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971387

	registered interest
	date	10/09/2018
	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	Energy Supply
	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 (a) implications for his policies of the 2018 National Grid Future Energy Scenarios which place all peak demand scenarios above 75 GW compared with one scenario over 70 GW in the 2017 scenarios and (b) potential effect of the 2018 scenarios on the operations of distribution network companies.
	tabling member constituency	Falkirk
	tabling member printed	John McNally
	uin	172545
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/09/2018 answer text <p>National Grid’s Future Energy Scenarios 2018 has been used to analyse peak demand scenarios for the Capacity Market. The Capacity Market secures the electricity capacity required to meet peak demand in a range of scenarios. The targets for Capacity Market auctions are set annually for the delivery year four and one year ahead. These targets are based on advice from National Grid and our Panel of Technical Experts, which uses the analysis in the Future Energy Scenarios.</p><p> </p><p>With regard to the distribution network companies, Ofgem’s regulation takes account of potential increases in demand. In addition, BEIS and Ofgem published the Smart Systems and Flexibility Plan in July 2017. This signalled the move to Distribution System Operators where network companies are more actively managing their networks to deal with increasing levels of distribution-connected generation and increasing demand from, for example, electric vehicles and heat pumps.</p> answering member constituency Devizes answering member printed Claire Perry question first answered 17/09/2018 15:22:33 answering member 3974 label Biography information for Claire Perry
	tabling member	4424 label Biography information for John McNally

971388

	registered interest
	date	10/09/2018
	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	Energy Supply
	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) Ofgem plan to take to ensure that distribution networks are prepared to meet additional demand from (i) high economic growth and (ii) rising rates of electrical vehicle take-up.
	tabling member constituency	Falkirk
	tabling member printed	John McNally
	uin	172546
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/09/2018 answer text <p>Distribution Network Operators are investing up to £24.6bn over their current price control (2015-2023) on their networks, including in meeting additional demand. Ofgem have begun consideration of the next price control for the network companies beyond 2023, which will take into account economic growth and the increase in electric vehicles (EVs). There are flexibility mechanisms built into these price controls to enable network companies to respond to unexpected changes.</p><p>In July 2017, Government launched its Smart Systems and Flexibility Plan, along with Ofgem, which enables new technologies to increase capacity and the energy system to manage new sources of demand more efficiently. As part of this, smart charging measures are included in the Automated and Electric Vehicles Act which means that Government can now set standards so all new EV chargepoints installed are smart enabled. This will provide benefits to consumers and reduce the demands on the networks.</p><p>Finally, as outlined in the Road to Zero strategy, the Government launched the EV Energy Taskforce on 11 June. The taskforce will consider what further actions should be taken so that the energy system is prepared for the uptake of electric vehicles.</p> answering member constituency Devizes answering member printed Claire Perry question first answered 17/09/2018 15:22:39 answering member 3974 label Biography information for Claire Perry
	tabling member	4424 label Biography information for John McNally

971392

	registered interest
	date	10/09/2018
	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	Energy Supply
	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 Ofgem are taking to reduce electricity losses in the transmission and distribution systems; and what assessment he has made of the effect of those losses on Scottish (a) businesses and (b) consumers.
	tabling member constituency	Falkirk
	tabling member printed	John McNally
	uin	172550
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/09/2018 answer text <p>Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) and Transmission Owners have an overarching obligation to develop and maintain efficient, co-ordinated and economical systems. Ofgem has also placed specific licence obligations on them to ensure that losses are as low as reasonably practicable. Whilst Government and Ofgem are aware of potential approaches to minimising losses, including through the use of low resistance cables, network companies are not instructed exactly how to go about this. Instead, Ofgem sets incentives for network companies, including broader environmental incentives on losses and business carbon footprint. These incentives have encouraged the network companies to proactively manage losses on their networks to the extent to which this is possible. For example, it is now widespread practice across GB to replace ‘high-loss’ cables with newer ‘low-loss’ substitutes, where this is efficient. The DNOs are also undertaking a programme of replacing pre-1960s transformers with newer more efficient types.</p><p> </p><p>Neither Government nor Ofgem specifically records the effect of losses on Scottish consumers and businesses. However, as part of developing their business plans for future capital expenditure, Ofgem will require network companies (including the Scottish network companies) to take into account the lifetime costs including losses, when deciding between different equipment.</p> answering member constituency Devizes answering member printed Claire Perry grouped question UIN 172551 question first answered 17/09/2018 15:22:48 answering member 3974 label Biography information for Claire Perry
	tabling member	4424 label Biography information for John McNally

