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1151204

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2019
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	What steps she plans to take to ensure that the majority of energy generated in the UK is from renewable sources.
	tabling member constituency	East Worthing and Shoreham
	tabling member printed	Tim Loughton
	uin	900049
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2019 answer text <p>Over half of the UK’s electricity comes from low-carbon sources. The Carbon Brief found that from July to September 2019, renewables accounted for 40% of overall generation, compared to 33% last year.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is investing £557 million in further Contracts for Difference auctions and over £3 billion for renewable technology innovation.</p><p> </p><p>Additionally, we’re phasing out coal by 2025 and over 50% of electricity generation will be from renewable sources by 2030.</p> answering member constituency Spelthorne answering member printed Kwasi Kwarteng question first answered 22/10/2019 13:19:39 answering member 4134 label Biography information for Kwasi Kwarteng
	tabling member	114 label Biography information for Tim Loughton

1151343

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2019
	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	Energy: 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 recent assessment she has made of the potential effect on average household energy bills of the UK leaving the EU.
	tabling member constituency	City of Chester
	tabling member printed	Christian Matheson
	uin	3622
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/10/2019 answer text <p>The Government recognises the importance to businesses and households of having access to an affordable, secure and sustainable supply of energy. The UK’s exit from the EU will not alter the fact that our energy system is resilient and secure and drawn from a number of sources.</p><p> </p><p>Many factors impact energy prices including fuel prices, exchange rates and generation mix. Great Britain will remain physically linked to the EU post-exit through electricity and gas interconnectors. We expect that any change in electricity prices in Great Britain as a result of changes to interconnector trading arrangements would fall within the normal range of market volatility. For gas markets, the mechanisms of cross-border trade are not expected to fundamentally change after exit. The UK gas market is one of the world’s most developed and provides security through supply diversity, most of which is not dependent on the EU.</p><p> </p><p>Energy regulators in Ireland and Northern Ireland have set out that the Single Electricity Market (SEM) will continue to operate immediately after Brexit, including in a No Deal scenario. The SEM is designed to put downward pressure on consumer electricity prices, facilitate the integration of renewables and provide continued security of supply. The UK is committed to seeking to maintain the SEM in any scenario and will therefore take all possible measures to do so.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has taken steps to enable electricity and gas trade to continue and maintain the effectiveness of domestic regulation, providing legal clarity for industry on the future operations of Great Britain and Northern Ireland’s energy markets.</p> answering member constituency Spelthorne answering member printed Kwasi Kwarteng question first answered 28/10/2019 13:22:01 answering member 4134 label Biography information for Kwasi Kwarteng
	tabling member	4408 label Biography information for Christian Matheson

1151346

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2019
	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: 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 her Department is taking to reduce the cost of electricity to consumers.
	tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
	tabling member printed	David Simpson
	uin	3625
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/10/2019 answer text <p>Energy policy is largely devolved to Northern Ireland, including energy price regulation. Across the island of Ireland the Single Electricity Market (SEM) is designed to put downward pressure on consumer electricity prices, facilitate the integration of renewables and provide continued security of supply.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is committed to ensuring fair energy prices for consumers and has a range of policies in Great Britain. The Domestic Gas and Electricity (Tariff Cap) Act requires the energy regulator to cap standard variable and default energy tariffs. Ofgem estimate this could save consumers around £75-100 per year.</p><p> </p><p>There are around 60 domestic suppliers in the GB energy market with a range of innovative tariffs for consumers to choose from. Switching in early 2019 hit historic highs, with the total number of domestic switches in the 12 months up to July 2019 was 10% higher than over the same period last year. In August 2019, customers could save up to £408 a year by switching.</p><p> </p><p>Over 2 million low income and vulnerable households receive £140 off their electricity bills each winter through the Warm Home Discount.</p><p> </p><p>Improving the energy efficiency of a home is the best way of reducing energy bills for the long-term. Since 2013, over 2 million homes, including those with electric heating, have had their energy efficiency improved under the Energy Company Obligation.</p> answering member constituency Spelthorne answering member printed Kwasi Kwarteng question first answered 28/10/2019 13:22:20 answering member 4134 label Biography information for Kwasi Kwarteng
	tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

