Record Renewables, Data Scrutiny, and Uprating Define Commons Day

High-Level Summary

The Commons examined energy policy, defence procurement transparency and social security uprating. Ministers pointed to a “record-breaking auction for solar and onshore wind” and launched a Local Power Plan with up to £1 billion for community energy. The Ministry of Defence faced an Urgent Question on Palantir contracts and pledged to publish documents subject to national security checks, while affirming UK data sovereignty. The Justice Minister defended halting a courts data pilot after a data‑sharing breach and promised a licensed replacement model with wider access. Parliament approved state pension and benefit upratings and National Insurance regulations, and an adjournment debate secured confirmation that ultrasound services at Havant’s Oak Park clinic will restart, with work to restore X‑ray and echocardiography.

Detailed Summary

Oral Answers to Questions: Energy Security and Net Zero

Questions focused on household and business energy bills, the latest Contracts for Difference auction, standing charges, and large‑scale solar engagement. The Secretary of State said Budget measures would “enable us to take an average of £150 in costs off household energy bills from April” and that 2025 bills were lower in real terms than 2024. He highlighted Allocation Round 7 results, saying solar secured was the “cheapest form of power” and “costs less than half the price of building and operating new gas”. He confirmed consultation on standing charges, including “moving the warm home discount from fixed cost standing charges to unit rates”.

For businesses, Ministers cited current and planned measures: “we are acting now through the British industry supercharger and the new British industrial competitiveness scheme”. On the UK Emissions Trading Scheme, they stressed market‑setting: “The carbon pricing emissions trading scheme is set by the market, rather than the Government” and “The Government do not comment on or interfere with the carbon price”. On nuclear, the Secretary of State said SMR investment at Wylfa could support “up to 3,000 jobs on site”. The Warm Home Discount was extended “to an extra 2.7 million households” and “for a further five years to 2031”. Ministers also underlined scrutiny of Chinese‑made infrastructure: “Investment in our energy infrastructure undergoes the highest level of national security scrutiny”. On community engagement for large solar, the Minister said developers must consider local views and that engagement quality is assessed by decision‑makers. In topical questions, the Secretary of State pointed to “a record‑breaking auction for solar and onshore wind” and the launch of the Local Power Plan.

Ministry of Defence: Palantir Contracts (Urgent Question)

The Minister said “Palantir is a strategic supplier to the Ministry of Defence” and that a 2022 enterprise agreement had been updated by this Government. He stated the latest award decision was the Defence Secretary’s alone and that “Peter Mandelson had no influence”. A strategic partnership included “£1.5 billion investment into the UK” and other commitments such as SME mentoring and a London HQ designation.

On process and transparency, he said the enterprise agreement was a direct award “justified under the Procurement Act 2023” and committed to publishing material “as much… as we can, as soon as reasonably possible” subject to police and security considerations. He assured MPs that “UK defence data… remains sovereign to the UK and under the control of the MOD, and it resides in the United Kingdom”. Outcome: no division; Ministers undertook to release documents in line with the recent Humble Address and to continue engagement with Committees. Next steps: document review/publication following security checks; continuing scrutiny by the House and the Intelligence and Security Committee.

Court Reporting Data (Urgent Question)

The Justice Minister affirmed support for open justice but said the Ministry had ceased data sharing with Courtsdesk after it shared “private, personal and legally sensitive information with a third‑party AI company”, breaching its agreement. She stressed “there has been no deletion of any court lists” and that accredited journalists retain access via existing HMCTS routes.

She outlined plans for a replacement, licensed model to widen responsible access: officials “aim to initiate that licensing arrangement… next month” and make court lists and case summaries available via the digital service “from the end of March 2026”. She confirmed “the report to the ICO has not yet been made” but that this was being reviewed. Outcome: no division; Government to develop a new licensing framework and maintain journalist access through existing channels. Next steps: HMCTS/Ministry to implement licensing and consider ICO engagement.

Statement: Local Power Plan and Renewables Auction Results

The Secretary of State announced Allocation Round 7 results—“1.3 GW” of onshore wind at £72/MWh and “nearly 5 GW” of solar at £65/MWh—stating prices are “less than half the price of building and operating new gas”. He launched a Local Power Plan with “up to £1 billion of funding from Great British Energy” for community‑owned projects, a “one‑stop shop” for advice, work with Ofgem to help communities sell power, and a consultation on using 2015 Act powers to mandate shared‑ownership offers.

Opposition front benchers argued the plan “does not make electricity cheaper and it does not offer value for the taxpayer” and that there were “no guarantees that the £1 billion… will deliver lower bills”. The Secretary of State rejected that, saying, “This Government are on the side of local communities, on the side of cutting bills”. Outcome: statement; no vote. Next steps: GB Energy to open funding routes; Ofgem code reforms and shared‑ownership consultation to follow.

Pensions and Social Security: Uprating Orders

The Pensions Minister set 2026‑27 upratings: state pensions by 4.8% (earnings) and most other benefits by 3.8% (CPI). He estimated “increased expenditure of £9 billion in 2026‑27”, with £6 billion on pensions, £2 billion on disability/carers and £1 billion on other working‑age benefits. He confirmed the basic state pension will rise “to £184.90” and the full new state pension “to £241.30 per week”. He also flagged a permanent above‑inflation rise to universal credit’s standard allowance (CPI +2.3%), “the first ever permanent above‑inflation rise… since the 1970s” and set the Guaranteed Minimum Pension increase at 3%.

Outcome: Both the Guaranteed Minimum Pensions Increase Order and the Social Security Benefits Up‑rating Order were approved without division: “Question put and agreed to… Resolved”. Next steps: uprated amounts take effect from April 2026; related UC changes proceed under separate powers.

Social Security: Child Benefit Uprating and National Insurance Regulations

The Exchequer Secretary confirmed child benefit and guardian’s allowance will rise by 3.8% (CPI) in April 2026. He set out NICs parameters: the employee primary threshold and the self‑employed lower profits limit will be “maintained… until April 2031”; the lower earnings limit and small profits threshold will be uprated; and veterans’ employer NICs relief extended to April 2028.

Outcome: Both instruments were approved without division. Next steps: HMRC to implement uprated benefits and NICs changes; Government to consider longer‑term veteran employment support as the relief sunsets.

Adjournment Debate: Oak Park Community Clinic Diagnostics (Havant)

The Member for Havant described the “sudden and distressing removal of diagnostic services at Oak Park clinic” and the lack of consultation or warning. He urged restoration of local diagnostics “either at Oak Park or at another suitable site”, with interim provision.

The Minister said Practice Plus Group moved equipment because the “lease no longer represented value for money”. He confirmed Oak Park’s community diagnostic centre would “recommence non‑obstetric ultrasound… this month” with a new scanner and that the ICB is “looking for a solution to restore X‑ray and echocardiography” at Oak Park. Outcome: no division; the Minister agreed to pass on a meeting request and outlined restoration steps. Next steps: recommence ultrasound; ICB to identify options for X‑ray and echo; interim referrals to St Mary’s and Queen Alexandra continue.