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1183286

	registered interest
	date	06/03/2020
	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	Renewable 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, when he plans to commence his policy on enabling onshore wind and solar power projects.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	26189
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/03/2020 answer text <p>Onshore wind and solar have already been deployed successfully in the UK with appropriate local support, generating enough electricity in 2018 to power over 11 million homes and producing nearly 13% of the UK’s electricity.</p><p> </p><p>Government announced on Monday 2 March that onshore wind and solar projects will be able to bid for contracts in the next Contracts for Difference allocation round planned to open in 2021. We will announce the auction parameters and auction timings in due course.</p> answering member constituency Spelthorne answering member printed Kwasi Kwarteng question first answered 16/03/2020 12:03:55 answering member 4134 label Biography information for Kwasi Kwarteng
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

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

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

1122847

	registered interest
	date	24/04/2019
	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	Passenger Ships
	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 discussions he has had with the Department for Transport on the effect of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s proposals on older UK passenger boats on businesses and skilled maritime jobs.
	tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
	tabling member printed	Zac Goldsmith
	uin	247016
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/05/2019 answer text <p>My rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State and BEIS ministers have not had any direct discussions with the Department for Transport (DfT) on the effect of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s proposals on older UK passenger boats on businesses and skilled maritime jobs. BEIS officials have reached out to the MCA and industry to further understand the issue raised. They also remain closely engaged with DfT on the delivery of the recently published Maritime 2050 strategy and to support growth ambitions across the maritime sector.</p><p>Should my hon. friend wish to discuss this issue, I would be happy to arrange a meeting.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 07/05/2019 16:06:41 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 115577 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park

1129641

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2019
	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	Coal
	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 adequacy of existing coal stocks to meet expected needs for electricity generation before coal is phased out.
	tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
	tabling member printed	Zac Goldsmith
	uin	259966
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/06/2019 answer text <p>The latest statistics are publicly available (<a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fstatistics%2Fsolid-fuels-and-derived-gases-section-2-energy-trends&amp;data=02%7C01%7Celizabeth.twomey%40beis.gov.uk%7C1e9c4adfd2e34cc9daf108d6e9b48cf2%7Ccbac700502c143ebb497e6492d1b2dd8%7C0%7C0%7C636953358993851618&amp;sdata=KafUNWRYL193z1tkjts6rs9aYJyQH%2BQu1rCT7q0xBNU%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Energy Trends table 2.1</a>.)</p><p> </p><p>The government is committed to ending unabated coal power by 2025. As a result of our existing policies, including carbon pricing and our support for renewables, we have already made great headway in reducing our reliance on coal, which fell from 39% of electricity in 2012 to 5% in 2018. There are now regular coal free periods, and in May the UK went without running coal power generation for over two weeks – the longest coal-free period in the country since the 1880s.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Kingswood answering member printed Chris Skidmore question first answered 13/06/2019 16:27:55 answering member 4021 label Biography information for Chris Skidmore previous answer version 121637 answering member constituency Kingswood answering member printed Chris Skidmore answering member 4021 label Biography information for Chris Skidmore
	tabling member	4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park

1006099

	registered interest
	date	13/11/2018
	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	Heathrow Airport: 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, what assessment he has made of the effect of the expansion of Heathrow Airport on the ability of the UK to meet the net-zero emissions target by 2050.
	tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
	tabling member printed	Zac Goldsmith
	uin	190875
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2018 answer text <p>Following the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Special Report on 1.5 degrees, published in October, we commissioned advice from our independent advisers, the Committee on Climate Change (CCC), on its long-term emissions reduction targets, including on the setting of a net zero target. This commission asks for evidence from the CCC on how reductions might be delivered in key sectors of the economy and the expected costs and benefits of different scenarios.</p><p> </p><p>The Committee will also publish a report on aviation in Spring 2019. As set out in the Committee’s recent progress report, this will include consideration of the potential to reduce aviation emissions over the period to 2050 and beyond.</p><p> </p><p>The Government will consider carefully the Committee’s advice on both these issues when it is received. Subject to this review, the Government will consider whether it is appropriate to review the Airports National Policy Statement, in accordance with Section 6 of the Planning Act 2008.</p> answering member constituency Devizes answering member printed Claire Perry question first answered 19/11/2018 15:13:41 answering member 3974 label Biography information for Claire Perry
	tabling member	4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park

