Commons Accelerates Clean Power, Cuts Energy Bills, Strengthens Cyber Resilience

High-Level Summary

The House of Commons focused on energy and cyber security. Ministers set out plans to accelerate the transition to home‑grown clean power, reform grid connections and support households, including an average £150 reduction to energy bills from April. Two presentation Bills received a First Reading, and a Ten Minute Rule Bill proposed reforms to property registration to address long‑term empties. The Government’s Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill secured its Second Reading amid cross‑party support and scrutiny of scope, enforcement and public‑sector readiness; programme and financial motions were agreed. In the Adjournment, Ministers confirmed Environment Agency clearance of illegal waste on the River Cherwell should begin in February alongside wider waste‑crime reforms.

Detailed Summary

Oral Answers to Questions: Energy Security and Net Zero

Ministers reiterated the strategy to strengthen energy security by expanding renewables, nuclear and grid reform. Michael Shanks said the Government will do this by “moving away from volatile fossil fuels and delivering a clean power system” [ref: a141.5/2], and, on grid connections, “we are clearing out the connections queue so that there is space for more projects” [ref: a143.0/1]. Ed Miliband highlighted that “Renewables are a cheaper technology to build and operate than new gas‑fired power stations” [ref: a146.3/1], and said the National Energy System Operator (NESO) had set out an overhaul of the grid connection queue “cutting its size by two thirds” [ref: a150.8/1]. He confirmed an average £150 removal of costs from energy bills from April to support affordability [ref: a149.0/1].

On fiscal measures, Ministers stated the Energy Profits Levy “comes to an end in 2030” [ref: a144.2/1], and the Warm Home Discount has been extended to around 6 million households [ref: a151.6/2]. Asked about future levies, the Secretary of State said: “I can absolutely rule out that we are going to introduce new levies to the energy system in the warm homes plan” [ref: a158.3/1]. Regional jobs were also emphasised, with “up to 20,000 additional jobs by 2030” expected in Yorkshire and the Humber [ref: a154.6/1].

Bills Presented

Two presentation Bills received a First Reading. Richard Tice’s Universal Credit (British Citizens) Bill seeks “to restrict eligibility to claim Universal Credit to British citizens” [ref: a167.2/2]. His Local Government and Elections Bill would “make provision about the creation of certain combined county authorities and about the election of mayors of those authorities” [ref: a167.4/2]. Both were ordered to be printed and set for Second Reading on Friday 16 January [ref: a167.2/3, a167.4/3].

Property (Registration and Valuation) Ten Minute Rule Bill

Jodie Gosling sought leave to bring in a Bill “to make provision about requirements relating to the registration and valuation of domestic and non-domestic property” [ref: a168.2/2]. Citing local pressures — “Nuneaton and Bedworth borough council has over 1,800 empty properties” [ref: a168.2/5] — she proposed that “all properties should remain on the register unless they are demolished” and that exemptions be time‑limited [ref: a168.2/10]. Leave was given; the Bill was read a First time and set for Second Reading on 16 January [ref: a168.2/12, a168.2/16].

Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill: Second Reading

Opening the debate, the Minister cited rising incident volumes and economic costs: the NCSC handled 204 nationally significant incidents and cyber‑attacks “are estimated to cost UK businesses almost £15 billion each year” [ref: a170.2/4, a170.2/5]. The Bill updates the 2018 NIS regime by bringing additional sectors into scope — “we are adding… large data centres” [ref: a174.0/4] and “we are expanding… to include managed service providers” [ref: a174.0/5] — and tightens incident reporting so regulated entities must notify within 24 hours and provide a full report within three days [ref: a177.3/3]. It also enables Government to “update the NIS regime via secondary legislation” to respond more quickly to evolving threats [ref: a177.3/7].

The Shadow Front Bench questioned scope and enforceability, noting the Jaguar Land Rover incident “would not have been stopped… because it would not have been in scope” [ref: a179.1/4], and argued current enforcement has been “slow, inconsistent and often toothless” [ref: a181.1/3]. Sir Oliver Dowden supported legislative action, saying cyber‑security “was probably the one area that caused me the greatest number of sleepless nights” [ref: a196.0/1]. Members also pressed for SME support, clear reporting thresholds, and stronger public‑sector resilience. The Bill was read a Second time [ref: a229.1/6]; a Programme Motion set the Public Bill Committee to conclude by Thursday 5 March 2026 [ref: a229.3/6], and Money, Ways and Means and Carry‑over motions were agreed [ref: a229.3/14, a230.1/6, a230.3/5, a230.5/3].

Adjournment Debate: River Cherwell — Clearing Illegal Waste

Calum Miller described an industrial‑scale dumping site near Kidlington, with “around 20,000 tonnes of waste… dumped illegally on a floodplain beside the River Cherwell” [ref: a231.2/4], and sought clarity on timelines, risk mitigation and funding. The Minister confirmed the Environment Agency’s exceptional intervention, stating “clearance of the waste is expected to start in February” [ref: a235.0/6], under the polluter‑pays principle: “It should be for polluters, not taxpayers, to pay the costs of clean-up” [ref: a235.0/10]. She outlined complementary reforms — including permitting changes for carriers/brokers, exemptions reform and “digital waste tracking… being phased in this year” [ref: a237.1/4] — and said the EA’s enforcement budget had risen “over 50% this year to £15.6 million” [ref: a235.0/13]. Subject to due process, the EA estimates “full clearance will take approximately six to nine months” [ref: a239.1/6].