Question

To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what precautions are in place to prevent voltage surges entering the electrical system serving the Palace of Westminster.

Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble

Within the Palace of Westminster there is surge protection by way of Surge Protection Devices on low voltage switchgear. This means that any surges from incoming high voltage supplies are suppressed. The Palace’s main low voltage switchgear was replaced in 2015 and has such surge suppressors installed.

Low Voltage Boards are a key part of the electrical infrastructure within the Palace of Westminster, providing localised power across the building. There have been two new local unit boards fitted in Elizabeth Tower and these have surge protection fitted, as stipulated by the Design Authority for new boards. Both boards tripped (as per design) when the tower was struck by lightning, showing the surge protection was successful. Surveys were undertaken of existing boards under the Mechanical, Electrical Public Health & Fabric Safety (MEPFS) programme and those ranked as high risk had faulty components replaced, thus reducing the risk of significant power outages across the Palace. Surge protection of these boards will be installed under the new Mechanical, Electrical, Public Health and Fire Safety (MEPF) programme which will be completed prior to the commencement of Restoration and Renewal.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many benefit claimants with an address in Ludlow have been sanctioned for failing to keep appointments at the Jobcentre in Leominster in 2024.

Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The specific information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Monthly Universal Credit sanction statistics showing the number of adverse sanction decisions made are published every three months on Stat-Xplore, and are available by Jobcentre Plus office and referral reason, and are currently available to October 2023. Statistics to January 2024 are scheduled to be published on 14 May 2024.

Users can log in or access Stat-Xplore as a guest and, if needed, can access guidance on how to extract the information required.

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the numbers of (1) private, and (2) social housing buildings above 11 metres which are fitted with equipment to prevent voltage surges.

Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)

I refer the Noble Member to the response provided to UIN HL8412 on 26 June 2023.

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether there is any evidence of voltage surges causing damage to domestic appliances in Grenfell Tower in the days prior to the fire on 14 June 2017.

Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)

The issue of electrical surges was considered in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry: Phase 1 report, which focused on the causes of the fire. There were longstanding concerns raised by residents about electrical “surges” affecting appliances within the Tower. As stated in the report, RINA Consulting (RINA) were retained by the Metropolitan Police to assess the electrical supply and distribution infrastructure. RINA found no damage or significant degradation (other than that caused by the fire) nor any major defects in the electrical supply system. RINA found no evidence to suggest that the electrical infrastructure of the Tower was in any way responsible for the fire.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many benefit claimants with an address in Ludlow visited the Jobcentre in Leominster and were refused travel costs in 2024.

Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether all residents of Knighton, regardless of whether they reside in the English or Welsh parts of the town, have access to the town’s job centre.

Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

Universal Credit operates on postcodes therefore when a claim is made, the individual will be automatically assigned to the Jobcentre which serves that postcode. Customers in Knighton are allocated to Llandrindod Wells Jobcentre Plus.

Found: The Earl of Lindsay Baroness Chakrabarti Lord McLoughlin (Chair) Lord Cunningham of Felling Lord

Found: The Earl of Lindsay Baroness Chakrabarti Lord McLoughlin (Chair) Lord Cunningham of Felling Lord

Found: The Earl of Lindsay Baroness Chakrabarti Lord McLoughlin (Chair) Lord Cunningham of Felling Lord