Asked by: Feryal Clark (Labour - Enfield North)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the certification programme for the Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS), which is the leading standards and quality assurance organisation for microgeneration technologies in the UK, is the certification scheme for the Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). All installers that participate in the RHI are required to be a member of MCS.
MCS conducted a public consultation on its operating model in 2023, and is currently implementing a programme of reform to strengthen its support for consumers. The department continues to work with MCS and its stakeholders to monitor the impact of these reforms.
Asked by: Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with Great British Nuclear prior to their decision to rule out Trawsfynydd as a site for a small modular reactor.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Trawsfynydd has not been ruled out as a potential site for new nuclear and is one of a number of potential sites that could host new civil nuclear projects, subject to National planning policy, regulatory approvals and technical assessments. Decisions on the projects and technologies to be deployed at sites will be made in due course and Great British Nuclear continues to work with Government to support access to potential sites for new nuclear projects to achieve its long-term nuclear programme ambitions.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to her Department's publication of spending over £500 using a government procurement card from October to December 2023 on 17 May 2024, for what purpose payments were made of (a) £662.70 to Paul on 10 October 2023, (b) £2,157.60 to Revolution Events on 6 November 2023, (c) £865.64 to Hilton International on 16 November 2023, and (d) £1,023.02 to Orbis Coffee on 17 November 2023.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We can confirm that the only information we hold regarding the purpose of these payments is related to the provision of catering, conference attendance and accommodation.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to her Department's publication of spending over £500 using a government procurement card from October to December 2023 on 17 May 2024, for what purpose payments totalling £3,417 were made to Mons Hospitality between 22 November and 9 December 2023.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We can confirm that the only information we hold regarding the purpose of these payments to Mons Hospitality over the timeframe stated is related to the provision of food and drink/catering at COP28
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 14 May 2024 to Question 25469 on Mineworkers' Pension Scheme, how many recipients there are in each region of the UK.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The number of scheme members by region, as at July 2023, is as follows:
Name of Region | Number of members |
Channel Islands | 8 |
East Midlands | 29641 |
East of England | 490 |
Isle of Man | 4 |
London | 194 |
North East | 15917 |
North West | 4901 |
Scotland | 8269 |
South East | 1791 |
South West | 908 |
Wales | 13838 |
West Midlands | 9461 |
Yorkshire and The Humber | 30510 |
A breakdown by region of former miners and dependants is not available.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 14 November 2023 to Question 1095 on Mineworkers' Pension Scheme, if she will take steps to calculate how many of the 23,974 spouse/dependant pensioners in the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme reside in (a) Easington constituency and (b) the North East.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The breakdown of dependant members by constituency is not available. It would be for the Trustees to take steps to calculate this figure. As at June 2023, the total number of MPS members in Easington was 3563 and in the North East was 15,917.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many and what proportion of (a) cars and (b) other vehicles used by her Department were made in Britain.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government Car service (GCS) provides vehicles to a number of Government departments. Due to logistical and operational reasons the type of vehicles deployed at each department can vary on a daily or weekly basis. The GCS fleet currently has 122 vehicles, 58 (48%) of which are vehicles made in Britain.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many former employees were recipients of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme in (a) Easington constituency and (b) the UK in May 2024.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The total number of BCSSS members in Easington was 732 as at June 2023. The number of former employees in BCSSS in the UK in May 2024 was 28,437. The breakdown of scheme members (i.e. former employees and dependants) by constituency is not available.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how much revenue the Exchequer has received from the British Coal Staff Superannuation Fund since 1994.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government has received £3.1bn for its role as Guarantor from the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme.
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps she is taking to help increase investment in green technologies.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The UK has made tremendous progress securing investment into green technologies. Recent figures indicate that the UK saw £60bn of investment in 2023.
Government continues to bring forward targeted funding, regulation and policy to drive investment – such as confirming the funding boost for our Contracts for Difference scheme, publishing our CCUS vision, and our recent announcement of support for advanced nuclear fuel.