Asked by: Martin Vickers (Conservative - Brigg and Immingham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential role of newly approved open access services in supporting British train (a) manufacturing, (b) assembly and (c) supply chains.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Privately owned and run open access operators can play a significant role in supporting UK train manufacturers, assemblers and their UK supply chains and are an important source of potential orders, both for new and cascaded rolling stock. It remains a matter for each operator to decide when and how to source its own rolling stock.
Asked by: Martin Vickers (Conservative - Brigg and Immingham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make representations to his Turkish counterpart on negotiations on a peaceful, comprehensive, and long-lasting solution to reunite divisions over Cyprus.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is committed to supporting UN efforts to reach a Cyprus Settlement within the existing parameters of a Bi-zonal, Bi-communal Federation with political equality. We engage all parties in support of this. I raised this with my Turkish counterpart on 12 July. His Majesty's Ambassador to the Republic of Turkey most recently discussed Cyprus with Turkish counterparts on 19 September. I also met with the Turkish Ambassador to the UK on 9 October when we also discussed the Cyprus Issue.
Asked by: Martin Vickers (Conservative - Brigg and Immingham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make representations to his Turkish counterpart on reducing the number of Turkish troops stationed in Cyprus.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK actively supports peace and stability in Cyprus as a leading troop contributor to United Nations Peacekeeping Force In Cyprus (UNFICYP) and through our support for the UN-led process to reach a comprehensive Cyprus Settlement. We believe this remains the best route to addressing the difficult issues of the status quo. In January, as penholder, we drafted United Nations Security Council Resolutions 2723 which strongly encouraged the parties to engage and consider new military confidence building measures. We do not routinely comment on the activities of non-UK personnel.
Asked by: Martin Vickers (Conservative - Brigg and Immingham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make representations to his Turkish counterpart on the return of Famagusta to its former inhabitants on the 50th anniversary of its capture.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK supports the numerous United Nations Security Council Resolutions covering the issue of Varosha, Famagusta, alongside the related 2021 UNSC Statement. Property remains one of the most complex issues of the status quo in Cyprus. Ultimately, the most effective way to resolve these issues is through the UN-led process to reach a just and lasting Cyprus Settlement. The UK regularly engages all parties to support this.
Asked by: Martin Vickers (Conservative - Brigg and Immingham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what is the forecast subsidy to support London and North Eastern Railway in (a) 2024 and (b) 2025.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
LNER’s subsidy forecasts for 2024/25 and 2025/26 are commercially sensitive. Details of LNER’s accounts from previous years can be found in the published statutory accounts.
Asked by: Martin Vickers (Conservative - Brigg and Immingham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to visit Cyprus.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Cyprus is a key partner of the UK and our relationship has never been stronger. Our shared history, close people-to-people links and common values, including as members of the Commonwealth, lead us to co-operate across a broad range of priority areas. I spoke with Minister Kombos on 16 July and the Secretary of State for Defence visited Cyprus on 2 October. I look forward visiting Cyprus when diaries allow.
Asked by: Martin Vickers (Conservative - Brigg and Immingham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make representations to the Cypriot authorities on both sides to reveal the locations of buried missing people.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We share the concerns of both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities over the missing persons following the events of 1974. We support the crucial work being undertaken by the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus (CMP) by enabling them to work from a British-owned site in the Buffer Zone at minimal cost. Their work is crucial in bringing closure for the many families affected.
Asked by: Martin Vickers (Conservative - Brigg and Immingham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing imports of renewable energy.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
In 2023, imports via interconnectors provided 10.2% of gross UK electricity supply, highlighting the key role that they already play. Imports via interconnectors can provide access to lower-cost electricity for GB consumers, reduce the need to dispatch higher carbon domestic generation during peak times, and enhance our security of supply. We expect interconnectors to continue to be an important component of our future decarbonised electricity system.
Ofgem are responsible for taking regulatory decisions for new interconnector projects. Their draft analysis for projects being assessed as part of the current regulatory window can be found at: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/energy-policy-and-regulation/policy-and-regulatory-programmes/interconnectors
Asked by: Martin Vickers (Conservative - Brigg and Immingham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of meeting the 6GW green hydrogen production target by using local electrolysis; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of using (a) green hydrogen production from ammonia and (b) other technologies to meet this target.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
Government supports multiple hydrogen production pathways that meet our Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard and funding eligibility criteria. These are reviewed regularly.
The Energy Act 2023 enables support for hydrogen production via Government funding or a levy. We will provide an update on the funding arrangements for the hydrogen programme in due course. Funding decisions will take into account affordability and value for money.
Asked by: Martin Vickers (Conservative - Brigg and Immingham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what fiscal steps she is taking to help attract foreign direct investment into green industries in the (a) Humber and (b) UK.
Answered by Tulip Siddiq
The Treasury will continue to develop policy that supports investment in partnership with business. Investment is at the heart of this Government’s growth mission and essential to increasing the number of jobs and improving productivity across the country. The Department for Business and Trade has a dedicated investment function in the UK and overseas, including the Office for Investment.
The Government is taking forward the reforms necessary to ensure foreign investors have the support needed to invest. This includes setting up new institutions such as Great British Energy, which will combine the power of the private sector and government to accelerate the UK’s clean energy transition, and the National Wealth Fund which will mobilise billions more in private investment in the UK’s green and growth sectors.
The Chancellor will set out more detail on the National Wealth Fund ahead of the International Investment Summit in October.