Simon Bittlestone

We've published our @nao.org.uk report on the UK Emissions Trading Scheme, including this excellent visual summary by our Design Team.

While the government smoothly transitioned to the UK ETS after Brexit, its incentives for future decarbonisation are uncertain

www.nao.org.uk/reports/uk-e...

My first study in my new role will be looking at the BBC World Service and will focus on how effectively the BBC is transforming the World Service in line with its strategy.

More details here: www.nao.org.uk/work-in-prog...

Simon Bittlestone on LinkedIn: UK Emissions Trading Scheme - NAO work in progress One of the great benefits of working at the NAO is the opportunity to move every few years to a new team, to cover a new area of government and get to grips…

One of the great benefits of working at @nao.org.uk is the opportunity to move every few years to a new team. From this week, I will be moving to be Director of our value-for-money work on the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and the BBC.

www.linkedin.com/posts/simon-...

Been a few ‘one year on’ moments in the last few days, but a year ago today was an all-time great. Fans descending on Plainmoor from all over to show their love for the club.

It was clear from that day there was a club worth saving #tufc #ttid

The NAO is here! Give it a follow: @nao.org.uk

Government support for biomass - Committees - UK Parliament Over £20bn in support for businesses and households using biomass (such as plants or food waste) for fuel has been provided by Government since 2002. In combination with carbon capture, usage and stor...

Devising new assurance arrangements requires government to consider some trade offs, including between the cost of the assurance arrangements and the rate of non-compliance it is willing to accept.

I'm sure PAC will follow up on these issues in its inquiry committees.parliament.uk/work/8906/go...

The government’s support for biomass - NAO report Government has provided over £20 billion of support to biomass businesses but it can't yet demonstrate adherence to its sustainability rules.

Our view in our report last year was the government could not demonstrate it's current assurance arrangements (for the 70% threshold) were adequate because it had not evaluated their effectiveness

www.nao.org.uk/reports/the-...

The government's announcement that it is extending support for Drax beyond 2027, but with the threshold for sustainable sources raising from 70% to 100%, will require it to devise an appropriate assurance approach.

Government support for biomass - Committees - UK Parliament Over £20bn in support for businesses and households using biomass (such as plants or food waste) for fuel has been provided by Government since 2002. In combination with carbon capture, usage and stor...

The Public Accounts Committee has opened an inquiry on biomass, which will be informed by the report we published last year.

www.nao.org.uk/reports/the-...

Stakeholders have until 13 February to submit written evidence to inform the inquiry.

committees.parliament.uk/work/8906/go...

We said in our CCUS report that government would struggle to achieve its ambition to capture and store 20-30 million tonnes of CO2 per year by 2030.

The DESNZ Minister has now written to the ESNZ Committee saying that ambition 'is no longer achievable'

committees.parliament.uk/publications...

For the committed listeners willing to hang around long enough, there is some rich Danny Hollands content.

Also, you will not believe my Gosport Fact!*

*You may well believe it, but would do well to pay attention if you need travel advice for getting to our game on 4/1

#tufc

t.co/uh3MFCBdCn

Touching the Sun Despite its familiarity, the Sun is a very different presence from the friendly yellow circle in children's paintings. Our star is a broiling mass of plasma, with its powerful magnetic fields, twisted...

Tickets for next Gresham Lecture are up - Jan 15th, in London or online. Free but it should fill up! gres.hm/touching-sun

12 December 2024 - Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage - Oral evidence - Committees - UK Parliament 09:30 - The Grimond Room, Portcullis House

One of the privileges of my job is the going to Parliament and seeing public scrutiny in action! This morning was the Public Accounts Committee session on CCUS, where MPs questioned DESNZ and HM Treasury officials about their plans for the technology.

committees.parliament.uk/event/22390/...

Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage programme - NAO report Government says carbon capture technology is ‘essential’ to achieving net zero. The government doesn't have a credible alternative pathway.

Our report in July assesses progress of government’s CCUS programme and its prospects of achieving the ambition to capture 20-30 million tonnes of CO2 by 2030

www.nao.org.uk/reports/carb...

Contracts signed for UK’s first carbon capture projects in Teesside New chapter for the UK's clean industry as financial close reached for East Coast Cluster site projects.

After many years and failed attempts, government reaching terms to support a CCUS project is a significant achievement.

Important now it learns from experience doing this deal, and can draw learning from construction/operation, to feed into future projects

www.gov.uk/government/n...

A little love song to the National Audit Office This Christmas, hug your loved ones. But hug your viable constitutional institutions closer.

A little love song to the National Audit Office iandunt.substack.com/p/a-little-l...

CCUS 24 Next steps for CCUS development in the UK

Carbon capture and storage in the UK is at a critical juncture as we await announcements from government on its deals to support the first wave of projects.

I'll be talking about the NAO's recent work on CCS at Monday morning's Westminster Forum

www.westminsterforumprojects.co.uk/conference/C...

Talking Torquay Ep 176 Podcast Episode · Talking Torquay · 04/12/2024 · 55m

Matthew and I relive the big win at Enfield, look ahead to the Trophy tie against Horsham, and delve (maybe too far) into the National League rulebook #tufc

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...

Big step forward today: we exorcised the athletics track curse. Nothing can stop us now #tufc

MPs moved to tears in assisted dying debate before landmark vote MPs recount personal experiences in lead-up to decision on whether to give some terminally ill people right to die

Whatever your view on assisted dying, this Commons debate has shown MPs at their best: thoughtful, measured, respectful, non-partisan. A good antidote to those who think they're all in it for themselves.

www.theguardian.com/society/2024...

A 'bubble diagram' summarising where the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spent its money in 2023-24. It shows that nuclear decommissioning is by far the largest area of spend.

This week we published our DESNZ Overview 2023-24, summarising key information about the Department based on our previous audit work.

The last couple of pages also summarise 'What to look out for' over the coming months.

www.nao.org.uk/overviews/de...

Congrats Rob, very well deserved. It’s clear you put a lot of hard work into your commentary so it’s great that’s been recognised!

Watchdog refuses to sign off UK public sector accounts over unreliable data National Audit Office ‘disclaims’ accounts because of shortcomings in auditing of English local authorities The government’s entire public sector financial accounts are not fit for purpose, the official audit watchdog has said after the collapse of the…

Watchdog refuses to sign off UK public sector accounts over unreliable data

I was cycling too. We were going down hill, there’s no way would’ve kept up on foot.

Wonder if I may have an alternative career as a stunt cameraman 🤔

Children cycling through autumnal woods

Nice morning for the school run

At least in the dark you can’t see your broken fences

@hsalvidgec.bsky.social great comms from you and Gritts today. It’s a real benefit for those of us that can’t be there in person to hear it being so well described!

Take that all day long. Now onto a stern test against ‘table-topping Weston Super Mare’. Sigh. #tufc

It's good to see you here Stacy. I am a very proud owner of one of your 2022 Vuelta Buffalo cups (though I am too scared to use it for fear of breaking it!).

UK Heat 24 Next steps for decarbonising heat in UK homes

You can hear me say more about our decarbonising home heating report at the Westminster Forum on Monday morning

www.westminsterforumprojects.co.uk/conference/U...