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1126711

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	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	Social Science: Research
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the readership of Government-funded social science research, outside of universities, in the public, voluntary and private sectors.
	tabling member printed	Lord Mawson
	uin	HL15728
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/05/2019 answer text <p>Available information on the readership of social science research does not distinguish between different categories of reader. However, there are many different ways for research to be disseminated and to have impact wider than academic readership.</p><p> </p><p>Over 2000 case studies of the impact from social science research outside academia were submitted to the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014 Panel C on Social Sciences (around 30% of total impact case studies submitted to the REF). Analysis from the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement shows that 52% of those submitted to Panel C included public engagement. Additional analysis by Kings College London and Digital Science (attached) looked at the impact of research on public policy and parliamentary debate, showing that case studies submitted to Panel C were the most likely to evidence political engagement.</p><p> </p><p>Between 2012-16, at least 25% of Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funded research included collaboration or partnership with at least one partner organisation. ESRC funded research is also highly connected to the public sector with up to 27% of funded research showing policy or practice impacts in 2016.</p><p> </p><p>Specific examples of the impact from ESRC’s funded social science research can be found on their website, many of these involve working closely with industry, government, or not-for-profits.</p><p> </p><p>We are working with UK Research and Innovation and other key partners to develop a roadmap that sets out how government and industry will work together to reach our target of increasing R&amp;D investment to 2.4% of GDP by 2027, which would be the highest recorded level, and 3% in the longer-term.</p><p> </p><p>The £236m Strength in Places Fund supports areas across the UK to build on their science and innovation strengths and develop stronger local networks. It funds proposals developed by local consortia which demonstrate a strong impact on local growth and productivity. Successful wave 1 bids were announced by UKRI in March 2019, and wave two was launched on 8 May 2019. It is expected that successful bids to this initial stage will be announced during summer 2020.</p> answering member printed Lord Henley question first answered 29/05/2019 12:53:14 answering member 2616 label Biography information for Lord Henley attachment 1 file name ref-impact.pdf title Initial analysis of REF 2014 impact case studies
	tabling member	3830 label Biography information for Lord Mawson

1126725

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	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	Honda: Swindon
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in their discussions with Honda over the closure of their plant in Swindon, they have raised the possibility of the future use of the site and plant for the large-scale production of electric vehicles; and whether they would consider giving financial support to such a venture.
	tabling member printed	Lord Stoddart of Swindon
	uin	HL15742
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/05/2019 answer text <p>My rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy met with the Honda Executives in London on 18 February, just ahead of Honda’s initial announcement to close its Swindon plant on 19 February. The Secretary of State has chaired a taskforce consisting of local leaders, MPs and trade unions, to provide support to the workforce and businesses who would be affected by the loss of Honda’s plant in Swindon. Through the taskforce we are determined to work together to ensure that Swindon continues its record of attracting investment from advanced manufacturers, maintaining and creating highly skilled jobs that offer fulfilling careers for many years to come. That will include engaging closely with parties interested in future uses of the site in Swindon owned by Honda.</p><p> </p><p>The Government supports the competitiveness of the UK automotive sector via a number of routes. Government has committed £274m to the Faraday Battery Challenge, and circa £80m in the last Budget to the Stephenson Challenge, newly named ‘Driving the Electric Revolution’. Together Government and industry have committed around £1 billion through the Advanced Propulsion Centre to support research, development and commercialisation of the next generation of low carbon technologies, keeping the UK at the cutting edge of low carbon automotive innovations. Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation provides R&amp;D support across a range of technology themes including low carbon, materials and manufacturing; and connected and autonomous vehicles.</p> answering member printed Lord Henley question first answered 29/05/2019 12:59:10 answering member 2616 label Biography information for Lord Henley
	tabling member	950 label Biography information for Lord Stoddart of Swindon

1126701

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	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	Wind Power
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the difficulties associated with the maintenance of wind turbines and associated equipment; and what steps they are taking, if any, to work with the offshore wind energy industry to address such difficulties.
	tabling member printed	Lord Hunt of Chesterton
	uin	HL15718
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/05/2019 answer text <p>Operators are responsible for maintaining turbines and associated equipment for their projects.</p><p> </p><p>The Offshore Wind Innovation Hub, a collaboration between Innovate UK and ORE Catapult, has jointly agreed innovation priorities around four areas, one of which is operations &amp; maintenance and windfarm lifecycle. As set out in the Offshore Wind Sector Deal, the sector will look to build on existing work by, for example, exploring the application of robotics and Artificial Intelligence in optimising maintenance and reducing costs.</p><p> </p><p>The renewables share of electricity generation reached 33.3% in 2018 – a record high – with 111TWh generated from renewable sources. Offshore wind generated 26.6TWh which equated to 8% of the UK’s overall annual generation.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Henley question first answered 28/05/2019 15:20:48 answering member 2616 label Biography information for Lord Henley
	tabling member	2543 label Biography information for Lord Hunt of Chesterton

