Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
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 claimed a Bevin Boys Veterans Badge.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Department does not hold records for how many applications have been received for Bevin Boy Veterans Badges but, since 2008, around 2,500 Badges have been awarded.
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what (a) medallic and (b) other recognition Bevin Boys received.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
In addition to the Bevin Badge Veterans Badge first awarded by the Government in 2008, a Bevin Boys Commemorative Medal has been commissioned by the Bevin Boys Association as their official medal. The Bevin Boys Medal is available to all former Bevin Boys called up between 1943 and 1948 or their next of kin. Full details, including how to order the Medal, can be found at https://bigburymint.com/product/bevin-boys-commemorative-medal/
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of extracting (a) oil and (b) gas from around the Falkland Islands on the UK's net zero targets.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The UK’s ratification of the Paris Agreement has not been extended to the Falkland Islands and so its emissions are not within scope of the UK’s net zero by 2050 target.
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of extracting (a) oil and (b) gas from around the Falkland Islands on the economy of the Falkland Islands.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The UK supports the right of the Falkland Islanders to develop their natural resources for their own economic benefit. This is an integral part of their right of self-determination. However, while there is an oil production project under active consideration, it is yet to be seen whether fossil fuel projects there will progress to production. This is a commercial decision for the companies involved, following the relevant regulatory requirements in the Falkland Islands.
Policy on hydrocarbons development – and its impact on the Territory (including its economic impact) - is a matter for the Falkland Islands Government.
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of extracting (a) oil and (b) gas from around the Falkland Islands on (i) the UK's and (ii) the Falkland Islands' energy security.
Answered by Graham Stuart
UK energy security remains dependent on having access to international oil and gas markets. It is within this context that any Falklands production would contribute to domestic security of supply.
Assessing the extent to which any locally produced hydrocarbons might contribute to the security of energy supply of the Falkland Islands is something the Government will leave to the Falkland Islands Government.
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of locating battery storage sites away from residential areas.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government has put in place a robust regulatory framework for grid-scale battery storage that protects people and the environment, which is kept under review to respond to changing circumstances. Recent reviews have considered both the planning system and environmental permitting regulations.
The Government has recently updated Planning Practice Guidance, which encourages battery storage developers to engage with local fire and rescue and local planning authorities to refer to the guidance published by the National Fire Chiefs Council. The Government intends to consult on including battery storage systems in the environmental permitting regulations at the earliest opportunity.
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent assessment she has made of the level of requirement to locate high-capacity battery storage near homes.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government has put in place a robust regulatory framework for grid-scale battery storage that protects people and the environment, which is kept under review to respond to changing circumstances. Recent reviews have considered both the planning system and environmental permitting regulations.
The Government has recently updated Planning Practice Guidance, which encourages battery storage developers to engage with local fire and rescue and local planning authorities to refer to the guidance published by the National Fire Chiefs Council. The Government intends to consult on including battery storage systems in the environmental permitting regulations at the earliest opportunity.
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will make an estimate of the total number of breaches of Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards in each year since 2019.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015 (‘the PRS Regulations’) confers the power to enforce the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards to local authorities for private rented properties.
The PRS Regulations do not require enforcement authorities to publish or make available details of their enforcement activities and they are not required to report this to the Government. It is upon the discretion of the domestic enforcement authorities to publish compliance penalties on the Private Rented Sector Exemptions Register.
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 13 February 2023 to Question 139259 on Natural Gas: Hydrogen, when he plans to make a decision on allowing hydrogen blending.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Government aims to reach a policy decision in 2023 on whether to allow blending of up to 20% hydrogen by volume into the gas distribution networks. The Government is assessing whether there is value in having blending available to support the development of the hydrogen economy and achieve wider net zero objectives. The Government is reviewing evidence to determine if blending represents strategic and economic value and meets the required safety standards. Blending of 20% hydrogen by volume is regarded by industry as the limit which, if exceeded, may start to impact domestic and non-domestic appliances negatively.
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of allowing hydrogen blending in pipes on the UK’s ability to achieve net zero targets.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Government aims to reach a policy decision in 2023 on whether to allow blending of up to 20% hydrogen by volume into the gas distribution networks. The Government is assessing whether there is value in having blending available to support the development of the hydrogen economy and achieve wider net zero objectives. The Government is reviewing evidence to determine if blending represents strategic and economic value and meets the required safety standards. Blending of 20% hydrogen by volume is regarded by industry as the limit which, if exceeded, may start to impact domestic and non-domestic appliances negatively.