Written questions by Maguire.

Innovation and Technology, whether the One Login programme is compliant with the National Cyber Security Centre's Cyber Assessment Framework.

Protecting the security of government services and the data and privacy of users is our utmost priority. GOV.UK One Login follows the highest security standards for government and private sector services, including dedicated 24/7 eyes-on monitoring, incident response and appropriate security controls.To ensure we are keeping pace with the changing cyber threat landscape we are now working towards the most current National Cyber Security Centre’s Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF) and will be putting the system forward under the new enhanced profile.

How the Government is supporting communities to buy clean power locally.

The Department recognises the requests to take steps to better enable local energy markets and trading to lower bills and increase the resilience of the electricity networks. DESNZ is investigating barriers to local supply, and is working with Ofgem, Great British Energy and relevant stakeholders to find solutions that work in the best interests of local generators and consumers. Ofgem and Elexon’s work on code modifications like P441 will help more community energy groups identify and understand the different routes to market in order to sell their energy. Industry feedback informed the Draft Modification Report considered by the Panel on 12 March leading to the Final Modification Report submitted to Ofgem on 17 March.

What progress the Government has made following his comments on the 15th July 2025 to improve opportunities for communities to buy clean power locally.

The Department recognises the requests to take steps to better enable local energy markets and trading to lower bills and increase the resilience of the electricity networks. DESNZ is investigating barriers to local supply, and is working with Ofgem, Great British Energy and relevant stakeholders to find solutions that work in the best interests of local generators and consumers. Ofgem and Elexon’s work on code modifications like P441 will help more community energy groups identify and understand the different routes to market in order to sell their energy. Industry feedback informed the Draft Modification Report considered by the Panel on 12 March leading to the Final Modification Report submitted to Ofgem on 17 March.

Whether small modular reactors will be commercially insurable against nuclear radiation events.

Under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965, operators of nuclear licensed sites are required to have sufficient financial coverage to ensure compensation would be available in the unlikely event of a nuclear incident. Most operators secure this coverage through nuclear insurance. These are commercial arrangements between operators and insurers. Small modular reactor operators could seek such arrangements in the same manner as other nuclear projects. In the event that commercially available cover is unattainable, the Secretary of State can make provision for financial security under such terms it considers appropriate. This can be used to ensure there are no gaps in cover.

What assessment his Department has made of the impact of the ending of funding for the Energy Company Obligation scheme in March 2026 on energy bills.

To bring energy bills down for all, the decision has been made not to continue the Energy Company Obligation and associated Great British Insulation Scheme when they end next year. This will save on average £60 on energy bills per household. Combined with other essential support delivered through the Budget, this will reduce energy costs by £150 from next April.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of ending funding for the Energy Company Obligation scheme in March 2026 on small and medium-sized businesses.

The government recognises that the closure of the supplier obligation schemes will present challenges for companies in the supply chain and is committed to supporting businesses to transition to new opportunities for delivering clean heat and energy efficiency measures. The Warm Homes Plan will set out the Government’s plans to invest nearly £15 billion in home upgrades. The number of UK jobs supported in clean energy industries and their supply chains is estimated to increase from around 440,000 today to around 860,000 by 2030 and we are working closely with the sector to support its growth.

What plans he has to support SMEs that rely on the Energy Company Obligation scheme for predictable work after March 2026.

We have committed £1.5 billion in new grant funding to help low-income households with upgrades, taking total investment under the Warm Homes Plan to almost £15 billion. UK clean energy and related supply chain jobs are projected to rise from around 440,000 in 2023 to around 860,000 by 2030, offering transition opportunities for businesses currently installing measures under ECO4. Further details will be provided in the Warm Homes Plan.

If he will publish all submissions made to the Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce.

The taskforce aimed for maximum transparency, publishing its terms of reference and interim findings. Stakeholders were invited to submit evidence on a non-attributed basis, encouraging frank and open disclosure. The final report provides a clear summary of the process and sets out the evidence underpinning each recommendation.

What assessment has been done on the impact of energy bills in the event of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme being scaled back.

The Government is committed to ensuring that the costs of the UK’s transition to Net Zero are fair and affordable, and the potential impacts on consumers are being fully considered. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is not funded by a levy on energy bills and will be funded as part of the Warm Homes Plan. As set out in the Budget, the Government will provide an additional £1.5bn for those in fuel poverty, exceeding the £13.2bn commitment set out in the manifesto. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme has a committed budget of £295 million for this financial year, and has been extended to 2030, with funding increasing each year. Further details will be set out soon. On 18 November, the Government published the response to a recent consultation providing detail on amendments to the scheme which will be implemented from next year. These changes are designed to increase access, stimulate further demand, and enhance existing consumer protections

How his Department plans to meet its target of 9.3 million heat pumps by 2035.

The government will continue to provide financial support to households through our support schemes and by growing the market for green finance, and we will set out more details in the Warm Homes Plan. The government is supporting supply chain growth through the reformed Clean Heat Market Mechanism, investing in manufacturing capacity through the Heat Pump Investment Accelerator, and helping installers train through the Heat Training Grant. Our expectation is that the vast majority of heating system replacements will be with heat pumps and other low-carbon technologies, as these become the natural, affordable choice for consumers at the point of replacing an existing heating appliance at the end of its life.