1006100

	registered interest
	date	13/11/2018
	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	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, whether he has plans to introduce legislation proposals to set the target of net-zero emissions by 2050.
	tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
	tabling member printed	Zac Goldsmith
	uin	190876
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2018 answer text <p>Following the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s special report on the impacts of climate change of 1.5 degrees on 8 October, we commissioned our independent experts, the Committee on Climate Change, to provide their advice on the implications of the Paris Agreement for the UK’s long-term emissions reduction targets, including on setting a net zero target. The letter requesting the CCC’s advice is available <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-climate-targets-request-for-advice-from-the-committee-on-climate-change" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p> </p><p>We will consider the Committee’s evidence-based advice carefully when it is received in Spring 2019. We believe that is the right way to approach such an important question.</p> answering member constituency Devizes answering member printed Claire Perry question first answered 19/11/2018 15:46:48 answering member 3974 label Biography information for Claire Perry
	tabling member	4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park

1123098

	registered interest
	date	25/04/2019
	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	Passenger Ships
	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 discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on the potential effect of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s proposals for older UK passenger boats on (a) businesses (b) investment and (c) skilled engineering jobs in boatyards.
	tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
	tabling member printed	Zac Goldsmith
	uin	247691
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2019 answer text <p>BEIS officials remain closely engaged with DfT on the delivery of the recently published Maritime 2050 strategy and to support growth ambitions across the maritime sector. BEIS and DfT officials speak regularly about a range of topics.</p> answering member constituency Pendle answering member printed Andrew Stephenson question first answered 30/04/2019 13:54:05 answering member 4044 label Biography information for Andrew Stephenson
	tabling member	4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park

1205313

	registered interest
	date	18/06/2020
	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	Electric Scooters: Safety
	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 steps (a) his Department and (b) the Office for Product Safety and Standards are taking to raise public awareness on the safe charging of e-scooters in homes.
	tabling member constituency	Makerfield
	tabling member printed	Yvonne Fovargue
	uin	61479
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2020 answer text <p>Manufacturers are required to ensure the safety of their products under reasonably foreseeable use, and to issue instructions for safe use.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is considering the requirements for electric scooters as part of its Future of Transport Regulatory Review. Following this review any necessary public awareness information or guidance will be issued.</p> answering member constituency Sutton and Cheam answering member printed Paul Scully question first answered 24/06/2020 15:34:01 answering member 4414 label Biography information for Paul Scully
	tabling member	4034 label Biography information for Yvonne Fovargue

1242066

	registered interest
	date	09/10/2020
	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	Consumers: Prices
	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 steps his Department is taking to tackle the loyalty penalty in the (a) mobile, (b) broadband and (c) mortgage market.
	tabling member constituency	Makerfield
	tabling member printed	Yvonne Fovargue
	uin	101273
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/10/2020 answer text <p>In 2019, new rules for mobile phones were created by Ofcom which required companies to provide better upfront contract information on pricing for bundled handset and airtime services, and several companies voluntarily agreed to reduce bills for out-of-contract customers. In broadband, a number of major providers took steps to reduce the loyalty penalty, including capping prices. An updated review was published by Ofcom in July 2020.</p><p> </p><p>Other telecoms interventions have been developed, including Ofcom’s new rules which require communication providers to send a notification to their customers when they are nearing the end of their contract. The Government and Ofcom continue to work on ‘Open Communications’ as part of the Smart Data project to help consumers access information and switch providers accordingly, for which Ofcom published a consultation in July 2020.</p><p> </p><p>The Financial Conduct Authority conducted a mortgage market study in 2019 which noted that they are working with lenders to make it easier for borrowers to switch, where that is possible and would be of benefit, in light of the ‘loyalty penalty’. That work continues.</p> answering member constituency Sutton and Cheam answering member printed Paul Scully question first answered 14/10/2020 16:38:06 answering member 4414 label Biography information for Paul Scully
	tabling member	4034 label Biography information for Yvonne Fovargue