Asked by: Lord Marlesford (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to pause consideration of the application by EDF to construct the proposed Sizewell C nuclear power station at the end of the pre-examination stage, until those who are unable to take part in a virtual examination as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic may take part in an open examination.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Examining Authority at the Planning Inspectorate will proceed with its consideration of EDF’s application in line with the published guidance on current procedures for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects. The Planning Inspectorate is considering ways in which the process can be conducted to ensure that Interested Parties are able to take part. There are currently no plans to pause the application at the end of the pre-examination stage. Further information is available at the GOV.UK website.
Asked by: Lord Marlesford (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government why the sale of building materials that are required to maintain the standards of residential properties are being restricted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government has set out that construction and associated activities can continue during the Covid-19 outbreak. No restrictions have been placed upon the sale of building materials. The Government is working with the construction industry to ensure the continued operation of the supply chain, including developing Site and Branch Operating Procedures for firms and merchants.
Asked by: Lord Marlesford (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station is due to come on stream; what its output rate will be; what is the estimated total subsidy per year for each of the first three years of operation; and who will pay that subsidy.
Answered by Lord Henley
Hinkley Point C is scheduled to come online from 2025 with an electricity generating capacity of 3.2 GW. This represents 7% of the UK’s electricity needs based on estimated demand in the period 2025-2030.
The Contract for Difference (CfD), agreed in September 2016, is an agreement for the Low Carbon Contracts Company Limited (LCCC) on behalf of electricity bill-payers to pay the generator the difference between the wholesale market price and a ‘strike price’ for every megawatt hour of electricity that it generates.
The payments under the Hinkley Point C CfD will depend on wholesale prices at the time. In our published 2016 HPC value-for-money assessment, it was shown using a central scenario based on 2016 prices that the support payments in the first three years of the plant’s operation from 2025 are expected to be approximately £590m, £860m and £860m respectively (2012 prices, undiscounted).
The difference payments under the CfD are only one element of a consumer's electricity bill, which will also include the wholesale price of electricity. A fall in the wholesale price would result in an increase in top-up payments, and conversely an increase in the wholesale price would result in a fall in top up payments, and payments by the generator to the LCCC should the wholesale price rise above the strike price. The overall price paid for electricity generated by HPC is therefore fixed at the strike price for the contract term of 35 years, after which the difference payments will stop.
Asked by: Lord Marlesford (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect to make a decision as to whether to proceed with the second nuclear power station in a generation at Sizewell.
Answered by Lord Prior of Brampton
The timetable for the development of Sizewell C is a matter for the developer EDF Energy. EDF Energy is currently consulting publicly on its proposals for this site.
Asked by: Lord Marlesford (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the proposed locations and planned commencement dates of construction for the establishment of new universities referred to in the Queen's Speech.
Answered by Baroness Evans of Bowes Park
Government is legislating to increase choice and competition in the higher education sector. These measures will enable the establishment of high-quality new universities where there is a need in terms of student and employer demand.