Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Cradley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to instruct pubs to close an hour earlier in areas under local restrictions to address the COVID-19 pandemic; and if so why.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
My Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced on 22 September that, as from 24 September, all pubs in England must have a 10pm-5am closing time to help curb the spread of COVID-19.
Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Cradley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many earthquakes have been recorded in the UK in the last 12 months with a magnitude of over two; and where they have been located.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
In the last 12 months a total of 23 earthquakes have been recorded in the UK with a magnitude of over two. Details of the locality, date and magnitude are provided in the table below:
Date | Time (GMT) | Magnitude | Locality |
24/09/2019 | 13:38:15 | 4.2 | CENTRAL NORTH SEA |
02/10/2019 | 19:22:07 | 2.4 | MELTON MOWBRAY LEICS |
05/10/2019 | 15:35:47 | 2.1 | SOUTHERN NORTH SEA |
14/10/2019 | 16:51:49 | 2.4 | BISHOP'S CASTLE SALOP |
08/11/2019 | 16:12:07 | 2.3 | HALIFAX WEST YORKSHIRE |
17/11/2019 | 22:31:54 | 2.1 | MULL ARGYLL & BUTE |
05/12/2019 | 22:49:18 | 3.2 | BRIDGWATER SOMERSET |
15/12/2019 | 21:19:53 | 2.1 | IRISH SEA |
07/01/2020 | 10:36:46 | 2.3 | ARNISDALE HIGHLAND |
23/01/2020 | 05:57:00 | 3.1 | STOCKTON COUNTY DURHAM |
31/01/2020 | 11:53:34 | 2.2 | NORTHAMPTON NORTHANTS |
01/02/2020 | 01:20:28 | 2.9 | SOUTHERN NORTH SEA |
01/02/2020 | 01:19:39 | 2.7 | SOUTHERN NORTH SEA |
07/02/2020 | 15:04:52 | 2.4 | SOUTHERN NORTH SEA |
22/02/2020 | 18:43:02 | 4 | CENTRAL NORTH SEA |
24/03/2020 | 17:19:20 | 2.3 | PONTRILAS HEREFORDSHIRE |
27/03/2020 | 03:25:28 | 2.8 | SOUTHERN NORTH SEA |
04/04/2020 | 15:28:17 | 2.2 | BRACKLEY NORTHANTS |
23/04/2020 | 05:30:50 | 3.3 | SOUTHERN NORTH SEA |
04/06/2020 | 12:48:16 | 2.1 | WALSALL WEST MIDLANDS |
06/06/2020 | 14:22:39 | 2.2 | COMRIE PERTH & KINROSS |
21/08/2020 | 17:41:52 | 2.6 | SKYE HIGHLAND |
08/09/2020 | 08:45:29 | 3.5 | LEIGHTON BUZZARD BEDS |
Data supplied by the British Geological Survey.
Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Cradley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to stop all non-essential construction work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Construction plays a crucial role in supporting our public services, maintaining the nation’s infrastructure, and providing safe, decent homes for people to live in. Construction workers who cannot work from home, who show no symptoms of Covid-19, and who live in households where no person is self-isolating, should still go to work. This is consistent with the advice of the Chief Medical Officer.
However, the Government is clear that construction activity should only continue where it can take place in line with the social distancing guidance provided by Public Health England. Through the Construction Leadership Council, the construction industry has issued Site Operating Procedures which align with this guidance.
Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Cradley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to add outsourced cleaners to the list of key workers.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Key workers are defined as those whose work is critical to the Coronavirus response, based on consultation across the Government. This includes those who work in the health and social care sectors, as well as those providing essential services in industries such as education and childcare, transport, food and delivery, utilities, communications, public safety, and the Government. We are actively keeping guidance on key workers under review.
Employers should carefully consider the guidance, which sets out the key workers who will not be able to work from home. They can contact the Government department responsible for their sector if they have any questions.
If you cannot work from home then you can still travel to work, provided you are well and neither you nor any of your household are self-isolating. This is consistent with advice from the Chief Medical Officer.
Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Cradley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of rural communities that are not connected to the gas supply network.
Answered by Lord Duncan of Springbank
There is no definitive source for the number of households that are not connected to the gas supply network; BEIS estimates these figures by subtracting the number of domestic gas meters from the estimated number of households.
