The Government recognises the critical role that post offices play in communities and for small businesses across the UK. This is why the Government committed to safeguard the post office network and protect existing rural services. The overall number of post offices across the UK remains at its most stable in decades with over 11,500 branches thanks to significant Government investment of over £2 billion since 2010.<\/p>
While the Government sets the strategic direction for the Post Office, it allows the company the commercial freedom to deliver this strategy as an independent business. I have therefore asked Paula Vennells, the Group Chief Executive of Post Office Limited, to write to you on this matter.<\/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" : "2018-10-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-10-18T16:18:23.033Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-10-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Post Offices: Closures"} , "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, how many UK post office closures there have been in each year since 1997.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1591", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Tim Farron"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Westmorland and Lonsdale"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Tim Farron"} ], "uin" : "179177"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/982807", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/982807/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
As the White Paper on the UK\u2019s Future Relationship with the EU makes clear, the UK is seeking a close association with Euratom through a broad and comprehensive Nuclear Cooperation Agreement between the UK and Euratom. The Government has also been clear that, irrespective of the outcome of negotiations, it will take legal responsibility for the application of nuclear safeguards in the UK once Euratom arrangements no longer apply. The new regime will be implemented by the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR).<\/p>
<\/p>
Parliament has passed the Nuclear Safeguards Act 2018 which provides the legal framework for setting up a domestic nuclear safeguards regime. Using these new powers, the Government intends to make the Nuclear Safeguards Regulations this year, which set out the proposed detail of the regime, following a public consultation which ran from July to September.<\/p>
<\/p>
The ONR will implement a UK State System for Accounting for and Control of Nuclear Material (SSAC) as part of the new domestic regime. The ONR is working to ensure it will have in place by 29 March 2019 the IT systems and safeguards inspectors needed to operate the UK SSAC, meet international standards and to build, over time, to equivalent effectiveness and coverage to Euratom.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4068", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Harrington of Watford"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Watford"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Richard Harrington"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-10-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-10-11T13:22:23.02Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-10-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Radioactive Materials"} , "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, what plans his Department has to establish a State System of Accounting and Control for Nuclear Material and then negotiate a formal agreement with Euratom after the UK leaves the EU.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1591", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Tim Farron"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Westmorland and Lonsdale"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Tim Farron"} ], "uin" : "176158"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/919197", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/919197/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Ministers regularly discuss a range of issues with energy suppliers.<\/p>
<\/p>
The Rural Community Energy Fund provides funding for feasibility studies for rural communities to develop, own and generate their own energy. The Feed-in Tariff scheme also remains open for projects across the UK, including community projects.<\/p>
<\/p>
There remains up to £100m of support for small scale renewables through the Feed-in Tariff up to 2019. As we set out in the Clean Growth Strategy, we are currently considering options for our approach to small scale low carbon generation beyond 2019. We will make a statement on future support for small scale renewables in due course.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3974", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Claire Perry"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Devizes"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Claire Perry"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-06-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-06-21T12:46:33.453Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-06-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Renewable Energy: Rural Areas"} , "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, what recent discussions he has had with energy providers on promoting renewable energy use in rural homes.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1591", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Tim Farron"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Westmorland and Lonsdale"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Tim Farron"} ], "uin" : "151133"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/906414", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/906414/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Table 1 (copy attached) shows the distribution of 2690 \u2018applications received\u2019 by the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF) and the 258 \u2018successfully awarded investments or loans\u2019 by Local Authority District from March 2017 to March 2018. Of the applications received, 286 were from outside of the Northern Powerhouse area, but could have been eligible if the applicants were willing to relocate to the area or conduct \u201csignificant business\u201d there. Please note, the NPIF became operational in March 2017, so there is no data for the Fund before that date.<\/p>
Table 2 (also in the attached) shows in £million the sums awarded to the eleven Northern Powerhouse LEPs as Growth Deals for the period 2015-2021. The full award came to £3,435.41m.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3936", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrew Griffiths"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Burton"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Andrew Griffiths"} , "attachment" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/906414/answer/attachment/1", "fileName" : {"_value" : "PQ 145300 Northern Powerhouse funding data.docx"} , "title" : "Northern Powerhouse funding data"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-05-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "previousAnswerVersion" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/906414/answer/previousversion/59639", "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3936", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrew Griffiths"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Burton"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Andrew Griffiths"} } , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-05-23T16:09:23.833Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-05-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Regional Planning and Development: North of England"} , "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, how many applications for funding through the Northern Powerhouse have been (a) received and (b) successfully awarded by local authority district in each month since January 2015.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1591", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Tim Farron"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Westmorland and Lonsdale"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Tim Farron"} ], "uin" : "145300"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/906415", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/906415/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF), has a total of five delivery partners operating the seven funds. These funds utilise a range of interest rates which are set according to the risk of each investment or loan. The rates used are commercially sensitive and not publicly available.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3936", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrew Griffiths"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Burton"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Andrew Griffiths"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-05-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-05-25T13:49:18.207Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-05-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Regional Planning and Development: North of England"} , "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, what interest rate for finance under the Northern Powerhouse was offered to successful bidders by local authority district in each month since January 2015.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1591", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Tim Farron"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Westmorland and Lonsdale"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Tim Farron"} ], "uin" : "145301"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/872261", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/872261/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
My rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has regular discussions with Cabinet Ministers on matters relating to energy policy.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3974", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Claire Perry"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Devizes"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Claire Perry"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-04-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-04-04T13:13:03.893Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-03-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Fracking: Agriculture and Tourism"} , "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, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the effect of shale gas extraction on the (a) farming and (b) tourism industry.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1591", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Tim Farron"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Westmorland and Lonsdale"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Tim Farron"} ], "uin" : "134175"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/828895", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/828895/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
We do not hold this information.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4068", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Harrington of Watford"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Watford"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Richard Harrington"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-01-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-01-29T15:44:32.37Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-01-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Drinking Water"} , "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, how much money his Department has spent on bottled water in each year since 2010.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1591", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Tim Farron"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Westmorland and Lonsdale"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Tim Farron"} ], "uin" : "124509"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/783309", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/783309/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
<\/strong><\/p> The Clean Growth strategy (CGS) announced on the 12th<\/sup> October, set out the government\u2019s ambitious strategy to cut emissions while keeping costs down for consumers, creating good jobs and growing the economy. This includes a strategy of decarbonisation to deliver our goals of meeting our carbon budgets in a secure clean and affordable way. In 2016, renewables share of total generation was nearly 25% of UK electricity generation, and we are on track to meet our ambition of delivering 30% of the UK\u2019s electricity from renewables in 2020-21.<\/p> <\/p> The latest Contracts for Difference round announced on 11 September secured a further 3.3GW of renewable electricity, enough to power 3.6 million homes. This will see a saving of 5.4 million tonnes of carbon a year, the equivalent of the average annual carbon emissions from 2.8 million cars. The Clean Growth Strategy (CGS) also announced:<\/p> <\/p>