Asked by: Sarah Wollaston (Liberal Democrat - Totnes)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate the Government has made of the number of jobs which will be created by the renewables industry over the next ten years.
Answered by Claire Perry
The Government does not produce forecasts for job creation over a future time period for the renewables industry.
Asked by: Sarah Wollaston (Liberal Democrat - Totnes)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the implementation unit report on shale gas extraction, what disposal method will be used for flowback waste from (a) the 17 sites by 2020, (b) the 30 to 35 sites by 2022 and (c) the 155 sites by 2025.
Answered by Claire Perry
It is up to the operator to agree disposal methods with the appropriate regulators as part of their planning application for any future shale gas development.
Asked by: Sarah Wollaston (Liberal Democrat - Totnes)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the Implementation Unit Report on Shale Gas, what estimate the Government has made of the amount of flowback waste which would need to be disposed of for the projected (a) 17 sites by 2020, (b) 30-35 sites by 2022 and (c) 155 sites by 2025.
Answered by Claire Perry
The Government has not made an assessment of the amount of flowback waste which would be produced from any future shale gas development.
Asked by: Sarah Wollaston (Liberal Democrat - Totnes)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the Implementation Unit Report on Shale Gas, which disposal method is planned to be used for the projected (a) 17 sites by 2020, (b) 30-35 sites by 2022 and (c) 155 sites by 2025.
Answered by Claire Perry
It is the operator’s responsibility to agree disposal methods with the appropriate regulators as part of their planning application for all shale gas development.
Asked by: Sarah Wollaston (Liberal Democrat - Totnes)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to strengthen and promote the British aerospace industry.
Answered by Lord Harrington of Watford
The UK has the second largest aerospace industry globally, with strengths in some of the most technologically advanced parts of aircraft: wings, engines and advanced systems. The industry has annual turnover of around £32 billion, and exports some £30 billion.
Through the Aerospace Growth Partnership, Government is supporting action by industry to make sure the UK remains competitive, including a joint Industry/Government commitment of £3.9 billion for Research and Development activities through to 2026.
Asked by: Sarah Wollaston (Liberal Democrat - Totnes)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department plans for the increase in Post Office outreach services in rural communities over the last five years to continue; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Margot James
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy keeps the state of the network under review including the provision of rural services through outreaches. Outreaches are provided so Post Office can maintain access to communities, most often in rural areas, where the old post office has closed. These provide a regular part time service, with hours tailored to the levels of demand in the community. They provide a welcomed link to the network for many isolated communities.
Asked by: Sarah Wollaston (Liberal Democrat - Totnes)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the implications for his policies are of the call by the Association of Convenience Stores for the Government to review the costs, income and viability of rural post offices on its Rural Shop Report 2017, published in January 2017.
Answered by Margot James
The Government entrusts the Post Office’s management to keep the health of the network under review in order to meet the commitment we have set to maintain the network at over 11,500 branches. The commercial agreements it has with subpostmasters, rural and urban, covering costs and revenue form a key part of ensuring the health of the network. While these arrangements are commercially sensitive between both parties the evidence of their success is in the fact that that the network is at its most stable in decades.
Asked by: Sarah Wollaston (Liberal Democrat - Totnes)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of progress in securing the future of rural post offices; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Margot James
The Government understands the important role post offices play in communities across the country, especially in the more remote, rural areas. This is why in our manifesto we committed to secure the future of 3,000 rural post offices.
Thanks to Government investment the UK’s network of 11,600 branches is at its most stable in decades, with over 98% of the UK population in rural areas within 3 miles of a post office. The investment is offering real improvements to customers, including an extra 200,000 opening hours every week and over 4,200 post offices open on a Sunday.
The Government’s recent consultation will help us understand what the public and businesses expect from the Post Office and to understand more fully what subsidy is needed and what it should be used for.