Asked by: Christopher Chope (Conservative - Christchurch)
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 change the Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme so that hot water from solar thermal collectors can be used to support a home's heating needs under that scheme; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng
The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is tax-payer funded, and supporting solar thermal for space heating would not represent good value for money. This is because solar thermal systems are normally only capable of meeting a portion of a house’s heat demand (so a backup space heating system would be required), and are not as cost-effective in space heating when compared to other technologies.
Asked by: Christopher Chope (Conservative - Christchurch)
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) costs and (b) benefits to council tax payers of local authorities in England declaring a climate emergency in their area; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
The Government welcomes the actions of Local Authorities across England to tackle climate change. We have always been clear that to achieve our climate targets it will take significant ambition at all levels.
Achieving clean growth has to be a shared endeavour between government, local authorities, businesses, civil society and the British people. The development of Local Industrial Strategies, led by Mayoral Combined Authorities and Local Enterprise Partnerships, will build on unique local strengths to ensure every community, and the country, reaches their economic potential, supports clean growth and green jobs.
Most motions have committed Councils to come back later this year with programmes to achieve their stated ambitions. This Government is looking at what support we can provide through our local energy programme and other programmes to help Councils make progress in taking action to tackle climate change.
Asked by: Christopher Chope (Conservative - Christchurch)
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 effect on climate change of local authorities in England declaring a climate emergency in their area; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
The Government welcomes the actions of Local Authorities across England to tackle climate change. We have always been clear to achieve our climate targets will take significant ambition at all levels.
Most motions have committed Councils to come back later this year with programmes to achieve their stated ambitions. This Government is looking at what support we can provide through our local energy programme and other programmes to help Councils make progress in taking action to tackle climate change.
Asked by: Christopher Chope (Conservative - Christchurch)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to paragraph 31 of the Government's response, dated 27 March 2018 to the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee's report on the safety of electrical goods, HC920, whether the UK block on the fridge freezer Standard being accepted at European level is still in place; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The UK’s objection to the adoption of the CENELEC standard on household refrigeration appliances by the EU Committee on Standards has been in place since 2016. This reflects the specific concerns that the standard should go further in relation to fire safety. However, the UK does support other recent changes to the Standard including issues relating to electrical safety, mechanical safety and refrigerant safety.
All household refrigeration appliances sold in the UK must be safe before they can be placed on the market as they must comply with the relevant Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations.