The government will give Drax £11bn by 2027 without properly monitoring the progress

On 20 March 2024, Barry questioned Andrew Bowie MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Nuclear and Renewables), Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on his department’s lack of monitoring on the issue of sustainable biomass.

The Minister stated that he disagreed with the National Audit Office in their conclusion that the government department lacked appropriate monitoring. A report which the Minister’s own permanent secretary agreed to.

Later in the afternoon, the Energy Security and Net Zero Committed hosted another session, this time questioning Alice Delahunty, President, National Grid Electricity Transmission; Christianna Logan, Director of Customers and Stakeholders, SSEN Transmission and Phil Jones, Chair, Energy Networks Association.