Asked by: Matt Western (Labour - Warwick and Leamington)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to help protect (a) automotive and (b) other businesses based in the UK from cyber-attacks.
Answered by Lee Rowley
The Department works closely with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) on cyber risks to all business sectors, including the automotive sector. The NCSC regularly publishes threat updates and a wide range of actionable guidance and tools for businesses on its website; their most recent being guidance for UK organisations in respect of cyber threats and the current situation in Ukraine. The NCSC, along with my department, works closely with trade bodies and industry partnerships as a trusted route to providing best practice and practical advice to businesses. In December 2021 the Government published its National Cyber Strategy, which contains more information on the breadth of cyber security actions being taken by Government. The annual Cyber Security Breaches Survey also sets out details of the cyber threat to businesses and what firms are doing in response.
Asked by: Matt Western (Labour - Warwick and Leamington)
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 risk of cyber attacks to (a) automotive and (b) other businesses based in the UK.
Answered by Lee Rowley
The Department works closely with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) on cyber risks to all business sectors, including the automotive sector. The NCSC regularly publishes threat updates and a wide range of actionable guidance and tools for businesses on its website; their most recent being guidance for UK organisations in respect of cyber threats and the current situation in Ukraine. The NCSC, along with my department, works closely with trade bodies and industry partnerships as a trusted route to providing best practice and practical advice to businesses. In December 2021 the Government published its National Cyber Strategy, which contains more information on the breadth of cyber security actions being taken by Government. The annual Cyber Security Breaches Survey also sets out details of the cyber threat to businesses and what firms are doing in response.
Asked by: Matt Western (Labour - Warwick and Leamington)
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 on the impact of the Research Excellence Framework on academic freedom.
Answered by George Freeman
Research England, working with the HE Education Funding Bodies in the Devolved Nations, is conducting an extensive evaluation of the 2021 Research Excellence Framework, including a recent call for feedback from Higher Education Providers and individuals involved in the research system. This evidence with inform the design of the next national research evaluation.
A key principle of the current Research Excellence Framework (REF) is that all types of research and all forms of research output across all disciplines is assessed on a fair and equal basis. The REF aims to assess all types of research without distorting the activity that it measures, or encouraging or discouraging any particular type of research activity, other than providing a general stimulus to enhancing the overall achievements of the UK research base.
Asked by: Matt Western (Labour - Warwick and Leamington)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to reduce excess winter deaths in Warwickshire.
Answered by Greg Hands
The Government is committed to helping low income and vulnerable households to sufficiently heat their homes, recognising the impact cold homes can have on people’s health.
Energy efficiency is the best long-term solution to tackling fuel poverty. The Government is driving energy efficiency improvements through a number of schemes, including the Energy Company Obligation and the Home Upgrade Grant. Since the Energy Company Obligation Scheme began in 2013, Warwickshire has received 21,746 energy efficiency measures (Headline Energy Efficiency Statistics, Table 3.4).[1]
Additional support is available to eligible households through the Warm Home Discount, the Cold Weather Payment and the Winter Fuel Payment. The Household Support Fund is also providing £421 million to help vulnerable people in England with the cost of food, utilities and wider essentials this winter.
Asked by: Matt Western (Labour - Warwick and Leamington)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate his Department has made of the average cost to install a heat source pump to replace an existing gas boiler in a standard three bedroom semi-detached home.
Answered by Greg Hands
Based on the best available evidence, the Government estimates the current total cost of installing an air source heat pump to replace a gas boiler in an average three-bedroom semi-detached house to be around £10,500. However, as the market develops, heat pump installation costs are expected to fall. In the Heat and Buildings Strategy, the Government set an ambition to reduce the upfront costs of installing a heat pump by 25-50% by 2025.