Written questions by Hollinrake.

Pursuant to the answer to question 102805 on Solar Power: Land Use, what evidence underpins the decision to make Soil Resources and Management Plans advisory rather than mandatory.

The policy on encouraging rather than mandating developers to implement Soil Resources and Management Plans is set out in National Policy Statement EN-3 which was updated in 2026 and has been subject to public consultation and parliamentary scrutiny. The National Policy Statements set clear requirements that the mitigation hierarchy must be applied to environmental impacts. The requirement to produce a Soil Resources and Management Plan is frequently included in individual planning conditions enforced by local authorities. The effectiveness of planning policies and guidance are monitored to ensure mitigation and reporting requirements are still appropriate.

Pursuant to the answer to question 102805 on Solar Power: Land Use, if he will make it his policy to mandate implementation a Soil Resources and Management Plan for solar projects on agricultural land.

Guidance on how land type should be considered in determining the location of largescale solar projects is included in National Policy Statement EN-3. There are no current plans to make the production of a Soil Resources and Management Plan mandatory for solar projects on agricultural land.

Pursuant to the answer to question 102809 on Solar Power: Decommissioning, if he will make it his policy to issue such guidance.

Developers are required to set out arrangements for decommissioning in their planning applications, as set out in National Policy Statement EN-3. The Department has no current plans to publish separate guidance.

Pursuant to the answer to question 102809 on Solar Power: Decommissioning, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of mandating the return to previous use of sites previously used for solar.

The National Policy Statements require applicants to assess and mitigate for environmental impacts of their proposals across the lifecycle of the proposed development, including decommissioning. No specific assessment has been made on mandating the return of sites to their previous use. This requirement is usually included in a planning condition enforced by local authorities.

With reference to page 91 of his Department’s Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25, published on 15 September 2025, HC 1274, when he approved the expenditure on trade union activities from facility time; what the nature is of the transformation work; and what trade union activities were funded in 2024-25.

Transformation work is primarily focused on reshaping the department to ensure we are on track to meet our Mission priorities and capitalising on digital opportunities to maximise efficiency. The specific nature of trade union activity is managed and recorded locally, with time spent recorded centrally on an annual basis.

Whether equality, diversity and inclusion requirements have been included in the Clean Energy Jobs Plan.

Equality, diversity and inclusion are integral to the Clean Energy Jobs Plan. The government is working with trade unions and industry to ensure clean energy jobs are well paid, safe, and accessible to all. An industry-led Social Inclusion Forum chaired by EU Skills with support from POWERful Women and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, with representatives from across the sector, has been created to coordinate social inclusion initiatives and improve working culture.

If he will make an estimate of potential impact of the Warm Homes Discount on the cost of an average (a) gas and (b) electricity for a household that does not receive the Warm Homes Discount.

The estimates are published in Ofgem’s Annex 4 (policy cost allowance methodology - https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2025-11/Annex-4-policy-cost-allowance-methodology-v1.22.xlsx).

Pursuant to the Answer of 23 January 2025 to Question 105926 on National Energy System Operator: Workplace Pensions, what the name is of the defined contribution pension scheme operated by Legal and General; and what information his Department holds on the type of investments, including overseas equities, it makes.

National Energy System Operator (NESO) is an operationally independent public body and manages their own pension arrangements. The Department does not hold detailed information on NESO’s defined contribution pension scheme. There is some information available publicly in NESO’s latest annual report and accounts.

What guidance his Department has issued on the decommissioning of large-scale solar installations at the end of their operational life.

The department has not published any separate guidance on the decommissioning of solar farms. However, as set out in the Overarching National Policy Statement for Energy (EN-1) and the National Policy Statement for Renewable Energy (EN-3), developers must set out in their planning applications arrangements for decommissioning projects. It is typically a condition of planning consent that the site should be returned to its previous use after decommissioning.

Whether his Department requires solar developers to restore land to its original condition following the removal of solar infrastructure.

The overarching National Policy Statements for Energy (EN-1) and Renewable Energy (EN-3) provide decommissioning guidance for projects deploying under the Nationally Significant Project Regime. EN-3 sets out the expectation that generally solar panel arrays and structures will be decommissioned, and underground cabling removed so prior use of the site can continue. Infrastructure may remain in place if considered less harmful for the ecology of the site, or if there may be socio-economic benefits in retaining after operational life. Developers are required to set out in their planning applications, plans for decommissioning the project and restoring the land to a suitable use.

Whether he has made an assessment of whether solar panels, mounting systems and associated infrastructure can be removed without causing damage to agricultural land.

Overarching National Policy Statement for Energy (EN-1) and the National Policy Statement for Renewable Energy (EN-3) provide decommissioning guidance for large scale projects deploying under the Nationally Significant Project Regime. EN-3 states that solar panels can be decommissioned relatively easily and cheaply, although the extent of decommissioning a site goes through can vary. Where projects are sited on agricultural land, developers are encouraged to develop and implement a Soil Resources and Management Plan to protect and preserve soil health and ensure the land remains productive for farming after the solar farm is decommissioned.

