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1607122

registered interest
date	24/03/2023
answering body	Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
answering dept id	215
answering dept short name	Energy Security and Net Zero
answering dept sort name	Energy Security and Net Zero
hansard heading	Alternative Fuel Payments
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate her Department made of the number of people who would receive the Alternative Fuel Payment before its introduction; and how many people have received the Alternative Fuel Payment since its introduction.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
uin	173070
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/04/2023 answer text <p>The Department estimated that around 2 million people in the UK use alternative fuels and are eligible for this payment.</p><p>The Alternative Fund for the Alternative Fuel Payment, the element which requires an application, launched recently on 6 March and early data is still being collected. Electricity suppliers, who deliver the automatic enrolment element of the scheme, recently provided MPAN-level delivery data to the Government. Transparency data will be published in due course.</p> answering member constituency Derby North answering member printed Amanda Solloway question first answered 03/04/2023 13:52:16 answering member 4372 label Biography information for Amanda Solloway
tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1606350

registered interest
date	22/03/2023
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	Personal Independence Payment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he plans to take steps to improve the application process for Personal Independence Payments.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
uin	171508
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/03/2023 answer text <p>The Personal Independence Payment (PIP) application process is kept under continual review to ensure it meets the needs of claimants and helps the department reach an accurate assessment of an individual’s entitlement. Since PIP was introduced, we have introduced a range of accessibility improvements such as the Video Relay Service and Relay UK, improved the clarity of the PIP2 questionnaire to make it easier to complete, expanded the assessment methods to include video and telephone, and introduced recording by request for telephone and face-to-face appointments. Claimants are also kept informed and updated at each stage of the application process, including through our improved text message service.</p><p> </p><p>Alongside this, the Health Transformation Programme is transforming the entire PIP service which will reduce the time it will take to process a claim and create a vastly improved claimant experience and a more efficient service for the taxpayer. We will introduce an option to apply for PIP online, giving claimants a greater choice in how they interact with the DWP and the ability to save, resume and upload medical evidence. We are currently operating a small-scale test of the new online apply service, taking a small number of claims to begin with before we gradually and carefully increase the number of people using the service. This approach allows us to develop, test and evaluate the service, exploring and making improvements as we gradually increase its availability. We are also exploring options to re-use evidence we currently hold, removing the need for claimants to upload or re-submit it, and we are reviewing what evidence is relevant to a decision, to enable more accurate data gather and decision making.</p><p> </p><p>We published Transforming Support: The Health and Disability White Paper on 15 March 2023 (<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/transforming-support-the-health-and-disability-white-paper" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/transforming-support-the-health-and-disability-white-paper</a>). The White Paper responds to feedback from The Health and Disability Green Paper consultation and sets out proposals to support more disabled people and people with health conditions to start, stay and succeed in work, as well as to improve the overall experience of, and trust in, the benefits system. We will continue to work with disabled people, people with health conditions and their representatives, to reach the important goals set out in the White Paper.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 28/03/2023 12:07:27 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1604852

registered interest
date	16/03/2023
answering body	Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
answering dept id	215
answering dept short name	Energy Security and Net Zero
answering dept sort name	Energy Security and Net Zero
hansard heading	Nuclear Power
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, for what reason it is his policy that nuclear power will be classed as environmentally sustainable subject to consultation.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
uin	167201
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/03/2023 answer text <p>New nuclear energy is central to our goals of tackling climate change, diversifying the UK’s supply, and enhancing the UK’s long-term energy security and sustainable growth. In the Spring Budget, my Rt. Hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer stated the Government’s intention to include nuclear in the UK Green Taxonomy, subject to consultation, incentivising private investment in this important technology alongside renewables. The Government will provide a further update on the taxonomy as part of its publication of the Green Finance Strategy shortly.</p> answering member constituency West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine answering member printed Andrew Bowie grouped question UIN 167202 167203 question first answered 23/03/2023 16:39:28 answering member 4601 label Biography information for Andrew Bowie
tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1604858

registered interest
date	16/03/2023
answering body	Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
answering dept id	215
answering dept short name	Energy Security and Net Zero
answering dept sort name	Energy Security and Net Zero
hansard heading	Nuclear Power
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an impact assessment of his decision to class nuclear power as environmentally sustainable subject to consultation.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
uin	167202
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/03/2023 answer text <p>New nuclear energy is central to our goals of tackling climate change, diversifying the UK’s supply, and enhancing the UK’s long-term energy security and sustainable growth. In the Spring Budget, my Rt. Hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer stated the Government’s intention to include nuclear in the UK Green Taxonomy, subject to consultation, incentivising private investment in this important technology alongside renewables. The Government will provide a further update on the taxonomy as part of its publication of the Green Finance Strategy shortly.</p> answering member constituency West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine answering member printed Andrew Bowie grouped question UIN 167201 167203 question first answered 23/03/2023 16:39:28 answering member 4601 label Biography information for Andrew Bowie
tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1604864

