Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
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 potential merits of requiring online marketplaces to detail country of origin information on goods.
Answered by Paul Scully
The Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 (CCRs) require traders to provide consumers with specified pre-purchase information including the main characteristics of goods, services or digital content. This does not necessarily include the country of origin.
Consumers are free to enquire to the seller about the origin of products. Under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (CPRs), traders are banned from giving consumers false information or using misleading statements or presentation about the geographical or commercial origin of products. The Regulations carry criminal penalties and are enforced by local trading standards officers.
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
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 feasibility of installing BioLPG boilers in off-grid homes in relation to (a) the UK’s 6th Carbon Budget and )b) alternative net-zero measures including electric heat-pumps.
Answered by Greg Hands
The UK Government recognises that biofuels such as bioLPG may play a role in future off-gas-grid decarbonisation, particularly for properties that are not suitable for a heat pump.
However, further evidence is needed to consider what role these biofuels could play and to develop the policy framework which would support such a role.
The forthcoming Biomass Strategy will consider evidence on the likely supply and sustainability of biomass feedstocks, including those used to produce biofuels, available to the UK, the total lifecycle emissions for different biomass uses, and the best uses of biomass across the economy to achieve our net zero target.
As Building Regulations are an area of devolved competence, it would be for the Welsh Government to consider steps to enable the decarbonisation of off grid homes in Wales.
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions his Department has had with representatives of Electricity Network Operators on (a) upgrading the electricity network to ensure that it can cope with the combined requirements of electric vehicle charging, heat pumps and other household appliances and (b) the cost of that potential upgrade.
Answered by Greg Hands
Network regulation, including ensuring that the electricity network has the capacity to meet increased electricity demand from Low Carbon Technologies such as electric vehicles and heat pumps is a matter for Ofgem, the independent energy regulator. Ofgem uses the RIIO price control framework to incentivise electricity network companies to invest in the grid, providing a safe, secure and reliable network for all consumers at the lowest possible cost. Ofgem is currently formulating the next electricity distribution price control (RIIO-ED2) due to commence in April 2023.
Government maintains regular engagement with Ofgem and electricity network companies to support them in providing consumers with a network capable of delivering future electricity requirements.
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what analysis his Department has undertaken into the costs involved in upgrading the electricity network to ensure it is able to cope with people charging their vehicles, running a heat a pump and household items at the same time.
Answered by Greg Hands
Network regulation, including ensuring that the electricity network has the capacity to meet increased electricity demand from Low Carbon Technologies such as electric vehicles and heat pumps is a matter for Ofgem, the independent energy regulator. Ofgem uses the RIIO price control framework to incentivise electricity network companies to invest in the grid, providing a safe, secure and reliable network for all consumers at the lowest possible cost. Ofgem is currently formulating the next electricity distribution price control (RIIO-ED2) due to commence in April 2023.
Government maintains regular engagement with Ofgem and electricity network companies to support them in providing consumers with a network capable of delivering future electricity requirements.
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent assessment he has made of the impact of banning the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030 on people living off the electricity grid; and what assessment he has made of the support required by those people for the transition to electric vehicles.
Answered by Greg Hands
The Government wants to ensure everyone, including those without access to the electricity grid can still benefit from the transition to zero emission vehicles. The On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS) is available to all UK local authorities to provide public chargepoints for their residents including those without access to the electricity grid. Drivers may also choose to charge their vehicle at their workplace, or when they do their shopping.
Government had already committed £1.5 billion to support the early market and remove barriers to zero emission vehicles ownership. Building on the £1.9 billion from Spending Review 2020, the Government has committed an additional £620 million to support the transition to electric vehicles.
Government is also providing grants for homeowners, businesses and local authorities to install chargepoints and is also supporting the deployment of rapid chargepoints. The Government will provide £1.3 billion over the next four years to support the continued roll-out of chargepoints on motorways and major A roads, in homes and businesses and on-street.
The forthcoming EV Infrastructure Strategy will also set out Government’s vision for the future of EV charging. A strong focus will be on the needs of those who cannot rely on off-street charging. Local authorities and Chargepoint operators should work together to provide sufficient levels of provision in order to meet demand.
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate he has made of the amount of carbon dioxide that (a) was captured by the Drax power station’s bioenergy with carbon capture and storage programme in last 12 months and (b) would have been captured by the trees used as wood pellets in the event that they had not been cut down.
Answered by Greg Hands
The government does not hold this information
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the average gross stack emissions of CO2 per MWh for power generated by Drax is when fuelled by (a) coal and (b) wood.
Answered by Greg Hands
The Government does not hold this information.
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make it his policy to not amend the Energy Company Obligation Scheme (ECO) as energy prices rise.
Answered by Greg Hands
Last summer, the Government consulted on extending the Energy Company Obligation Scheme from 2022-26 and expanding it to be £1billion per year. The Government keeps all costs on bills under review and will issue a response to the consultation in due course.
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
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 impacts to the wider supply chain and delivery of fuel poverty measures if proposals to temporarily delay the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) are implemented.
Answered by Greg Hands
The Government recognises the importance of the Energy Company Obligation scheme in tackling fuel poverty and maintaining the supply chain. In July 2021, the Government consulted on extending the scheme from 2022-26 and expanding it to £1 billion per year, supporting low income and vulnerable households across Great Britain. The Government will issue a response to the consultation in due course.