Written questions by MacAlister.

When his Department plans to publish its conclusions on the recommended (a) scales and (b) durations of Community Benefit Fund payments for (i) solar farms and (ii) associated Battery Energy Storage System developments.

On 21 May, the government published a working paper on community benefits and shared ownership of low carbon energy infrastructure. The working paper intends to gather insight on proposals for mandatory community benefit scheme in Great Britain, including the types of energy infrastructure that could be captured, an appropriate level of benefit, and how best this could be calculated. The responses to the working paper will inform next steps on approach and policy design, and the government expects to publish a full response in due course.

Whether (a) his Department and (b) each of its arms length bodies offers employees who are foster carers (i) flexible working, (ii) paid time off for (A) training and (B) settling a new child into their home and (iii) other support.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) does offer our employees who are foster carers flexible working but not paid time off for training or settling a new child into their home. The Department provides a strong offer to all staff with respect to annual leave and hybrid working, as well as flexibility around taking unpaid time off, along with employee wellbeing support through the 24/7 service of our Employee Assistance Programme. DESNZ public bodies similarly exercise a range of flexible working policies that can support staff with caring and other responsibilities.

What steps his Department is taking to support the UK’s National Nuclear Laboratory in expanding the development of americium so it could be used by the space industry.

The Department is supporting the UK’s National Nuclear Laboratory (UKNNL)’s work to extract americium from the UK’s civil separated plutonium inventory at Sellafield for the European Space Agency’s (ESA’s) ENDURE Programme. This includes supporting UKNNL and the UK Space Agency in the development of a new facility which aims to upscale americium extraction to meet future ESA demand.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure the UK’s National Nuclear Laboratory is able to conduct commercially beneficial research.

The Government published its Strategic Review of the UK’s National Nuclear Laboratory (UKNNL) establishing a bold vision for its future (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6762a4b1ff2c870561bde75b/strategic-review-of-the-national-nuclear-laboratory.pdf). This is a vision of UKNNL as a platform for the private sector to accelerate technology to market. Much of the strategic review focuses on how the Government supports UKNNL in this, and considers issues ranging from UKNNL objectives through to the requirement for core government funding. The Government is now working with UKNNL, and industry, on implementing the findings. Industry were extensively consulted on the strategic review, and we are continuing to engage with them. Whilst UKNNL will remain a public corporation, it will operate a commercially driven model which supports customer-focused research. The optimal long-term model of the laboratory remains under consideration to ensure UKNNL can deliver nuclear outcomes for government, and support sector growth.

With reference to the small modular reactor competition run by Great British Nuclear, whether his Department is taking other steps to support the development of privately (a) funded and (b) o

Great British Nuclear (GBN), the Government’s nuclear delivery body, is pushing forward with the small modular reactor competition – at the Autumn Budget it was confirmed GBN had entered negotiations with the four remaining bidders, with final decisions e...

When he plans to provide further details on the (a) implementation and (b) scope of the Warm Homes Plan.

Through the Warm Homes Plan, we will invest an extra £6.6 billion over the next five years in clean heat and energy efficiency, upgrading five million homes through solutions like low carbon heating and improved insulation. We will set out the full details of our Warm Homes Plan, and the approach to Net Zero Buildings more broadly, after the completion of the Spending Review Process.

If he will make an assessment of (a) Government and (b) industry data on household (i) income and (ii) energy needs to develop a targeted support mechanism for energy bills (A) for low-income households and (B) generally.

The Government’s Warm Home Discount (WHD) scheme provides targeted support to eligible low-income households across Great Britain with a £150 rebate off their winter energy bill, the vast majority of which are provided automatically. The WHD scheme provides rebates to pensioners in receipt of Pension Credit Guarantee Credit (Core Group 1) and those in receipt of one of the qualifying means-tested benefits and are living in properties which have an energy cost score, calculated from certain property characteristics, exceeding a high-energy-cost threshold (core Group 2). In 2023/24 the WHD scheme delivered rebates to 3.14 million households in Great Britain. This represents an increase of around 646 thousand households receiving rebates and an increase of around £97 million of support, compared to 2022/23. Since the WHD scheme began in 2011, over £4 billion in support has been provided to households.

What steps he is taking to ensure the Warm Homes Plan integrates with existing energy efficiency schemes.

Through the Warm Homes Plan, we will invest an extra £6.6 billion over the next five years in clean heat and energy efficiency, upgrading five million homes through solutions like low carbon heating and improved insulation. We will set out the full details of our Warm Homes Plan, and the approach to Net Zero Buildings more broadly, after the completion of the Spending Review Process.

Whether the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority have sought approval for the purchase of land in West Cumbria in the last ten years.

Yes, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority has sought, and received, approval for the purchase of land in West Cumbria in the last ten years. This includes land parcels adjacent to the Low Level Waste Repository at Drigg.

Whether access has been (a) requested and (b) granted to land owned by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority at Moorside for detailed assessment to be carried out for its use for new nuclear power generation in the last ten years.

Yes, requests have been made, within the last ten years, to access the land at Moorside for the purpose of undertaking detailed assessment of its suitability to be used for the development of new nuclear power generation infrastructure. These requests have been granted by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.

Which government sites licensed for new nuclear use have been subject to further detailed assessments since designation.

Land assessments for a variety of purposes will have been undertaken at those potential sites listed in EN-6 for Nuclear Power Generation, that are now owned by government arm’s length bodies.

Whether the eight sites identified for new nuclear use in the 2011 National Policy Statement are intended for new nuclear use.

New nuclear National Policy Statement (EN-7) is being developed to provide updated planning guidance to developers. This will be subject to the usual public consultation and Parliamentary scrutiny. The potential sites listed in EN-6 are likely to retain many inherent advantages and it is for those landowners to decide how to manage their assets. For those sites within the wider government estate, optimal land use will be considered to best maximise public benefit.

Whether access to existing nuclear expertise is considered in siting decisions for new nuclear power plants.

A new nuclear National Policy Statement (EN-7) is being developed which will provide updated planning guidance and set out any specific assessment criteria for the siting of new nuclear power stations.

Whether he will prioritise government owned land that remains (a) unused and (b) licensed for new nuclear use in siting decisions for deployment of new nuclear power plants.

Government will always consider strategic land use opportunities for its estate and is committed to managing its land to best maximise public benefit.

Whether he will prioritise new nuclear power generation on land designated for new nuclear over other potential uses.

The New nuclear National Policy Statement (EN-7) is being developed to provide updated planning guidance to developers. This will be subject to the usual public consultation and Parliamentary scrutiny. The potential sites listed in EN-6 are likely to retain many inherent advantages and it is for those landowners to decide how to manage their assets. For those sites within the wider government estate, optimal land use will be considered to best maximise public benefit.

How many approval processes Great British Nuclear undertake before final decisions are made on (a) technology and (b) sites for new nuclear power plants.

Great British Nuclear, the Department’s arm’s-length body responsible for helping deliver the Government’s nuclear programme, is currently running a small modular reactor technology selection process for UK deployment. The window for submitting tenders has closed and Great British Nuclear is evaluating bids. This is a complex procurement, and it is important Great British Nuclear ensures a fair and robust process that delivers sustainable outcomes. Further updates will be made on this, as well as setting out plans for associated sites, in due course.

Whether decisions have been (a) requested of and (b) made by his Department on alternative uses of land licensed for new nuclear use owned by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority at Moorside in West Cumbria.

To date, no decisions have been made, but discussions are ongoing regarding the most effective use of the land at Moorside. The Department is considering options to maximise public benefit.