To match an exact phrase, use quotation marks around the search term. eg. "Parliamentary Estate". Use "OR" or "AND" as link words to form more complex queries.


Keep yourself up-to-date with the latest developments by exploring our subscription options to receive notifications direct to your inbox

Written Question
Energy Bills Rebate
Wednesday 28th December 2022

Asked by: Deidre Brock (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh North and Leith)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department has had recent discussions with energy suppliers on taking steps to support people with prepayment meters who have not yet received an Energy Bill Support Scheme voucher.

Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

On 4 December 2022, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State wrote to all energy suppliers with customers on traditional prepayment meters reiterating the importance of ensuring these customers receive their vouchers and exhorting them to ensure customers receive prompt service and accurate information.

I then met CEOs of supplier companies on 7 December to press them further and hear about ongoing improvements.


Written Question
Energy Bills Rebate: Edinburgh North and Leith
Wednesday 28th December 2022

Asked by: Deidre Brock (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh North and Leith)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many Energy Bill Support Scheme vouchers have been issued to people on prepayment meters in the Edinburgh North and Leith constituency.

Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government does not hold constituency data.


Written Question
Energy Bills Rebate
Wednesday 28th December 2022

Asked by: Deidre Brock (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh North and Leith)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what percentage of prepayment customers had received their Energy Bills Support Scheme voucher by 30 November 2022.

Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government is monitoring effectiveness of the scheme closely, including receiving monthly data from energy suppliers. 4,044,554 vouchers were issued to 1 December. The latest figures were published on gov.uk on 20 December. Redemption of vouchers issued to traditional prepayment meter customers rose from 59% in October to 72% in November.

The Government requires suppliers to evidence that they have attempted to make a minimum of three attempts by more than one method to contact customers who have not redeemed a voucher.

Customers with smart prepayment meters receive the discount credited directly to their meter by their supplier.


Written Question
Energy Bills Rebate
Wednesday 28th December 2022

Asked by: Deidre Brock (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh North and Leith)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department is taking steps to support people with prepayment meters who have not yet received an Energy Bill Support Scheme voucher.

Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government is monitoring effectiveness of the scheme closely, including receiving monthly data from energy suppliers. 4,044,554 vouchers were issued to 1 December. The latest figures were published on gov.uk on 20 December. Redemption of vouchers issued to traditional prepayment meter customers rose from 59% in October to 72% in November.

The Government requires suppliers to evidence that they have attempted to make a minimum of three attempts by more than one method to contact customers who have not redeemed a voucher.

Customers with smart prepayment meters receive the discount credited directly to their meter by their supplier.


Written Question
Energy Bills Rebate
Wednesday 28th December 2022

Asked by: Deidre Brock (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh North and Leith)

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 effectiveness of the delivery of the Energy Bill Support Scheme for prepayment customers.

Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government is monitoring effectiveness of the scheme closely, including receiving monthly data from energy suppliers. 4,044,554 vouchers were issued to 1 December. The latest figures were published on gov.uk on 20 December. Redemption of vouchers issued to traditional prepayment meter customers rose from 59% in October to 72% in November.

The Government requires suppliers to evidence that they have attempted to make a minimum of three attempts by more than one method to contact customers who have not redeemed a voucher.

Customers with smart prepayment meters receive the discount credited directly to their meter by their supplier.


Written Question
Business: Research
Friday 17th July 2020

Asked by: Deidre Brock (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh North and Leith)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 6 July 2020 to Question 66895 on Business: Research, what proportion of the £750 million of targeted support for R&D intensive firms he plans to allocate as (a) grants and (b) loans.

Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, is investing £750 million of targeted support for the most R&D intensive small and medium size firms.

The package consists of:

  • Up to £210 million of this funding will constitute new loans for organisations with existing Innovate UK awards that find themselves facing a funding shortage due to COVID-19
  • £200 million of accelerated grant and loan payments for existing customers
  • Up to £90 million in grants to be paid up front for existing customers that are facing a funding gap due to COVID-19
  • £20 million in grants to double the number of businesses receiving funding through the Innovate UK call for business-led innovation in response to global disruption due to the pandemic
  • Up to £191 million in grants through the Sustainable Innovation Fund.
  • £39 million for additional support for businesses over a 12 month period through the EEN Business Advisory Service

The exact allocation between grants and loans will depend on need.


Written Question
Business: Research
Friday 17th July 2020

Asked by: Deidre Brock (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh North and Leith)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 6 July 2020 to Question 66895 on Business: Research, how he plans to allocate the £20 million of funding to double the number of businesses receiving funding through the Innovate UK call for business led innovation.

Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

The Innovate UK call for business-led innovation in response to global disruption due to the pandemic was originally launched as a £20 million competition awarding grants of up to £50,000 to technology and research-focussed businesses. Due to the record breaking level of interest from across the UK, it was announced on the 20th May that over 800 companies that applied to this would share grant funding of £40 million, double the amount first planned for this competition. The additional money was allocated according to the existing terms and reference of the competition, eligibility requirements and conditions can be found on the UK Research and Innovation and GOV.UK website.


Written Question
Business: Research
Monday 6th July 2020

Asked by: Deidre Brock (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh North and Leith)

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 distribution of Government funding to support innovation in research-intensive businesses during and after the covid-19 outbreak, what proportion of the £750million grant package will be allocated to businesses (a) not in receipt of Innovate UK grants and (b) in receipt of Innovate UK grants.

Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

On 20th April, my Rt. Hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a £1.25 billion coronavirus package to protect firms driving innovation in the UK. This included £750 million of targeted support for the most R&D intensive small and medium size firms which will be available through Innovate UK’s grants and loan scheme.

The Government has since confirmed that up to £500 million of this is for existing customers including £200 million of accelerated payments and up to £300 million for continuity grants and loans. £20 million of the remainder has been used to double the number of businesses receiving funding through the Innovate UK call for business led innovation in response to the crisis which was open to new customers. Over 800 companies have been successful in this competition. Innovate UK has also allocated up to £39 million to increase the business advisory support services available new and existing high-growth potential SMEs.

The final part of this package was announced on the 27th June. The £191 million Sustainable Innovation Fund is open to new customers to help cutting-edge companies of all sizes recover, grow, and drive a re-building economy as well as support new green innovations, unleashing the sustainable industries of the future along the way.

Beyond the Fast-Response competition, it is currently too early to state the number of businesses that have accessed this funding


Written Question
Climate Change Convention
Wednesday 4th March 2020

Asked by: Deidre Brock (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh North and Leith)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what progress the UK and China have made in bilateral discussions on the UNFCCC COP26; and what steps he is taking to encourage other countries to improve their ambitions at that COP.

Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng

The Prime Minister spoke to President Xi of China on the 18th Feb and agreed to work closely together on the issue of climate change ahead of COP26 in Glasgow and the Convention on Biological Diversity Summit in China.

As part of our incoming COP Presidency, in partnership with Italy, we are encouraging all countries to submit increased Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and long term net zero strategies ahead of COP26 which represent their highest possible ambition. The UK will play its part and come forward with an enhanced NDC well ahead of COP26 in November.


Written Question
Climate Change Convention
Monday 2nd March 2020

Asked by: Deidre Brock (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh North and Leith)

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 take steps to improve the UK's ambitions for the UNFCCC COP26.

Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng

COP26 is the most important Climate Conference since Paris in 2015 and delivering success at COP26 is a top priority for the Government. We are determined to use the COP26 Conference in November to demonstrate that the zero carbon economy is the growth story of the future. We must show that this transition is irreversible and accelerating; and that it will be fair and inclusive.