1151572

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2019
	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	Heating: Scotland
	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 her Department’s policy is on the decarbonisation of heating in Scotland.
	tabling member constituency	Kilmarnock and Loudoun
	tabling member printed	Alan Brown
	uin	3759
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/10/2019 answer text <p>In 2019, the UK government set a legally binding-target to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions from across the UK economy by 2050. Meeting this target will require virtually all heat in buildings to be decarbonised, and heat in industry to be reduced to close to zero carbon emissions.</p><p> </p><p>Heat policy is devolved in Scotland, but in practice the devolution arrangement is complicated, with some levers (e.g. building regulations) being fully devolved, and others (e.g. fuel standards and specifications) being fully reserved. We are working to develop policies to meet our net zero target, and the Department has committed to publishing a new heat roadmap in summer 2020. This will set out the programme of work required to enable key strategic decisions in the first half of the 2020s on how we achieve mass transition to low carbon heating. The Department will work with colleagues in the Scottish Government to ensure that the implications and impacts for Scotland are fully accounted for.</p> answering member constituency Spelthorne answering member printed Kwasi Kwarteng grouped question UIN 3761 question first answered 28/10/2019 13:23:10 answering member 4134 label Biography information for Kwasi Kwarteng
	tabling member	4470 label Biography information for Alan Brown

1151575

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2019
	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	Heating: Scotland
	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 her Department will publish its plans for the decarbonisation of heating in Scotland.
	tabling member constituency	Kilmarnock and Loudoun
	tabling member printed	Alan Brown
	uin	3761
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/10/2019 answer text <p>In 2019, the UK government set a legally binding-target to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions from across the UK economy by 2050. Meeting this target will require virtually all heat in buildings to be decarbonised, and heat in industry to be reduced to close to zero carbon emissions.</p><p> </p><p>Heat policy is devolved in Scotland, but in practice the devolution arrangement is complicated, with some levers (e.g. building regulations) being fully devolved, and others (e.g. fuel standards and specifications) being fully reserved. We are working to develop policies to meet our net zero target, and the Department has committed to publishing a new heat roadmap in summer 2020. This will set out the programme of work required to enable key strategic decisions in the first half of the 2020s on how we achieve mass transition to low carbon heating. The Department will work with colleagues in the Scottish Government to ensure that the implications and impacts for Scotland are fully accounted for.</p> answering member constituency Spelthorne answering member printed Kwasi Kwarteng grouped question UIN 3759 question first answered 28/10/2019 13:23:10 answering member 4134 label Biography information for Kwasi Kwarteng
	tabling member	4470 label Biography information for Alan Brown

1151576

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2019
	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	Heating: Scotland
	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 estimate she has made of the level of funding required to decarbonise gas distribution networks in Scotland.
	tabling member constituency	Kilmarnock and Loudoun
	tabling member printed	Alan Brown
	uin	3762
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/10/2019 answer text <p>Support for innovation remains an important part of accelerating decarbonisation. We announced our intention in 2017 to spend £60 million supporting innovative, low carbon energy infrastructure solutions across Scotland – including battery storage, sustainable heating systems and low emissions transport.</p><p> </p><p>Alongside this, Ofgem have funds available to encourage gas distribution networks innovation. One example is the Gas Network Innovation Competition. It provides an opportunity for gas network companies to compete for funding for the development and demonstration of new technologies, operating and commercial arrangements. Up to £20 million per annum is available through the Gas Network Innovation Competition.</p> answering member constituency Spelthorne answering member printed Kwasi Kwarteng question first answered 28/10/2019 13:23:27 answering member 4134 label Biography information for Kwasi Kwarteng
	tabling member	4470 label Biography information for Alan Brown

