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Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: National Security

Asked by Mr Tanmanjeet Singh DhesiLabourDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled Answered 24 December 2025UIN 100392

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, who is the Chief Risk Officer for national security risks relating to the work of their Department.

Answered by Michael Shanks

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero does not have a designated post of Chief Risk Officer. Instead, the role is assigned to the SCS who manage the departmental risk team and, therefore, are responsible for the development and implementation of department’s Risk and Issue Management Framework, in line with government’s Orange Book.

The Permanent Secretary is responsible for the risks DESNZ owns in the National Security Risk Assessment (NSRA). DESNZ is the Lead Government Department for 16 of the 122 risk scenarios in the current NSRA cycle.

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