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1239662

	registered interest
	date	01/10/2020
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Electricity Generation: Carbon Emissions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will ensure that following his consultation on contracts for difference for low carbon electricity (a) biomass plants are ineligible to compete for those contracts with offshore wind and other renewable technologies and (b) the greenhouse gas threshold and minimum efficiency requirement applied in 2018 will be included in regulations and applied to all future allocation rounds.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	98289
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/10/2020 answer text <p>The consultation on changes to the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme closed on 29 May 2020 and a Government response will be published in due course.</p><p> </p><p>As part of this consultation, we indicated our intention to remove biomass conversion technologies from the CfD scheme. Sustainable, low carbon bioenergy is helping the UK move to a low-carbon energy mix, increasing our energy security, and keeping costs down for consumers. We have introduced mandatory sustainability criteria for biomass generation for heat and power. This is to ensure biomass continues to support the UK’s commitment to reduce carbon emissions and is sourced sustainably. Generators only receive subsidies for electricity output which complies with our sustainability criteria.</p><p> </p><p>The greenhouse gas (GHG) threshold and minimum efficiency requirements applied in 2018 were incorporated into the CfD Standard Terms and Conditions and so will apply to future allocation rounds.</p> answering member constituency Spelthorne answering member printed Kwasi Kwarteng question first answered 08/10/2020 16:59:17 answering member 4134 label Biography information for Kwasi Kwarteng
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1458918

	registered interest
	date	20/04/2022
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Parental Leave
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will introduce additional paid parental leave entitlements equivalent to the time parents have to take off from work as a result of their baby's health complications.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	156603
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2022 answer text <p>The Government recognises that having a baby with health complications is particularly stressful for parents. This is why we are committed to introducing additional paid parental leave entitlement for neonatal care, to support those new mothers and fathers who need it during some of the most difficult days of their lives.</p> answering member constituency Sutton and Cheam answering member printed Paul Scully question first answered 25/04/2022 17:23:44 answering member 4414 label Biography information for Paul Scully
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1519009

	registered interest
	date	10/10/2022
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Disclosure of Information: Protection
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing stronger protection for whistle-blowers, as proposed by Compassion in Care in their campaign for Edna’s Law; and what steps he is taking to support whistle-blowers.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	59112
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/10/2022 answer text <p>The Government values the important contribution whistleblowers make when they shine a light on wrongdoing. The Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 gives legal protection to those who speak up in the public interest.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has made numerous improvements to the whistleblowing framework. This includes extending protections to student nurses and midwives, regularly updating the list of prescribed persons, and introducing a legislative requirement for most prescribed persons to produce an annual report on whistleblowing disclosures they receive.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has committed to review the whistleblowing framework. We are considering the scope and timing of this review.</p> answering member constituency Watford answering member printed Dean Russell question first answered 17/10/2022 07:51:06 answering member 4812 label Biography information for Dean Russell
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1244337

	registered interest
	date	19/10/2020
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Versarien: Loans
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the compatibility of the recent loan given to Versarien PLC by Innovate UK with (a) Innovate UK's guidelines (b) the eligibility criteria for businesses to receive funds from Innovate UK and (c) the Government's guidance on Managing public money.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	105565
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2020 answer text <p>Graphene has the capability to become one of the sectors that will power our economic growth – and Versarien is at a crucial phase in its development as it strives to become one of the UK’s leading players in the production of graphene. Materials such a graphene can also provide a valuable contribution towards the Government’s Net Zero targets and has the potential to contribute significantly to a number of national infrastructure projects. Versarien’s G-SCALE project, which this loan will fund, will allow the firm to carry out later stage R&amp;D to enable it to supply the market with commercial quantities of graphene-enhanced materials.</p><p>Similar to many companies, Versarien seeks investment from a number of sources, including private funding. Innovate UK has a good understanding of Versarien’s business and has previously awarded the company several grants to support its development. Innovate’s loan scheme was set up to broaden the range of innovation finance support available to businesses, so they can access funding at all stages of innovation.</p><p>In order to be eligible, a business needs to show that it can afford the interest and repayments on the loan and that they cannot obtain finance from other sources such as banks and equity investors for a particular project. It is on this basis the loan was made.</p><p>Indeed, this loan was made on Innovate’s usual terms, that is an interest rate of 7.4% per annum with half of the interest deferred until the repayment period commences. Loan repayments will start 45 months after drawdown and be paid over a subsequent period of 36 months.</p><p>The loan award was made after Innovate UK’s rigorous process of innovation assessment and credit evaluation – the same level of scrutiny and assessment that accompanies any loan award that Innovate UK makes.</p><p>The assessment process for awarding the loan was compatible with the key principles set out in the guidance on Managing Public Money.</p> answering member constituency Derby North answering member printed Amanda Solloway question first answered 22/10/2020 15:10:38 answering member 4372 label Biography information for Amanda Solloway
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1300108

