Asked by: Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to create a Minister for Hydrogen.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
My Rt Hon. Friend Minister Hands clearly has hydrogen within his portfolio. The appointment of Ministers is a matter for my Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister.
Asked by: Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to increase the role of hydrogen technology in the UK’s export strategy.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Hydrogen Strategy makes clear the government wants to position UK companies at the forefront of the growing global hydrogen market, and analysis suggests that around a quarter of new UK jobs in the hydrogen sector by 2030 could be driven by exports. UK companies are already leading the way by exporting fuel cell and electrolyser technologies and engineering services, and we want to expand on this to capture economic benefits. BEIS, DIT, UK Export Finance and others are working to identify high value opportunities for UK companies and to promote them globally. We will set out more on our approach in a Hydrogen Sector Development Action Plan in 2022.
Asked by: Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to facilitate the development of a hydrogen export market in the UK.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Hydrogen Strategy makes clear the government wants to position UK companies at the forefront of the growing global hydrogen market, and analysis suggests that around a quarter of new UK jobs in the hydrogen sector by 2030 could be driven by exports. UK companies are already leading the way by exporting fuel cell and electrolyser technologies and engineering services, and we want to expand on this to capture economic benefits. BEIS, DIT, UK Export Finance and others are working to identify high value opportunities for UK companies and to promote them globally. We will set out more on our approach in a Hydrogen Sector Development Action Plan in 2022.
Asked by: Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to finalise business models for hydrogen; and when any such business models will be published.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government has consulted on a business model to provide revenue support needed to stimulate investment in hydrogen projects. The Government is currently analysing stakeholder responses to the consultation and aims to publish a response in the first quarter of 2022 with a view to finalising the business model later in the year.
Asked by: Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how companies which are too small to have boards will be held accountable for supply chain payment practices under the proposed new powers for the Small Business Commissioner, announced on 19 June.
Answered by Lord Henley
Under current legislation the Commissioner can consider complaints about payment issues, including payment issues within the supply chain, between small businesses (with fewer than 50 staff) and their larger private sector customers (with more than 50 staff), and make non-binding recommendations.
We must first consult on the provision of any new powers, given the Commissioner’s powers are underpinned by Primary Legislation. Following the consultation, we will consider representations made to Government carefully – any new powers will require further work post-consultation on the best way to implement.
Asked by: Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what mechanisms are, or will be, in place to enforce their proposed new powers for the Small Business Commissioner to tackle late payments through fines, announced on 19 June.
Answered by Lord Henley
We will be consulting on the provision of new powers, given the Commissioner’s powers are underpinned by Primary Legislation. Following the consultation, we will consider representations made to Government carefully – any new powers will require further work post-consultation on the best way to implement.