Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

UK petrol and diesel prices since 2014 have been primarily driven by the underlying price in the global market of crude oil. These are also influenced by exchange rates and a range of other supply and demand factors specific to the wholesale markets for the fuels, including stock levels, logistics and distribution costs and seasonal demand variations.

BEIS publishes weekly national average pump prices online at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/weekly-road-fuel-prices.

BEIS does not publish wholesale prices nor UK exchange rates.

The most common form of converting methane into hydrogen is through steam or thermal reformation. Plasma technology could also be used to convert methane into hydrogen, but this has not yet been proven at commercial scale. This was not one of the hydrogen production routes modelled to support the development of the UK Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard as this was not considered to be amongst the main potential routes for production in the UK pipeline and lacked broadly available emissions data. As set out in the standard, the Government welcomes evidence from stakeholders on emerging technologies and potential production routes that could contribute to the UK’s future net zero energy system.

Meeting the UK’s net zero target will require virtually all heat in buildings to be decarbonised. The Government is working with the Welsh Government (and the other devolved administrations) to address the challenges of decarbonising heating. This includes building the evidence to support a decision on the future use of the gas grid.

The Government is aware of the programme of local area energy planning underway in Wales, which will identify the changes needed to the local energy system to decarbonise heat and local transport, support strategic network planning and realise opportunities for local renewable energy production.

The Government remains firmly committed to the renewables industry across the UK, including in Wales. Future Contracts for Difference auctions will provide further opportunities for developers of low-carbon electricity projects in Wales to secure contracts and expand the amount of offshore wind capacity supported by the scheme in Wales.

One of the successful projects in the Crown Estate’s Round 4 seabed leasing is located off the North-East of Anglesey.

The Government has carefully considered the introduction of a price cap to help domestic fuel customers with high fuel prices, however the Government’s analysis indicates that a cap would not be in the long-term interests of consumers.

The existing gas and electricity price cap was designed to protect consumers on default tariffs from the loyalty penalty, which the Competitions and Markets Authority warned was causing customers to be overcharged. The structure of the heating oil and LPG markets are different and imposing a price cap below wholesale costs would drive companies out of the market, reducing competition and possibly result in supply shortages.

Buckinghamshire & Surrey Trading Standards Service (B&STSS) acts as the prosecuting authority for investigations carried out by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).

B&STSS uses its own legal powers to assess, investigate and take action, where appropriate, on any matter ASA refers to it. Action available to B&STSS includes arranging undertakings with traders and prosecutions.

The Government recognises that pregnancy loss is upsetting and that parents affected will need healthcare and may need support at work.

The Department of Health and Social Care's plans to improve healthcare support for those affected by fertility issues will be set out in the forthcoming Women’s Health Strategy.

Parents who suffer a stillbirth after 24 weeks may be entitled to Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay. Women who are not able to return to work following a miscarriage earlier in pregnancy may be entitled to Statutory Sick Pay while off work. Many employers also offer ‘Compassionate Leave’, and we encourage employers to respond sensitively to each individual’s specific needs.

The Government supports and encourages the current voluntary approach to due diligence by UK businesses as set out in international frameworks such as the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the OECD Guidelines on Multinational Enterprises.

Whilst the Government keeps this approach under review, we currently have no plans to require companies to conduct due diligence assessments for human rights and environmental protection on top of their existing corporate annual reporting on these issues.

The full response to the Law Commission’s recommendations will be available on the Law Commission website in due course.

While we continue to work with the Welsh Government in a number of areas, it has always been the case that employment and industrial relations law is a reserved matter for the UK Government.

It is right that we seek to apply trade union law equally and fairly across Britain to ensure that services, such as train lines, are run as effectively as possible.

The Government is reviewing the current law on units of measurement and has recently launched its consultation, ‘Choice on units of measurement: markings and sales’.

BEIS has not discussed this with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) but continues to gather views through this early-stage consultation.

The Government carried out a consultation on revoking the ban on using agency workers to cover strikes in 2015. It asked what effect the removal would have on a wide variety of stakeholders, including workers, employment businesses, employers, employees on strike and about the impact on wider economy and society. It received a large number of substantive responses from a wide range of stakeholders, including employers, agencies and trade unions which have been carefully considered before deciding to proceed with removing Regulation 7 of the Conduct Regulations 2003.

High quality customer service makes commercial sense and the Government expects all businesses to treat consumers fairly. However, the Government does not seek to intervene in the detail of how businesses conduct their activities, which are essentially commercial matters. For free advice on consumer rights and how to make complaints, consumers may contact the Citizens Advice consumer service on 0808 223 1133 (www.consumeradvice.org.uk/) or Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 164 6000 (www.consumeradvice.scot) for consumers living in Scotland.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Newport East on 29^th June 2022 to Question 24565.

The Government oversees authorisation of a number of competent person schemes, including the Gas Safe Register. This includes schemes which allow heat pump installers to self-certify compliance with Building Regulations in England. Contractors installing heat pumps within UK Government schemes, such as the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, are additionally required to be certified by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS). MCS certification provides additional protections to consumers getting a heat pump installed.

