Every parliamentary written question tabled by John Hayes this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 21–40 of 89 · Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
If he will make an estimate of the number of households that are not on the smart meter network in (a) South Holland and the Deepings constituency and (b) Lincolnshire.
The Department does not hold statistics on smart meter penetration on a constituency level. The latest statistics to include the percentage of domestic electricity smart meters by local authority are available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/smart-meters-in-great-britain-quarterly-update-march-2025.
What estimate his Department has made of the level of suspected fraud on the Energy Company Obligation since 2022.
The NAO reports that DESNZ and Ofgem have lacked data to estimate fraud levels. However, an independent reporting in May 2025 found weaknesses in the design, operation and oversight of ECO4 that expose it to fraud. The Department contracted public and private sector expertise to improve its understanding of fraud in ECO4 and how to prevent it. With greater use of technology, we will work with industry partners to identify and better target fraud and enforce greater consequences on those committing fraud. We are introducing a new system of consumer protections, with clear centralised oversight to ensure proper installer accountability.
What steps his Department is taking to recover funds fraudulently obtained under the Energy Company Obligation.
Where fraud is identified under the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) scheme, as energy suppliers fund the measures, they are expected to recover any fraudulent payments that have been made to their supply chain. The Government's aim is to both increase our ability to prevent fraud before it occurs and to take action against those committing fraud.We will ensure that lessons learned from the current ECO4 scheme form part of our considerations for the successor scheme. We are introducing a new system of consumer protections, with clear centralised oversight to ensure proper installer accountability and better outcomes for consumers.
What steps his Department is taking to monitor the proportion of solar developments in Lincolnshire that incorporate biodiversity net gain requirements.
Officials closely monitor planning applications and examinations of such projects. Defra recently consulted on extending biodiversity net gain to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects in England, and confirmed it will apply from May 2026.
What information his Department holds on the number of rooftop solar panels in use in Lincolnshire.
The Government does not have data for the number of rooftop solar panels in total by parliamentary constituency; however, we do hold figures for domestic solar installations across parliamentary constituencies, and these are available online. Our latest figures show that Lincolnshire, across all eight parliamentary constituencies, has 134MW of solar capacity across 34,060 domestic installations. Boston & Skegness is currently out in front with 23MW and 5,731 installs, and South Holland and The Deepings is not far behind with 18.9MW and 4,982 installs.
With reference to the Answer of 10 September to Question 74317 on Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Social Media, how much his Department has spent on promotion through social media influencers since July 2024 by influencer.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has spent money on social media influencers since July 2024. The information requested by the Rt hon Member includes commercially sensitive information received from contracted agencies (3rd Party Marketing Agencies). As such, we are unable to provide a breakdown of spend by influencer.
How many days the Union Flag was flown on his Department's main sites in (a) 2024 and (b) 2025 to date.
The Department is a customer of the Government Property Agency in its office locations, and the Agency is responsible for the flying of flags, including when the Union Flag is flown. The Department does not therefore keep a record of this.
Whether his Department has spent money on promotion through social media influencers since July 2024.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has spent money on social media influencers since July 2024. Influencers can be effective in reaching audiences that the Government and traditional marketing channels find hard to reach.
Whether his Department has investigated the causes of fires at electrical substations in the last 12 months.
Maintaining the resilience and security of energy infrastructure is a top Government priority. Although rare, substation fires do occur, and we are aware of multiple recent incidents. These are reported to Government when there is a potential or actual impact to customer supplies. We are monitoring these incidents closely, as part of our normal processes for infrastructure incidents. Due to the impact on Heathrow Airport following the fire at North Hyde Substation, the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero commissioned the independent National Energy System Operator (NESO) to review the incident. NESO’s report was published on 2 July 2025 and the Department will respond in due course.
What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the estimate in the report by the OBR entitled Fiscal risks and sustainability, published in July 2025 of the fiscal cost of climate change mitigation.
In its most recent ‘Fiscal risks and sustainability report’ (2025), the OBR is clear that the costs of climate damage are getting higher, while the cost of the net zero transition is getting lower. Only by investing in the transition now can we reduce costs in future.
How much Ofgem has spent on equipment to enable staff to work from home in each of the last three years.
Ofgem is a non-ministerial government department. It has its own policies regarding the procurement and provision of equipment. The total spent on ‘working from home’ equipment reflects an increased headcount to deliver additional remit for key government priorities, and steps to reduce its London office footprint to save money. In each of the last three financial years Ofgem spend is: YearTotal £2022-202365,698.082023-2024122,779.652024-2025208,008.53Totals396,486.26
Whether (a) wood pellets and (b) other biomass has been imported from North Korea in the last 10 years.
The UK does not import wood pellets or biomass from North Korea for fuel or electricity generation. There are no plans to import wood pellets or biomass from North Korea.
Whether the UK has imported (a) wood pellets and (b) other biomass from Afghanistan in the last 10 years.
The UK does not import wood pellets or biomass from Afghanistan for fuel or electricity generation. There are no plans to import wood pellets or biomass from Afghanistan.
Whether his Department has made an estimate of the carbon footprint of importing wood pellets in the last 10 years.
Emissions from importing wood pellets are constrained by biomass sustainability requirements. The supply chain emissions threshold for large scale biomass electricity generators to receive support is capped at 55.6gCO2e/MJ. This threshold will be tightened further under proposed future arrangements with Drax to 36.6 gCO2e/MJ. Compliance with sustainability criteria under the Renewables Obligation and Contracts for Difference schemes are a matter for Ofgem, as the independent energy regulator, and LCCC, as the counterparty to the CfD. Large scale biomass generators, such as Drax, do also publish emissions data as part of their annual ESG reports.
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of pylons in the Grimsby to Walpole project on the Lincolnshire Wolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The Government does not make assessments of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP) unless they are submitted to the relevant Secretary of State for a final decision. Currently this project is at the pre-application stage. As for all NSIPs the developer should comprehensively assess the potential effects of their proposals within their application. This includes assessments of their project’s potential effects on landscape, visual character, and ecological integrity as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment. The scope of any assessment should be agreed between the applicant, relevant statutory consultees, and the Planning Inspectorate on behalf of the relevant Secretary of State.
How much his Department spent on equipment for civil servants to work from home in each of the last three years.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero does not hold this information centrally and can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Whether his Department has made an estimate of how many and what proportion of solar panels installed in the UK in the last five years were made (a) in the UK and (b) in China.
The Department does not hold this information. HMRC publishes the value and mass of solar panels imported, by country, on its data portal at www.uktradeinfo.com/trade-data/ots-custom-table/.
What estimate his Department has made of the number of homes in Lincolnshire that are below EPC band C.
The information requested is not held by the Department.
What steps his Department is taking to help improve the energy efficiency of older housing stock in (a) South Holland and the Deepings constituency and (b) Lincolnshire.
The Warm Homes Plan will help people find ways to save money on energy bills and transform our ageing building stock into comfortable, low-carbon homes that are fit for the future, including those within the South Holland and the Deepings constituency and Lincolnshire. The Government will partner with combined authorities and local and devolved governments to roll out this plan. We are investing £13.2 billion to help upgrade millions of homes and cut energy bills for families across the country to tackle to cost of living crisis. Further details on the Warm Homes Plan will be set out in due course.
If he will ban solar radiation management technologies.
The Government position is that it is not deploying solar radiation management technologies and has no plans in place to do so. The government is not in favour of using Solar Radiation Modification.