Source · Select Committees · Business and Trade Committee
Recommendation 39
39
Deferred
Paragraph: 178
Accelerate finalisation of National Policy Statements for Energy and align with future delivery plan
Recommendation
In December 2020, the Government confirmed that the National Policy Statements for Energy, which were published in 2011, would need to be updated to reflect our transition away from fossil fuels and towards cleaner, greener sources of energy. We are disappointed that now, in 2023, the Government has not yet finalised these statements. The Government is consulting on material changes to the statements which reflect recent shifts in Government policy. These changes will also be subject to parliamentary scrutiny. Due to the delay in revising these statements, we urge the Government to make sure the remaining work is delivered at pace. In future, revisions to the NPS should take place in conjunction with changes to the Government’s forthcoming delivery plan, so that the two remain aligned.
Government response summary AI-generated
The Electricity System Operator (ESO) and Ofgem's response describes the Demand Flexibility Service, its success during Winter 22/23, and ongoing evaluations for potential future rollout, entirely failing to address the committee's recommendation regarding the delayed finalisation and future alignment of National Policy Statements for Energy.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Paragraph Reference:
178
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government · verbatim extract
Deferred
88. The energy National Policy Statements were consulted on in 2021. They were then revised and strengthened in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine a year ago. It was right that the Government took this important step, as part of the British Energy Security Strategy, although it has required a further public consultation and an unwelcome delay in having them designated. The new NPSs were published in March for a second round of consultation. The responses will be considered by the Government after the consultation closes at the end of June, and once finalised in response to comments received, will be presented to Parliament in the autumn, to be designated before the end of this year. 18 Decarbonisation of the power sector: Government Response
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