971393

	registered interest
	date	10/09/2018
	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	Electric Cables: Innovation
	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 role of innovative, low resistance cables in helping to (a) reduce electrical losses and (b) deliver more electricity to where it is consumed.
	tabling member constituency	Falkirk
	tabling member printed	John McNally
	uin	172551
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/09/2018 answer text <p>Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) and Transmission Owners have an overarching obligation to develop and maintain efficient, co-ordinated and economical systems. Ofgem has also placed specific licence obligations on them to ensure that losses are as low as reasonably practicable. Whilst Government and Ofgem are aware of potential approaches to minimising losses, including through the use of low resistance cables, network companies are not instructed exactly how to go about this. Instead, Ofgem sets incentives for network companies, including broader environmental incentives on losses and business carbon footprint. These incentives have encouraged the network companies to proactively manage losses on their networks to the extent to which this is possible. For example, it is now widespread practice across GB to replace ‘high-loss’ cables with newer ‘low-loss’ substitutes, where this is efficient. The DNOs are also undertaking a programme of replacing pre-1960s transformers with newer more efficient types.</p><p> </p><p>Neither Government nor Ofgem specifically records the effect of losses on Scottish consumers and businesses. However, as part of developing their business plans for future capital expenditure, Ofgem will require network companies (including the Scottish network companies) to take into account the lifetime costs including losses, when deciding between different equipment.</p> answering member constituency Devizes answering member printed Claire Perry grouped question UIN 172550 question first answered 17/09/2018 15:22:48 answering member 3974 label Biography information for Claire Perry
	tabling member	4424 label Biography information for John McNally

1038408

	registered interest
	date	09/01/2019
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Beverage Containers: Deposit Return Schemes
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on a deposit return scheme.
	tabling member constituency	Falkirk
	tabling member printed	John McNally
	uin	206865
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/01/2019 answer text <p>Policy officials continue to engage regularly with the Scottish Government. Ministers met in July 2018 and are due to meet again in February 2019.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 14/01/2019 11:53:24 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	4424 label Biography information for John McNally

1078451

	registered interest
	date	27/02/2019
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	State Retirement Pensions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 4 July 2018 to Question 160779, how many (a) men and (b) women in private sector pensions schemes were contracted-out between 1978-79 and 1987-88; and how many of those (i) men and (ii) women (A) have reached state retirement age since the introduction of the single tier pension and (B) are still to reach state retirement age.
	tabling member constituency	Falkirk
	tabling member printed	John McNally
	uin	226688
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/03/2019 answer text <p>Under the old State Pension, there was a basic State Pension, based on the number of years of employment, and an earnings-related element (additional State Pension). From 1978 until April 2016 it was possible for employees and employers to contract-out of the additional State Pension (SERPS and, from 6 April 2002, State Second Pension) on condition that the employer provided a pension of, at least, a statutory minimum.</p><p> </p><p>Prior to 1988 contracting-out was restricted to Defined Benefit schemes and there was no individual choice. Until April 2012 it was possible to contract-out by joining a Defined Contribution workplace pension scheme or a personal pension scheme which met certain conditions instead. Contracting-out for salary-related Defined Benefit schemes remained open until 5 April 2016. Contracted-out through a salary-related workplace pension scheme meant that the employee and employer paid lower National Insurance contributions and, in doing so, the employee would receive a lower (or no) additional State Pension. However, they would be receiving a workplace pension instead.</p><p> </p><p>An individual’s basic State Pension is not affected. Separate rules apply if an individual is a member of a salary-related pension scheme before 6 April 1997. These rights, known as the Guaranteed Minimum Pension, cannot be taken before age 65 (men) or 60 (women). Contracting-out finally ended on 6 April 2016, and this means that all employees now pay the same rate of NI.</p><p> </p><p>The specific information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 07/03/2019 11:11:00 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4424 label Biography information for John McNally