There are currently over 1300 businesses in the UK certified with the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) to install heat pumps, estimated to employ approximately 4,000 installers. The total number of trained installers is likely to be greater than this, as not all trained heat pump installers are required to be MCS Certified. MCS Certification is only required for installations receiving Government grant funding. The Government has commissioned further research into the existing heating and cooling installer workforce in England, which will be completed later this year.

Due to the expansion and reform of the scheme, the Government estimated that 160,000 more households where someone has a disability or long-term illness will receive a rebate compared to the unreformed scheme. The scheme will be better targeted to households in fuel poverty and on the lowest incomes. Around 62% of Personal Independence Payment and Disability Living Allowance recipients also receive one of the qualifying means-tested benefits. Those households with high energy costs would therefore be eligible for a rebate.

The cost-of-living support measures announced this year will mean low-income people with a disability and in receipt of a means-tested benefit will receive £1,350 this year.

In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of internal meetings are not normally disclosed.

In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of internal meetings are not normally disclosed.

Defra publish the Pollutant Release and Transfer Register to comply with the Kyiv Protocol requirements. For 2020, the most recent year with available data, the total carbon dioxide emissions from the Drax site in North Yorkshire were 14.3 million tonnes and the carbon dioxide emissions excluding biomass were 1.53 million tonnes. This implies that burning wood at the Drax power station emitted 12.8 million tonnes of biomass derived carbon dioxide.

The quantity of carbon dioxide emissions from biogenic sources that the UK reported internationally to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change for 2020 was 47.198 million tonnes.

BEIS publishes statistics on UK territorial carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions, but these are not broken down by constituency, social class, or income.

Instead, statistics showing carbon dioxide emissions by local authority and average carbon dioxide emissions per capita by local authority up to 2019 are available:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-local-authority-and-regional-carbon-dioxide-emissions-national-statistics-2005-to-2019.

Statistics showing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions by local authority up to 2020 were published on 30 June 2022.

BEIS publishes statistics on UK territorial carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions, but these are not broken down by constituency, social class, or income.

Instead, statistics showing carbon dioxide emissions by local authority and average carbon dioxide emissions per capita by local authority up to 2019 are available:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-local-authority-and-regional-carbon-dioxide-emissions-national-statistics-2005-to-2019.

Statistics showing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions by local authority up to 2020 were published on 30 June 2022.

BEIS publishes statistics on UK territorial carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions, but these are not broken down by constituency, social class, or income.

Instead, statistics showing carbon dioxide emissions by local authority and average carbon dioxide emissions per capita by local authority up to 2019 are available:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-local-authority-and-regional-carbon-dioxide-emissions-national-statistics-2005-to-2019.

Statistics showing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions by local authority up to 2020 were published on 30 June 2022.

Households supplied with electricity via a contract entered into by their landlord are protected by the Maximum Resale Price provisions put in place by Ofgem. This prevents landlords reselling energy at a higher price than they paid the energy supplier.

Further to my rt. hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer’s announcement on 26 May, the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has announced the Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS), a £37billion cost of living assistance package and will deliver a £400 non-repayable grant to households over winter 22/23. The Government continues to work with consumer groups and suppliers on delivery and is exploring ways in which households, who do not have direct contract for electricity might receive similar support

The North Sea Transition Authority publishes projections of oil and gas production in the UK, including comparisons with forecasts of demand, at www.nstauthority.co.uk/data-centre/data-downloads-and-publications/production-projections.

Statistics on current UK oil and gas production and supply are available at www.gov.uk/government/statistics/oil-and-oil-products-section-3-energy-trends and www.gov.uk/government/statistics/gas-section-4-energy-trends respectively.

The North Sea Transition Authority publishes projections of oil and gas production in the UK, including comparisons with forecasts of demand, at www.nstauthority.co.uk/data-centre/data-downloads-and-publications/production-projections.

Statistics on current UK oil and gas production and supply are available at www.gov.uk/government/statistics/oil-and-oil-products-section-3-energy-trends and www.gov.uk/government/statistics/gas-section-4-energy-trends respectively.

Ofgem’s Maximum Resale Price provisions prevent landlords from reselling energy to residents at a higher price than they paid to the licensed energy supplier.

Customers without a domestic electricity supply contract are not eligible for the Energy Bills Support Scheme, so the Government is exploring options for other ways in which they might receive similar support. This was raised in a recent Government consultation and a response will be published later in the summer. The Government has also provided £144 million of discretionary funding for Local Authorities to support households who need support but are not eligible for the Council Tax reduction.

The extension to operations at West Burton A was made to further boost the UK’s energy security and domestic supply, in light of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. It remains the Government’s firm commitment to end the use of coal power by October 2024.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for St Albans on 20th June 2022 to Question 18990.

The Government raised this in its technical consultation on the Energy Bills Support Scheme. The responses to this consultation are being analysed and will be published later in the summer.

