Asked by: Lord Kennedy of Southwark (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 compatibility of the planned OneWeb satellite constellation with the UK’s obligations to (1) the European Southern Observatory, and (2) other intergovernmental research organisations.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The UK Space Agency is working with UK Research and Innovation and the science community - including through our membership of international bodies - to ensure mitigation options are properly considered that may be necessary for the UK to continue to meet its obligations to the European Southern Observatory and other intergovernmental research organisations. Government will be encouraging a responsible and engaged approach from One Web.
Asked by: Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps UK Research and Innovation is taking to ensure that appropriate quality controls are placed on rapid-response COVID-19 research.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
UKRI has been working at pace to deliver rapid response funding calls including the Joint UKRI-DHSC call launched on 4th February. Although there is a need to work faster than usual given the urgency of the current crisis, UKRI continues to follow existing processes for managing, monitoring, assuring, and reconciling applications and the delivery of funding.
Asked by: Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what support they are providing to professional membership companies during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
As of 3rd April, professional membership organisations that receive at least 50% of their income from trading activity and that otherwise meet the scheme eligibility criteria can access the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS).
CBILS supports small and medium-sized businesses with access to working capital (including loans, overdrafts, invoice finance and asset finance) of up to £5 million and for up to six years. The Government will also make a Business Interruption Payment to cover the first 12 months of interest payments and any lender-levied fees, so smaller businesses will benefit from no upfront costs and lower initial repayments.
Asked by: Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to assess the adequacy of regulations in regard to Individual Voluntary Arrangements.
Answered by Lord Duncan of Springbank
The Government is currently assessing the regulatory framework for insolvency practitioners, which will include those responsible for delivering individual voluntary arrangements. In its recently closed Call for Evidence, Government sought views on the effectiveness of the current regulatory regime and whether there should be further consultation on changes to the system. The Government’s response to the consultation will be published in due course.
Asked by: Lord Kennedy of Southwark (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 restructuring of infrastructure and development company Keir, particularly in relation to concerns over their financial position.
Answered by Lord Henley
The restructuring announced by Kier on 17 June is a commercial decision for the company. The delivery of public services is not affected by Kier’s recent announcement and we are confident that the company can continue to fulfil their contracts with the government. We remain in close communication with Kier’s management and will continue to discuss their proposed changes.
We continue to monitor the financial health of all of our strategic suppliers, including Kier.
Asked by: Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their latest assessment of the (1) Domestic and (2) Non-Domestic, Renewable Heat Incentive schemes.
Answered by Lord Henley
We produced a full scheme Impact Assessment in February 2018, prior to the introduction of the latest RHI regulations and deployment data for both schemes is published monthly. This information can be found on the gov.uk website.
Asked by: Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the differences, if any, in the legislation relating to weights and measures in Northern Ireland compared to that in place in the rest of the UK.
Answered by Lord Henley
Weights and measures policy and legislation, apart from that relating to Units of measurement and United Kingdom primary standards, or to technical standards and requirements in relation to products in pursuance of an obligation under EU law, is devolved to Northern Ireland.
Where the legislative framework for weights and measures is set at a national level, Northern Ireland has followed the same principles and approach as the rest of the UK.
Where there is legislation relating to weights and measures at European level, Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK must follow the same requirements.
Asked by: Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to increase the scrutiny of foreign takeovers in industries which are important to the resilience and security of the UK.
Answered by Lord Henley
The Government published the ‘National Security and Investment’ White Paper consultation on 24 July 2018. The White Paper sets out how the Government will reform its powers to protect national security from hostile actors using ownership of, or significant influence or control over, businesses and assets in a way that may harm the country.
The Government is consulting for 12 weeks and will legislate when Parliamentary time allows.
Asked by: Lord Kennedy of Southwark (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 current health of the UK car industry.
Answered by Lord Henley
The UK’s automotive industry is world leading and global demand for UK designed, engineered, and manufactured vehicles is strong. We are determined to ensure that the UK continues to be one of the most competitive locations in the world for automotive and other advanced manufacturing. Ministers regularly meet senior automotive executives, both through the Automotive Council and individually, to discuss a wide range of matters.
Asked by: Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to regulate the heat network industry.
Answered by Lord Henley
The Clean Growth Strategy, published in 2017, committed to assessing a heat network future market framework. An industry taskforce, organised by the Association for Decentralised Energy, published a report in January 2018 on options to improve the sector. The CMA is also currently investigating how well the sector delivers for consumers with its final report to be published this summer. My Department will consider the recommendations from both in developing an appropriate future market framework that will deliver benefits and protections for consumers and growth for the sector.
District heating has significant potential to reduce energy bills and carbon. We are investing £320m in the sector through the Heat Networks Investment Project launching in the autumn to ensure consumers benefit from this opportunity and get a fair deal; a number of pilot projects have already received funding.