Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed grouped question UIN question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

1606235

registered interest
date	22/03/2023
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	Ofgem
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when his Department last provided a policy and position paper to Ofgem; and when his Department plans next to provide a policy and position paper to Ofgem.
tabling member constituency	Kilmarnock and Loudoun
tabling member printed	Alan Brown
uin	171464
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/03/2023 answer text <p>The power to designate a Strategy and Policy Statement (SPS) for energy policy, that Ofgem must have regard to, was enacted by the Energy Act 2013.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has consulted Scottish and Welsh Ministers on a draft SPS and taken their comments into account. The Government intends to publicly consult on an updated draft soon.</p> answering member constituency Derby North answering member printed Amanda Solloway question first answered 30/03/2023 15:19:16 answering member 4372 label Biography information for Amanda Solloway
tabling member	4470 label Biography information for Alan Brown

1606236

registered interest
date	22/03/2023
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	Coal: Heating
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 take steps to launch a scheme to provide funding for people who transfer from coal to gas central heating systems.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	171403
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/03/2023 answer text <p>The Government ‘Help to Heat’ schemes ensure homes will be warmer and cheaper to heat. The Government will deliver upgrades to over half a million homes in the coming years through our Social Housing Decarbonisation and Home Upgrade Grant Schemes and Energy Company Obligation Scheme.</p><p> </p><p>The £450 million Boiler Upgrade Scheme offers £5,000 and £6,000 grants for Air and Ground Source Heat Pumps, respectively.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has also launched a home retrofit tool on GOV.UK, ‘Find ways to save energy in your home’. Users can get tailored recommendations for home improvements that could make their property cheaper to heat and keep warm.</p> answering member constituency Beverley and Holderness answering member printed Graham Stuart question first answered 30/03/2023 15:11:00 answering member 1482 label Biography information for Graham Stuart
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1606237

registered interest
date	22/03/2023
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Business: Taxation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will hold discussions with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on tax incentives for businesses with financial difficulties.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	171404
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/03/2023 answer text <p>The Chancellor of the Exchequer has regular discussions with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on a range of issues, including on incentives for businesses.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 30/03/2023 08:14:56 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1606238

registered interest
date	22/03/2023
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Bus Services: Rural Areas
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will increase funding for bus services in rural areas.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	171405
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/03/2023 answer text <p>The 2021 National Bus Strategy makes clear that the Government takes the needs of rural transport users just as seriously as the needs of those in urban areas. The Department regularly engages with rural local authorities, including on the Rural Mobility Fund, and will involve them in the planned reforms to the Bus Service Operator Grant (BSOG).</p><p> </p><p>The Government provides around £250 million every year through the BSOG to help bus operators keep fares down and maintain a larger network than would otherwise be possible, as well as to help local authorities subsidise socially necessary bus services.</p><p> </p><p>The Department has also sought to help increase patronage on buses, including in rural areas, by providing up to £135 million to help operators cap single fares at £2 on over 4,700 routes in England outside London. The cap launched on 1 January and is set to run until 30 June 2023.</p><p> </p><p>We are also providing up to £80 million in additional funding to extend the Bus Recovery Grant until 30 June which takes total funding to over £2 billion since March 2020 to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic on the bus sector and support local bus services, including those in rural areas. The Department is actively working on plans for June onwards and will make further announcements on this in due course. The needs of rural authorities have been given particular consideration as part of this ongoing work.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency North West Durham answering member printed Mr Richard Holden question first answered 27/03/2023 10:33:56 answering member 4813 label Biography information for Mr Richard Holden
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1606239

registered interest
date	22/03/2023
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Electric Vehicles: Charging Points
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will provide funding to increase the number of electric vehicle charging points in rural areas.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	171406
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/03/2023 answer text <p>The Government is committed to ensuring that the deployment of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure happens across all areas of the country.</p><p> </p><p>More than 189 different local authorities across the UK, including those in rural areas, have been awarded over £55 million funding through the On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme which will see more than 14,000 chargepoints installed across the UK.</p><p> </p><p>From 1 April 2022, the Government expanded the Workplace Charging Scheme to support small accommodation businesses and charities to install chargepoints for their guests and visitors. This should help provision more chargepoints in rural areas, for example it should support places like village halls to provide chargepoints for their communities.</p><p> </p><p>In England, the Government’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund will address regional charging inequality and ensure no part of the country is left behind. The Government has developed a data-led allocation model to award the funding, which considers factors such as the level of rurality and the number of vehicles without off-street parking within the local authority.</p><p> </p><p>The majority of funding programmes for charging infrastructure are available on a UK wide basis. Where public funding initiatives are planned for England only, corresponding additions are usually allocated to the devolved administrations through Barnett consequentials. It is then for those nations to decide how that funding should be spent.</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 28/03/2023 09:18:43 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1606240

