Martin McCluskey MP: Climate-Related Speeches In Parliament

8 Sep 2026: Artificial Intelligence: Energy Systems

I am tabling this statement to inform Members of the publication of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero?s AI-enabled clean energy system vision.

Increase the efficiency of the system and support decarbonisation.

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18 Jun 2026: Non-domestic Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards

The Government consulted in 2019 and 2021 on proposals to raise non-domestic PRS MEES to EPC B, reflecting the role of energy efficiency in cutting bills, strengthening energy security and supporting the transition to net zero. Since then, we have continued to engage closely with stakeholders on how these proposals would work in practice across a diverse commercial building stock.

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14 May 2026: Energy Infrastructure Planning Projects

My noble Friend Lord Whitehead, Minister for Energy Security and Net Zero, has today made the following statement:

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27 Apr 2026: Draft Warm Home Discount (Scotland) Regulations 2026

Let me talk about some things that the Government have done in just the past few months. Our £150 warm home discount is offering targeted support to the most vulnerable people. There is also universal support, in the form of the 7% price cap reduction in the current price cap period. Last week, we announced the British industrial competitiveness scheme, which provides support for industry. The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero also announced last week how we will go further and faster in our mission for clean power by 2030.

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22 Apr 2026: Ofgem Review: Final Report

To address these challenges, the Government will strengthen Ofgem’s system-wide mandate and capabilities so that it can take whole-system, forward-looking decisions that reflect the interactions between different segments of the value chain. This will help Ofgem to anticipate pressures, drive innovation and competition, and support a more dynamic, efficient and consumer-centric energy system. By ensuring that Ofgem can regulate the energy system as an integrated whole, these reforms will promote efficient investment, enable the scaling of new technologies, and ensure that consumers benefit from a system that is resilient, fair and aligned with the UK’s long-term energy security and net zero commitments. The Government are therefore bringing forward a package of reforms to strengthen Ofgem’s mandate, improve regulatory clarity and reduce duplication, and ensure that the regulator can act more proactively in the interests of consumers. Key measures include:

Modernising Ofgem ’ s statutory duties , streamlining them into three clear pillars of consumer protection, economic growth and delivery of net zero. This will ensure that Ofgem can take clearer, more strategic decisions that directly benefit households and support long-term national priorities. Establishing an Ofgem-specific strategy and policy statement, providing clarity on the Government’s strategic expectations while preserving Ofgem’s operational independence.

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24 Mar 2026: Oil and Gas

The motion calls for an end to the ban on oil and gas licensing. The Government have been clear that we will support the management of existing fields for their lifespan. That is why we have committed to introducing transitional energy certificates, which will enable some offshore oil and gas production in areas adjacent to already licensed fields linked via a tieback or in areas that are already part of an existing field. New licences to explore new fields would make no material difference to overall production and would run contrary to the science on tackling the climate crisis.

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14:10

Just last week, the Minister for Energy met our North Sea future board in Aberdeen with representatives from industry, unions and local groups to discuss how we can drive a fair, orderly and prosperous transition. Net zero is the economic opportunity of the century—

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18 Mar 2026: Draft Warm Home Discount (England and Wales) Regulations 2026

14:45

I thank hon. Members for their contributions. On the points raised by the Opposition Front Bench spokesperson, in Q2 of this year energy bills will be lower than they were in 2024. He does not need to take that from me; he can see that in the research of the Resolution Foundation. He talks about expensive costs of energy. I agree that, in this country, we have some of the most expensive energy. That did not happen in the 18 months of a Labour Government, that has been building for a number of years, including during the period that he was in this role in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

The only thing that seems to have changed with the hon. Gentleman over the last 18 months is that he has abandoned his commitment to clean power and net zero, which was well documented, not just in Hansard , but on his own website. We discussed that in the Chamber just a few months ago. His policy, which would see us turn away from clean power, is, bluntly, a road to ruin. We would expose people to further volatility in fuel prices and to the fact that we are already over-exposed to the price of gas. We would also continue to make ourselves reliant on energy supplies that are coming from petrostates. Over the last few weeks, we have seen the impact of being overly reliant on oil and gas supplies coming from overseas.

