Asked by: Marquess of Lothian (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking with international partners to address the decline in marine oxygen levels linked to climate change and warmer seas.
Answered by Lord Henley
We work extensively with international partners to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, which is the main driver of warming seas and declining marine oxygen levels.
The UK is at the forefront of international action to tackle climate change. We played an influential role in securing the agreement of 195 countries to sign up to the Paris Agreement in 2015 and we remain fully committed to its implementation, as demonstrated by our instrumental role in the creation of a rulebook in Poland last year to bring the agreement to life.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change will publish a Special Report on Oceans and the Cryosphere later this year, which will include an up-to-date assessment of changes in the ocean due to climate change, including marine oxygen loss and its impacts. Once published we will respond to these findings in due course.
Asked by: Marquess of Lothian (Conservative - 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 predicted global rise in sea levels as a result of the increase in Antarctic ice loss in the past four decades; and what steps they are taking, with international partners, in response to that issue.
Answered by Lord Henley
The UK Climate Projections (UKCP18), published in November 2018 by the UK government-funded Met Office Hadley Centre (MOHC), projected a global sea level rise of 29 – 112 cm by 2100, relative to the 1981-2000 average, depending on the scale of future emissions of greenhouse gases. Under a medium emissions scenario, the UKCP18 sea level projections show a net contribution from Antarctica of up to 26 cm by 2100.
The UK Government is committed to tackling climate change and is actively working with others to meet the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement. This includes:
Asked by: Marquess of Lothian (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the 2018 Progress Report to Parliament of the Committee on Climate Change published on 2 June, what measures they intend to take to meet its recommendation that action must be taken now to avoid unnecessary costs to the public in the shift to a low-carbon economy.
Answered by Lord Henley
Since the Climate Change Act came into force 10 years ago the UK has proven to be a world-leader in tackling climate change – including by cutting emissions faster than any other G7 country since 1990. As the Committee on Climate Change has recognised, the UK has made strong progress to date in cleaning up the power and waste sectors. Our ambitious Clean Growth Strategy sets out our plans to go further, looking across the whole of the economy and the country. It includes ambitious policies and proposals on housing, business, transport, the natural environment and green finance and our priority is now on delivering these.
The Government will respond formally to the Committee on Climate Change’s 2018 progress report in the Autumn.
Asked by: Marquess of Lothian (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what if any proposals they have to provide new and expectant mothers with further protections from redundancy; and whether they have any plans to address the use of confidentiality agreements in out of court settlements which prevent women from speaking publicly about their treatment.
Answered by Lord Prior of Brampton
The Government’s response to Women and Equalities Select Committee Inquiry into pregnancy and maternity discrimination earlier this year said that we “will consider further and bring forward proposals to ensure that the protections in place for those who are pregnant or returning from maternity leave are sufficient”. We are reviewing whether we need stronger protection against redundancy for pregnant women and women returning from maternity leave and will consult on options in due course.
The Government has no plans to address the use of confidentiality agreements. Employees and employers need the freedom to reach a mutually acceptable negotiated settlement, so the Government does not want to impose further constraints on the provisions of settlement agreements.
Asked by: Marquess of Lothian (Conservative - 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 Bulletin of Atomic Scientists' announcement on 26 January setting the 2017 time of the Doomsday Clock at two-and-a-half minutes to midnight; and what action they intend to take in response.
Answered by Lord Prior of Brampton
We have made no assessment of recent changes to the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists’ Doomsday Clock and therefore do not plan to take any action.
Asked by: Marquess of Lothian (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their strategy to encourage and attract investment to the steel, aerospace and pharmaceutical industries in the UK.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Government has worked hard to make Britain one of the best places in the world to start and grow a business, creating a business environment that supports growth and encourages long-term investment; as well as a dynamic economy with open and competitive markets. This has included backing the steel, aerospace and pharmaceuticals sector, cutting corporation tax to 17% by 2020, and making major investments in the UK’s research infrastructure.
We are also developing an Industrial Strategy which will embrace the opportunities of our new global role and upgrade our economy so it works for everyone. We will be engaging fully with all sectors of the economy to deliver a successful strategy and create the conditions for future success.
Asked by: Marquess of Lothian (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when the Secretary of State for Energy will respond to the Committee on Climate Change's report on the environmental impact of shale gas fracking submitted to the Department of Energy and Climate Change on 30 March.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
The Government has received the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) report. We are carefully considering the report to ensure it is given the proper consideration it is due.
Under the Infrastructure Act 2015, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change is required to lay the CCC report and our response before Parliament together. They will be published as soon as practicable once our response is complete.
Asked by: Marquess of Lothian (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of figures released by the Citizens' Advice Bureau indicating that pregnancy and maternity discrimination in the workplace is rising; and what action they plan to take as a result.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with my noble Friend.
Asked by: Marquess of Lothian (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they expect the UK to face a power deficit in winter 2016–17, and if so, what action they are taking to prevent electricity shortages.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
The UK will not face a power deficit in winter 2016/17. National Grid has the right tools they need to manage the system and will ensure that they continue to do so.
National Grid has already procured 3.6GW of reserve capacity for next winter and, in January, the Capacity Market Transitional Arrangements auction bought 800MW of demand side response capacity for winter 16/17 which will also help secure the system. In addition, National Grid has the option to procure further demand side balancing reserve for 2016/17.