Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what his timescale is for publishing the Biomass Strategy.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Government is actively progressing work on the Biomass Strategy and plans to publish it in due course.
Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
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 potential role of bioLPG in decarbonising heat in off-gas grid properties.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Government expects heat pumps will be the primary technology for decarbonising off-grid buildings. The Government recognises that not all off-grid properties will be suitable for a heat pump and there will be a role for alternative low carbon technologies where heat pumps cannot be used. Further evidence is needed to assess what role biofuels such as bioLPG or hydrotreated vegetable oil could play in the future heating mix – in particular the overall amount of sustainable biomass available to the UK and how this could be best used across the economy to achieve our net zero target.
Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the potential viability and contribution of hybrid heat pumps to give off-gas grid properties fuel security on the route to decarbonisation.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Government expects heat pumps will be the primary technology for decarbonising off-grid buildings. The Government recognises not all off-grid properties will be suitable for a heat pump and there will be a role for alternative low-carbon technologies. To play a long-term role, all fuels used by a hybrid system must be consistent with net zero.
Further evidence is needed to assess what role biofuels could play in the future heating mix – in particular the overall amount of sustainable biomass available to the UK and how this could be best used across the economy to help deliver net zero.
Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
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 will publish further information for off-grid homeowners on (a) accessing the £100 Alternative Fuel Payment and (b) additional support to help with the cost of energy.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Alternative Fuel Payment (AFP) will provide a one-off payment of £100 to households that use alternative fuels for heating instead of mains gas. Eligible households in Great Britain will receive £100 credit on their electricity bill this winter.
This is in addition to the Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS), which delivers a £400 non-repayable discount to households with an electricity meter. For those not on standard gas or electricity contracts the EBSS Alternative Fund will provide equivalent support. Further details will be announced in due course.
Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
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 will publish further information for off-grid businesses on (a) a non-domestic alternative fuel payment and (b) further support to assist with the cost of energy.
Answered by Graham Stuart
Further details on support for off-grid businesses and on the design of the scheme will be provided shortly.
Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
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 has taken to support the recycling and reprocessing industry with rising energy prices.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Government understands the huge pressure businesses are facing with their energy bills, which is why immediate action has been taken to support them over the winter, protecting jobs and livelihoods. The Energy Bill Relief Scheme for non-domestic customers will provide a discount on energy bills for all eligible non-domestic customers, including those in the recycling and reprocessing industry, whose current gas and electricity prices have been significantly inflated in light of global energy prices. This targeted support builds on our longer-term work with the sector, as set out in the Circular Economy Package and the Resources and Waste Strategy.
Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if his Department will take steps to support the growth of community energy schemes.
Answered by Graham Stuart
Through the introduction of UK-wide growth funding schemes, Government is enabling local areas to tackle net zero goals in ways that best suit their needs. We encourage community energy groups to work closely with their local authority to support the development of community energy projects within these schemes.
Ofgem also supports community energy projects and is now welcoming applications from community interest groups, co-operative societies, and community benefit societies to the Industry Voluntary Redress Scheme.
Given the level of support already available, the Government has no plans to take further steps to support the growth of community energy schemes at this time.
Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to his Department's policy paper entitled Introduction to Sector Deals, updated in June 2019, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a sector deal for the medical cannabis industry.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani
BEIS have no plans to assess the merits of introducing a sector deal for the medical cannabis industry. We will continue to support the Life Science sector through delivery of the Life Science Vision.