To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with his UK counterparts in relation to fossil fuel divestment.

I have had no discussions with my UK counterparts in relation to fossil fuel divestment as energy vires is the responsibility of the Department for the Economy. The Department for Economy has recently undertook a consultation on their Energy Strategy. My department has fully engaged with them in the development of their Strategy and I am fully supportive of their work on decarbonisation of the energy sector.

I have raised the need, with Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng, for the UK to have greater energy supply security and the need to invest in green energy including hydrogen production and bio-methane. I have also spoken to Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs George Eustice, about the key role the agriculture sector can continue to play in developing renewable energy. We can create a greener energy supply through increased use of wind, solar and biomass energy.