Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)
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 bringing forward a UK Nationally Determined Contribution under the Paris Agreement 2015.
Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng
As part of our incoming COP Presidency, in partnership with Italy, we are urging all countries to come forward with ambitious new NDCs which represent their highest possible ambition. The UK will play its part and we are preparing to come forward with an enhanced NDC well ahead of COP26.
Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many staff in her Department are paid less than the London Living Wage; and what requirements her Department places on contractors to pay the London Living Wage to London-based staff.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
This Government is committed to paying people a living wage, which is being addressed through the statutory National Living Wage. In April 2019, the National Living Wage increased to £8.21 per hour, handing a full-time worker a further £690 annual pay rise. By 2024 the National Living Wage will rise to £10.50 per hour, reaching 66% of median UK earnings. The scope will be expanded to everyone aged 21 and over and is expected to benefit over 4 million low paid workers.
There are no staff in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy who are paid less than the London Living Wage.
Our contractors pay at or above the Living Wage Foundation rates for both London and the rest of the UK.
Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 4 July 2019 to Question 271544, on what dates the Inter-Ministerial Group on Environment and Clean Growth (a) was created and (b) has met between that date and 16 April 2018.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
The Inter-Ministerial Group on Environment and Clean Growth was established in early 2018 following the publication of the Clean Growth Strategy. Between early 2018 and 16 April 2018 the group met in February 2018.
Prior to its current formulation as the Inter-Ministerial Group on Environment and Clean Growth, the Inter-Ministerial Group on Clean Growth met a number of times.
Departments meet outside this group to discuss clean growth, decarbonisation and wider environmental policy on a regular basis, at both official and ministerial level.
Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)
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 facilitate cross-governmental co-operation on tackling climate change.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
Tackling climate change is a shared endeavour between all Government departments. BEIS Ministers and officials regularly engage with their counterparts across government on clean growth matters including delivery of the Clean Growth Strategy and progress against our carbon budgets.
Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 18 June 2019 to Question 264459 on the Clean Growth Ministerial Group, whether the Environment and Clean Growth Inter-Ministerial Group met between 16 April 2018 and 21 May 2019.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
The Environment and Clean Growth Inter-Ministerial Group did not meet between 16 April 2018 and 21 May 2019. Departments met to discuss clean growth, decarbonisation and wider environmental policy on a regular basis over that period, at both official and ministerial level.
Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, which Ministers are permanent members of the Environment and Clean Growth Inter-Ministerial Group.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
The Inter-Ministerial Group on Environment and Clean Growth is chaired by the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. The Deputy Chair is the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Membership includes:
Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
Secretary of State for Transport
Secretary of State for Health
Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Minister of State for Energy and Clean Growth
Minister of State for Transport
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Defra
Government Chief Scientific Adviser
The purpose of the group is to allow Ministers to discuss direction for relevant strategic issues. Membership is flexible to topics being discussed.
Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to his oral answer of 12 June 2019, Official Report, columns 682-683, on what dates the Clean Growth Inter-Ministerial Group has met since 16 April 2018; and what the membership is of that group.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
I co-chaired a meeting of the Environment and Clean Growth Inter-Ministerial Group on Wednesday 22nd May, along with my hon. friend the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Environment (Dr Thérèse Coffey MP).
The group brings together ministers and officials from across government to discuss matters related to clean growth, decarbonisation and wider environmental policy.
Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)
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 publish the name of the (a) site and (b) operator for each of the 117 heat networks in the Royal Borough of Greenwich registered under the Heat Network (Metering and Billing) Regulations 2014.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
The Heat Network (Metering and Billing) Regulations 2014 require heat suppliers to notify their heat networks to the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS). The data is collected for compliance and enforcement purposes. OPSS are able to provide a partial postcode for the heat networks in the Borough, should this be requested. However, the names of heat suppliers and the exact locations of heat networks in the Royal Borough of Greenwich cannot be published as it is commercially sensitive information. Additionally, this data will fall within the definition of ‘personal data’ where it includes information relating to an identifiable person who directly, or indirectly, can be identified by the linking of other data sources. This means it will be subject to the General Data Protection Regulation / Data Protection Act 2018, and consent would be needed from the heat suppliers for its release.
Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, which body is planned to enforce the EU-derived climate regulations that govern the UK energy market after they are transposed into domestic law; and whether the Government plans for there to be any role for the proposed new environmental watchdog in such enforcement.
Answered by Claire Perry
A consultation document was published on 10 May seeking views on proposals for a new statutory policy statement on environmental principles and an independent statutory environmental body to be created through the Environment Bill. The consultation also sought views on the subject matter which should be within the scope of the new environmental body. The consultation closed on 2 August and responses are currently being analysed. The response to the consultation will be published alongside the draft Bill in the autumn
Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether it is the Government’s policy to transpose the revision of the Posting of Workers Directive (96/71/EC) into domestic legislation before the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020.
Answered by Andrew Griffiths
We expect the revision to the Posting of Workers Directive to be voted on for adoption (approval by both Council and the European Parliament) shortly, after which it will become EU law. If adopted, we intend to implement it, including through transposition into domestic legislation as necessary, before the end of the transition period. Until exit negotiations are concluded, the UK remains a full Member of the European Union and all the rights and obligations of EU membership remain in force. During this period the Government will also continue to negotiate, implement and apply EU legislation.