The table below shows the latest estimates of households not connected to the gas network by country of the UK. These estimates are also published down to GB local authority level within BEIS’ ‘Sub-national estimates of households not connected to the gas network’ dataset, most recently published in 2018.
Nation | Number of households1 | Estimated number of households not connected to the gas network1 | % |
England | 23,229,000 | 3,024,000 | 13% |
Scotland | 2,452,000 | 495,000 | 20% |
Wales | 1,342,000 | 225,000 | 17% |
Northern Ireland | 730,0002 | 497,0003 | 68% |
Total | 27,753,000 | 4,241,000 | 15% |
Source: (1) Sub-national estimates of households not connected to the gas network, BEIS, updated 2018, except for NI see footnote 3; (2) Live tables on household projections, United Kingdom, 1961-2039, MHCLG 2016 estimate; (3) Transparency Reports 2017, NI Utility Regulator
Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Cradley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of bioenergy's contribution to cutting harmful emissions.
Answered by Lord Henley
Sustainable bioenergy has played a valuable, transitional role in helping us meet our 2020 renewable energy targets and move to a low-carbon energy mix. In 2018, electricity generation from bioenergy was a record 35.6 TWh which constituted 32% of electricity generated from renewable sources.1
As set out in the Clean Air Strategy, we are also reviewing the air quality impacts of biomass to ensure that our energy policies can jointly tackle climate change and improve air quality. A consultation on ending support for new coal to biomass conversions will be conducted in due course.2
1. Energy Trends December 2018 (attached)
2. Clean Air Strategy 2019 (available on Gov.Uk)
Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Cradley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of the Groceries Code Adjudicator.
Answered by Lord Henley
The Groceries Code Adjudicator Act 2013 requires the Government to conduct and consult on a review every three years into the operational effectiveness of the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA). The Act specifies the issues which the review must address and who must be consulted as part of the review.
The first statutory review covered the period from the creation of the GCA (in June 2013), to 31 March 2016. It found that the GCA is regarded as an exemplary modern regulator with an international reputation. The Government response to the review was published in July 2017 –
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/groceries-code-adjudicator-statutory-review-2013-to-2016 (copy attached)
The second statutory review of the GCA will cover the period from 1st April 2016 to 31 March 2019.
The Government will launch the second review shortly. We will ensure all those with an interest have an opportunity to contribute.
Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Cradley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to encourage the increased use of solar panels on domestic properties.
Answered by Lord Henley
On 8 January, Government published a consultation on a Smart Export Guarantee (SEG), which would ensure that small-scale low carbon generators do not export their electricity to the grid for free including, solar PV. The SEG consultation closed on the 5 March 2019. We are currently considering the responses submitted and will respond in due course.
The consultation can be viewed on the GOV.UK consultations website.
Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Cradley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to encourage increased wind power generation in public sector buildings.
Answered by Lord Henley
The Government has no plans to encourage increased wind power generation in public sector buildings.
Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Cradley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of the UK's energy supply is derived from renewable sources; and what are those sources.
Answered by Lord Henley
The Government publishes the Digest of UK Energy Statistics (DUKES) on an annual basis. Table 6.7, ‘Renewable sources used to indicate progress under the 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive’ (below) has the latest proportion and the breakdown of renewable energy sources- including electricity, heat, and transport:
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Electricity generation component: |
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Normalised hydro generation (1) (2) | 445 | 448 | 383r | 427r | 470 |
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Normalised wind generation (3) | 2,228 | 2,714 | 3,222r | 3,499r | 4,199 |
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Electricity generation from renewables other than wind, | 1,730 | 2,295 | 3,174r | 3,506r | 3,732 |
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Electricity generation from compliant biofuels | - | - | 1 | 2 | 3 |
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Total renewable generation from all compliant sources | 4,402 | 5,457 | 6,779r | 7,432r | 8,401 |
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Total Gross Electricity Consumption (2) | 31,798 | 30,587 | 30,721r | 30,454r | 30,135 |
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Percentage of electricity from renewable sources | 13.8% | 17.8% | 22.1% | 24.4% | 27.9% |
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Heat component: |
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Renewable energy for heating and cooling | 2,387 | 2,468 | 3,469r | 4,034r | 4,254 |
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Total Gross energy consumption for heating and cooling | 59,180 | 52,997 | 55,243r | 55,823r | 54,979 |
