Asked by: Caroline Flint (Labour - Don Valley)
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 expected tonnage of the UK steel pipeline as a result of public sector procurement in each of the next three years.
Answered by Claire Perry
The Government has published details of upcoming steel requirements for national infrastructure projects:
The data shows how the government plans to use three million tonnes of steel until 2020 on infrastructure projects such as High Speed 2 (HS2), the construction of Hinkley Point, and the maintenance and upgrading of the UK’s motorway network. This steel-specific pipeline complements the National Infrastructure and Construction Pipeline, which set out over £500 billion worth of planned private and public investment. However a breakdown of expected steel requirements is not available on a year by year basis.
Asked by: Caroline Flint (Labour - Don Valley)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether pipeline data will be made available to UK steel producers who may wish to meet steel requirements for High Speed 2; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Claire Perry
All of the procurement details specifically for HS2’s current and future pipeline of direct contracts are publically available via the HS2 Contract Opportunities Table, on the HS2 website. The HS2 Contracts Opportunity Table is a live document which is updated weekly, identifying the procurement status for each contract, including contact details to facilitate dialogue with potential bidders.
Additionally, this shows where organisations have been shortlisted and awarded, ensuring suppliers are appropriately informed regarding procurement and the programmes, and enabling sub Tier 1 contractors a direct access route into organisations that have been awarded work on the HS2 programme.
This level of detail builds upon the Government’s published details of upcoming steel requirements for national infrastructure projects which shows how the Government plans to use three million tonnes of steel until 2020 on infrastructure projects such as High Speed 2 (HS2), the construction of Hinkley Point, and the maintenance and upgrading of the UK’s motorway network. This steel-specific pipeline complements the National Infrastructure and Construction Pipeline, which set out over £500 billion worth of planned private and public investment.
Asked by: Caroline Flint (Labour - Don Valley)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to encourage UK companies to buy British steel.
Answered by Claire Perry
We have commissioned independent research into future market opportunities for UK steel, which has involved substantial dialogue with existing and potential steel consumers across the whole of the UK. We are actively encouraging the UK steel sector to identify the capabilities it will need to act on the findings, and use this information to ensure they are well placed to plan and bid for future work.
This is further complemented by the Government publishing details of upcoming steel requirements for national infrastructure projects which shows how the government plans to use three million tonnes of steel until 2020 on infrastructure projects such as High Speed 2 (HS2), the construction of Hinkley Point, and the maintenance and upgrading of the UK’s motorway network. This steel-specific pipeline further builds upon the National Infrastructure and Construction Pipeline, which set out over £500 billion worth of planned private and public investment; both which enable UK companies to anticipate material demand.
Asked by: Caroline Flint (Labour - Don Valley)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate his Department has made of how much steel required for the construction of High Speed 2 will be sourced in the UK.
Answered by Claire Perry
It is anticipated that around two million tonnes of steel will be used across the HS2 programme. Last December, the Government issued updated guidance to public sector contracting authorities on how to ensure that they take full account of the value provided by UK steel producers when conducting their procurement activities.
To maximise British involvement in supply chain opportunities HS2 has engaged extensively with businesses of all sizes from a diverse range of sectors and across the UK; also working closely with UK Steel, British Constructional Steel Association, the Galvanisers Association and the Confederation of British Metalforming.
HS2 Ltd’s recently announced successful Main Works Contractor Tenderers have all confirmed they will comply with works information and further the requirements and spirit of HM Government Procurement Guidance on steel. HS2 will continue to engage with any British business that is interested in supporting its supply chain, throughout the lifetime of the programme.
This level of detail builds upon the work this Government has achieved in publishing details of upcoming steel requirements for national infrastructure projects which shows how the Government plans to use three million tonnes of steel until 2020 on infrastructure projects such as High Speed 2 (HS2), the construction of Hinkley Point, and the maintenance and upgrading of the UK’s motorway network. This steel-specific pipeline complements the National Infrastructure and Construction Pipeline, which set out over £500 billion worth of planned private and public investment.
Asked by: Caroline Flint (Labour - Don Valley)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to establish an industrial energy efficiency scheme.
Answered by Claire Perry
The Department’s officials are currently developing options for an industrial energy efficiency scheme. I anticipate being in a position to provide more details on what such a scheme could look like in the coming months.
Asked by: Caroline Flint (Labour - Don Valley)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what progress has been made on commissioning an independent review into the cost of energy for households and businesses.
Answered by Margot James
We are already taking steps to reduce the cost of energy for households and businesses and will outline our plans for the review shortly.
Asked by: Caroline Flint (Labour - Don Valley)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the merits of a relative price cap for domestic energy consumers.
Answered by Margot James
My Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State has written to Ofgem asking the regulator to advise him on the action it intends to take to safeguard customers on the poorest value tariffs.
Asked by: Caroline Flint (Labour - Don Valley)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what representations he has had from Ofgem on the timescale for the (a) publication of measures to protect vulnerable consumers with an extension of the pre-payment meter safeguard tariff and (b) implementation of such measures; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Lord Harrington of Watford
The CEO of Ofgem wrote to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 3 July setting out his intention to consider options to protect vulnerable consumers including extending the protection in place for pre-payment meter customers. In the letter Ofgem stated it will move forward urgently to implement any changes. As a first step Ofgem plans to hold a summit with consumers groups this month.
Asked by: Caroline Flint (Labour - Don Valley)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate his Department has made of the number of customers potentially covered by Ofgem's proposals for a price cap in the domestic energy market.
Answered by Lord Harrington of Watford
The Department has not undertaken to make any estimate for numbers of customers who would be protected, as no formal proposal has yet been made.
Asked by: Caroline Flint (Labour - Don Valley)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent discussions he has had with energy suppliers on the implementation of an energy price cap for households on standard variable tariffs.
Answered by Lord Harrington of Watford
BEIS Ministers regularly meet with energy suppliers to discuss a range of issues.