Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he is taking steps with Cabinet colleagues and the Northern Ireland Executive to help ensure that the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources is reflected in the energy prices charged to energy consumers in Northern Ireland; and what recent steps his Department has taken to increase the level of renewable energy generation.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Northern Ireland Renewables Obligation is the principal renewable energy scheme in Northern Ireland, supporting renewable electricity generation. Usually paid for by consumers via their electricity bills, the levy costs are currently further reduced under the UK Government’s energy bill support measures.
The Government continues to work with Northern Ireland’s Department for the Economy officials to identify a suitable pathway for a Northern Ireland Contracts for Difference scheme to bring more renewable generation online.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
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 taken recent steps to help support pubs with the rising costs of alcohol.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
We recognise the impact rising prices will have on businesses of all sizes and we regularly engage with hospitality businesses and suppliers to understand the challenges they face and explore ways to protect businesses. The recently announced Energy Bill Relief Scheme ensures that all businesses and other non-domestic customers are protected from excessively high energy bills over the winter period.
We have also provided temporary business rates relief of 50% in 2022-23 for eligible retail, hospitality, and leisure businesses worth almost £1.7 billion.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
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 had recent discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the Government’s target for investment in research and development to be 2.4 per cent of GDP by the 2026-27 financial year.
Answered by George Freeman
My Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State has regular discussions with Ministerial colleagues on a number of issues.
Government remains committed to increasing the UK’s R&D intensity; hitting or exceeding the 2.4% target. Increased public research and development (R&D) spending, alongside other measures put forward in the Innovation Strategy, will contribute to growth in private sector investment in R&D by creating the conditions for all businesses to innovate and giving them the confidence to do so. This will support the Government’s aim of raising economic growth by boosting productivity and thus improving living standards across the country.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
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 had recent discussions with (a) Cabinet colleagues and (b) representatives of the fishing industry on the potential merits of increasing investment in tidal energy.
Answered by Graham Stuart
My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not yet had discussions on investments in tidal energy. The British Energy Security Strategy affirms that the Government will explore the potential of tidal power to contribute to a net-zero compliant future.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he is taking steps to mitigate against the reductions in regulations envisaged by the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
The powers included in the Bill will strengthen the Government’s ability to amend, repeal and replace Retained EU Law (REUL) contained in secondary legislation. This is not about reducing protections, but will provide a more efficient and effective route for consolidating, amending and removing unnecessary REUL.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much of the £20 billion in funding for research and development announced in the Autumn Budget and Spending Review 2021 will be allocated to new Tuberculosis treatments and vaccines.
Answered by George Freeman
BEIS published its funding allocations for UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) in May 2022. The total UKRI allocation as published was £25.1 billion for 2022-25, providing UKRI and its constituent councils with the funding needed to deliver world class research and innovation.
UKRI funds a range of research programmes and activities focussed on respiratory diseases. Over a recent 5-year period (2016-17 to 2020-21), UKRI’s Medical Research Council spent over £155.6 million on research relevant to respiratory health and disease. This figure includes over £45 million spent on research specifically relevant to Tuberculosis. Figures do not include spend on research relating to Covid-19.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
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 help support proactive and predictive immunology research into second and third generation covid-19 vaccinations.
Answered by George Freeman
UKRI will be committing at least £21m in 2023 to support major new research consortia addressing key challenges to underpin development of second and third generation COVID-19 vaccinations. These consortia will provide sustained funding to address key issues in understanding viral evolution, future variant risks, immune responses to infection and vaccination and how to drive sustained, mucosal immune responses. The consortia will be multidisciplinary and cross-institutional, will be supported for 5 years and are encouraged to engage with industry partners.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent assessment he has made of the likelihood of deliberate power cuts over the next six months.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The UK has a secure and diverse energy system. The Government is confident in its plans to protect households and businesses in the full range of scenarios this winter. The Government is ensuring that the UK is prepared for all eventualities and continues to work closely with Ofgem, National Grid and other key industry organisations to monitor the energy supply horizon and prepare for the upcoming winter.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to support the development of mucosal covid-19 vaccines.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
UKRI has already funded significant research activity in this space, through a broad portfolio of work in underpinning immunology, virology and vaccinology and a rich portfolio of vaccine development programmes. Specific exemplar programmes supported through a variety of mechanisms have been identified as with immediate relevance to the development of next generation SARS-CoV-2 therapeutics and vaccines including mucosal vaccines.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when his Department expects the £400 energy grant to start being paid to households.
Answered by Graham Stuart
Electricity suppliers have started delivering the Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS) discount to households in GB with a domestic electricity meter from this October.
Direct debit and credit customers have had the money credited to their account or paid into their account. Customers with smart prepayment meters have had the discount applied remotely to their meter. Customers with traditional prepayment meters receive a voucher or Special Action Message (SAM) from their supplier from the first week of each month. We are developing schemes to support households in GB who are not eligible for the Energy Bills Support Scheme, and in Northern Ireland.