Asked by: Lord Udny-Lister (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what Ofgem’s original policy limit was for Early Construction Funding as a proportion of total project cost, and what steps they are taking to ensure this limit is enforced.
Answered by Baroness Curran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Early Construction Funding (ECF) is a regulatory mechanism established by Ofgem which allows network companies to access a limited proportion of approved project funding before all statutory consents have been secured. Under Ofgem's Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment (ASTI) guidance, the normal limit for ECF is 20 per cent of project licence costs, although higher levels may be considered by Ofgem in exceptional circumstances. Decisions on the award of ECF are a matter for Ofgem as the independent energy regulator.
Asked by: Lord Udny-Lister (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government which Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment projects they expect to be completed by 2030.
Answered by Baroness Curran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
While TOs are responsible for delivering Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment (ASTI) projects, Ofgem plays a key role in scrutinising delivery plans, setting the regulatory requirements and monitoring performance (including completion dates), against agreed outputs and milestones. As the independent regulator, Ofgem holds TOs accountable for the efficient and timely delivery of ASTI projects and can investigate potential non-compliance where delivery falls short of regulatory requirements. Government monitors the progress of transmission projects required to meet our goal of clean power through regular engagement with industry and regulators.
Asked by: Lord Udny-Lister (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many megawatts of transmission connection projects in the Transmission Entry Capacity register have been completed to date, out of the total capacity currently in the queue.
Answered by Baroness Curran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
According to National Energy System Operator (NESO), as of 24 July, the Transmission Entry Capacity (TEC) Register included 81.7GW of generation capacity that has been built. 284.64GW of generation capacity has received revised ‘Gate 2’ connection offers (confirmed connection location and date) under the reformed connections process. The TEC Register will be updated by NESO as connection offers are accepted or declined.
Asked by: Lord Udny-Lister (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many transmission connection projects in the Transmission Entry Capacity register have been completed to date, out of the total number currently in the queue.
Answered by Baroness Curran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
According to National Energy System Operator (NESO), as of 24 July, the Transmission Entry Capacity (TEC) Register included 373 generation projects that have been built. 1,026 generation projects have received revised ‘Gate 2’ connection offers (confirmed connection location and date) under the reformed connections process. The TEC Register will be updated by NESO as connection offers are accepted or declined.
Asked by: Lord Udny-Lister (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what proportion of Transmission Entry Capacity projects due for delivery by 2030 do not yet have a corresponding entry in the Transmission Works Report.
Answered by Baroness Curran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Transmission Works Report (TWR) is being updated in light of revised connection offers issued as part of the connections reform process. All projects that accept a ‘Gate 2’ connection offer (confirmed connection location and date) will have a corresponding entry in the TWR, regardless of their connection date.
Asked by: Lord Udny-Lister (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure the UK has a strong relationship with Morocco.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
I refer the Noble Lord to the answer provided in the House of Commons on 2 September in response to Question 905377, which - for ease of reference - is reproduced below. Since then, we have continued to reaffirm our shared ambition to deepen cooperation, including at the ministerial meeting of the UK-Morocco Association Council on 12 November.
On 1 June, the Foreign Secretary co-hosted the UK-Morocco Strategic Dialogue in Rabat, where he signed agreements on education, healthcare, infrastructure and trade. This signalled a step change in the relationship. The Foreign Secretary also endorsed Morocco's autonomy proposal for Western Sahara and committed UK support to the parties and UN to reach a mutually acceptable resolution. We are taking this work forward together and remain in frequent contact.
Asked by: Lord Udny-Lister (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of local authority funding reductions on the capacity of Trading Standards services to undertake proactive surveillance, routine inspections, and test purchasing over the past five years.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
Local authorities across England, Scotland and Wales are independent from central government and are responsible for determining their resourcing priorities across a wide range of enforcement responsibilities in accordance with the needs of the local electorate.
The majority of Central Government funding is not ringfenced in recognition of local authorities being best placed to understand local priorities including those relating to consumer protection.
The Department for Business and Trade provides additional funding through the National Trading Standards Board (NTSB) and Trading Standards Scotland (TSS). These act as mechanisms to prioritise and coordinate national and regional consumer enforcement in England, Wales and Scotland respectively.
Asked by: Lord Udny-Lister (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to establish a national coordination body to align the priorities and funding contributions of Government departments and regulators that depend on Trading Standards services for enforcement and compliance activities.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
Local authorities across England, Scotland and Wales are independent from central government and are responsible for determining their resourcing priorities across a wide range of enforcement responsibilities in accordance with the needs of the local electorate.
The majority of Central Government funding is not ringfenced in recognition of local authorities being best placed to understand local priorities including those relating to consumer protection.
The Department for Business and Trade provides additional funding through the National Trading Standards Board (NTSB) and Trading Standards Scotland (TSS). These act as mechanisms to prioritise and coordinate national and regional consumer enforcement in England, Wales and Scotland respectively.
Asked by: Lord Udny-Lister (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they are considering establishing a consistent national framework for assessing the performance of Trading Standards services, including indicators on enforcement activity, consumer protection outcomes, and resourcing.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
Local authorities across England, Scotland and Wales are independent from central government and are responsible for determining their resourcing priorities across a wide range of enforcement responsibilities in accordance with the needs of the local electorate.
The majority of Central Government funding is not ringfenced in recognition of local authorities being best placed to understand local priorities including those relating to consumer protection.
The Department for Business and Trade provides additional funding through the National Trading Standards Board (NTSB) and Trading Standards Scotland (TSS). These act as mechanisms to prioritise and coordinate national and regional consumer enforcement in England, Wales and Scotland respectively.
Asked by: Lord Udny-Lister (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the reasons for the reduction in proactive surveillance, routine inspections, test purchases, and similar enforcement actions by Trading Standards services in the last five years; and what steps they are taking to support Trading Standards in fulfilling their regulatory and enforcement responsibilities.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
Local authorities across England, Scotland and Wales are independent from central government and are responsible for determining their resourcing priorities across a wide range of enforcement responsibilities in accordance with the needs of the local electorate.
The majority of Central Government funding is not ringfenced in recognition of local authorities being best placed to understand local priorities including those relating to consumer protection.
The Department for Business and Trade provides additional funding through the National Trading Standards Board (NTSB) and Trading Standards Scotland (TSS). These act as mechanisms to prioritise and coordinate national and regional consumer enforcement in England, Wales and Scotland respectively.