Asked by: Ian Murray (Labour - Edinburgh South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on nuclear safety and existing nuclear safety regimes in the UK of the UK leaving Euratom.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The UK has a robust and well-established domestic civil nuclear safety regime - this will remain in place as the UK leaves Euratom.
Asked by: Ian Murray (Labour - Edinburgh South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans he has to meet with farming unions and industry groups who formally declined to submit evidence to the Groceries Code Adjudicator Review.
Answered by Margot James
The public consultation for the Review of the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) ran from 18 October 2016 to 10 January 2017. During this period BEIS officials undertook several, widely publicised stakeholder events across the UK and met with a range of organisations and individuals to explain the purpose of the Review, how to respond and hear the views of those stakeholders who attended.
We have not been made aware of any groups who formally declined to submit evidence, but welcome the opportunity to discuss the Review more widely and would encourage such groups to contact BEIS if they would find this helpful.
Asked by: Ian Murray (Labour - Edinburgh South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with NFU Scotland to extend the Principle of Fair Dealing within the Groceries Supply Code of Practice so that it covers primary producers that supply supermarkets directly.
Answered by Margot James
I have not had discussions with NFU Scotland on the Groceries Supply Code of Practice. However, the Code already covers direct suppliers to those supermarkets that are subject to the Code.
Asked by: Ian Murray (Labour - Edinburgh South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when the Government plans to publish its response to the Groceries Code Adjudicator review.
Answered by Margot James
The public consultation for the Statutory Review of the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) ran from 18 October 2016 to 10 January 2017, alongside a public call for evidence on the GCA’s remit.
The Government is now considering the responses received. The Government response on the Statutory Review element is expected to be published in spring 2017.
Asked by: Ian Murray (Labour - Edinburgh South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment the Government has made of the potential effect on people affected by proposed changes to the defined benefits sections of the Combined Nuclear Pensions Plan and a section of the Electricity Supply Pension Scheme; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jesse Norman
Government has undertaken an impact assessment and equalities analysis on public service pensions policy to reform final salary, defined benefit schemes in favour of Career Averaged Revalued Earnings schemes. These can be viewed at www.parliament.uk/documents/impact-assessments/IA12-023.pdf and www.parliament.uk/documents/impact-assessments/IA12-024.pdf.
This work has been taken into account in assessing the impact of reforming two final salary schemes within the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) estate. These schemes are now subject to consultation with the workforce, conducted by the NDA; the outcome of the consultation will help to inform further assessments before any decisions are taken.
Asked by: Ian Murray (Labour - Edinburgh South)
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 make an assessment of the potential effect of the proposed privatisation of the Green Investment Bank on the Government's new industrial strategy.
Answered by Nick Hurd
Moving the Green Investment Bank (GIB) into the private sector will enable GIB to have greater access to capital and be free of the constraints of Government ownership including State aid restrictions.
This means GIB will be able to play more of a role in supporting green investment, which complements the Governments industrial strategy.
Asked by: Ian Murray (Labour - Edinburgh South)
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 make an assessment of the potential effect of the proposed privatisation of the Green Investment Bank on its existing investment portfolio and strategy.
Answered by Nick Hurd
The Government is confident that by moving the Green Investment Bank into the private sector and freeing it from the constraints of Government ownership, the bank will be able to increase in a wider range of green sectors, furthering its role in supporting the UK green economy.
Asked by: Ian Murray (Labour - Edinburgh South)
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 estimate the potential effect on (a) the level of staffing at, (b) the level of expertise at and (c) relationships with the financial sector in Edinburgh of the Green Investment Bank headquarters in Edinburgh of the proposed privatisation of that Bank; and what assessment he has made of the potential effect on the areas in which that bank will invest of that privatisation.
Answered by Nick Hurd
The Green Investment Bank’s Chairman, the noble Lord Smith of Kelvin, is strongly committed to the Edinburgh office and the plans for privatisation. The Government sees no reason why levels of expertise or relationships would be compromised in the event of a sale.
By moving the Green Investment Bank (GIB) into the private sector and freeing it from the constraints of Government ownership, GIB will be able to increase in a wider range of green sectors, furthering its role in supporting the UK green economy.
Asked by: Ian Murray (Labour - Edinburgh South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what his most recent estimate is of the value of Green Investment Bank assets; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Nick Hurd
The Green Investment Bank publishes a full annual report and accounts which includes detail of the value of its assets. The report can be found on the Green Investment Bank website.
Asked by: Ian Murray (Labour - Edinburgh South)
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 make an assessment of the potential effect of the proposed privatisation of the Green Investment Bank on future levels of investment in businesses by that bank.
Answered by Nick Hurd
The Government has set out its plans for the sale of the Green Investment Bank (GIB) in the document “Green Investment Bank: sale of shares” laid before Parliament on 3 March 2016.
Moving GIB into private ownership will enable the bank to have greater access to capital and be free of the constraints of Government ownership including state aid restrictions. This means GIB will be able to play more of a role in supporting green investment.