Asked by: Jack Brereton (Conservative - Stoke-on-Trent South)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will take steps to decouple (a) domestic and (b) commercial electricity prices from wholesale gas prices; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Graham Stuart
As part of the Review of Electricity Market Arrangements (REMA) programme, the Government is considering a range of potential options to shield both domestic and non-domestic consumers from their impacts of potential future commodity price spikes and to ensure they benefit from lower cost renewables.
The CfD scheme already insulates consumers against electricity price spikes. Over time this scheme will reduce dependence on fossil fuelled power generation, lowering consumer exposure to gas prices.
Asked by: Jack Brereton (Conservative - Stoke-on-Trent South)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an assessment for the potential effect of the (a) energy intensity test and (b) trade intensity test for sectoral qualification to the Energy and Trade Intensive Industries (ETII) Scheme on energy-intensive enterprises which are (i) within sectoral codes that meet one but not both of the tests and (ii) able to meet both tests as individual businesses but excluded from the ETII Scheme for falling outside of the qualifying sectoral codes; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Energy Bill Relief Scheme review considered qualitative and quantitative evidence, and input from businesses and stakeholders on sectors that may be most affected by rising energy prices based on energy and trade intensity. Eligible sectors have to operate in the top 20% for energy intensity and top 40% for trade intensity. Standard Industrial Classification codes allowed Government to define a sector hierarchy, with energy and trade thresholds set to balance delivering targeted support at lower overall cost, while capturing a broad enough share of affected companies. Energy intensive sectors that are not significantly trade intensive will not be eligible for support.
Some businesses are highly exposed to both energy prices and international competition and are unable to pass through or absorb these costs and without the subsidy there’s likely to be a competitive disadvantage.
Asked by: Jack Brereton (Conservative - Stoke-on-Trent South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made a provision for a break clause in the HS2 Phase 2a Design and Delivery Partner contract; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Invitation to Tender for the HS2 Phase 2a Design and Delivery Partner was published on 13 January 2022. This set out the structure of the contract including the segmenting of the work into Service Delivery Plans.
Following the fiscal settlement for Phase 2a for the next two financial years as agreed in the Spring budget, HS2 Ltd are advancing the DDP procurement and a tender addendum was issued to the parties on 31 May 2023. The plan is to award the contract in November 2023 commencing with Service Delivery Plan 1. Decisions on contracting subsequent Service Delivery Plans will be taken at the relevant point in the delivery of project.
Asked by: Jack Brereton (Conservative - Stoke-on-Trent South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has made an assessment of the role of the armed forces in the King’s Coronation parade.
Answered by James Heappey
The coronation was the largest military ceremonial operation for 70 years and involved around 7,000 Armed Forces personnel from the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force. They were supported by thousands more service personnel and Defence civil servants behind the scenes to deliver a complex plan executed with impressive skill and style. In addition, more than 400 personnel from 33 Commonwealth nations and six British Overseas Territories took part in the procession, in a demonstration of the United Kingdom’s close links with its allies and partners around the world.
Asked by: Jack Brereton (Conservative - Stoke-on-Trent South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish the joint Network Rail-HS2 On Network Works handbook; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
We have no plans to publish the On Network Works handbook as it is an internal document.
Asked by: Jack Brereton (Conservative - Stoke-on-Trent South)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what criteria were used in awarding round two of the Levelling Up Fund; whether these were different to those used in round one; and how levels of multiple deprivation were factored into determining the areas which should receive funding.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
I refer the my Hon Friend to my answer to Question UIN 129836 on 26 January 2023 and to the published prioritisation of places methodology note and index update note published on gov.uk, which outline the metrics and methodology used in the Levelling Up Fund's Index of Priority Places.
The published Explanatory Note for LUF round 1 sets out the approach to assessment and decision making for round 1.
Asked by: Jack Brereton (Conservative - Stoke-on-Trent South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reason it is not his policy to replace Crosscountry train rollingstock with bi-mode multiple units for use with overhead electric wires.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Most trains in the CrossCountry fleet are around 20 years old; far from their operating life expectancy. CrossCountry are working with rolling stock owners to reduce the carbon footprint of its train fleet.
Our Transport Decarbonisation Plan commits to delivering a Net Zero rail network by 2050, with sustained carbon reductions in rail along the way. Our ambition is to remove all diesel-only trains from the network by 2040.
Asked by: Jack Brereton (Conservative - Stoke-on-Trent South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to upgrade train rolling stock on Crosscountry services to (a) address overcrowding and poor accessibility and (b) meet 2050 net zero targets.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The rolling stock requirements for the next CrossCountry contract are yet to be decided. Most of its fleet is around 20 years old, far short of the trains’ life expectancy, and is all fully accessible. The Department will consider value for money proposals offering an increase in capacity and wider passenger benefits.
CrossCountry is working with the rolling stock owners on options to reduce the carbon footprint of the CrossCountry train fleet.
Asked by: Jack Brereton (Conservative - Stoke-on-Trent South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to (a) address overcrowding on and (b) improve connectivity of rail services between Manchester and Birmingham via Stoke-on-Trent.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
I welcome that passengers are returning to the railway. The CrossCountry franchise runs to October 2023 and a new contract is being developed. This will consider options for affordable opportunities to increase capacity on CrossCountry services in future years.
CrossCountry is working to increase the frequency of services connecting Manchester and Stoke-on-Trent with Birmingham, Bristol and Bournemouth during 2023, and their plans will be made public soon.
Asked by: Jack Brereton (Conservative - Stoke-on-Trent South)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent estimate she has made of the contribution to economic growth of the video games industry; and what steps the Government is taking to support the UK video games industry.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government is committed to supporting the growth of the UK’s video games sector and we recognise that video games bring economic, cultural and social benefits across the UK. The video games industry trade body Ukie has estimated the value of the consumer games market at £7.16 billion in 2021, more than doubling in value since 2013.
As part of a wider package to support the growth of the creative industries, the Government is delivering an £8 million expansion of the UK Games Fund. This will provide valuable support to early stage game development businesses and talented graduates throughout the UK. In addition, the Video Games Tax Relief continues to make the UK one of the leading destinations in the world for making video games. The Video Games Tax Relief has supported £5.1 billion of UK expenditure on 1,940 games since its introduction in 2014.