1105758

	registered interest
	date	27/03/2019
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Work Capability Assessment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of whether Maximus is meeting the SC12 and SC13 targets in schedule 2.2 of the Health and Disability Assessment Services contract; and whether the Government collates data from individual assessment centres on those targets.
	tabling member constituency	Falkirk
	tabling member printed	John McNally
	uin	237797
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/04/2019 answer text <p>The supplier aims to deliver quality assessments as efficiently as possible. Our priority is to ensure that claimants who attend an assessment centre are seen and the supplier is achieving the SC1<ins class="ministerial">3</ins><del class="ministerial">2</del> target which measures the percentage of claimants sent home unseen. Currently, more people are waiting longer in assessment centres than we would like; the supplier is currently just below the SC1<ins class="ministerial">2</ins><del class="ministerial">3</del> target level which measures waiting times in assessment centres. SC12 and SC13 are national contractual service levels, but the Department does monitor performance at assessment centre-level. We are working closely with the supplier to improve waiting times for more claimants while ensuring the length of the assessment meets the individual claimant’s needs and claimants who attend for an assessment are seen.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 04/04/2019 13:46:25 question first ministerially corrected 29/04/2019 16:36:42 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson previous answer version 112078 answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4424 label Biography information for John McNally

1110336

	registered interest
	date	08/04/2019
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Work Capability Assessment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 4 April 2019 to Question 237797 on Work Capability Assessments, what proportion of SC12 and SC13 targets were met by Maximus since the start of the contract, at (a) Stirling assessment centre, (b) the top three and (c) bottom three achieving centres.
	tabling member constituency	Falkirk
	tabling member printed	John McNally
	uin	242166
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/04/2019 answer text <p>SC12 and SC13 are national targets. We do not have contractual targets for individual assessment centres. Disproportionate costs would apply to answer this question, assuming the national target levels were applied by assessment centre, as the information is not readily available.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 16/04/2019 11:13:23 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4424 label Biography information for John McNally

1122094

	registered interest
	date	18/04/2019
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Work Capability Assessment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 4 April 2019 to Question 237797 on Work Capability Assessments, what performance is monitored at assessment-centre level; and what proportion of SC12 and SC13 targets were met for each year that Maximus held the contract.
	tabling member constituency	Falkirk
	tabling member printed	John McNally
	uin	245839
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2019 answer text <p>The department monitors Assessment Centre level performance on waiting times (SC12), claimants sent home unseen (SC13) and recent performance trends. Whilst we are able to produce much longer performance trends, the information required to do so is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>The proportion of SC12 and SC13 targets that were met for each year that Maximus has held the contract are shown in the table below: -</p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Contract Period</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Number of months target was met in each year</strong></p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p><strong>SC12</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>SC13</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Year 1 (Mar 2015- Feb 2016)</p></td><td><p>10</p></td><td><p>4</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Year 2 (Mar 2016- Feb 2017)</p></td><td><p>3</p></td><td><p>6</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Year 3 (Mar 2017- Feb 2018)</p></td><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Year 4 (Mar 2018- Feb 2019)</p></td><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>7</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>**Data extracted from the monthly Performance Monitoring reports</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The attached annex (annex A) contains a breakdown of each contract year, showing for each month whether target SC12 and SC13 were met.</p><p>We are continuing to work closely with the supplier to improve waiting times for more claimants.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 30/04/2019 10:33:23 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson attachment 1 file name Annex A.docx title annex A
	tabling member	4424 label Biography information for John McNally

1127387

	registered interest
	date	20/05/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	National Security
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	What recent assessment she has made of the effect of the UK leaving the EU on the UK’s ability to tackle (a) hybrid and (b) cyber-enabled threats.
	tabling member constituency	Falkirk
	tabling member printed	John McNally
	uin	910982
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2019 answer text <p>The Government takes hybrid and cyber threats very seriously, and we are strengthening the UK’s defences against increasingly sophisticated attacks. This includes assessing how we will tackle these threats once we have left the EU.</p><p> </p><p>The security partnership agreed between the UK and the EU sets out the broadest and most comprehensive agreement between the EU and a third country.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 20/05/2019 16:38:38 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	4424 label Biography information for John McNally