1126555

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	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	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Sick 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, how many and what proportion of officials in his Department took sick leave for reasons relating to stress in the last 12 months; what proportion that leave was of total sick leave taken in his Department; and what the cost was to his Department of officials taking sick leave over that period.
	tabling member constituency	Carshalton and Wallington
	tabling member printed	Tom Brake
	uin	254064
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>The number of employees in the Department for Business, Energy &amp; Industrial Strategy (BEIS) during the calendar year of 2018 who were absent due to mental health reasons, including stress was 59, this represented 1.5% of the total workforce. The proportion of sickness absence related to mental health reasons, including stress, was 23% of the overall sickness absence for the department for the same time period.</p><p> </p><p>The estimated cost to the department over this period for employees taking sickness absence, is estimated at £1,421,738.30.</p><p> </p><p>BEIS is committed to supporting the wellbeing of its staff, including helping them to manage stress in the workplace, and has a Wellbeing Strategy that includes a specific focus on supporting good mental health in its employees. This strategy is based in part on the Civil Service Health and Wellbeing Strategy that also includes the promotion of good mental health for all as one of its five priorities. Through a programme of wellbeing events and speakers, a growing cohort of mental health first aiders, promotion and signposting of the employee assistance programme, and e-learning packages for staff on stress, resilience and wellbeing, the Department has seen continued awareness and engagement on wellbeing and good mental health.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Pendle answering member printed Andrew Stephenson question first answered 22/05/2019 16:20:29 answering member 4044 label Biography information for Andrew Stephenson
	tabling member	151 label Biography information for Tom Brake

1126715

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	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	Electric Vehicles
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the increase in demand for power as a result of any growth in electric vehicle use by (1) 2030, and (2) 2040; and what plans they have to ensure the UK's energy infrastructure meets this rise in demand.
	tabling member printed	Lord Mendelsohn
	uin	HL15732
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>National Grid (Electricity System Operator) published their 2018 Future Energy Scenarios on 12 July (attached) and previously produced a bespoke note on the electricity system impacts of electric vehicles (attached). The level of impact that National Grid presents is manageable by the electricity system and shows the benefits that can be provided through smart charging of electric vehicles. Therefore, the Government has taken powers in the Automated and Electric Vehicles Act to mandate that all charge points sold or installed in the UK must be smart enabled, and we are planning to consult on secondary regulations this year. In addition, the Government has established an Electric Vehicle Energy Taskforce, made up of representatives from across the automotive and energy industries and consumer groups, in order to consider these issues, alongside the wider integration of electric vehicles into the energy system. The Government is confident it will be possible to manage additional demand from greater uptake of electric vehicles through adjustments to the level of capacity secured in Capacity Market auctions.</p><p> </p><p>In terms of transporting the power, network companies (including transmission operators) are regional monopolies regulated by the independent energy regulator Ofgem. Ofgem regulates the companies using a price control process called RIIO. As part of this process companies are expected to run a safe and secure network whilst adequately investing for the future and ensuring fair costs to consumers. This process ensures the network infrastructure can transport the power to where it is needed.</p> answering member printed Lord Henley attachment 1 file name fes-interactive-version-final.pdf title Future Energy Scenarios (July 2018) 2 file name ev-myth-buster-v032.pdf title Electricity system impacts of electric vehicles question first answered 22/05/2019 16:25:52 answering member 2616 label Biography information for Lord Henley
	tabling member	4286 label Biography information for Lord Mendelsohn

1126727

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	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	Motor Vehicles: Manufacturing Industries
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on the automotive sector of recent announcements by Honda and other car manufacturers of expected job losses in the UK.
	tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
	uin	HL15744
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>This is a concerning time for the 3,500 workers at the Swindon plant and the many thousands of people employed by companies in Honda UK’s supply chain. The Government will come together to provide support for those affected by this and other decisions.</p><p> </p><p>Despite this disappointing news, government believes that the case for continued investment in the UK is exceptionally strong, and that Honda and our strategic technology priorities are aligned. The UK has some of the best talent in the world and the Government is already investing in future car manufacturing, batteries and electrification infrastructure to ensure the UK retains its world-leading edge. The UK continues to be one of the most competitive locations in the world for automotive and other advanced manufacturing. We continue to support individual company investments in technology transition, and we are committed to maintaining and growing our domestic supply chain and highly skilled workforce.</p><p> </p><p>We recognise the challenges facing automotive businesses, including the prevailing market conditions in Europe, but strongly believe that companies in automotive and other sectors can continue to take advantage of the UK’s business environment and the opportunities arising from accessing new and developing markets in the UK and overseas.</p><p> </p><p>We are determined to ensure that the UK continues to be one of the most competitive locations in the world for the automotive sector. BEIS Ministers and officials regularly engage with the automotive industry, including bilaterals with manufacturers, interactions via trade associations, and through the Department’s participation in the Automotive Council.</p> answering member printed Lord Henley question first answered 22/05/2019 16:28:04 answering member 2616 label Biography information for Lord Henley
	tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

