and £5,000 for biomass boilers in specific rural cases. The government recognises that renewable liquid fuels (RLFs) could play a role in heating. We expect sustainable biomass, a limited resource, to be prioritised where there are fewer alternatives to decarbonisation. RLFs are also more expensive to use than other heating solutions. The government continues to review evidence on the affordability and availability of sustainable feedstocks for RLFs.

Whether his Department offers (a) paid time off work and (b) other support to employees who become kinship carers.

The Department does not offer paid time off work specifically for kinship care. However, the Department does offer unpaid carer’s leave and both paid and unpaid special leave for employees who have caring responsibilities for dependants, either family or friends, which can include kinship.