Vulnerable consumers, including park home residents will be eligible for a £150 contribution towards their energy bills each winter through the Government’s Warm Home Discount Scheme. It is anticipated that the Park Homes Warm Home Discount scheme will re-open again in September 2022. There will also be payments to households on means tested benefits and pensioner and disability cost of living payments. Other support available includes the Winter Fuel Payments and Cold Weather Payments.

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme provides grants for heat pumps and biomass boilers to support people using domestic heating oil to make the transition to lower carbon heat. Since launch, 373 properties which used oil have applied to the scheme.

The Energy Company Obligation scheme (ECO4) is available for those who use domestic heating oil and who meet the eligibility criteria. This includes replacing their oil heating system with renewable heating or a District Heating System.

Where these customers meet the eligibility criteria and are customers of a participating energy supplier, they may qualify for a £150 Warm Home Discount rebate.

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme provides grants for heat pumps and biomass boilers to support people using domestic heating oil to make the transition to lower carbon heat. Since launch, 373 properties which used oil have applied to the scheme.

The Energy Company Obligation scheme (ECO4) is available for those who use domestic heating oil and who meet the eligibility criteria. This includes replacing their oil heating system with renewable heating or a District Heating System.

Where these customers meet the eligibility criteria and are customers of a participating energy supplier, they may qualify for a £150 Warm Home Discount rebate.

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme provides grants for heat pumps and biomass boilers to support people using domestic heating oil to make the transition to lower carbon heat. Since launch, 373 properties which used oil have applied to the scheme.

The Energy Company Obligation scheme (ECO4) is available for those who use domestic heating oil and who meet the eligibility criteria. This includes replacing their oil heating system with renewable heating or a District Heating System.

Where these customers meet the eligibility criteria and are customers of a participating energy supplier, they may qualify for a £150 Warm Home Discount rebate.

The Government has carefully considered the introduction of a price cap to help heating oil customers with high fuel prices, however the Government’s analysis indicates that a cap would not be in the long-term interests of consumers.

The existing gas and electricity price cap was designed to protect consumers on default tariffs from the loyalty penalty, which the Competitions and Markets Authority warned was causing customers to be overcharged. The structure of the heating oil market is different and imposing a price cap below wholesale costs could drive companies out of the market, reducing competition and possibly result in supply shortages.

BEIS Ministers are in regular contact with the fuel industry and have made it clear operators should do everything they can to reduce costs to end users.

Through the cost of living support package, the Government is providing over £15 billion in support to households, targeted at those with the greatest need. This is in addition to all domestic electricity customers receiving £400 from October.

Under the gas network price control Ofgem oversees the Fuel Poor Network Extension Scheme (FPNES), which is delivered by the Gas Distribution Networks. The FPNES provides a discount to eligible households against the cost of connecting to the gas network.

Under the gas network price control Ofgem oversees the Fuel Poor Network Extension Scheme (FPNES), which is delivered by the Gas Distribution Networks. The FPNES provides a discount to eligible households against the cost of connecting to the gas network.

The Government does not hold this data. Generators only receive subsidies for biomass that complies with strict sustainability criteria, which includes requirements under both land and greenhouse gas criteria. More information on the sustainability criteria can be found on the Ofgem website https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/renewables-obligation-sustainability-criteria.

BEIS is exploring the role that industrial symbiosis can play in reducing emissions from industry and how best to facilitate this. The Department is engaging with stakeholders to learn from regional and international experiences, most recently through interactions with the All-Party Parliamentary Manufacturing Group’s event “Industrial Symbiosis: using resource efficiency to achieve net zero goals”.

DEFRA is developing a digital waste tracking system, which will improve understanding of stocks and flows of waste returned to the economy as secondary materials. This improved access to data can unlock further industrial symbiosis opportunities

The latest data available is from the BEIS commissioned Heat Pump Manufacturing Supply Chain Research Project, which found that approximately 30 per cent of heat pumps sold in the UK in 2019 were manufactured domestically. The report also noted that this is expected to increase over time as the market matures.

Schemes including the Local Authority Delivery, Home Upgrade Grant, and Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund enable installing solar panels and ground source heat pumps.

VAT on installing solar panels, including with storage in Great Britain’s residential settings is now 0%. The Smart Export Guarantee enables small-scale renewable electricity generators, including from solar panels and small wind turbines, to receive payment for what they export.

The Government offers tax-relief to businesses installing solar panels, including for onsite-renewable generation, and will review existing permitted development rights that, subject to conditions, allow solar on and around domestic and commercial buildings without planning permission.

The Statutory Instrument for the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) Scheme was laid in Parliament on 22 June and is subject to the affirmative procedure.

The Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) has published ECO4 scoring details is expected to publish other delivery and administrative guidance in the coming weeks.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Strangford on 17th June 2022 to Question 14492.

The Insolvency Service has confirmed that the investigations into the circumstances surrounding the redundancies made by P&O Ferries are ongoing. As such no further comment or information can be provided at this time.