Asked by: Andrea Leadsom (Conservative - South Northamptonshire)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the (a) size of venues and (b) type of facility required to host greater numbers and more activities in larger establishments during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Paul Scully
My Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister addressed the nation on Saturday 31 October setting out new national restrictions. These restrictions will apply nationally for four weeks up to Wednesday 2 December, and will override the current Local Alert Level restrictions.
Some venues will be allowed to remain open for specific exempt activities, like childcare and support groups.
Depending on the venue and which Safer Places guidance applies, new guidance will be shared online at https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus.
Asked by: Andrea Leadsom (Conservative - South Northamptonshire)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he is making an assessment of the potential merits of giving trade fairs and events organisers a three-month opening lead time to enable them to begin trading again.
Answered by Paul Scully
We have worked closely with stakeholders through both the Visitor Economy and Events & Entertainment Working Groups to develop Covid-19 Secure reopening guidance for providers of events. We continue to meet with sector representatives to discuss the specific issues impacting the full return of trade fairs and events.
Business meetings and events of up to 30 people indoors are allowed in permitted venues if social distancing can be maintained and the venue can demonstrate it has followed the COVID-19 guidance. The rule of six does not apply to work, education, and training activities. Larger business events will be only permitted once it is safe to do so based on public health advice.
Asked by: Andrea Leadsom (Conservative - South Northamptonshire)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps the Government is taking to ensure the affordability of domestic energy costs as the UK transitions to a carbon neutral environment by 2050.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
The transition to a clean, low carbon economy can help give us towns and cities with cleaner air and warmer homes with lower bills, while growing our economy and supporting new jobs in growing low carbon industries.
But as our economy changes, we must make sure that this growth is inclusive, benefits people right across the UK, supporting workers as industries change and ensuring the costs as well as the benefits are shared fairly, protecting consumers, workers and businesses. That is why we have announced that HM Treasury will be conducting a review into the costs of decarbonisation, including how to achieve this transition in a way that works for households, businesses and public finances, and the implications for UK competitiveness.
Energy efficiency will help keep costs down for consumers, while supporting the decarbonisation of the housing stock towards carbon targets. The annual running costs of a Band C rated home are £650 lower than the average Band E rated home. This is why we set out our aspiration in the Clean Growth Strategy that as many homes as possible should be EPC C Band C by 2035 where practical, cost effective and affordable. Low income and vulnerable households are supported in making energy efficiency improvements under the reformed Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme. Eligibility for the new scheme includes around 6.7 million low income households, an increase from around 4.7 million from the previous ECO2t scheme.
Domestic energy costs are also kept down through Ecodesign regulations which improve the sustainability and energy efficiency of energy-related products and appliances, and Energy Labelling regulations which allow consumers to choose the most energy efficient products. In 2020, the Government’s current estimates show that ecodesign and energy labelling requirements will save around £100 for the average dual-fuel household on their energy bills. Going forward, we will continue to support ambitious requirements which will further minimise energy bills for households and carbon emissions.
Additionally, smart meters are already reducing how much energy consumers use and saving them money. Smart meters will support the realisation of billions of pounds of benefits to Great Britain over the next few decades, through avoiding costly network upgrades, supporting more rapid integration of electric vehicles and renewable generation, and more efficient use of the national grid system. This will ultimately lower emissions, cut costs, and give households more control.
The Government is reviewing the future energy retail market jointly with Ofgem to ensure all consumers secure a fair deal for their energy and are appropriately safeguarded in the future.