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Written Question
Energy: Meters
Monday 29th October 2018

Asked by: Kemi Badenoch (Conservative - Saffron Walden)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many SMETS1 meters are estimated to not be enrolled into the Smart Data Communications Company; and what the approximate cost of their replacements with SMETS2 meters would be.

Answered by Claire Perry

First generation smart meters currently operate on energy supplier-developed systems and will be migrated to the DCC by the end of 2020 to ensure that all first generation smart meters stay smart when switching.


Written Question
Electric Vehicles
Thursday 14th June 2018

Asked by: Kemi Badenoch (Conservative - Saffron Walden)

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 quantum of national electricity demand arising from the predicted increase in the number of electric cars between 2018 and 2040.

Answered by Claire Perry

In National Grid’s 2017 Future Energy Scenarios, electric vehicles could potentially increase peak load on the electricity system by up to 10GW by 2040 under their highest impact scenario. National Grid say that this can be reduced to around 5GW by 2040 if the charging by electric vehicles is managed through smart charging.

Therefore, the Government is taking powers as part of the Automated and Electric Vehicles Bill to mandate that all charge points sold or installed in the UK must be ‘smart’ enabled. This will enable consumers to shift charging away from the peak demand periods, benefitting the electricity system and lowering their electricity bills.


Written Question
European Research Council
Wednesday 13th June 2018

Asked by: Kemi Badenoch (Conservative - Saffron Walden)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the timeframe is for the UK to stop receiving funding from the European Research Council.

Answered by Sam Gyimah

The UK is eligible to fully participate in all aspects of the Horizon 2020 programme, including the European Research Council (ERC) while we remain a member of the EU. The Joint Report, reflected in the draft Withdrawal Agreement, envisages that UK entities’ right to participate will remain unaffected by the UK’s withdrawal from the EU for the duration of the programme and the lifetime of projects funded under Horizon 2020.

If necessary, the Government’s underwrite remains in place. This guarantees the funding for UK participants in projects ongoing at the point of exit, as well as any successful bids submitted before the UK leaves the EU.

As part of our future partnership with the EU, the UK will look to establish a far reaching science and innovation pact. The UK would like the option to fully associate to the excellence-based European research and innovation programmes, including Horizon Europe, the successor to Horizon 2020. The UK intends to play a full and constructive role in shaping these proposals and we look forward to discussing the detail of any future UK participation with the Commission.


Written Question
European Research Council: EU Grants and Loans
Wednesday 13th June 2018

Asked by: Kemi Badenoch (Conservative - Saffron Walden)

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 ensure the maintenance of funding for (a) universities and (b) research projects after the UK ceases to receive European Research Council funding.

Answered by Sam Gyimah

The UK is eligible to fully participate in all aspects of the Horizon 2020 programme, including the European Research Council (ERC) while we remain a member of the EU. The Joint Report, reflected in the draft Withdrawal Agreement, envisages that UK entities’ right to participate will remain unaffected by the UK’s withdrawal from the EU for the duration of the programme and the lifetime of projects funded under Horizon 2020.

If necessary, the Government’s underwrite remains in place. This guarantees the funding for UK participants in projects ongoing at the point of exit, as well as any successful bids submitted before the UK leaves the EU.

As part of our future partnership with the EU, the UK will look to establish a far reaching science and innovation pact. The UK would like the option to fully associate to the excellence-based European research and innovation programmes, including Horizon Europe, the successor to Horizon 2020. The UK intends to play a full and constructive role in shaping these proposals and we look forward to discussing the detail of any future UK participation with the Commission.