What recent assessment he has made of the potential risk of soil contamination from materials used in solar panels, cabling, inverters or battery storage systems.

Solar panels are designed to be highly durable, and there is no evidence that they pose a leaching risk under normal operating conditions. New solar sites must have conducted environmental surveys, and environmental and habitat impact assessments. They must comply with health and safety legislation throughout their lifecycle. Battery systems are governed by regulations, such as the Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations, which mitigate the risk of soil contamination through improper disposal. The Government has recently consulted on the principle of including battery systems within scope of the Environmental Permitting Regulations (EPR). If pursued, EPR will require developers to demonstrate how specific risks have been managed and will provide for ongoing regulatory inspections of BESS sites

With reference to the press release entitled Prime Minister launches Global Clean Power Alliance as UK leads the global energy transition, published on 19 November 2024, which (a) countries and (b) international organisations have formally signed up to that alliance.

The Global Clean Power Alliance (GCPA) is organised around tangible “Missions”, which bring interested partners together to overcome shared barriers to clean power deployment. Initially, we are focusing on mobilising private finance and enhancing supply chains. Brazil, Australia, Barbados, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Germany, Morocco, Mozambique, Norway, Tanzania and the African Union are partners of the GCPA’s Finance Mission, endorsing its founding statement, with the European Commission also supporting. All are working with the UK on the Finance Mission to build investment opportunities and provide the assistance developing countries need to get clean energy finance flowing. The UK’s Green Finance Institute and the World Bank’s ESMAP (Energy Sector Management Assistance Programme) are key delivery partners of the Finance Mission. At the time of launch several financial institutions, international organisations, philanthropies and industry representatives committed to supporting energy transitions in the Global South supported a related non-governmental statement. An update to the Finance Mission was issued on 15 November Global Clean Power Alliance: finance mission update (November 2025) - GOV.UK Australia, Canada, Kenya, the Netherlands and Zambia, alongside the International Energy Agency and Utilities for Net Zero Alliance (facilitated by IRENA), are partners of the Supply Chains Mission, with continued inputs from Chatham House and support from the European Commission and the COP30 Presidency. All agreed to endorse its vision statement Global Clean Power Alliance: supply chains mission vision - GOV.UK

How much and what proportion of the average energy bill for households not in receipt of the Warm Homes Discount was allocated to support the Warm Homes Discount in the latest period for which data is available.

The UK Government has statutory duties to address and reduce fuel poverty and is committed to helping the poorest in our society. The expanded Warm Home Discount will support around 6m households this winter, offering essential support through the winter for those in or at risk of fuel poverty. The scheme’s expansion to 2.7 million additional households will be cost neutral, with costs offset through Ofgem’s work to reduce energy debt.

What assessment he has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of EPC requirements for commercial properties on trends in the level of empty office accommodation.

EPC Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards play an important role in reducing bills for businesses, making them more competitive and protecting them from future energy price shocks, as well as encouraging better working places for the health and wellbeing of its occupiers. The policy has a number of exemptions in place to mitigate against significant costs of compliance. Crucially, buildings will only need to reach the highest EPC band that a cost-effective package of measures can deliver, even if this means that they remain below the minimum standard. Consequently, the costs for building improvements are expected to make up a small proportion of typical commercial rents and are therefore unlikely to distort the office rental market on its own. We also expect commercial landlords in the office sector will continue to hold valuable assets and evidence suggests cost-effective energy efficiency improvements will help increase the value of those assets

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 54885 on Private Rented Housing: Energy, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the increased Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards on private sector rents.

I refer the member to the answer I gave to him on 9 June to Question UIN 54885.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the introduction of RdSAP 10 on the unit cost of an Energy Performance Certificate.

The Introduction of RdSAP 10 improves the accuracy of Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) assessments, helping households better understand their energy use. The fees charged are not set by government and reflect the commercial decisions of individual assessors or their employers. RdSAP 10 delivers more accurate assessments and clearer recommendations for property owners. This supports better outcomes for consumers and enhances the credibility of EPCs.

Pursuant to the Answer of 10 June 2025 to Question 57653 on Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Islamophobia, what the cost was of the Islamophobia training.

DESNZ is committed to creating a culture where all colleagues feel valued and supported, in line with our ‘Inclusive’ value. DESNZ follows cross-Government guidance for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion expenditure, including reporting on all external spend. The training delivered by the Anti-Islamophobia Working Group cost £350.

Pursuant to the Answer of 10 June 2025 to Question 57653, on Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Islamophobia, what the company registration number or registered charity number is of the external training provider.

DESNZ does not routinely collect this information for services below a defined threshold, and this training provider does not meet that threshold, therefore we are unable to provide information regarding the company registration number or registered charity number of the training provider.

Pursuant to the Answer of 6 June 2025 to Question 54292 on Financial Services: Environment Protection, what information he holds on which councils offer municipal green bonds.

The Government does not hold information on which councils offer municipal green bonds centrally. It is the responsibility of the local authority to advertise and communicate bond offers at the time of their launch.