John Redwood

Our intent remains to hold the conference in person, respecting the wishes of all parties, many of whom feel strongly that the COP must be in person. However, we also continue to explore how technology and other innovations can make it more resilient, safe and inclusive.

We are working with our Sustainability Consultant on the principle priority to reduce emissions from the conference within a robust Carbon Management Plan, with any unavoidable carbon emissions from COP26 to be offset. We will encourage all delegates to consider low-carbon travel options and will be offsetting the emissions associated with travel, including those of the COP President and UK officials in the run up to COP26.

As part of our COP26 carbon management planning process, we are currently developing a baseline assessment of the scale of carbon emissions and the priority areas for action. All carbon accounting is being carried out in line with the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol and other sources of best practice guidance and will be published once the event has been delivered.

Our intent remains to hold the conference in person, respecting the wishes of all parties, many of whom feel strongly that the COP must be in person. However, we also continue to explore how technology and other innovations can make it more resilient, safe and inclusive.

We are working with our Sustainability Consultant on the principle priority to reduce emissions from the conference within a robust Carbon Management Plan, with any unavoidable carbon emissions from COP26 to be offset. We will encourage all delegates to consider low-carbon travel options and will be offsetting the emissions associated with travel, including those of the COP President and UK officials in the run up to COP26.

As part of our COP26 carbon management planning process, we are currently developing a baseline assessment of the scale of carbon emissions and the priority areas for action. All carbon accounting is being carried out in line with the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol and other sources of best practice guidance and will be published once the event has been delivered.

Our intent remains to hold the conference in person, respecting the wishes of all parties, many of whom feel strongly that the COP must be in person. However, we also continue to explore how technology and other innovations can make it more resilient, safe and inclusive.

We are working with our Sustainability Consultant on the principle priority to reduce emissions from the conference within a robust Carbon Management Plan, with any unavoidable carbon emissions from COP26 to be offset. We will encourage all delegates to consider low-carbon travel options and will be offsetting the emissions associated with travel, including those of the COP President and UK officials in the run up to COP26.

As part of our COP26 carbon management planning process, we are currently developing a baseline assessment of the scale of carbon emissions and the priority areas for action. All carbon accounting is being carried out in line with the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol and other sources of best practice guidance and will be published once the event has been delivered.

The Government stands resolute in its commitment to tackle Organised Immigration Crime. We continue to pursue the Organised Crime Groups who facilitate illegal travel to the UK and who exploit vulnerable migrants, knowingly putting people in life-threatening situations. We are committed to prosecuting those who profit from dangerous and unnecessary Channel crossings in small boats.

We do not hold data relating specifically to the points in the question. However, so far in 2021, 9 people have been convicted for facilitation offences relating to small boat crossings, with sentences totalling over 17 years’ imprisonment. Further, the Joint Intelligence Cell activity (UK-France joint investigations) has seen 17 small boat Organised Immigration Crime Groups dismantled since July 2020.

National Statistics on the number of full-time and part-time civil servants are published each quarter by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) as part of their Public Sector Employment statistical release. The latest available statistics were published in December 2023 and at Table 8 show the number of full-time civil servants as at 30 September 2023. The next ONS publication is scheduled for release on 12 March 2024 and will show the number of civil servants as at 31 December. Statistics for 2019 and all previous and upcoming releases can be found on the ONS website at https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/publicsectorpersonnel/datasets/publicsectoremploymentreferencetable

National Statistics on the number of civil servants are published each quarter by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) as part of their Public Sector Employment statistical release. The latest available statistics were published 12 December 2023 and showed the number of civil servants as at 30 September 2023. The next ONS publication is scheduled for release on 12 March and will show the number of civil servants as at 31 December. Statistics for 2019 and all previous and upcoming releases can be found on the ONS website at https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/publicsectorpersonnel/datasets/publicsectoremploymentreferencetable

Information on the number of non-civil service public sector administrators is not held centrally by the Cabinet Office.

There are specific statutory provisions in place that control all appointments to new and replacement Civil Service roles arising from external recruitment.

The Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 requires that selection to the Civil Service must be on merit, on the basis of fair and open competition. The Civil Service Commission has a statutory duty to ensure that the merit requirement is upheld and is not being undermined. The Commission’s interpretation of this statutory requirement is outlined to Civil Service departments in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles 2018.

The Aliens’ Employment Act 1955 outlines the eligibility for employment in the Civil Service on the grounds of nationality. The Cabinet Office has published the Civil Service Nationality Rules on Gov.uk to support departments in the interpretation of this statutory requirement.

