Asked by: Nick Smith (Labour - Blaenau Gwent)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the Government plans to review the system of standing charges for (a) electricity and (b) gas customers.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The standing charge includes the costs energy suppliers incur to provide a live supply of gas and electricity to individual properties, regardless of how much energy their customers use. If it was removed, these costs would be added to the unit price of energy. Otherwise, suppliers would not be able to recover the legitimate costs of serving customers.
Asked by: Nick Smith (Labour - Blaenau Gwent)
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 a further assessment of the potential merits of the recommendations of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Select Committee's report on the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme, published on 27 April 2021.
Answered by Paul Scully
In the Government response to the Select Committee inquiry into the Scheme we highlighted we continue to believe the arrangements agreed in 1994 with the Scheme Trustees still work well and are fair and beneficial to both Scheme members and taxpayers.
Asked by: Nick Smith (Labour - Blaenau Gwent)
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 oral contribution by the Minister of State, the right hon. Member for Chelsea and Fulham, on 19 October 2021, Official Report, Column 611, whether he will be taking additional steps to support the steel sector’s transition to net zero given the £350 million Industrial Energy Transformation Fund is intended for multiple energy-intensive sectors including the steel sector.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
The Government recognises the vital role that the steel sector plays in our economy and across all areas of the UK. We have taken specific steps to support the steel industry and we will continue to work with the sector regarding its decarbonisation.
In October 2021 we published the Net Zero Strategy, which committed to provide further support for research and innovation through the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio and initiatives led by the Industrial Decarbonisation Research and Innovation Centre to support the fuel switch to low carbon hydrogen on industrial sites.
Asked by: Nick Smith (Labour - Blaenau Gwent)
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 22 February 2021 to Question 152466 on OneWeb, how much the Government has allocated for future funding to OneWeb in the next (a) 12 and (b) 36 months; and which additional shareholders are being considered.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Government do not propose to invest further in OneWeb. The Government, together with other OneWeb shareholders, is engaged in discussions with a range of potential partners about future funding and bringing in additional shareholders. For reasons of commercial sensitivity, the Government cannot provide details of potential investors before they are formally announced.
Asked by: Nick Smith (Labour - Blaenau Gwent)
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 ensure that wedding (a) venues and (b) suppliers are supported during the third covid-19 lockdown.
Answered by Paul Scully
We have provided an unprecedented package of financial support since March 2020 to businesses, including those in the weddings sector. We keep this regularly under review, through discussions with HM Treasury.
Asked by: Nick Smith (Labour - Blaenau Gwent)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much his Department spend on (a) external advisers and (b) consultant fees related to the Government's investment in OneWeb.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Details of the Department’s expenditure related to Government’s investment in OneWeb are commercially sensitive. The Government is obliged to treat this information with appropriate care to avoid damaging wider commercial interests and maintaining the trust of OneWeb’s shareholders.
Asked by: Nick Smith (Labour - Blaenau Gwent)
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 plans to encourage OneWeb to move the manufacturing of its satellites from the US to the UK.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Details of satellite production and manufacturing are a commercial matter for the company.
OneWeb is fully aware of the UK Government’s ambition to boost domestic capabilities in research and development and bring high-value manufacturing jobs to the UK.
Asked by: Nick Smith (Labour - Blaenau Gwent)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much his Department has allocated for (a) further investment in OneWeb and (b) any other activity relating to OneWeb in the next (i) 12 months and (ii) three years.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The UK Government is working closely with the company and partners to maximise the value of our investment, including discussing with a range of potential partners about future funding and bringing in additional shareholders.
OneWeb plans to complete UK coverage and commence commercial services by the end of 2021, with global coverage planned for 2022.
It remains the Government’s ambition to supporting OneWeb in providing competitive global broadband and identifying opportunities to protect and promote UK jobs and supply chains.
Asked by: Nick Smith (Labour - Blaenau Gwent)
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 his Department’s press release of 3 July 2020 announcing its investment in OneWeb, what estimate he has made of the number of households in the UK that will benefit from enhanced broadband through OneWeb in the next 12 months.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
OneWeb plans to have UK coverage of satellite broadband by the end of 2021, with global coverage planned by the end of 2022.
The UK Government is supporting OneWeb in providing competitive global broadband whilst being mindful of its responsibility to the UK Space Sector.
The commercial operation of OneWeb will be separate from Government’s duties to ensure the transparent and effective operation of markets.
Asked by: Nick Smith (Labour - Blaenau Gwent)
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 his Department’s press release of 3 July 2020 announcing its investment in OneWeb, how many people were employed at OneWeb’s UK base as of 10 February 2021.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Employee and workforce details are a business matter for the company. OneWeb is fully aware of the UK Government’s ambition to boost domestic capabilities in research and development and bring high-level manufacturing jobs to the UK.