Asked by: Matthew Offord (Conservative - Hendon)
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 has taken with the Treasury to help increase investment in UK Research and Development to 2.4 per cent GDP by 2026-27.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani
The Government remains committed to the 2.4% target. The public research and development (R&D) spending commitments delivered at Spending Review 2021 will contribute to driving increases in private sector investment in R&D. This will support the Government’s aim of raising economic growth by boosting productivity and thus raising living standards across the country.
My Hon. Friend the Economic Secretary to the Treasury has confirmed that Government will abide by SR21 R&D allocations, including for Core Innovation. This will support delivery of the Innovation Strategy’s ambition to boost private sector investment in UK R&D by creating the conditions for all businesses to innovate and giving them the confidence to do so.
Asked by: Matthew Offord (Conservative - Hendon)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, that steps he has taken to progress the ratification of the UK’s association with the EU’s Horizon Europe programme.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani
The UK should already be part of Horizon Europe, as agreed in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA). Association to Horizon Europe remains our preference and we continue to do everything we can to secure this. That is why we entered into formal consultations with the EU under the TCA.
At the UK-EU Specialised Committee meeting on 22 September, which marked the end of the consultation period, the UK requested that the EU fulfil its obligation to finalise the UK’s association to Horizon Europe. Disappointingly, the EU continues to decline this request, despite association being a clear win-win and supported across the UK and European R+D sectors.
The UK government is now considering next steps. Our priority is to support the UK’s world leading R&D sector and we have already outlined potential options for doing so.
Asked by: Matthew Offord (Conservative - Hendon)
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 cost to the public purse of loans fraudulently claimed under the Bounce Back Loan Scheme; and what proportion of those loans were administered by (a) Lloyds, (b) Barclays, (c) NatWest, (d) HSBC and (e) other UK banks.
Answered by Dean Russell
Performance data for the Bounce Back Loan Scheme is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-loan-guarantee-schemes-repayment-data/bounce-back-loan-scheme-performance-data-as-at-31-july-2022. This includes specific information on the value of loans marked as suspected fraud, and claims made and settled by individual lenders who are accredited for the scheme.
An updated estimate on the total rate of fraud in the Bounce Back Loan Scheme will be reported in the Department’s Annual Report and Accounts 2021-2022, due for publication later this year.
Asked by: Matthew Offord (Conservative - Hendon)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department has taken steps to promote the use of large scale biomethane energy production in the UK; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of encouraging energy providers to facilitate such production.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Green Gas Support Scheme (GGSS) provides tariff-support for biomethane produced via anaerobic digestion and injected into the gas grid. The design of the scheme aims to stimulate production at larger volumes than under previous schemes which will lead to increased carbon savings and value for money.
As stated in our government response to the Future Support for Low Carbon Heat Consultation, for long term support to biomethane we expect to focus on market-based mechanisms which leverage competitive forces to drive down costs and ensure cost-effectiveness. Any future policy will be subject to external consultation.
Asked by: Matthew Offord (Conservative - Hendon)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make biomethane energy production a part of the national energy strategy.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Heat and Buildings Strategy and the Net Zero Strategy published in 2021 are clear on the need to increase the proportion of biomethane injected into the gas grid. Government launched the Green Gas Support Scheme in November 2021 providing tariff-support for biomethane produced via anaerobic digestion and injected into the gas grid.
Asked by: Matthew Offord (Conservative - Hendon)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make it his policy to use biomethane energy production facilities to reduce carbon emissions.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Heat and Buildings Strategy and the Net Zero Strategy published in 2021 are clear on the need to increase the proportion of biomethane injected into the gas grid. Government launched the Green Gas Support Scheme in November 2021 providing tariff-support for biomethane produced via anaerobic digestion and injected into the gas grid.
Asked by: Matthew Offord (Conservative - Hendon)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent progress the Government has made on the UK’s application to associate to Horizon Europe.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani
Our preference remains association to the EU programmes as agreed under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), including Horizon Europe, and we continue to do everything we can to secure this. The EU is in breach of the agreement reached under the TCA for the UK to participate in EU programmes and these unjustified delays are causing uncertainty for our research and business communities. That is why we entered into formal consultations with the EU, which are a mechanism set out in the TCA to resolve issues between the UK and the EU.
At the UK-EU Specialised Committee meeting on 22 September, which marked the end of the consultations period, the UK once again requested that the EU fulfil its obligation to finalise the UK’s association to EU Programmes. It is regrettable that the EU continues to decline this request. The UK government is now considering next steps. Our priority is to support the UK’s world leading R&D sector and we have already outlined potential options for doing so.
Asked by: Matthew Offord (Conservative - Hendon)
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 support new low carbon technologies.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Government supports the development of new technology throughout its full technology development cycle. This starts with early-stage UKRI funding, progressing into mid to late-stage innovation funding such as the 4-year £1bn Net Zero Innovation Portfolio to demonstrate technology at pilot scale or on-site. This also includes the recently launched ARIA that focusses on high-risk disruptive innovation. Once the technology is ready for first commercial deployment the Government supports deployment through CfD auctions, and programmes like the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund. Finally, to establish an enduring marketplace for new low carbon technology the Government is developing, for example, business models for hydrogen, CCUS and greenhouse gas removal technology.
Asked by: Matthew Offord (Conservative - Hendon)
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 deliver new and advanced nuclear power in the UK.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Government intends to take one project to Final Investment Decision (FID) this Parliament and two projects in the next Parliament, subject to necessary approvals.
The Government will set up a new flagship body - ‘Great British Nuclear’ - to develop a resilient pipeline of projects. The Government appointed Simon Bowen to lead and help develop government proposals for this body.
On the 2nd of September 2022, the Government launched the bid window for the £120 million Future Nuclear Enabling Fund. This fund will provide targeted support to potential new and advanced nuclear projects seeking to enter the UK nuclear market.
This is additional to £210m for Rolls-Royce SMR which will be matched by industry.
Asked by: Matthew Offord (Conservative - Hendon)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent progress his Department has made on securing business investment in the UK.
Answered by Jackie Doyle-Price
Earlier this year, the Government secured £28.5 billion from Australian Investors for clean energy, technology and infrastructure. In addition, the Government has provided support to attract significant investment in manufacturing including Airbus’ August announcement of a £100m investment in Broughton to increase their wing production capacity. In the Life Sciences sector, the Government has worked to secure over £80 million R&D investment by Smith and Nephew into their manufacturing facility in Melton near Hull.