The Civil Service Management Code delegates authority to individual departments to determine their recruitment approach within the scope of these statutory requirements. Additional policy provisions can be applied such as the Civil Service Recruitment Framework. Since January 2016, the Framework has been committed to opening up all Senior Civil Service (SCS) vacancies by advertising them externally to the public by default. In May 2022, this commitment was strengthened, requiring departments to obtain approval from the responsible minister when seeking to limit an SCS vacancy to existing civil servants only.

For other public administrators outside of the Civil Service, it would be down to their respective organisations to comment on whether they have such controls in place.

The Cabinet Office supports departments and coordinates across government to improve energy efficiency and reduce costs. The 2022-2030 Government Property Strategy sets out how the estate will be transformed to become more efficient and sustainable.

The Government Buying Standard for Construction requires new build developments to meet BRE’s Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) ‘Excellent’ or equivalent standards, while refurbishment projects have a target of ‘Very Good’, ensuring new and upgraded properties meet high standards of energy efficiency.

In addition, Crown Commercial Services has developed an energy procurement strategy that has delivered significant commercial benefits from aggregation of government buying power and hedging future demand on commodity markets.

Comparisons with energy costs in other countries is one of the considerations for the development and introduction of support for energy intensive industries including the steel sector. The British Industry Supercharger will introduce targeted measures to ensure the energy costs for key UK industries are in line with other major economies around the world – levelling the playing field for British companies across Europe. The government is committed to rolling out its measures between April 2024 and April 2025.

The Horizon IT Inquiry considered the procurement of the Horizon IT system during Phase 2. We should wait for the Inquiry to report.

Public funding for the British Business Bank’s DEL funding, Business As Usual programmes and administration of the Covid-19 loan schemes, for 2023/24 is expected to be up to £735m. The projected figure for 2024/25 is £357m. Any capital gains will be returned to the taxpayer over the course of the investment cycle.

The Government is clear that the Post Office should be a valuable social and economic asset for communities and businesses for years to come. To ensure the Post Office is fit for the future, the Government is engaging with stakeholders regarding the challenges facing the post office network and postmasters, resulting from the changing retail landscape and increased costs. ​

We have provided over £2.5 billion in funding to support the Post Office network over the past decade and is providing a further £588 million for the Post Office between 2022 and 2025. This includes a £50 million annual subsidy to safeguard services in the uncommercial parts of the network.

The Government also recognises that there are concerns about central costs, and we have been clear that Post Office must do more to cut central costs where possible.

The Post Office network is a crucial component of the UK's long-term provision of cash and banking services. That is why we have encouraged Post Office to be ambitious in their negotiations with banks for the next iteration of the Banking Framework agreement to ensure that both Post Office and Postmasters receive proportionate remuneration for the vital services they are providing.

Given the continued overseas demand for high-quality, UK-built vehicles, changes to policy in the nations we export to are more likely to affect levels of UK car production than changes in domestic policy. Like the UK, policy in key exports markets is toward greater electrification as the global shift to electric vehicles quickens.

Government’s zero emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate will ensure the UK’s share of ZEVs increases, putting our industry at the forefront of new technologies to grow the economy and attracting new inward investment, creating thousands of new jobs.

The owners of Grangemouth refinery, Petroineos, recently announced that they were putting in place the enabling works for a future transition to an import terminal. Petroineos have not taken a decision on when refining operations will cease but they anticipate they will continue until at least May 2025.

The impact of a cessation of refining operations on UK imports will depend on the supply and demand for fuels at the time. The Government’s Net Zero policies to increase use of electric vehicles and renewable transport fuels, will progressively reduce demand for conventional fuels.

The UK already both imports and exports fuels to balance demand and supply. The Petroineos plans should continue to ensure that customer needs are met.

On 25 February 2024, low wind generation in GB combined with high wind generation in Europe supported a price differential with Europe which led to higher imports. Interconnectors import when prices in GB are higher than on the other side of the interconnector.

The electricity network must have enough capacity to support peak electricity demand. The Electricity Networks Strategic Framework outlines that peak electricity demand is expected to be around 60GW by 2025 in Great Britain.

The Office for National Statistics publishes estimates on the low carbon and renewable energy economy. This data does not provide a breakdown of jobs created to manufacture solar panels specifically, but the latest report (for 2021) estimates around 200 jobs were created in manufacturing for the solar sector.

In the 2023 Spring Budget, the Chancellor announced an unprecedented £20 billion investment in the early development of carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS). The quantum of spend within a given period will depend on the outcome of commercial negotiations and will be subject to confirmation at the next and subsequent spending reviews.