Written questions by Morris.

What steps the Government is taking to strengthen the UK’s resilience to climate change, including through the (a) protection and (b) restoration of nature.

Awaiting answer.

Whether his Department has made an estimate of the potential number of businesses in the North East that may request support to improve their energy management practices.

In order to keep the level of reporting obligations on businesses to a minimum, DESNZ does not collect information detailing the uptake of energy management improvements by businesses. Specific small business funding in Northumberland is available through North East Growth Hub, Business Northumberland and The Northumberland Small Business Service. Details are available at https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/business/grants-funding/grants-funding Small businesses can search for other local grant and advice schemes on the finance and support for businesses page on gov.uk.

Whether his Department has made an estimate of the potential number of businesses in Northumberland that may request support to improve their energy management practices.

In order to keep the level of reporting obligations on businesses to a minimum, DESNZ does not collect information detailing the uptake of energy management improvements by businesses. Specific small business funding in Northumberland is available through North East Growth Hub, Business Northumberland and The Northumberland Small Business Service. Details are available at https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/business/grants-funding/grants-funding Small businesses can search for other local grant and advice schemes on the finance and support for businesses page on gov.uk.

Whether his Department has made an estimate of the potential number of businesses in the Hexham constituency that may request support to improve their energy management practices.

In order to keep the level of reporting obligations on businesses to a minimum, DESNZ does not collect information detailing the uptake of energy management improvements by businesses. Specific small business funding in Northumberland is available through North East Growth Hub, Business Northumberland and The Northumberland Small Business Service. Details are available at https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/business/grants-funding/grants-funding Small businesses can search for other local grant and advice schemes on the finance and support for businesses page on gov.uk.

What assessment the Department has made of the level of energy-related cost pressures on low- income households in the North East as referenced in the Child Poverty Strategy.

The 2025 sub-regional fuel poverty statistics (using 2023 data) use the LILEE (Low Income, Low Energy Efficiency) metric to estimate fuel poverty for local areas. In 2023, 16,198 households were estimated to be in fuel poverty in the Northumberland local authority, representing 10.7% of households in this area. In 2023, 4,614 households were estimated to be in fuel poverty in the Hexham constituency, representing 10.8% of households in this area. For the wider North East region, we refer to the 2025 fuel poverty statistics, which use the LILEE metric to estimate fuel poverty at regional level. In 2024, 123,000 households were fuel poor in the North East region, representing 10.1% of households in this region.

What assessment the Department has made of the level of energy-related cost pressures on low- income households in Northumberland as referenced in the Child Poverty Strategy.

The 2025 sub-regional fuel poverty statistics (using 2023 data) use the LILEE (Low Income, Low Energy Efficiency) metric to estimate fuel poverty for local areas. In 2023, 16,198 households were estimated to be in fuel poverty in the Northumberland local authority, representing 10.7% of households in this area. In 2023, 4,614 households were estimated to be in fuel poverty in the Hexham constituency, representing 10.8% of households in this area. For the wider North East region, we refer to the 2025 fuel poverty statistics, which use the LILEE metric to estimate fuel poverty at regional level. In 2024, 123,000 households were fuel poor in the North East region, representing 10.1% of households in this region.

What assessment the Department has made of the level of energy-related cost pressures on low- income households in Hexham constituency as referenced in the Child Poverty Strategy.

The 2025 sub-regional fuel poverty statistics (using 2023 data) use the LILEE (Low Income, Low Energy Efficiency) metric to estimate fuel poverty for local areas. In 2023, 16,198 households were estimated to be in fuel poverty in the Northumberland local authority, representing 10.7% of households in this area. In 2023, 4,614 households were estimated to be in fuel poverty in the Hexham constituency, representing 10.8% of households in this area. For the wider North East region, we refer to the 2025 fuel poverty statistics, which use the LILEE metric to estimate fuel poverty at regional level. In 2024, 123,000 households were fuel poor in the North East region, representing 10.1% of households in this region.

What steps he is taking to ensure scientific evidence is used to support net zero policies.

Our approach is founded on the bedrock of the best scientific evidence which says clearly that ambitious action to reduce emissions is essential to limiting global warming and protecting lives and livelihoods. That is why we supported the decision of Theresa May to put net zero by 2050 into law in 2019, a decision which is not simply right for climate but good for jobs and energy security.

What data his Department holds on how much and what proportion of wind power investment is directed into (a) domestic and (b) international supply chains.

The Offshore Wind Regional Growth Prospectuses set out a range of current manufacturing and services capabilities in the UK, as well as growth opportunities, including in blade, foundation and cable manufacture; secondary steel components; cable installation; operations and maintenance activity; and environmental services. New facilities in development include cable manufacturing in Nigg and Blyth, and monopile construction in Teesside. Data collected via the Onshore Wind Taskforce indicates that UK content in domestic onshore windfarms can be between 50 and 70 percent, with high shares of jobs and investment in development, operations and maintenance, civil engineering and electrical works. As set out in the Modern Industrial Strategy, DESNZ is working with industry to explore new metrics by the end of 2025 to determine the health and success of the supply chain.

What steps his Department is taking to support businesses to transition to clean energy sources in (a) Hexham constituency, (b) Northumberland, (c) Newcastle, (d) the North East and (e) England.

Net zero is the economic and industrial opportunity of the 21st century, driving growth and creating new jobs whilst benefiting businesses through new market opportunities, access to green finance and reduced energy bills. Government is working in partnership with businesses to support their transition to net zero, including through the Net Zero Council. The UK Business Climate Hub provides advice and guidance to support SMEs to reduce their emissions. Climate Change Agreements provide tax discounts for businesses reducing their emissions, and the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund supports industrial sites with high energy use to transition.

What representations he has received on the development of compressed air energy storage.

The Secretary of State has received correspondence from stakeholders across the energy sector on electricity storage technologies, including Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES). Details of Ministers' and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK. This government introduced a Long Duration Electricity Storage (LDES) Cap and Floor investment support scheme as part of our clean energy superpower mission. The scheme is being delivered by Ofgem and CAES projects, as well as many other LDES technology projects, have applied, details of which can be found on the Ofgem website.

What discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on preventing large organisations from offshoring emissions.

The Government is working cohesively to address carbon leakage risk across international and domestic actions. The UK’s current main measure to address carbon leakage is free allocation under the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), which is under review by the UK ETS Authority. The government is additionally introducing a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism on 1 January 2027, developing voluntary product standards and an embodied emissions reporting framework, and working to address carbon leakage risk internationally through existing fora such as the Climate Club and World Trade Organisation.

If he will make it his policy to conduct an audit of the effectiveness of carbon sequestration by all land use categories.

The Government publishes estimates of the sequestration of carbon in the Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry sector for a range of sector categories as part of its annual UK territorial greenhouse gas emissions statistics.