Asked by: Alan Whitehead (Labour - Southampton, Test)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she has had recent discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential merits of implementing a carbon border adjustment mechanism.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
The Secretary of State for Business and Trade and Chancellor of the Exchequer engage regularly on matters related to business and trade objectives, including supporting businesses to invest, grow and export.
In December 2023 the Government set out its intention to implement a UK carbon border adjustment mechanism by 2027, explaining that further details on its design and delivery will be subject to consultation this year.
Asked by: Alan Whitehead (Labour - Southampton, Test)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what progress her Department has made on the fairness and affordability review on consumer energy bills.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Government recognises the challenges posed by cost-of-living pressures, including the impact of energy bills, and is already providing extensive financial support to households which includes a £104 billion package, or £3,700 per household on average, over 2022-2025.
We are continuing to support households with the cost of living past April 2024. In the Autumn Statement the Government announced the biggest increase to the National Living Wage, which will benefit around 2.7 million workers and is worth £1,800 to a full-time worker. We also announced an increase to benefits of 6.7% which is worth around £470.
Asked by: Alan Whitehead (Labour - Southampton, Test)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she has had recent discussions with (a) the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero and (b) Ofcom on energy networks' access to the radio spectrum in the context of the (i) smart meter rollout and (ii) implementation of a smart energy network.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
DSIT Ministers have not had any discussions with the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero or Ofcom on either of these topics.
DSIT officials are currently discussing the connectivity needs for future energy networks with officials at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero working together to analyse the associated use cases and options for the connectivity solutions. The Departments are also working with Ofcom, should additional spectrum be required to support this.
Asked by: Alan Whitehead (Labour - Southampton, Test)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that energy networks have the radio spectrum access they need to deliver smart energy networks.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Ofcom are carrying out a review of the future communication needs of the utilities (electricity, gas, and water) that is due for publication in Q4 2023-2024. The Department will draw on the recommendations of that report and, if a spectrum solution is recommended, work with the Department for Science Innovation and Technology to assist industry partners in securing the relevant spectrum allocation.
Asked by: Alan Whitehead (Labour - Southampton, Test)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether her Department has made an assessment of the impact of trial trenching requirements on (a) the delivery of new low-carbon generation projects and (b) associated costs for renewable energy developers.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Planning consents will set requirements for pre-construction archaeological surveys where appropriate, and techniques used may include trial trenching. The most appropriate technique is likely to depend on the specific circumstances in each case.
Asked by: Alan Whitehead (Labour - Southampton, Test)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will publish (a) the estimated cost to the public purse of contracts for difference payments to electricity generators in financial year 2022-23 and (b) the actual (i) cost and (ii) savings to the public purse of contracts for difference payments to electricity generators in financial year 2022-23.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme is funded by the Supplier Obligation, a statutory levy on all GB-based licensed electricity suppliers. Typically, we expect these costs to be passed through from suppliers to consumers via electricity bills. The Office for Budget Responsibility publishes outturn and forecast of Environmental Levies, which includes the Contracts for Difference Scheme. In the year 2022-23, the Office for Budget Responsibility estimates that the outturn cost of the scheme was -£0.1 billion, i.e. a saving to electricity consumers.
Asked by: Alan Whitehead (Labour - Southampton, Test)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether she is taking steps to help increase the number of skilled electricians able to support the (a) installation and (b) maintenance of low-carbon technologies.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Government will publish the Green Jobs Plan in the first half of 2024. This will outline the actions government and industry will take to ensure we have the skilled workforce at the right time and place, to deliver our net zero, nature, and energy security targets.
We are aware of the need to increase the number of appropriately skilled electricians for installation and maintenance of low carbon technologies. The Green Jobs Delivery Group is utilising workforce assessments to understand the scale of demand in different sectors; actions are being developed to address this demand within the Green Jobs Plan.
Asked by: Alan Whitehead (Labour - Southampton, Test)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of different electricity generation technologies on archaeological sites; and whether she has plans to ensure that such factors are taken into account in trial trenching requirements.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Section 5.9 of the Overarching National Policy Statement for Energy (EN-1) sets out policy relevant to the Secretary of State’s consideration of impacts on the historic environment, including archaeological sites as part of the development consent process for nationally significant energy infrastructure projects. In considering any application for development consent, the Secretary of State considers all relevant matters including policy related to the historic environment.
Asked by: Alan Whitehead (Labour - Southampton, Test)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will consider the potential merits of delaying trial trenching for ground-mounted solar projects until after consent has been granted.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Planning guidance on assessing potential impacts of large-scale solar projects on the historic environment is set out in the recently published Energy National Policy Statements. In most cases, applicants are required to seek expert assessment. Where assessments include investigative work, such as trial trenching, this should be proportionate.
Conducting this work during the pre-application planning phase enables developers to take into account findings and, if necessary, mitigate impacts by adapting project design at an early stage. It provides a robust evidence base to support decision making, helping to avoid delays after applications have been submitted or post consent.
Asked by: Alan Whitehead (Labour - Southampton, Test)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many people have started on the (a) low carbon heating technician apprenticeship scheme, (b) Home Decarbonisation Skills Training Scheme and (c) training funded by the Heat Training Grant since September 2023, broken down by region.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The table below outlines the training started under the above-mentioned schemes, broken down by region:
Scheme | Local Net Zero Hub | ||||
North East & Yorkshire | North West | Midlands | Greater South East | South West | |
Low carbon heating technician apprenticeship | This is a new apprenticeship, so data is not yet available | ||||
Home Decarbonisation Skills Training Competition (since September 2023) | 166 | 382 | 643 | 532 | 73 |
Heat Training Grant | 214 | 110 | 345 | 657 | 117 |
These schemes are part way through delivery. The figures for training started will continue to increase across all regions.