1126487

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	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	Renewable Energy: Cooperatives
	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 recent steps his Department has taken to support communities to set up renewable energy co-operatives.
	tabling member constituency	Croydon North
	tabling member printed	Mr Steve Reed
	uin	254193
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>I continue to believe that Community Energy remains an important part of the energy system, delivering energy efficiency and demand management, supporting switching and engaging the wider community on the key challenges of the energy transition and wider climate change as well as owning generation assets.</p><p> </p><p>Renewable Energy co-operatives are one of the business models that we support and was a key part of the criteria in a number of community initiatives and support mechanisms the department funded in the past. This will also be the case for the Rural Community Energy fund which will reopen at the end of this month and provide grants to community groups for feasibility studies and development of business cases for local energy projects.</p><p> </p><p>We also work closely with community networks like Community Energy England who manage the community energy hub which shares best practice, case studies and as part of that provides advice and support for the creation of community energy co-operatives.</p> answering member constituency Kingswood answering member printed Chris Skidmore question first answered 21/05/2019 14:57:44 answering member 4021 label Biography information for Chris Skidmore
	tabling member	4268 label Biography information for Steve Reed

1126492

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	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	Local Enterprise Partnerships: Rural Areas
	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 the names are of each Local Enterprise Partnership; and which partnerships have appointed a board member with responsibility for rural issues.
	tabling member constituency	Stroud
	tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
	uin	254102
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2019 answer text <p>The 38 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEPs) areas are Black Country; Buckinghamshire Thames Valley; Cambridge and Peterborough; Cheshire &amp; Warrington; Coast to Capital LEP; Cornwall &amp; Isles of Scilly; Coventry and Warwickshire; Cumbria; Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire (D2N2); Dorset LEP; Enterprise M3; Gloucestershire (GFirst) LEP; Greater Birmingham and Solihull; Greater Lincolnshire; Greater Manchester; Heart of the South West; Hertfordshire; Humber LEP; Lancashire LEP; Leeds City Region; Leicester &amp; Leicestershire; Liverpool City Region LEP; London; New Anglia LEP; North East LEP; Oxfordshire LEP; Sheffield City Region LEP; Solent LEP; South East LEP; South East Midlands LEP; Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire LEP; Swindon and Wiltshire LEP; Tees Valley LEP; Thames Valley Berkshire; The Marches; West of England LEP; Worcestershire LEP and York and North Yorkshire LEP.</p><p> </p><p>The following 12 LEPs have appointed a board member with an explicit responsibility for rural issues: Cheshire &amp; Warrington; Cornwall &amp; Isles of Scilly; Dorset LEP; Enterprise M3; Heart of the South West; New Anglia LEP; North East LEP; South East LEP; South East Midlands LEP; Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire LEP; Swindon and Wiltshire LEP; and York and North Yorkshire LEP.</p><p> </p><p>Other Local Enterprise Partnerships manage rural issues in a variety of ways, for example in Gloucestershire (GFirst) there is a member of the LEP agri-food &amp; rural business sector group on the board, by the appointment of an agri-food champion (The Marches), through engagement at SME boards (Coventry and Warwickshire) and by drawing on the expertise of rural organisations (Worcestershire).</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 20/05/2019 16:04:27 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1126500

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	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	Electricity Generation
	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 criteria is used by National Grid ESO to determine acceptable levels of regional electricity system restoration capability.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North East
	tabling member printed	Mr Paul Sweeney
	uin	254267
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2019 answer text <p>The Electricity System Operator (NGESO), has a legal obligation to have a capability to restore the electricity system in the event of a total or partial failure.</p><p> </p><p>In line with historic expectations, NGESO has sourced and procured capability to achieve the restoration of 60% of national demand within 24 hours. This level of demand equates to the level required to run a stable, interconnected Electricity Transmission System, from which remaining demand can be restored.</p><p> </p><p>This approach requires a certain number of self-starting generators to be available in each region and prioritises the restoration of supplies to other generators to maintain a broadly consistent rate of restoration across all GB regions.</p><p> </p><p>The restoration approach is reviewed at least once every two years, to ensure that GB’s restoration capability keeps pace with all relevant technologies and the changes to the electricity system.</p> answering member constituency Kingswood answering member printed Chris Skidmore question first answered 20/05/2019 16:05:28 answering member 4021 label Biography information for Chris Skidmore
	tabling member	4642 label Biography information for Mr Paul Sweeney

1126501

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	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	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, how essential electricity system restoration capability will be provided in a zero-carbon electricity system.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North East
	tabling member printed	Mr Paul Sweeney
	uin	254268
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2019 answer text <p>The electricity System Operator (National Grid ESO) has a legal license obligation to ensure that it has a restoration capability.</p><p> </p><p>In order to ensure that this capability evolves to provide a safe and effective restoration as the electricity system continues to decarbonise and decentralise, NGESO is undertaking a project to develop and demonstrate new approaches to restore the electricity system from Distributed Energy Resources to increase competition in the market and deliver cost and carbon emission reductions.</p><p> </p><p>BEIS will continue to monitor GB’s changing restoration capability alongside National Grid and Ofgem to ensure it remains robust and effective.</p> answering member constituency Kingswood answering member printed Chris Skidmore question first answered 20/05/2019 16:05:35 answering member 4021 label Biography information for Chris Skidmore
	tabling member	4642 label Biography information for Mr Paul Sweeney