Asked by: Mike Amesbury (Independent - Runcorn and Helsby)
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
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 (Independent - Runcorn and Helsby)
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
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 (Independent - Runcorn and Helsby)
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
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 (Independent - Runcorn and Helsby)
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
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 (Independent - Runcorn and Helsby)
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 (Independent - Runcorn and Helsby)
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.
Asked by: Mike Amesbury (Independent - Runcorn and Helsby)
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 help ensure that people in the Weaver Vale constituency are receiving their post delivered by Royal Mail on time; and if his Department will make an assessment on the potential merits of further Government steps on this matter.
Answered by Paul Scully
The Government sets the minimum requirements and service standards for the UK postal service in the Postal Services Act 2011 and designates the Office of Communications (Ofcom) as the independent regulator for the sector.
Ofcom has a duty to ensure the provision of a financially sustainable and efficient universal postal service. It monitors Royal Mail’s provision of the universal service and has powers to investigate and take enforcement action if Royal Mail fails to achieve its performance targets as appropriate, taking account of all relevant factors.
Ofcom is carrying out a review of the future regulatory framework for post which it aims to complete in 2022. As part of this, Ofcom is considering whether its approach to regulating the quality of service for key universal postal services remains appropriate. Ofcom published a consultation document on proposals for the future regulation of postal services on 9 December 2021.