registered interest
date	16/03/2023
answering body	Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
answering dept id	215
answering dept short name	Energy Security and Net Zero
answering dept sort name	Energy Security and Net Zero
hansard heading	Nuclear Power
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what representations he has received on the Government's proposal to class nuclear power as environmentally sustainable subject to consultation.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
uin	167203
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/03/2023 answer text <p>New nuclear energy is central to our goals of tackling climate change, diversifying the UK’s supply, and enhancing the UK’s long-term energy security and sustainable growth. In the Spring Budget, my Rt. Hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer stated the Government’s intention to include nuclear in the UK Green Taxonomy, subject to consultation, incentivising private investment in this important technology alongside renewables. The Government will provide a further update on the taxonomy as part of its publication of the Green Finance Strategy shortly.</p> answering member constituency West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine answering member printed Andrew Bowie grouped question UIN 167201 167202 question first answered 23/03/2023 16:39:28 answering member 4601 label Biography information for Andrew Bowie
tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1604871

registered interest
date	16/03/2023
answering body	Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
answering dept id	215
answering dept short name	Energy Security and Net Zero
answering dept sort name	Energy Security and Net Zero
hansard heading	Carbon Emissions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a right of local supply that would enable community and smaller-scale low carbon generation schemes to sell directly to local people.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
uin	167204
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/03/2023 answer text <p>The right to local energy supply already exists under the Electricity Act 1989 and Ofgem has existing flexibility to award supply licences that are restricted to specified geographical areas or premises type. Energy suppliers already offer local tariffs which offer discounted prices at times when electricity is generated locally. The Government is considering what reforms are needed to the retail market regulatory framework to support the uptake of new and innovative business models by consumers.</p> answering member constituency Beverley and Holderness answering member printed Graham Stuart question first answered 24/03/2023 12:08:08 answering member 1482 label Biography information for Graham Stuart
tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1604483

registered interest
date	15/03/2023
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Aviation: Carbon Emissions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to support the introduction of zero-emission aircraft.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
uin	166301
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/03/2023 answer text <p>The Government published the Jet Zero Strategy in 2022 which sets out its approach to achieving net zero aviation by 2050. The Strategy considered the potential for zero emission flight alongside other measures.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is investing a record £685 million over three years into R&amp;D in the UK aerospace sector through the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) programme. The Department announced in February £113 million of co-investment with industry in three Rolls-Royce led projects on hydrogen in aviation as well as funding towards Vertical Aerospace, who are developing a battery-electric aircraft in the South-West of England.</p><p> </p><p>As part of the Jet Zero Council, the Department has also established a dedicated Delivery Group to convene activity across Government, industry and academia on the development of Zero Emission Flight.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 23/03/2023 11:48:56 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1604156

registered interest
date	14/03/2023
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	Foie Gras
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of public opinion on introducing a ban on foie gras.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
uin	165497
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/03/2023 answer text <p>The Government shares the British public's high regard for animal welfare and has made clear that the production of foie gras from ducks or geese using force feeding raises serious welfare concerns. The production of foie gras feeding is incompatible with our domestic animal welfare legislation.</p><p> </p><p>We are committed to building a clear evidence base to inform any potential future decisions relating to foie gras imports and sales.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 20/03/2023 15:00:08 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1603543

registered interest
date	13/03/2023
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	Convention on Biological Diversity
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 steps her Department is taking to meet target one of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
uin	163942
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/03/2023 answer text <p>Target 1 of the Global Biodiversity Framework seeks to address land and sea use change by ensuring that all areas are under biodiversity inclusive spatial planning and other effective management processes. In England we are already taking steps to address this; for example:</p><p>- Under the Environment Act 2021 we are introducing a mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain requirement for new development along with Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRSs) to target the best places for nature recovery and wider environmental benefits.</p><p>- The Government is reforming the planning system through the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities will consult on how to use changes under the Bill to improve environmental outcomes and embed reforms under the Environment Act.</p><p>- Environmental improvement will be fully reflected in the review of the National Planning Policy Framework in 2023.</p><p>- The new system of Environmental Outcomes Reports under the Bill will be aligned to the Environmental Improvement Plan 2023 and ensure that decision makers know how far a plan or project contributes to Environmental Targets.</p><p>- The Environment Act 2021 strengthened the duty on all public authorities so that they must consider what action they can take, consistent with their functions, to conserve and enhance biodiversity, and then take that action. In so doing, they must have regard to LNRSs. Local Authorities and Local Planning Authorities must also publish Biodiversity Reports providing information on action taken, and plans for future action, for biodiversity.</p> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison question first answered 21/03/2023 13:04:00 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1603544

registered interest
date	13/03/2023
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	Convention on Biological Diversity
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has had recent discussions with her international counterparts on taking steps to meet target two and three of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
uin	163943
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/03/2023 answer text <p>Since its adoption, the UK has engaged a range of Parties at Ministerial level regarding implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework and its targets. This includes discussions held by the Secretary of State with the USA during her visit in February, with multiple Parties at the Our Ocean Conference in Panama, and most recently with France at the 36th France-UK Summit. Similar engagement has also been undertaken by Lord Benyon with counterparts in the margins of IMPAC5 (5th International Marine Protected Areas Congress), and by Lord Goldsmith at the One Forest Summit in Gabon.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, the UK is taking a leading role in promoting and supporting specific action implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework (including the 30by30 target), through our role as Chair of the Global Ocean Alliance and Ocean Co-chair of the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People.</p> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison question first answered 17/03/2023 13:02:25 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse