Asked by: Dan Byles (Conservative - North Warwickshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any recent study has been made of the value for money and operation of the Reserve Forces and Cadets' Associations.
Answered by Julian Brazier
An internal review of the Reserve Forces' and Cadets' Associations was undertaken between August and December 2014. The review was initiated in order to consider what Defence requires of the Associations and to propose any change to outputs, processes, structure or staffing that would better meet Defence needs. The recommendations resulting from the review are currently being considered as part of wider business as usual in the Ministry of Defence.
Asked by: Dan Byles (Conservative - North Warwickshire)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many medium wind turbines deemed excessively de-rated have been granted pre-accreditation or have been commissioned in (a) 1 April 2010 to 30 November 2012 at £22.16 per kWh, (b) 1 December 2012 to 31 March 2014 at £18.83 per kWh, (c) 1 April 2014 to 30 September 2014 at £15.06 per kWh, (d) 1 October 2014 to 31 March 2015 at £13.55 per kWh and (e) 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016 at £12.05 per kWh.
Answered by Amber Rudd
We are closely monitoring the extent of de-rating and its impact.
Asked by: Dan Byles (Conservative - North Warwickshire)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, when his Department first became aware of wind turbines being excessively de-rated in order for generators to benefit from higher than intended feed-in tariffs; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Amber Rudd
We are actively monitoring the extent of de-rating and will consider whether action is necessary to prevent wind developers from unfairly exploiting the FITs scheme.
Asked by: Dan Byles (Conservative - North Warwickshire)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what progress he has made on addressing manufacturers selling wind turbines which have been de-rated to allow them to benefit from higher tariffs within the feed-in tariff; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Amber Rudd
We are closely monitoring the impact of de-rating wind developers are found to be unfairly exploiting the FiTs scheme we will act to stop it.
Asked by: Dan Byles (Conservative - North Warwickshire)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many wind turbines have been deployed in each county within the 100-500kW feed-in tariff to date.
Answered by Amber Rudd
Information on regional breakdown of FIT deployment is published quarterly, including a break down by technology and Local Authority area here:
Asked by: Dan Byles (Conservative - North Warwickshire)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, under what timetable electrical interconnectors will be allowed to participate in the capacity market auctions on an equal basis with domestic generators.
Answered by Matt Hancock
The Government has confirmed that interconnection will be eligible to participate in the Capacity Market auction from 2015 onwards.
Asked by: Dan Byles (Conservative - North Warwickshire)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what discussions officials in his Department have had with the European Commission on the principle of electrical interconnectors being allowed to bid in the new capacity market auctions.
Answered by Matt Hancock
The Government made clear in December 2011 when it announced its decision to develop a Capacity Market that interconnected capacity should in principle be able to participate within the mechanism. We have worked since that time to achieve this aim, including discussing this issue with the European Commission on a number of occasions.
On 25th September, we published, for consultation, our proposals for enabling interconnectors to participate in the Capacity Market. As part of this process, we will continue to discuss this issue with the Commission before introducing legislation in early 2015.
Asked by: Dan Byles (Conservative - North Warwickshire)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, on what date his Department plans to meet pedlar stakeholders to discuss Consultation documents BIS/12/605 and 606 on street trading and pedlar laws as proposed by his Department via email on 19 December 2013.
Answered by Jo Swinson
The Government’s response to the consultation held in 2012/13 will be published soon and once it is, BIS officials will be very happy to meet with pedlar stakeholders.
Asked by: Dan Byles (Conservative - North Warwickshire)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment his Department has made of the effects of the changes made by the Valuation Office Agency to rates for gas storage facilities on security of supply and price stability in the UK.
Answered by Matt Hancock
Business rates are only one part of a suite of costs faced by gas storage operators and the impact of business rate changes on gas storage sites can only be understood when compared to commercially sensitive information about each gas storage site, to which the Government does not have access. It is not feasible to assess the impact of rate changes in isolation and for this reason we have made no such assessment.
Asked by: Dan Byles (Conservative - North Warwickshire)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what recent discussions he has had with the Valuation Office Agency about changes to the rates for gas storage facilities.
Answered by Matt Hancock
There have been no discussions between DECC Ministers and representatives of the Valuation Office Agency regarding changes to the business rates for gas storage facilities.
It is for the Valuation Office Agency to set business rates in accordance with the relevant legislative framework.