Written questions by Timothy.

What estimate his Department has made of the increase in the average price of domestic heating oil since the start of the conflict with Iran; and what assessment he has made of the impact of those increases on households that rely on heating oil.

The Government is aware that off-grid households have seen a sharp increase in heating oil prices due to volatility in international markets. Suppliers often have limited storage, buying daily on the spot market. These changes are then reflected immediately in the price consumers pay. Following discussions with the Competition and Markets Authority, we welcome the CMA's launch of a comprehensive examination into the heating oil industry. We will work closely with the CMA to understand their findings and develop options to increase consumer protections, including how regulation can increase stability. While this work is ongoing, the Chancellor has announced £53m for low-income households that heat their homes with oil. In England, funding will be distributed by local authorities via the Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF), which comes into effect from 1 April. The additional funding has targeted areas with higher proportions of oil heating.

What steps his Department is taking to support households that rely on heating oil for domestic heating following recent increases in heating oil prices linked to the conflict with Iran.

The Government is aware that off-grid households have seen a sharp increase in heating oil prices due to volatility in international markets. Suppliers often have limited storage, buying daily on the spot market. These changes are then reflected immediately in the price consumers pay. Following discussions with the Competition and Markets Authority, we welcome the CMA's launch of a comprehensive examination into the heating oil industry. We will work closely with the CMA to understand their findings and develop options to increase consumer protections, including how regulation can increase stability. While this work is ongoing, the Chancellor has announced £53m for low-income households that heat their homes with oil. In England, funding will be distributed by local authorities via the Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF), which comes into effect from 1 April. The additional funding has targeted areas with higher proportions of oil heating.

If he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of reports that retail companies have increased the price of domestic heating oil separate to and above increases in wholesale prices; and whether he will refer the market to the Competition and Markets Authority.

The Government is aware that off-grid households have seen a sharp increase in heating oil prices due to volatility in international markets. Suppliers often have limited storage, buying daily on the spot market. These changes are then reflected immediately in the price consumers pay. Following discussions with the Competition and Markets Authority, we welcome the CMA's launch of a comprehensive examination into the heating oil industry. We will work closely with the CMA to understand their findings and develop options to increase consumer protections, including how regulation can increase stability. While this work is ongoing, the Chancellor has announced £53m for low-income households that heat their homes with oil. In England, funding will be distributed by local authorities via the Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF), which comes into effect from 1 April. The additional funding has targeted areas with higher proportions of oil heating.

What estimate he has made of the cost and feasibility of undergrounding new electricity transmission infrastructure in rural areas, including Suffolk.

Network developers, not Government, are responsible for assessing the cost and feasibility of construction methods for new electricity transmission infrastructure. This includes consideration of whether construction methods are technically deliverable and an assessment of any environmental impacts. Undergrounding is significantly more expensive, with the Institution of Engineering and Technology (April 2025) estimating that it costs around four and a half times more than overhead lines. As these costs are ultimately borne by electricity bill payers, overhead lines are the Government’s starting presumption for new transmission infrastructure.

If he will extend grants for replacement boilers to cover park homes.

The Government delivers a number of digital services to support consumers with energy efficiency and clean heat, including 'Find Ways to Save Energy in your Home' (www.gov.uk/improve-energy-efficiency), providing tailored recommendations for home improvements. A phoneline service is available on 0800 098 7950.Residents living in park homes are eligible for support under the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) until it closes in March 2026, and the Warm Homes: Local Grant (WH:LG). Energy cutting and bill saving measures available under the WH:LG include heat pumps and insulation. The WH:LG has been allocated £500 million to be delivered from 2025-2028 by participating local authorities. Park homes may also be eligible for BUS funding providing all scheme eligibility criteria are met. Consumers can access further information, including eligibility criteria, at www.gov.uk/government/collections/find-energy-grants-for-you-home-help-to-heat.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of importing solar panels from China on security.

The Government takes the security and resilience of UK energy infrastructure very seriously. The department works closely with other government departments, agencies and industry partners to understand, assess and mitigate threats to energy infrastructure. The department is committed to working closely across Government and industry stakeholders to take forward the actions needed to develop supply chains that are resilient, sustainable, innovative and secure. We take a consistent, long-term and strategic approach to managing relations with China and will co-operate where we can, compete where we need to, and challenge where we must.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of Clean Power 2030 on national security.

At its core, the Clean Power 2030 mission aims to deliver a sustainable, secure and resilient energy system for the UK. The government has worked closely with Ofgem, NESO, businesses, trade unions, and others to accelerate towards our goal of Clean Power by 2030. The department is committed to working closely across Government and industry stakeholders to take forward the actions needed to develop supply chains that are resilient, sustainable, innovative and secure.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of importing renewable technologies from China on energy security.

The Government takes the security and resilience of UK energy infrastructure very seriously. The department works closely with other government departments, agencies and industry partners to understand, assess and mitigate threats to energy infrastructure. The department is committed to working closely across Government and industry stakeholders to take forward the actions needed to develop supply chains that are resilient, sustainable, innovative and secure. We take a consistent, long-term and strategic approach to managing relations with China and will co-operate where we can, compete where we need to, and challenge where we must.

Whether he sought further information from (a) Sunnica and (b) its UK registered companies on their finances before making the development consent decision for Sunnica.

The full reasons for the Secretary of State’ planning decision on the Sunnica project are set out in the Decision Letter. Given the Secretary of State’s quasi-judicial role in taking such decisions it would not be appropriate to comment further.

