Asked by: Angus Brendan MacNeil (Independent - Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will take steps to end the freeze on state pension payments to pensioners residing in Canada.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
UK State Pensions are up-rated overseas where there is a legal requirement to do so. There is no such requirement or agreement with Canada. This longstanding policy has been supported by successive post-war governments for over 70 years and the Government has no plans to change the policy.
Asked by: Angus Brendan MacNeil (Independent - Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to her Department's publication entitled UK Wireless Infrastructure Strategy, published on 11 April 2023, what steps her Department is taking to implement the telecommunications capability required to maintain the resilience of the smart energy grid.
Answered by Graham Stuart
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: Angus Brendan MacNeil (Independent - Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to recommendation 27 of the report entitled The Second National Infrastructure Assessment published by the National Infrastructure Commission in October 2023, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of utilising radio spectrum for energy networks.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Ofcom published a consultation on possible spectrum for the energy and water utilities in June, identifying 5 bands for the potential use by the energy sector (https://www.ofcom.org.uk/consultations-and-statements/category-1/potential-spectrum-bands-to-support-utilities).
In response to this consultation, the Government has contracted Fraser Nash Consultancy to produce a report looking at the technical feasibility and indicative cost of each of the options Ofcom identified, together with other communication solutions that do not require new radio spectrum. This report will be published in due course.
Asked by: Angus Brendan MacNeil (Independent - Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a zero-rate tax for renewable hydrotreated vegetable oil for domestic heating.
Answered by Gareth Davies - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) is a relatively new fuel, and has limited availability in the UK. When used for domestic heating, HVO benefits from the rebated duty rate of 10.18p per litre, in contrast to the full duty rate of 52.95p per litre.
The Government’s Biomass Strategy, which was published on 10 August, reviews the amount of sustainable biomass available to the UK, including liquid biofuels such as HVO. It is important to ensure that biomass is prioritised within the economy where it offers the greatest opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in ‘hard to abate’ sectors where there are fewer options to decarbonise through alternative low carbon technologies. Biomass has a role in decarbonising certain properties, such as off gas grid homes that are not readily suitable for heat pumps. Further evidence is needed to consider what role biofuels could play.
As with all taxes, the Government keeps the taxation of HVO under review, and any changes are announced by the Chancellor at fiscal events.
Asked by: Angus Brendan MacNeil (Independent - Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what her Department's timescale is for publishing its planned consultation on the use of hydrotreated vegetable oil for domestic fuel use.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Government will issue a consultation on the potential use of renewable liquid heating fuels within twelve months.
Asked by: Angus Brendan MacNeil (Independent - Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the outcome of the Intellectual Property Office’s consultation entitled Standard Essential Patents and Innovation: Executive summary and next steps, updated on 5 August 2022, what plans he has to consult Parliament on the potential impact of such steps on the (a) wider UK intellectual property economy and (b) ability of small and medium-sized enterprises’ to compete in the global marketplace.
Answered by Paul Scully
In December 2021, the Government launched a Call for Views on whether or not the current Standard Essential Patents (SEPs) ecosystem promotes competition and encourages innovation. In its August 2022 Summary of Responses the Government said that there was little consensus on the nature, extent, causes, and impact of problems in the ecosystem. A subsequent questionnaire was launched in March 2023, to better understand the experiences of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), small-cap and mid-cap businesses. A Summary of Responses will be published in Summer 2023. Findings on the SEPs ecosystem will be presented to Ministers in late 2023.
Asked by: Angus Brendan MacNeil (Independent - Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to help ensure that small and medium-sized enterprises developing innovative products, do not have to pay excessive royalties to foreign companies for licences to standard-essential patents.
Answered by Paul Scully
In December 2021, the Government launched a Call for Views on whether or not the current Standard Essential Patents (SEPs) ecosystem promotes competition and encourages innovation. In its August 2022 Summary of Responses the Government said that there was little consensus on the nature, extent, causes, and impact of problems in the ecosystem. A subsequent questionnaire was launched in March 2023, to better understand the experiences of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), small-cap and mid-cap businesses. A Summary of Responses will be published in Summer 2023. Findings on the SEPs ecosystem will be presented to Ministers in late 2023.
Asked by: Angus Brendan MacNeil (Independent - Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will make an assessment of the impact of the Intellectual Property Office review of the standard-essential patent ecosystem on the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises in international trade, in the context of terms for licencing (a) 5G and (b) other technology standards.
Answered by Paul Scully
In December 2021, the Government launched a Call for Views on whether or not the current Standard Essential Patents (SEPs) ecosystem promotes competition and encourages innovation. In its August 2022 Summary of Responses the Government said that there was little consensus on the nature, extent, causes, and impact of problems in the ecosystem. A subsequent questionnaire was launched in March 2023, to better understand the experiences of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), small-cap and mid-cap businesses. A Summary of Responses will be published in Summer 2023. Findings on the SEPs ecosystem will be presented to Ministers in late 2023.
Asked by: Angus Brendan MacNeil (Independent - Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether her Department is taking steps to reduce the tariff on fish feed imported from the Faroe Islands.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The UK and the Faroe Islands met in February for the UK-Faroe Islands Free Trade Agreement Joint Committee. Officials discussed implementation of the FTA and remain in contact on a number of areas of trade, including the possibility of further liberalisation of fish feed imports from the Faroe Islands.
Asked by: Angus Brendan MacNeil (Independent - Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many tonnes of commercial Atlantic Blue Fin Tuna quota the Government plans to acquire; and how much and what proportion of that tonnage will be designated to Scotland.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The UK has 65.4 tonnes of eastern Atlantic bluefin tuna quota in 2023. Currently, eastern Atlantic bluefin tuna is managed as a UK unallocated stock and is not apportioned between the UK Fisheries Administrations. Defra is considering how best to manage the UK’s eastern Atlantic bluefin tuna quota in future years.