Asked by: Craig Mackinlay (Conservative - South Thanet)
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 facilitate an expansion of the UK's gas storage facilities in advance of winter 2022-23.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The diversity of Great Britain’s sources of gas supply obviates a reliance on natural gas storage. This distinguishes Great Britain from some European countries which have a relative larger storage capacity than Great Britain.
The Government is continuing to explore the future of the gas storage landscape, including in relation to hydrogen. The UK Hydrogen Strategy considers the role of hydrogen storage in greater detail and whether further regulation or support mechanisms are needed to maximise its potential.
Asked by: Craig Mackinlay (Conservative - South Thanet)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the cost of extending VAT relief on energy efficient materials to secondary glazing.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
The Government has not estimated the cost of including secondary glazing in the VAT relief for energy saving materials.
HMRC does not hold information on VAT revenue from specific products or services, such as secondary glazing, because businesses are not required to provide figures at a product level on their VAT returns, as this would impose an excessive administrative burden.
Asked by: Craig Mackinlay (Conservative - South Thanet)
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 the British Geological Survey's short report on shale gas extraction commissioned by his Department, if he will publish the criteria for lifting the moratorium on shale gas extraction.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The recent request to the British Geological Survey has been made to assess if any progress has been made in the scientific understanding which underpins government policy on hydraulic fracturing.
The Government has always been clear that the exploration of shale gas reserves in England could only proceed if the science shows that it is safe, sustainable and of minimal disturbance to those living and working nearby. The request to the British Geological Survey does not indicate a change to government policy.
Asked by: Craig Mackinlay (Conservative - South Thanet)
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 UK electricity demand in 2050; what forecast his Department has made of the composition of the energy source supplying that demand.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Annex O of the Government’s Energy and Emission Projections provides four indicative 2050 scenarios for the power sector: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/energy-and-emissions-projections. These have two levels of demand (higher and lower) and show capacity mixes that could meet this demand, while ensuring emissions fall in line with legislated ambition and costs to consumers are minimised.
Asked by: Craig Mackinlay (Conservative - South Thanet)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how many listed buildings have been granted an exemption from obtaining an Energy Performance Certificate; and what assessment he has made of the potential merits of providing such a statutory exemption for listed buildings to protect their historic value.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
The Department does not hold information on how many listed buildings have been granted an exemption from obtaining an Energy Performance Certificate. Therefore, we have not made an assessment of the potential merits of providing a statutory exemption for listed buildings to protect their historic value.
Asked by: Craig Mackinlay (Conservative - South Thanet)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the influenza infection fatality rate in the UK in each of the last 10 years.
Answered by Maggie Throup
Influenza infection levels and related deaths are not routinely collected in the format requested, therefore this specific estimate has not been made. The number of influenza infections and deaths due to influenza-related complications varies with each flu season.
Asked by: Craig Mackinlay (Conservative - South Thanet)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, for what reason (a) the name of a limited partnership cannot be re-used, after dissolution and removal from Companies House register and (b) that restriction does not apply to limited liability partnerships and limited companies.
Answered by Paul Scully
The legislation on Limited Partnerships does not prevent a Limited Partnership’s name from being re-used after dissolution as the rules that prevent duplicate company or LLP names do not apply to LPs.
The Government is committing to reforming the legislation on limited partnerships; this will include proposals that will bring the rules on the names of limited partnerships in line with those for limited liability partnerships and limited companies.
Asked by: Craig Mackinlay (Conservative - South Thanet)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much funding has been released under the Green Home Grants Local Authority Delivery Scheme to listed buildings.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
BEIS does not hold data on the number of listed homes upgraded. Reporting focuses on the number of properties upgraded and measures installed rather than property characteristics.
Asked by: Craig Mackinlay (Conservative - South Thanet)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions the Government has had with the EU on the free movement of (a) chilled meat products and (b) other goods originating in the USA between Sint Maarten, non-EU under the Netherlands, and Saint Martin, in the EU under France, in relation to the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
The UK has not had discussions with the EU on the free movement of chilled meats or other goods originating in the USA, between Sint Maarten and Saint Martin, in relation to the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Asked by: Craig Mackinlay (Conservative - South Thanet)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans his Department has to reduce the planning burdens of installing electric car charging points in listed homes.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
The Government is fully committed to encouraging homeowners to incorporate energy efficiency measures in their properties in order to tackle climate change. As part of this, we recognise the need to ensure that more historic buildings are able to be adapted to support our zero carbon objectives.
In our recently published White Paper, Planning for the Future, we have therefore committed to reviewing and updating the planning framework for listed buildings and conservation areas, to ensure their significance is conserved while allowing, where appropriate, sympathetic changes to support their continued use and address climate change.