Asked by: Bill Wiggin (Conservative - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much the Government has spent on the smart meter roll-out to date.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Industry is funding the rollout of smart meters. The latest estimates of the costs and benefits can be found in the 2019 Cost Benefit Analysis of the smart meter rollout in Great Britain: www.gov.uk/government/publications/smart-meter-roll-out-cost-benefit-analysis-2019
Asked by: Bill Wiggin (Conservative - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to help energy companies achieve their fixed annual installation targets for smart meters.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department regularly engages with energy suppliers to monitor rollout progress and identify and share good practice on operational and consumer engagement issues.
Asked by: Bill Wiggin (Conservative - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking when an energy supplier does not achieve their fixed annual installation target for smart meters.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy is responsible for setting government policy and obligations relating to the rollout of smart meters, whilst the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) is responsible for regulating energy suppliers against their smart metering obligations. Ofgem has a range of tools available for doing this under its Enforcement Guidelines.
Asked by: Bill Wiggin (Conservative - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the Government plans to fine energy suppliers for not installing smart meters.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) is responsible for regulating energy suppliers against their smart metering obligations and has a range of tools available for doing this under its Enforcement Guidelines, including financial penalties.
Asked by: Bill Wiggin (Conservative - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the planned electricity generating capacity of the UK is for (a) 2025, (b) 2030, (c) 2035 and (d) 2040; and how that energy will be (a) generated and (b) distributed.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government works closely with National Grid Electricity System Operator to ensure there is adequate capacity available to meet peak demand in a range of scenarios, now and in the future.
Each year how much capacity will be necessary to meet demand in the years ahead is evaluated. This assessment is used to determine targets for the annual Capacity Market auctions. Auctions held to date have secured the majority of Great Britain’s capacity needs out to 2024/25. A further two Capacity Market auctions will take place later this winter which will secure electricity supply out to 2025/26.
The electricity network companies work closely with developers and the independent energy regulator, Ofgem, to ensure that the electricity system can accommodate new generation capacity.
Asked by: Bill Wiggin (Conservative - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of changing travel agencies from non-essential retail to part of the culture, tourism, leisure and sport category to increase their eligibility for covid-19 support.
Answered by Paul Scully
While no specific assessment has been made by the Department of the potential merits of changing travel agencies from non-essential retail to part of the culture, tourism, leisure and sport category, we have provided a range of measures to support all types of businesses including non-essential retail.
In the March Budget, my Rt hon Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer announced new ‘Restart Grants’ of up to £6,000 per premises for non-essential retail businesses and up to £18,000 per premises for hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care and gym businesses in England. The Government is also providing all local authorities in England with an additional £425 million of discretionary business grant funding, on top of the £1.6 billion already allocated.
Asked by: Bill Wiggin (Conservative - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of granting travel agencies additional support in response to the financial impacts of covid-19 restrictions.
Answered by Paul Scully
In total, over £25bn has been provided to the tourism, leisure and hospitality sectors in the form of grants, loans and tax breaks. On top of the Government’s wider economic support package, we have extended business rates relief and introduced new Restart Grants of up to £18,000 for many in the sector.
We have also extended the cut in VAT for tourism and hospitality activities to 5% until the end of September. In order to help businesses manage the transition back to the standard rate, a 12.5% rate will then apply for a further six months.
Asked by: Bill Wiggin (Conservative - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department plans to take to provide adequate support to travel agencies that are obliged to issue reimbursements as a result of short notice changes in covid-19 restrictions.
Answered by Paul Scully
We recognise that these are very challenging conditions for businesses in the travel sector, including travel agents, which is why we have provided a range of measures to support the sector. On top of our wider economic support package, we have provided business rates relief and one-off grants for eligible hospitality and leisure businesses – and we have cut VAT for tourism and hospitality activities from 20% to 5% until the end of September. In order to help businesses manage the transition back to the standard rate, a 12.5% rate will then apply for a further six months.
We are working closely with the Department for Transport and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport to support the reopening of international travel, in line with the Government’s reopening roadmap and the work of the Global Travel Taskforce.
Asked by: Bill Wiggin (Conservative - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what support is available to travel agencies who used coronavirus grants to refund their customers for cancelled holidays and therefore have inadequate funds to keep their business open.
Answered by Paul Scully
We know how difficult these continued restrictions are for the tourism sector, with businesses having already faced many months of reduced trade.
In total, over £25bn has been provided to the tourism, leisure and hospitality sectors in the form of grants, loans and tax breaks. On top of the Government’s wider economic support package, we have extended business rates relief and introduced new Restart grants of up to £18,000 for many in the sector.
We have also extended the cut in VAT for tourism and hospitality activities to 5% until the end of September. In order to help businesses manage the transition back to the standard rate, a 12.5% rate will then apply for a further six months.
Asked by: Bill Wiggin (Conservative - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department is taking steps to help ensure travel agencies receive adequate coronavirus support to keep their businesses open.
Answered by Paul Scully
The Government will continue to support businesses and individuals during this period - including through various Government-backed loans, new grants and the extended furlough and self-employed support schemes.
In the March Budget, my Rt. Hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer announced new ‘Restart Grants’ of up to £6,000 per premises for non-essential retail businesses and up to £18,000 per premises for hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care and gym businesses in England. The Government is also providing all Local Authorities in England with an additional £425 million of discretionary business grant funding, on top of the £1.6 billion already allocated.