If his Department will protect the Boiler Upgrade Scheme through any changes to the Warm Home Plan.

Through the Warm Homes Plan, the Government is making the biggest ever capital investment in home retrofit with an additional £1.5bn of new funding announced in the budget to tackle fuel poverty, in turn exceeding our manifesto commitment of £13.2bn. Further details will be set out soon. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme has a committed budget of £295 million for this financial year, and has been extended to 2030, with funding increasing each year.On 18 November, the Government published its’ response to a consultation on potential changes to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, providing detail on amendments to the scheme which will be implemented from next year. These changes are designed to increase access, stimulate further demand, and enhance existing consumer protections.

What quantities of unprocessed plutonium remain within discharged irradiated spent nuclear fuel at (a) nuclear reactor sites and (b) Sellafield.

Plutonium is a by-product of nuclear fission, and it is present in small quantities in spent irradiated fuel. However, the quantities would vary based on the fuel and reactor type. The Office for Nuclear Regulation publishes annual figures on estimated amounts of plutonium contained in spent civil reactor fuel in the UK. The most recently published data can be found at the following link: 2023 annual figures for holdings of civil unirradiated plutonium | Office for Nuclear Regulation

What the current volume is of the civil plutonium stockpile in tonnes.

As of 31 December 2023, the total holding of separated civil plutonium in the UK was 140.9 tonnes. The Office for Nuclear Regulation publishes annual figures on the UK's separated plutonium inventory. The most recently published data can be found at the following link: 2023 annual figures for holdings of civil unirradiated plutonium | Office for Nuclear Regulation

What quantity of plutonium was added to the civil plutonium stockpile in the last year.

The UK is no longer adding to the inventory of separated civil plutonium through reprocessing spent fuel. The Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant (THORP) at Sellafield is now closed, having ceased reprocessing operations in November 2018 and the Magnox reprocessing facility ceased reprocessing operations in 2022.

How much and what proportion of UK emissions came from refrigerated transport in the latest period for which data is available.

The Government’s UK territorial greenhouse gas emissions statistics include emissions from refrigerated transport. However, not all of these emissions are identified separately as some are aggregated with other emissions. For example, emissions where refrigeration is powered by the main engine of a vehicle are included with other goods vehicles.Emissions are identifiable in two cases:emissions of fluorinated gases from refrigerated transport, which were 0.4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e) in 2023 (0.1% of the UK total).emissions from fuel combustion in auxiliary engines powering refrigerated transport, which were 0.3 MtCO2e in 2023 (0.1% of the UK total).

Whether his Department is taking steps to encourage companies building AI infrastructure to use renewable energy.

The Government is determined to facilitate the deployment of data centres in ways that are compatible with its Clean Power 2030 ambition. Through the AI Energy Council and its working groups, it has brought the energy and tech industries together at the highest levels to consider the ways in which data centres can be powered by reliable low-carbon generation.

If he will hold discussions with businesses planning to invest in the UK under the Technology Prosperity Deal on making investments in renewable energy.

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

What steps his Department is taking to align the oil and gas sector with international climate commitments.

The UK is committed to transitioning away from fossil fuels and meeting global climate targets. The Government has published supplementary environmental guidance on end-use emissions from burning extracted offshore oil and gas. This guidance will ensure that the full environmental impact of offshore hydrocarbon development projects is considered. Environmental Impact Assessments will be subject to a robust regulatory decision-making process. The Government supports decarbonising oil and gas production. It has also consulted on its commitment to not issue new oil and gas licences to explore new fields and will publish a response setting out its next steps in due course.

What steps his Department is taking to support prepayment meter customers unable to access (a) heating and (b) power.

Customers who are unable to top up their prepayment meter may be able to obtain a fuel voucher, access to emergency credit or be eligible for Cold Weather Payments, the Warm Home Discount or the Winter Fuel Payment. Customers should contact their energy supplier if they have concerns and information on support with paying energy bills can be found on Citizens Advice's website: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk On 19 June we announced that we are expanding the Warm Home Discount to around an additional 2.7 million households. This means that from this winter, around 6 million low-income households will receive the £150 support to help with their energy bills. On 25 September we published a consultation setting out our intention to continue support for those 6 million households. The consultation sets out proposals for the next scheme period (up to winter 2030/31), after current regulations expire on 31 March 2026. Government is gathering feedback from stakeholders on: the design of the core elements of the schemeoptions for delivery of the scheme in Scotlandproposals to change some elements of the scheme for suppliersa call for evidence on Industry Initiativesa call for suggestions for future improvements during the next scheme period The consultation closes on Thursday 20 November.

With reference to the Office for National Statistics' document entitled Economic activity and social change in the UK, real-time indicators: 2 October 2025, published on 2 October 2025, what steps his Department is taking to help support consumers with recent trends in automotive fuel prices.

The government is implementing Fuel Finder, an open data scheme for road fuel prices, to help drive down pump prices by reigniting competition and empowering drivers to find the best deals for the cheapest fuel in their area. The Competition and Markets Authority has also received statutory information gathering powers through the Digital Markets, Competition & Consumers Act 2024 so it can monitor and scrutinise fuel prices. Taken together, these provisions will have a positive effect on the road fuels retail market, both in terms of facilitating competition at a national and local level and protecting consumer interests.