Asked by: David Amess (Conservative - Southend West)
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 report entitled, Attitudes to Animal Research 2018 published in May 2019, what her policy is on the use of dogs in medical research.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
The Public Attitudes to Animal Research report is published every two years and presents the findings of a survey on public awareness of, and attitudes towards, the use of animals in scientific research. The report is commissioned by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and supports policy development and public engagement across government and the life science sector on this area.
The Government understands the concerns that many people have about the use of animals such as dogs for research purposes. For this reason, dogs are given special protection under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 that regulates their use in scientific procedures.
Advances in biomedical science and technologies – including stem cell research, in vitro systems that mimic the function of human organs, imaging and new computer modelling techniques – are all providing new opportunities to reduce reliance on the use of animals in research, including dogs. The Government supports these developments through funding for the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs).
Asked by: David Amess (Conservative - Southend West)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
What steps he is taking to support people with the cost of household energy bills.
Answered by Claire Perry
Last week this Government delivered on its promise to cap energy prices.
It now protects over 11 million households, ensuring the energy market works for all customers and saving consumers up to around £130 a year.
We continue to invest at least £640m in energy efficiency annually until 2028 and are also delivering on our smart meter programme.
Asked by: David Amess (Conservative - Southend West)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many households are not able to access the Warm Home Discount Scheme due to their energy supplier being exempt from the obligation to offer that discount to its customers.
Answered by Claire Perry
Energy suppliers that are obligated to participate in the Warm Home Discount (WHD) scheme cover 94% of the market for domestic customers. Suppliers that are not obligated under the scheme can participate voluntarily. Last winter, three suppliers volunteered under the scheme. We estimate that the number of customers beyond those 18 suppliers that would have been automatically eligible for WHD last winter is roughly 60,000. There is a set spending envelope for WHD and increasing the number of obligated suppliers would not in itself increase the number of households receiving the rebate. We have recently completed a consultation on the next phase of WHD, including the obligation thresholds, and are currently reviewing the responses.
Asked by: David Amess (Conservative - Southend West)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many vulnerable energy customers are not able to access the Warm Home Discount Scheme due to their energy supplier being exempt from providing that scheme.
Answered by Claire Perry
Energy suppliers that are obligated to participate in the Warm Home Discount (WHD) scheme cover 94% of the market for domestic customers. Suppliers that are not obligated under the scheme can participate voluntarily. Last winter, three suppliers volunteered under the scheme. We estimate that the number of customers beyond those 18 suppliers that would have been automatically eligible for WHD last winter is roughly 60,000. There is a set spending envelope for WHD and increasing the number of obligated suppliers would not in itself increase the number of households receiving the rebate. We have recently completed a consultation on the next phase of WHD, including the obligation thresholds, and are currently reviewing the responses.