Asked by: Ian Blackford (Scottish National Party - Ross, Skye and Lochaber)
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 whether Whirlpool has (a) implemented adequate product safety checks and (b) carried out satisfactory repairs on models of tumble dryer that had been found faulty.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The Office for Product Safety and Standards has conducted a full review into Whirlpool’s modification programme for tumble dryers. This review concluded that the risk to modified tumble dryers was low. A decision letter was sent to Whirlpool, placing a number of requirements on the company.
The Chief Executive of the Office for Product Safety and Standards met senior Whirlpool officials 2nd May to advise them of concerns regarding the adequacy of their response to the requirements placed upon them and advised them on steps necessary to fulfil their obligations.
OPSS is closely monitoring the response of Whirlpool and further steps will be taken if the response is not satisfactory. Consumer safety is a key priority and the Government will hold the company to account.
Asked by: Ian Blackford (Scottish National Party - Ross, Skye and Lochaber)
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 ensure that UK maintains all EU climate change and environmental regulations in UK law after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Claire Perry
The EU (Withdrawal) Bill will ensure existing EU environmental law continues to have effect in UK law after exit, providing businesses and stakeholders with maximum certainty as we leave the EU.
Leaving the EU will not change any of our domestic statutory commitments to reduce our emissions, as laid out in the Climate Change Act 2008 – indeed, those commitments are more ambitious and challenging than those set by EU legislation.
We have no intention of weakening our current environmental protections as we leave the EU. The UK has a long history of environmental protection and we will safeguard and improve on this record. As my rt. hon. Friend the Prime Minister stated, ‘Brexit will not mean a lowering of environmental standards’.
Asked by: Ian Blackford (Scottish National Party - Ross, Skye and Lochaber)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the UK will still be able to enter capacity market auctions after the UK leaves the EU; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Claire Perry
The GB Capacity Market delivers secure supplies of electricity to homes and businesses and will continue to do so after Brexit.
Asked by: Ian Blackford (Scottish National Party - Ross, Skye and Lochaber)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he has made plans for the UK to remain part of EU-wide solidarity mechanisms in the event of an acute energy supply crisis.
Answered by Claire Perry
Solidarity agreements for gas are due to be in place by December 2018 and the UK is on track to deliver these. For electricity, the current solidarity agreements are part of the arrangements of the Internal Energy Market. The Government has been clear that we want to secure broad energy co-operation with the EU. This includes exploring options for the UK’s continued participation in the EU’s Internal Energy Market, including solidarity agreements.
Asked by: Ian Blackford (Scottish National Party - Ross, Skye and Lochaber)
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 ensure that the National Grid remains part of the European Network of Transmission Operators for electricity and gas after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Claire Perry
We want to maintain relationships and cooperation with EU partners as we move into any agreed implementation period and future partnership. We are considering all options for doing so, including through National Grid’s membership of the European Networks of Transmission Operators for Electricity and Gas.