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Percentage of heating and cooling energy from renewable sources | 4.0% | 4.7% | 6.3% | 7.2% | 7.7% |
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Transport component (excluding air transport): |
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Road transport renewable electricity | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3r | 4 |
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Non-road transport renewable electricity | 81 | 90 | -r | -r | 0 |
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Biofuels (restricted to those meeting sustainability criteria from 2011) (4) | 1,045 | 1,176 | 943 | 993r | 921 |
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Total electricity consumption in transport | 374 | 387 | 388r | 403r | 411 |
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Total petrol and diesel consumption in transport | 36,777 | 37,270 | 38,186r | 39,101r | 39,142 |
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Total transport component numerator (including weighted components) (5) | 1,824 | 2,090 | 1,780r | 2,004r | 1,906 |
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Total transport component denominator (including weighted components) (5) | 38,894 | 39,653 | 40,248r | 41,386r | 41,323 |
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Percentage of transport energy from renewable sources (5) | 4.7% | 5.3% | 4.4% | 4.8% | 4.6% |
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Overall directive target: |
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Renewables used for: |
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Electricity generation | 4,321 | 5,366 | 6,777r | 7,429r | 8,397 |
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Heating and Cooling | 2,387 | 2,468 | 3,469r | 4,034r | 4,254 |
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Transport biofuels (restricted to those meeting sustainability criteria from 2011) | 1,127 | 1,267 | 945r | 996r | 925 |
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Total Final Consumption of Renewable Energy ["Row A"] | 7,835 | 9,101 | 11,191r | 12,459r | 13,575 |
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Final Electricity Consumption (6) | 26,820 | 25,648 | 25,703r | 25,719r | 25,463 |
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Transport Final Energy Consumption (including air transport) (7) | 50,107 | 50,720 | 51,507r | 52,575r | 52,950 |
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Heating and Cooling Final Energy Consumption | 59,170 | 52,988 | 55,234r | 55,813r | 54,969 |
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Total Final Energy Consumption (8) | 136,097 | 129,356 | 132,444r | 134,107r | 133,381 |
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plus Distribution losses for electricity | 2,283 | 2,360 | 2,466r | 2,296r | 2,212 |
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plus Distribution losses for heat | 0 | 0 | - | - | 1 |
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plus Consumption of electricity in the electricity and heat generation sectors | 1,535 | 1,417 | 1,432 | 1,314r | 1,326 |
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plus Consumption of heat in the electricity and heat generation sectors | 0 | 0 | - | - | 1 |
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Gross Final Energy Consumption (GFEC) | 139,915 | 133,133 | 136,342r | 137,717r | 136,922 |
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of which Air transport | 11,812 | 11,798 | 11,188r | 11,283r | 11,659 |
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Air transport as a proportion of GFEC | 8.44% | 8.86% | 8.21% | 8.19% | 8.52% |
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Air transport cap specificed in Directive | 6.18% | 6.18% | 6.18% | 6.18% | 6.18% |
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Capped air transport | 8,647 | 8,228 | 8,426r | 8,511r | 8,462 |
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Capped Gross Final Energy Consumption (CGFEC) ["Row B"] (9) | 136,750 | 129,562 | 133,581r | 134,945r | 133,725 |
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Headline Directive percentage : Renewable Energy Consumption as a percentage of Capped Gross Final Energy Consumption ["Row A" divided by "Row B"] | 5.7% | 7.0% | 8.4% | 9.2% | 10.2% |
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(1) Based on a 15 year average hydro load factor. |
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(2) Excludes generation from pumped storage. |
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(3) Based on a 5 year average wind load factor. |
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(4) For the current year, an estimate has been made for the proportion of biofuels meeting the sustainability criteria |
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(5) Some sustainable biofuels are double weighted in the numerator of this calculation, as specified by the Directive. |
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(5) Final Electricity Consumption is Gross Electricity Consumption minus generators' own use of electricity and losses. |
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(7) Includes consumption of petrol and diesel, biofuels, other oil products, and coal. |
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(8) Total final consumption less non-energy use, as shown in Annex I, Table I.1, available on the BEIS website. |
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(9) This row includes adjustments for loses, and generators own use of electricity, combined with the capping mechanism for air transport as specified in the Directive. |
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