Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 4
4
Accepted
Set out strategies to influence other departments for power sector decarbonisation collaboration.
Recommendation
It is not clear the Department has the support it needs from other departments to achieve government’s power sector decarbonisation ambition. While it holds responsibility for, and takes the lead for achieving energy security and net zero, the Department nevertheless must rely on wider government to achieve its objectives. The Department has offshore wind, hydrogen, electricity network and nuclear champions whose role includes identifying potential barriers, such as local planning issues and availability of the necessary skills in the workforce. Other departments are responsible for such wider issues, including the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities for planning arrangements and the Department for Education for skills in the workforce. It is essential that, as the lead department for its objectives, it builds partnerships across government to successfully influence these and other relevant departments. However, this can be tricky when power sector decarbonisation activities may be in tension with other departments’ other priorities. Recommendation 4: The Department should set out in its Treasury Minute response how it will influence other departments to ensure they collaborate and prioritise activities in pursuit of power sector decarbonisation.
Government Response Summary
The government states it already has robust governance and reporting processes at ministerial and official levels, including various committees and groups, to ensure cross-departmental collaboration and prioritization for power sector decarbonisation.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented Decarbonising the power sector by 2035, subject to security of supply, is a key aspect of reaching Net Zero and therefore the Power Sector Portfolio reports into Net Zero governance. The department has robust governance and reporting processes at ministerial and official level for both strategy and delivery, attended by representatives from all relevant government departments. These provide opportunities to collaborate and prioritise activities in pursuit of decarbonising the power sector. The department’s governance structures feed into the ministerial led, Domestic and Economic Affairs (Energy, Climate & Net Zero) and the cabinet sub-committee. These fora are supported at senior official level by a monthly Climate Change Integrated Review and Implementation Group, chaired by a Director General. In addition to formal governance processes, the department’s officials work with counterparts across government to coordinate action, working particularly closely with Cabinet Office and HM Treasury to ensure that net zero is prioritised in government policy and decision-making and aligns with other priorities.