1151577

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2019
	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	Natural Gas: Scotland
	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 she has made of the role of investment in gas distribution networks in tackling fuel poverty in Scotland.
	tabling member constituency	Kilmarnock and Loudoun
	tabling member printed	Alan Brown
	uin	3763
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/10/2019 answer text <p>Fuel poverty is a devolved issue, and responsibility for regulating the gas distribution networks lies with Ofgem. BEIS has responsibility for fuel poverty in England. I regularly have conversations with my counterparts in the Devolved Administrations on a wide range of issues, most recently on 24 October.</p><p> </p><p>BEIS has recently concluded a consultation on fuel poverty in England and are currently analysing the responses. A Government response to consultation will be published in due course.</p> answering member constituency Spelthorne answering member printed Kwasi Kwarteng question first answered 28/10/2019 13:46:40 answering member 4134 label Biography information for Kwasi Kwarteng
	tabling member	4470 label Biography information for Alan Brown

1151578

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2019
	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	Natural Gas: Scotland
	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 she has made in the role of gas distribution networks in Scotland in achieving Scotland’s decarbonisation targets.
	tabling member constituency	Kilmarnock and Loudoun
	tabling member printed	Alan Brown
	uin	3764
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/10/2019 answer text <p>Gas distribution networks will play an important role in achieving Scotland’s decarbonisation targets. Gas networks have the potential to deliver low carbon gases such as hydrogen and biomethane. To accelerate the decarbonisation of our gas supplies, the Government has committed to increasing the proportion of green gas in the grid and will consult on the appropriate mechanism to deliver this commitment.</p><p> </p><p>In the near term, hydrogen could be blended with natural gas to reduce its carbon intensity. An example is the Hydeploy project at Keele University, which is planning to trial and demonstrate the safety of up-to a 20% hydrogen mix, decarbonising the delivered energy by around 8%.[1]</p><p> </p><p>In the longer term, it may be feasible and cost effective to use the gas networks to deliver 100% hydrogen to some or all connected areas. SGN is planning to demonstrate a 100% hydrogen gas network in Scotland, converting part of the gas distribution network to trial delivering hydrogen. The project is assessing the suitability of three sites in Scotland, in Aberdeen, Levenmouth and Machrihanish with one to be selected as the most suitable location for the construction of the demonstration network.</p><p> </p><p>[1] A vision for Scotland’s electricity and gas networks 2019-2030 report</p> answering member constituency Spelthorne answering member printed Kwasi Kwarteng question first answered 28/10/2019 13:23:35 answering member 4134 label Biography information for Kwasi Kwarteng
	tabling member	4470 label Biography information for Alan Brown

1151581

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2019
	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	Natural Gas: Scotland
	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 her Department’s policy is on delivering investment in gas distribution network innovation in relation to heat and transportation decarbonisation in Scotland.
	tabling member constituency	Kilmarnock and Loudoun
	tabling member printed	Alan Brown
	uin	3766
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/10/2019 answer text <p>Gas distribution network Innovation is delivered through the RIIIO price control. The energy regulator, Ofgem, provides essential backing to innovative projects which aim to help make the energy networks smarter, accelerate the development of a low carbon energy sector as well as deliver financial benefits to consumers. This is the case for all home nations within GB. Below are some examples of gas distribution network innovation:</p><p> </p><p><strong>Hydrogen 100 Project</strong><strong><strong>[1]</strong></strong></p><p>The H100 project, led by SGN is a £2.8 million Ofgem funded project to design the world’s first 100% hydrogen gas distribution network, demonstrating the safe, secure and reliable distribution of hydrogen. The project is assessing the suitability of three sites in Scotland, in Aberdeen, Levenmouth and Machrihanish with one to be selected as the most suitable location for the construction of the demonstration network.</p><p><strong>Hydrogen fuelled buses<sup>1</sup></strong></p><p>Scotland are also supporting ways to meet low carbon transport using the gas network. Hydrogen could potentially power many of our larger vehicles – buses, lorries and ferries. The extensive trialling of hydrogen powered buses in Aberdeen shows the potential benefits of low carbon and reduced air pollution from public transport.</p><p> </p><p>[1] A vision for Scotland’s electricity and gas networks 2019-2030 report</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Spelthorne answering member printed Kwasi Kwarteng question first answered 31/10/2019 13:52:26 answering member 4134 label Biography information for Kwasi Kwarteng
	tabling member	4470 label Biography information for Alan Brown