Written questions by Timothy.

What steps his Department is taking to help protect the security of sensitive data on multi-purpose interconnectors.

Maintaining a secure energy supply is a key priority for the UK Government. DESNZ works closely with subsea and offshore owners, operators, regulators, and other stakeholders to ensure interconnectors are proportionately protected against a range of threats – including cyber threats. This includes working with industry on data security, which is a critical part of a comprehensive approach to security of infrastructure.

How many pages of paperwork businesses must complete on average to receive planning approval from the Office for Nuclear Regulation.

The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) does not undertake planning approvals. Planning approvals must be sought from the Planning Inspectorate, to whom ONR provides regulatory advice where nuclear sites are involved.

What assessment his Department made of the potential impact of spatial limits in the North Sea on (a) interconnectors, (b) fisheries, (c) wind farms and (d) other offshore infrastructure.

As set out in the Clean Power Action Plan, we need a long term, holistic approach to managing growing demand for use of the seabed. The Crown Estate’s Marine Delivery Routemap will provide an opportunity to positively plan for shared outcomes across different sectors with an agreed set of design parameters that incentivise best environmental practice across the project lifecycle.

What steps his Department is taking to help remove barriers to the development of Small Modular Reactors.

The Government recognises that Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) could play an important role helping the UK achieve energy security and clean power while securing thousands of good, skilled jobs.The Department has supported development of SMRs through the Advanced Nuclear Fund and the Future Nuclear Enabling Fund. Separately, Great British Nuclear is running an SMR technology selection process and is on track to make final decisions in spring.In addition, we recently launched a regulatory taskforce to streamline regulatory processes and published the draft EN-7 National Policy Statement, setting out a refreshed planning framework for new nuclear reactors, including SMRs.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of reduced energy imports from Norway on energy prices in the UK.

Great Britain has a secure and diverse energy system, which has delivered reliable energy supplies this winter and over recent years, despite challenging global conditions. This includes the UK’s homegrown energy from renewables and nuclear. The UK imports gas through pipelines with Norway and mainland Europe and from the global market via Liquefied Natural Gas ports, and have ten operational electricity interconnectors with Europe. Our mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower provide energy security in the long term and help protect billpayers from global markets.

What discussions (a) Ministers, (b) advisors and (c) officials in his Department have had with the Office for Nuclear Regulation on Small Modular Reactors.

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

With reference to the Written Statement of 10 February 2025 HCWS424, whether generation dispatched by the National Energy System Operator from Drax power station will count towards the maximum load factor to receive subsidies.

Yes. Under the low carbon dispatchable CfD, there will be a cap on the volume of electricity generation subsidised across the year. The cap is set with reference to maximum seasonal load factors (with Winter higher than Summer, to reflect system requirements). All generation by Drax Power Station will count towards the cap on subsidised generation. This includes generation that results from actions taken by NESO to balance the electricity system, such as through the Balancing Mechanism and balancing services markets.

Pursuant to the Answer of 5 February 2025 to Question 26897 on Data Centres: Planning, what assessment his Department has made of the grid (a) capacity and (b) infrastructure that will be required for new data centres.

The National Electricity System Operator (NESO) is investigating the future power consumption of data centres, as well as grid constraints, lead times for developers, and how to improve connection processes.

If his Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of increasing the UK carbon price to £147/tCO2 by 2030 on (a) energy-intensive manufacturing industries and (b) chemical industries.

The Department has no plans to make an assessment of the potential impact of increasing the UK carbon price to £147/tCO2 by 2030. The Department previously published an impact assessment in July 2023 of the impact of the moving to the current United Kingdom Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS) using the analysis at that time : https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64b91b522059dc00125d267b/developing-uk-ets-main-impact-assessment.pdf The Department produces its own traded carbon values for modelling purposes which are used to estimate the financial cost of purchasing allowances in the UK ETS under different scenarios. This figure of £147/tCO2 is higher than in any of the scenarios in those projections. The Department’s most recent projections can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/traded-carbon-values-used-for-modelling-purposes-2024/traded-carbon-values-used-for-modelling-purposes-2024

Whether her Department is preparing for the UK to enter the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.