	registered interest
	date	08/03/2021
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Coronavirus: Retail Trade
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of allowing access to specialist shoe shops during the covid-19 lockdown restrictions for people who cannot buy those products online.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	164641
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/03/2021 answer text <p>The Government has set out its roadmap to cautiously ease lockdown restrictions, including the reopening of non-essential retail no earlier than 12 April, subject to the data.</p><p> </p><p>Under current restrictions all shops in England are permitted to operate click-and-collect services online, by telephone/text or via post.</p> answering member constituency Sutton and Cheam answering member printed Paul Scully question first answered 11/03/2021 17:41:25 answering member 4414 label Biography information for Paul Scully
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1253898

	registered interest
	date	19/11/2020
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Postal Services: Domestic Abuse and Homelessness
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of creating an Address and Collect service at Post Offices to allow those affected by (a) homelessness and (b) domestic violence to access their post safely.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	118116
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/11/2020 answer text <p>Officials are working with Royal Mail and the Post Office to consider the recommendations from Citizens Advice on an Address and Collect Service and a Poste Restante service for vulnerable groups.</p> answering member constituency Sutton and Cheam answering member printed Paul Scully question first answered 24/11/2020 16:23:56 answering member 4414 label Biography information for Paul Scully
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1361171

	registered interest
	date	19/10/2021
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Paternity Leave
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of extending paid paternity leave to new employees whose period in work is less than 26 weeks.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	59080
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2021 answer text <p>As set out in our Manifesto, we are committed to making it easier for fathers to take Paternity Leave. In 2019 the Government consulted on high-level options for reforming parental leave and pay, this consultation included Paternity Leave and Pay. We are currently analysing the responses to the consultation and will respond in due course.</p> answering member constituency Sutton and Cheam answering member printed Paul Scully question first answered 22/10/2021 13:58:54 answering member 4414 label Biography information for Paul Scully
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1303397

	registered interest
	date	17/03/2021
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Private Rented Housing: Energy
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing legislation mandating property management companies to carry out improvements on buildings ahead of the proposed upgrade of private rented sector homes to Energy Performance Certificate Band C by 2030.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	170750
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/03/2021 answer text <p>BEIS consulted on improving the minimum energy efficiency standards for privately rented homes in England and Wales to EPC Band C. Under the Government’s recommended option, landlords would be required to reach EPC Band C for new tenancies from 1 April 2025 and all tenancies by 1 April 2028. Landlords can choose to work with a property management company to meet the regulations where appropriate, although the requirement for compliance rests with the landlord. We are currently analysing consultation responses and will publish a Government Response in due course.</p> answering member constituency Berwick-upon-Tweed answering member printed Anne-Marie Trevelyan question first answered 22/03/2021 16:44:53 answering member 4531 label Biography information for Anne-Marie Trevelyan
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1309557

	registered interest
	date	15/04/2021
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Development Aid
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of reducing the Official Development Assistance budget on (a) current and future research projects funded under ODA programmes and (b) global research partnerships.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	181450
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/04/2021 answer text <p>The challenging financial situation we face due to the Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in a temporary reduction in the UK’s aid spending target from 0.7% of GNI to 0.5%. This means making difficult decisions when it comes to prioritising how we spend aid money to deliver the most impactful outcomes.</p><p> </p><p>We are currently working with UKRI, and all our Global Challenges Research Fund and Newton Fund Delivery Partners, to manage the financial year 2021/22 ODA allocations, including determining which projects will be impacted. Our Delivery Partners have communicated with award holders setting out the next stage of the review of ODA funding this year, and to explore options for individual programmes. (Full details have been published on the UKRI website.) Due to the ongoing nature of this process, we cannot share project-level details.</p><p> </p><p>The Government recognises the importance of supporting global research partnerships and supporting the UK research sector. Our commitment to research and innovation has been clearly demonstrated by my Rt. Hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Budget announcement of increasing investment in R&amp;D across government to £14.6bn in 2021/22; and as has been set out in our Integrated Review ambitions, international collaboration is central to a healthy and productive R&amp;D sector.</p><p> </p><p>On 1<sup>st</sup> April, the Department set out an additional £250m of funding for the R&amp;D sector. As a result, UK scientists will have access to more public funding than ever before. This takes total Government investment in R&amp;D to £14.9 billion in 2021/22 and follows four years of significant growth in R&amp;D funding, including a boost of more than £1.5 billion in 2020/21.</p> answering member constituency Derby North answering member printed Amanda Solloway question first answered 20/04/2021 16:55:47 answering member 4372 label Biography information for Amanda Solloway
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1351071

	registered interest
	date	18/08/2021
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Biofuels
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of biomass energy on (a) CO2 emissions and (b) animal biodiversity.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	41329
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/09/2021 answer text <p>The Government follows scientific advice which indicates that sustainable biomass could play a role in decarbonising the energy sector as part of a diverse renewable energy mix and in achieving net zero. Recent reports from the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the Climate Change Committee (CCC) and the International Energy Agency (IEA) all support this view.</p><p> </p><p>The UK only supports biomass which complies with strict sustainability criteria which considers a range of environmental issues including protecting the biodiversity of forests from which the biomass is sourced, irrespective of its location.</p> answering member constituency Berwick-upon-Tweed answering member printed Anne-Marie Trevelyan question first answered 10/09/2021 13:17:35 answering member 4531 label Biography information for Anne-Marie Trevelyan
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana