Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 14
14
Accepted
Skills shortages and planning system issues hinder energy sector decarbonisation progress
Conclusion
The Department has created offshore wind, hydrogen, electricity network, and nuclear champions whose role includes identifying potential risks, barriers and bottlenecks to progress and making recommendations for both the Department and other parts of government where issues cross departmental responsibilities. Planning permission and skills in the workforce are two relevant issues.43 The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities is responsible for planning arrangements.44 The Department told us that the planning system is a key enabler, and that 60% of the nationally significant infrastructure projects over the next decade will relate to energy (such as generating infrastructure or networks).45 The Department for Education is responsible for skills in the workforce, particularly at the entry level.46 In written evidence received from the Local Government Association, it told us that across England, by 2050, there could be 1.18 million jobs in low-carbon sectors; but that the workforce currently lacks the right skills to meet this future demand and the short-term funding landscape does not provide the certainty for businesses and education providers to invest in the training and skills required to decarbonise energy.47
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the committee's observation, stating the points raised are already implemented through existing robust governance and cross-departmental processes to coordinate action across relevant departments.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
4.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 4.2 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. 4.3 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.