Asked by: Mike Amesbury (Labour - Weaver Vale)
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 effect of the rise in energy bills on customers in Weaver Vale constituency.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government recognises many households will need support to deal with the impact of high wholesale energy costs, which are being affected by global factors.
In response, the Chancellor of the Exchequer has announced a package of support to help households with rising energy bills, worth £9.1 billion in 2022-23. This includes a £200 rebate for households delivered via their energy bill this autumn, a £150 non-repayable reduction in Council Tax bills for all households in Bands A-D in England and £144 million of discretionary funding for Local Authorities to support households who need support but are not eligible for the Council Tax reduction.
This is in addition to the support Government will continue to provide through the Warm Home Discount Scheme, which this winter is providing over 2 million households a £140 rebate off their energy bill each winter. The Government have announced that it would be increasing to £150 and help an extra 780,000 households next winter. Further, Winter Fuel Payments and Cold Weather Payments help ensure the most vulnerable are better able to heat their homes over the colder months.
Asked by: Mike Amesbury (Labour - Weaver Vale)
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 adequacy of Royal Mail deliveries in Runcorn and Helsby.
Answered by Paul Scully
Royal Mail has publicly stated that it is aware of the reduction in service levels in some areas and is taking action to reduce delays to deliveries. Its contingency plans to mitigate disruption to postal services are overseen by Ofcom.
Ofcom continues to monitor Royal Mail’s performance to ensure it is providing the best service it can to customers and has powers to investigate and take enforcement action if Royal Mail fails to achieve its performance targets.
Asked by: Mike Amesbury (Labour - Weaver Vale)
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 the financial difficulties of CNIM, if he will make it his policy to halt the construction of a waste incinerator in Weaver Vale constituency.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Lostock Sustainable Energy Plant was granted consent under the Electricity Act 1989 in October 2012 by Ministers in what was then the Department of Energy and Climate Change. The consent was subsequently varied in July 2019. A further application to vary this consent was submitted in October 2021 to my department. When deciding whether to refuse or consent this application, the Secretary of State will consider all matters relevant to planning. The Government does not comment on specific matters relating to live applications.
Asked by: Mike Amesbury (Labour - Weaver Vale)
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 tackle C02 shortages resulting from gas supply issues and its effects on the availability of meat and frozen products.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
We are monitoring the situation and are not aware of any material supply issues with CO2 for the meat and frozen food industries at the current time.
Asked by: Mike Amesbury (Labour - Weaver Vale)
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 number of families at risk of entering fuel poverty as a result of the decision to raise the price cap; and what steps his Department is taking to support those families once the cap has been lifted.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The energy price cap from 1 April 2022 will be announced by Ofgem in February.
The Government continues to offer support for energy efficiency measures, which contribute to reducing energy bills and tackling fuel poverty in the long term. This includes schemes available to support low income households in improving the energy efficiency of their homes, including the Local Authority Delivery Scheme and the Energy Company Obligation. Financial support with energy bills is also available to eligible households through the Warm Home Discount, Cold Weather Payment and Winter Fuel Payment.
Asked by: Mike Amesbury (Labour - Weaver Vale)
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 number of local authorities with an electric vehicle charging transition strategy; and what steps his Department is taking to support local authorities to ensure that those strategies are implemented.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government has a programme of engagement and support for local authorities, to ensure all areas are working to help deliver on the phase out of the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030. This includes funding the Energy Saving Trust to provide free advice to local authorities in England, on matters such as developing a local electric vehicle charging strategy. In collaboration with the Institution of Engineering and Technology, the Government will soon also publish an electric vehicle infrastructure guide for local authorities, which will support the planning and delivery of electric vehicle chargepoints in their areas. This year £20 million is available under the On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme for local authorities, to provide public chargepoints for their residents without access to private parking.
Local authorities are best placed to consider local needs, and the Government’s forthcoming Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy will serve to define the role and responsibilities of local authorities in the delivery of charging infrastructure.
The Government will continue to monitor and engage with local authorities as they progress with their strategies and will work to help mainstream capability and leadership, leading to local action to support zero emission vehicle uptake across every part of the UK.
Asked by: Mike Amesbury (Labour - Weaver Vale)
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 adequacy of the support available to local authorities for the development of electric vehicle charging transition strategies.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government has a programme of engagement and support for local authorities, to ensure all areas are working to help deliver on the phase out of the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030. This includes funding the Energy Saving Trust to provide free advice to local authorities in England, on matters such as developing a local electric vehicle charging strategy. In collaboration with the Institution of Engineering and Technology, the Government will soon also publish an electric vehicle infrastructure guide for local authorities, which will support the planning and delivery of electric vehicle chargepoints in their areas. This year £20 million is available under the On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme for local authorities, to provide public chargepoints for their residents without access to private parking.
Local authorities are best placed to consider local needs, and the Government’s forthcoming Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy will serve to define the role and responsibilities of local authorities in the delivery of charging infrastructure.
The Government will continue to monitor and engage with local authorities as they progress with their strategies and will work to help mainstream capability and leadership, leading to local action to support zero emission vehicle uptake across every part of the UK.
Asked by: Mike Amesbury (Labour - Weaver Vale)
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 taking to help local authorities with developing an electric vehicle charging transition strategy.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government has a programme of engagement and support for local authorities, to ensure all areas are working to help deliver on the phase out of the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030. This includes funding the Energy Saving Trust to provide free advice to local authorities in England, on matters such as developing a local electric vehicle charging strategy. In collaboration with the Institution of Engineering and Technology, the Government will soon also publish an electric vehicle infrastructure guide for local authorities, which will support the planning and delivery of electric vehicle chargepoints in their areas. This year £20 million is available under the On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme for local authorities, to provide public chargepoints for their residents without access to private parking.
Local authorities are best placed to consider local needs, and the Government’s forthcoming Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy will serve to define the role and responsibilities of local authorities in the delivery of charging infrastructure.
The Government will continue to monitor and engage with local authorities as they progress with their strategies and will work to help mainstream capability and leadership, leading to local action to support zero emission vehicle uptake across every part of the UK.
Asked by: Mike Amesbury (Labour - Weaver Vale)
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 efficacy of the Valneva covid-19 vaccine; and what steps he is taking to introduce that vaccine for people who cannot take the Pfizer, Astra-Zeneca or Moderna vaccines for ethical reasons.
Answered by George Freeman
The supply agreement between the government and Valneva was terminated in September 2021 and therefore this vaccine will not form part of the UK portfolio. Although Valneva have received their Phase III preliminary results and submitted their trial data to the MHRA, the company has not yet gained approval from the regulator.
The UK Government has taken a portfolio approach to vaccine supply for regulated vaccines. The UK has sufficient supply now for the current booster campaign, as well as continuation of the primary vaccination programme.
Asked by: Mike Amesbury (Labour - Weaver Vale)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether foetal cells were used in the development of covid-19 vaccines.
Answered by George Freeman
Approved U.K. COVID-19 vaccines do not contain any human foetal tissue.