Asked by: Zarah Sultana (Labour - Coventry South)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the impact of rising energy costs on Post Offices.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
During the Energy Bill Relief Scheme review, the Government assessed a range of qualitative and quantitative evidence from businesses and stakeholders, including Post Offices, on sectors that may be most affected by rising energy prices based on energy and trade intensity.
The outcome of the review informed the criteria of the new Energy Bill Discount Scheme, which will run from April until March 2024, and will continue to provide a discount to eligible non-domestic customers, including Post Offices. The new scheme strikes a balance between supporting businesses and other non-domestic customers over the next 12 months and limiting taxpayer’s exposure to volatile energy markets.
Asked by: Zarah Sultana (Labour - Coventry South)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether the Government plans to take steps to require UK-based energy companies to remedy pollution in other countries as a result of their operations.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Government supports work to reduce the environmental impact of energy companies. As part of the UK's international support for the clean energy transition, the Government provide technical or regulatory assistance that supports energy or emissions efficiency, health, safety, social and environmental standards.
Where activities take place overseas however, it is for the relevant national authorities to determine what regulation should apply. It would not be appropriate for the UK to place additional and potentially conflicting conditions on such activities.
Asked by: Zarah Sultana (Labour - Coventry South)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department is taking steps to help ensure that bill estimates from energy providers are as accurate as possible.
Answered by Graham Stuart
Under Ofgem’s licence conditions, suppliers are required to take all reasonable steps to reflect accurate meter readings in bills or statements sent to customers.
As the independent regulator, Ofgem is responsible for ensuring licensed energy suppliers are complying with their rules. Details of Ofgem’s ongoing supplier compliance and enforcement activity, including individual decisions, are at this link: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/energy-policy-and-regulation/compliance-and-enforcement/retail-compliance-and-enforcement.
Asked by: Zarah Sultana (Labour - Coventry South)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment with the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the potential impact of pollution produced by Shell in its crude oil production the Niger Delta on that region.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Government regularly discusses with Shell the importance of action to address the risks of pollution from oil production in the Niger Delta.
More generally we have supported initiatives to reduce the impact of oil and gas production in Nigeria. We have encouraged the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (“HYPREP”) to meet the needs of the communities affected by pollution specifically in Ogoniland. The UK has also supported the gas flare penalty regime in Nigeria and the use of satellites to identify fossil fuel facilities that emit methane at high rates.
The UK Government is supporting Nigeria in meeting its ambitious climate change objectives set by its Nationally Determined Contributions and commitment to net-zero by 2060.