The UK has had its own standalone Emissions Trading Scheme since 2021. Under the terms of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), the UK Government and EU agreed to give serious consideration to linking our respective carbon pricing schemes and to cooperate on carbon pricing. As part of our reset with the EU the Government continues to explore all options to improve trade and investment.

Whether her Department plans to align carbon pricing under the UK Emissions Trading Scheme with the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.

Under the terms of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), the UK Government and EU agreed to give serious consideration to linking our respective carbon pricing schemes and to cooperate on carbon pricing. As part of our reset with the EU the Government continues to explore all options to improve trade and investment.

How much uranium was imported annually since 2010, by country of origin.

The procurement of nuclear fuel, including uranium and enrichment services, is a commercial matter for reactors operators. The Government works closely with these operators to ensure there is a secure and resilient supply for the UK fleet. Uranium enrichment facilities in the UK operate as service providers, enriching uranium that is provided to them by customers. The stockpiles of Uranium held by these companies are a commercial matter and therefore disclosure of these amounts would be at the discretion of these entities.

How much plutonium was imported annually since 2010, by country of origin.

We do not import civil separated plutonium to the UK. Historically, spent fuel has been imported from other countries for reprocessing, however the imports took place prior to 2010, and reprocessing stopped in the United Kingdom in 2022. ONR publishes annual figures on the UK's separated plutonium inventory, including material held in the UK on behalf of overseas customers. The most recently published data can be found at the following link: https://www.onr.org.uk/publications/regulatory-reports/safeguards/annual-civil-plutonium-figures/2023-annual-figures-for-holdings-of-civil-unirradiated-plutonium/.

What steps his Department is taking to increase domestic inventories of plutonium.

There are no plans to increase the quantity of plutonium in the UK. The domestic inventory of plutonium has arisen from historic reprocessing of spent fuel from the UK and overseas energy utilities under commercial agreements. Reprocessing stopped in the UK in 2022.

Whether his Department has received recent representations from (a) energy-intensive manufacturing and (b) chemical industries on carbon pricing.

Ministers regularly engage with a variety of stakeholders.

Whether his Department has made an estimate of the proportion of grid decarboinsation that will be achieved via reduced energy usage before 2030.

The Government expects overall grid demand to rise by 2030 as we electrify transport, heating, industry, and other sectors. The Government has committed to funding energy efficiency improvements in existing building stock which will make heating homes cheaper and more efficient.

What the specific growth regions for clean power are, broken down by (a) nuclear, (b) wind, and (c) solar.

The Government’s plan to deliver Clean Power by 2030 will deliver economic growth across the country supporting thousands of jobs and businesses. A full regional capacity breakdowns for solar, onshore wind and batteries is included in the ‘Clean Power 2030 Action Plan: A new era of clean electricity – connections reform annex’. Nuclear capacity included in the ‘Clean Power Capacity Range’ is expected to be delivered through some combination of Sizewell B, Heysham 2, Torness, and Hinkley Point C Reactor Unit 1.

What steps his Department is taking to increase domestic inventories of uranium.

The procurement of nuclear fuel, including uranium is a commercial matter for reactors operators. However, the Government does and will continue to work closely with operators and wider industry to ensure a secure and resilient supply for the UK fleet now and in the future. There is a diverse and resilient global uranium supply and uranium deposits which are spread across the globe. The World Nuclear Association notes that the world’s known uranium resources increased by at least one-quarter in the last decade due to increased mineral exploration.

If he will take steps to bring grid infrastructure for new data centres under the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project regime.

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill will provide the powers to accelerate the infrastructure needed to deliver on the Government’s ambitions. The Government published a working paper [1] on the proposals on the 26th January 2025 and more detail will be available in due course. [1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/planning-reform-working-paper-streamlining-infrastructure-planning/planning-reform-working-paper-streamlining-infrastructure-planning

If he will take steps to allow the National Policy Statements for Energy and Planning Policy Guidance to approve grid infrastructure for new data centres.

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill will provide the powers to accelerate the infrastructure needed to deliver on the Government’s ambitions. The Government published a working paper [1] on the proposals on the 26th January 2025 and more detail will be available in due course. [1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/planning-reform-working-paper-streamlining-infrastructure-planning/planning-reform-working-paper-streamlining-infrastructure-planning