Whether he has plans to publish a timeline for introducing a (a) faster and (b) more efficient route to market for Advanced Modular Reactors.

The government will be publishing a pathway for privately-led advanced nuclear technologies shortly. The government has also stood up the Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce, which has been asked to identify ways to streamline regulatory processes and frameworks. The Taskforce’s report will be published in Autumn 2025.

What assessment he has made of the (a) transparency and (b) accuracy of the information provided to the Examining Authority by (i) Sunnica and (ii) its related UK registered companies during the trading period for the 12 months ending 30 April 2024.

The full reasons for the Secretary of State’ planning decision on the Sunnica project are set out in the Decision Letter. Given the Secretary of State’s quasi-judicial role in taking such decisions it would not be appropriate to comment further.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the deployment of advanced modular reactors in the UK on the (a) economy, (b) industry and (c) environment.

Advanced Modular Reactors could support energy-intensive industries by providing scalable, low-carbon energy to industrial consumers. These reactors could be well-suited for hard-to-decarbonise sectors, helping the UK achieve its growth mission and clean energy mission while securing thousands of good, skilled jobs.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of levels of the UK’s supply chain’s readiness to support the (a) construction and (b) operation of advanced modular reactors; and what steps he is taking to improve domestic capabilities in this area.

The Government recently published its Modern Industrial Strategy. The policies announced will ensure that UK is well positioned to build upon existing strengths and seize opportunities provided by new technologies. This includes providing a pathway for privately-led advanced nuclear technologies. Great British Energy - Nuclear has been tasked with assessing proposals within a new framework, to be published shortly, with the National Wealth Fund exploring potential investment opportunities and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero exploring revenue support for viable projects. The Government will also collaborate with the supply chain to mitigate barriers to entry, develop policies that maximise domestic opportunities, and support access to international markets to drive exports.

What steps he is taking to provide revenue support for privately led advanced nuclear technologies as set out in the Spending Review 2025.

As set out at the Spending Review, the government is providing a pathway for privately led advanced nuclear projects. Great British Energy - Nuclear (GBEN) has been tasked with a new role in assessing proposals within a new framework to be published shortly, the National Wealth Fund exploring potential investment opportunities, and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero exploring revenue support for viable projects.

Whether he has had discussions with Sumando Ltd on the nine-month delay in submitting its 30 April 2023 financial statements to Companies House in relation to the development consent decision for Sunnica.

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

Whether (a) he and (b) officials have had discussions with (i) Sumando Ltd and (ii) related stakeholders on Sumando Ltd's exclusion from the organogram of funding Statement No 3 when he made the development consent decision for Sunnica.

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

What estimate (a) his Department and (b) NESO has made of constraint payments and the prices of constraint payments per MWh constrained to solar generation in the Balancing Mechanism for all years in which such constraints have occurred.

The National Energy System Operator (NESO) is responsible for operating Great Britain’s electricity system, which includes managing constraints. NESO publishes total balancing costs, which can be found here: Constraint Breakdown 2025-2026 | National Energy System Operator. Actions taken in the Balancing Mechanism, including bids taken by individual Balancing Mechanism Units, can be accessed here API documentation | Insights Solution. Government is working to reduce constraints and improve energy security and resilience by accelerating the building of new electricity network infrastructure to increase capacity on the system.

What (a) his Department’s and (b) NESO’s estimate is of the likely (i) scale and (ii) cost of constraints of embedded generation up to 2030 and assuming that the Clean Power 2030 targets are met or exceeded.

The National Energy System Operator (NESO) is responsible for operating Great Britain’s electricity system, which includes managing constraints. NESO publishes forecast constraint volumes and costs, but data is not available on the split of costs between different types of generators. NESO's latest balancing costs report can be found here. Government is working to reduce constraints and improve energy security and resilience by accelerating the building of new electricity network infrastructure to increase capacity on the system. NESO’s independent advice shows we can achieve clean power by 2030 with cheaper electricity, even factoring in constraint payments.

What (a) his Department’s and (b) NESO’s estimate of the magnitude in MWh and the aggregate cost of any constraints of embedded solar generation resulting from instructions at the distribution level by Distribution Network Operators in their emerging role as Distribution System Operators for all years in which such constraints and costs have occurred since 2020.

The National Energy System Operator (NESO) is responsible for operating Great Britain’s electricity system, which includes managing constraints. NESO publishes total balancing costs, which can be found here: Constraint Breakdown 2025-2026 | National Energy System Operator. Actions taken in the Balancing Mechanism, including bids taken by individual Balancing Mechanism Units, can be accessed here API documentation | Insights Solution. Government is working to reduce constraints and improve energy security and resilience by accelerating the building of new electricity network infrastructure to increase capacity on the system.

With reference to the oral contribution of Baron Wilson of Sedgefield in the House of Lords on 3 July 2025, Official Report, column 867, what plans he has to take up internationally fuel refining industry margins.

Refining margins differ from site to site and are driven by the prices of the crude oils each refinery buys and of the products that they produce. These prices are largely set by international traded markets. The Government is determined to work with industry, workers and trade unions to ensure our UK refineries can compete in this international context. That is why, in less than 12 months in office, we have invested in carbon capture, usage and storage, which can help key refineries, such as Phillips 66 and Stanlow, through Viking and HyNet; and we are driving forward with the sustainable aviation fuel mandate, to help the refining sector maximise the opportunities created by the clean energy revolution. We are also reviewing the methodology for the energy-intensive industries compensation scheme, to help assess whether sectors such as this should be covered in the future, and whether more can be done to help their competitiveness.