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16 Mar 2026: Heating Oil Support

I had a constructive conversation with Minister Archibald this afternoon about the support on offer, and I am confident that the Northern Ireland Executive will work at pace to ensure that it is delivered to people across Northern Ireland. The right hon. Gentleman mentions net zero. It is important to remember two things: first, more North sea extraction would not affect energy prices for people in this country, and secondly, the long-term route to lower prices is not through exposing us further to fossil fuels. That exposure—not net zero—is why we have some of the higher prices in Europe. More exposure, which is his suggestion, would just increase our prices and our vulnerability, including for people in Northern Ireland.

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12 Feb 2026: Warm Home Discount Cost Recovery Consultation: Government Response

Subject to Ofgem’s related price cap methodology changes and parliamentary approval, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero will lay the Warm Home Discount (Reconciliation) Regulations 2026 later this year. We will work with Ofgem and energy suppliers to support a smooth transition from 1 April 2026.

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27 Jan 2026: Consumer Energy Bills: Government Support

16:23

About 30% of private rented sector tenants live in fuel poverty. We are introducing new minimum energy efficiency standards for the private rented sector and the social rented sector, which will save renters hundreds of pounds a year and ensure that they have decent, warm homes. I am confident that the landmark plan that we have announced will make people across Britain better off, secure our energy independence and do right by future generations by tackling the climate crisis.

The energy system is changing. We have more clean power and innovative tariffs, such as time of use tariffs, and the use of technologies such as heat pumps and electric vehicles has grown. That means that we need solutions fit for 2030 and beyond. Ofgem is currently conducting a cost allocation and recovery review to look at how costs on energy bills can be recovered in the future, and it is considering factors such as efficiency, fairness, meeting our net zero commitments, ensuring growth, and how we pay for our energy system. I am keen that that ensures that progressivity is at the heart of the way people pay for their energy.

The hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam spoke about a social tariff, which I know a lot of hon. Members would welcome, but I am always thoughtful about how we make sure that is properly targeted. For that, we need reliable data. We have just launched a kick-starter project with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, which is about accurately finding reliable household income data and properly targeting energy interventions—I would be happy to discuss that in more detail with the hon. Gentleman. It is vital to ensuring that energy costs and bills reflect the changing market.

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14 Jan 2026: Oil Refining Sector

19:23

Refinery facilities also enable the production of specialist materials that many of our industries rely on. For example, the Humber refinery produces the UK’s only anode-grade petroleum coke, used in electric vehicle technology, while Fawley’s output of specialised rubber helped to ensure vaccine vials could be produced securely during the pandemic. Crucially, our refineries are also adapting for the future. They are investing in modernisation, low-carbon fuels, and technologies such as carbon capture, which are all essential to the UK’s transition to net zero. The Humber region will have a major role to play in that over the coming years. While overall fuel demand is expected to shift over time, sectors such as aviation, maritime and heavy industry will continue to depend on refined products well into the future. We want to preserve our refining sector and keep it competitive.

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Secondly, we are working closely with industry on major decarbonisation efforts, including carbon capture and hydrogen projects, within industrial clusters such as Viking and HyNet, which will be central to keeping UK manufacturing competitive as global markets tighten emissions standards. The UK ETS Authority’s decision to maintain current benchmarks for the 2027 scheme year provides the consistency and breathing room that energy-intensive industries need to plan investments and manage costs effectively.

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14 Jan 2026: Factored Energy Arrangements: Pricing

The energy system has evolved significantly since the last substantive review of maximum resale price. The transition to an increasingly decentralised, digitalised and decarbonised system, driven by net zero ambitions and technological innovation, has seen new challenges and opportunities emerge. Ofgem has begun a review of the maximum resale price to determine whether it delivers fair, transparent pricing and adequate consumer protection and whether it enables investment in the low-carbon infrastructure and services necessary to deliver net zero at the lowest cost.

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