registered interest
date	22/03/2023
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	Coastal Areas: Environment Protection
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 funding her Department plans to provide for rock armour coastal pathway protection schemes; and if she will increase UK-wide funding for those schemes.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	171407
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/03/2023 answer text <p>The Government announced in March 2020 a record £5.2 billion investment over 6 years in flood and coastal erosion schemes to better protect communities across England. Our £5.2 billion 2021-27 programme includes defences for the coast where it is sustainable and affordable to defend the coastline. In areas where it is not, other approaches such as managed realignment or transition will be needed. Approximately 1/6th of the projects in the £5.2bn programme will help better protect coastal communities.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 28/03/2023 11:20:18 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1606241

registered interest
date	22/03/2023
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	Electricity: Standing Charges
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 implications for his policies of geographical variations in electricity standing charges.
tabling member constituency	Darlington
tabling member printed	Peter Gibson
uin	171549
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/03/2023 answer text <p>The standing charge includes some electricity distribution costs, which vary regionally to reflect the different costs of maintaining and upgrading the distribution network in different regions. Ofgem, as the independent energy regulator overseeing network charges, has previously reviewed regional differences in network charges. Its report found that there are advantages in charges that broadly reflect the costs that different users place on the system. In particular, this cost-reflective approach to network charging supports an efficient system where overall network costs are minimised for consumers across Great Britain.</p> answering member constituency Derby North answering member printed Amanda Solloway question first answered 30/03/2023 15:21:28 answering member 4372 label Biography information for Amanda Solloway
tabling member	4754 label Biography information for Peter Gibson

1606242

registered interest
date	22/03/2023
answering body	Department for Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	217
answering dept short name	Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Local Press: Government Assistance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department is taking steps to provide financial support to local newspapers.
tabling member constituency	Darlington
tabling member printed	Peter Gibson
uin	171550
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/03/2023 answer text <p>The Government is committed to supporting local and regional newspapers as vital pillars of communities and local democracy. They play an essential role in holding power to account, keeping the public informed of local issues and providing reliable, high-quality information.</p><p>However, as the independent Cairncross Review into the future of journalism identified, society is increasingly moving online and local news publishers are facing significant challenges in transitioning to sustainable digital business models.</p><p>The Government supported the majority of Cairncross recommendations and has taken them forward through a range of fiscal and regulatory interventions. With regard to financial support, this has included the delivery of the £2 million Future News Fund; the zero rating of VAT on e-newspapers; and the extension of a 2017 business rates relief on local newspaper office space until 2025. The BBC also supports the sector, through the £8m it spends each year on the Local News Partnership, including the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme. The Government was pleased to see the BBC conduct a thorough review of this initiative in 2020, as recommended by the Cairncross Review. As set out in our response to the Review, we would support any efforts by the BBC to grow the scheme.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 24/03/2023 15:54:03 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4754 label Biography information for Peter Gibson

1606243

registered interest
date	22/03/2023
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	NHS: Alternative Fuels
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he is taking steps to encourage the use of drop-in hydrotreated vegetable oil in (a) the NHS and (b) NHS vehicle fleets.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	171408
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/03/2023 answer text <p>Unipart Logistics is a major National Health Service collaborator and meets regularly with Supply Chain Co-ordination Limited to ensure continuous improvement and to deliver supply chain excellence to NHS trusts. The Department’s Ministers have not met Unipart Logistics to specifically discuss the NHS Carbon Footprint or the use of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) in the NHS.</p><p>The NHS is committed to reducing its reliance on fossil fuels across its estate and fleet and aims to achieve Net Zero for direct emissions by 2040. As part of this, the NHS is working to increase its use of renewable energy sources. This includes exploring the use of biofuels for fleet and standby generators wherever this is appropriate and cost-effective.</p><p>I can confirm that the NHS Supply Chain is currently trialling HVO in its vehicles and will be assessing the long-term viability of HVO as a fuel source for its network.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 170601 170602 question first answered 30/03/2023 15:01:34 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1606244

registered interest
date	22/03/2023
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	Warm Home Discount Scheme
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 extending eligibility for the Warm Home Discount Scheme to people on non-means tested disability benefits.
tabling member constituency	Bradford South
tabling member printed	Judith Cummins
uin	171430
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/03/2023 answer text <p>In reforming the scheme, the Government assessed the merits of including households on non-means tested disability benefits and provided details of this assessment in the consultation and impact assessment. Its analysis, based on the English Housing Survey, was that the fuel poverty rates for DLA and PIP recipients in receipt of one of the qualifying means-tested benefits was 41%, compared to 14% for DLA and PIP recipients who are not eligible.</p> answering member constituency Derby North answering member printed Amanda Solloway question first answered 30/03/2023 15:15:08 answering member 4372 label Biography information for Amanda Solloway
tabling member	4391 label Biography information for Judith Cummins