Electricity distribution networks are regulated by the independent energy regulator, Ofgem, and, by law, network regulation must be carried out independently of Government. Under the existing regulatory framework, distribution network operators are allowed to increase capacity on their networks to accommodate expected growth in demand from domestic electricity consumption.<\/p>
<\/p>
Energy networks require significant investment in order to ensure that Great Britain has a secure, dynamic energy system that is fit for the challenges of the future. BEIS estimates that between 2010 and 2017 £35bn has been invested to upgrade, reinforce and extend the electricity networks (both transmission and distribution) and a further £14bn may need to be invested between by 2020. Ofgem's RIIO 2 price control will set out the pathway for investment in our energy networks through the mid-2020s.<\/p>
<\/p>
Government expects network companies and regulators to act in the best interests of consumers including in relation to more active system management as per the Government and Ofgem\u2019s Smart Systems and Flexibility Plan<\/em>. We are already seeing distribution network operators manage their systems more actively, and make more innovative use of data and smart technologies. For example, all six DNOs in Great Britain have now committed to open all significant network reinforcement to competition with flexibility services.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4021", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Chris Skidmore"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Kingswood"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Chris Skidmore"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-07-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-07-16T14:44:29.237Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-07-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Energy"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to develop local energy distribution networks to respond to a potential increase in domestic electricity consumption.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4604", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Stephen Kerr"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Stirling"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Stephen Kerr"}
], "uin" : "274611"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1137647", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1137647/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Network regulation, including gas and electricity network price controls, is a matter for Ofgem as the independent energy regulator and, by law, must be set independently of Government. Government expects network companies and regulators to act in the best interests of consumers including in relation to Government\u2019s net zero and clean growth ambitions, and taking into account the industrial strategy. As an independent arm\u2019s length body, whose objectives are set out in statute, Ofgem is directly accountable to Parliament.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4021", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Chris Skidmore"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Kingswood"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Chris Skidmore"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-07-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-07-16T14:44:01.137Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-07-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Energy"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether decisions on the next Revenue = Incentives + Innovation + Outputs price control period will include the requirement for energy networks to deliver the Government's policies set out in the (a) Industrial Strategy and (b) Clean Growth Strategy.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4470", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Alan Brown"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Kilmarnock and Loudoun"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Alan Brown"}
], "uin" : "274577"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1137648", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1137648/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Network regulation, including the sector specific methodology for gas and electricity network price controls, is a matter for Ofgem as the independent energy regulator and, by law, must be set independently of Government. Government expects network companies and regulators to act in the best interests of consumers including in relation to Government\u2019s net zero and clean growth ambitions, and taking into account the industrial strategy. As an independent arm\u2019s length body, whose objectives are set out in statute, Ofgem is directly accountable to Parliament.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4021", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Chris Skidmore"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Kingswood"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Chris Skidmore"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-07-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-07-16T14:44:09.817Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-07-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Energy"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment the Government has made of the effect of Ofgem\u2019s Sector Specific Methodology on the ability of energy networks to deliver (a) net zero emissions and (b) the Government's policies set out in the (i) Industrial Strategy and (ii) Clean Growth Strategy.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4470", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Alan Brown"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Kilmarnock and Loudoun"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Alan Brown"}
], "uin" : "274578"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1137649", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1137649/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Network regulation, including the sector specific methodology for gas and electricity network price controls, is a matter for Ofgem as the independent energy regulator and, by law, must be set independently of Government. Government expects network companies and regulators to act in the best interests of consumers including in relation to Government\u2019s net zero and clean growth ambitions, and taking into account the industrial strategy. As an independent arm\u2019s length body, whose objectives are set out in statute, Ofgem is directly accountable to Parliament.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4021", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Chris Skidmore"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Kingswood"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Chris Skidmore"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-07-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-07-16T14:44:19.08Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-07-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans he has to ensure that Ofgem\u2019s Sector Specific Methodology enables energy networks to deliver (a) net zero emissions and (b) the Government policies set out in the (i) Industrial Strategy and (ii) Clean Growth Strategy.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4470", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Alan Brown"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Kilmarnock and Loudoun"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Alan Brown"}
], "uin" : "274579"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1136741", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1136741/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " As the report notes, the family business sector is vital to the UK economy, employing over 13 million people and generating more than a quarter of the nation\u2019s GDP. In May this year, I attended the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Family Business and discussed a range of issues including access to external finance. The authors of the Report, The Institute for Family Business, are also a member of the BEIS SME Advisory Board, who last met on 24 June.<\/p> As part of the modern Industrial Strategy, this Department\u2019s aim is to improve access to finance for all UK businesses, including family-owned businesses. The Government-backed British Business Bank supports more than £6.4bn of finance to over 85,000 SMEs. The Bank\u2019s online Finance Hub also helps small business owners identify potential sources of finance via the finance finder web tool.<\/p> The Business Bank has also established a UK Network, with team members based within each of the English regions and the three Devolved Nations. The UK Network works with small business finance intermediaries to enhance business finance ecosystems across the UK, so smaller businesses, wherever they are, can grow and prosper.<\/p> In addition, Government has actively supported and invested in the creation of 38 Growth Hubs (one in each Local Enterprise Partnership area), providing businesses across England support and advice via a free and impartial, local single point of contact. At the end of FY18/19, Government had invested £56.4 million in Growth Hubs.<\/p> The Government provides support and advice to all types of businesses through our core services including GOV.UK, the Business Support Helpline and Growth Hubs operating in England.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4487", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Rochester and Strood"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Kelly Tolhurst"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-07-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-07-16T15:34:53.693Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-07-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Business: Finance"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the report entitled, The state of the nation: The UK Family Business Sector 2018-19 by Oxford Economics, published in July 2019, what steps his Department is taking to make it easier for family businesses to access external finance.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1436", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Paul Farrelly"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Newcastle-under-Lyme"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Paul Farrelly"}
], "uin" : "272777"}
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