Asked by: Paul Maynard (Conservative - Blackpool North and Cleveleys)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he plans to respond to correspondence of 11 August from the hon. member for Blackpool North and Cleveleys relating to natural gas trade between Britain and Norway.
Answered by Graham Stuart
This correspondence was responded to on 6 December, with the reference MCSL2022/18816.
Asked by: Paul Maynard (Conservative - Blackpool North and Cleveleys)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the improvements required in the capacity of the National Grid to accommodate increased use of renewable energy.
Answered by Graham Stuart
In August 2022, the Government and Ofgem jointly published the Electricity Networks Strategic Framework, setting out a vision for the transformation of the electricity network to ensure it enables a clean, secure and low-cost energy system. The Framework included analysis suggesting that the network could require an additional £100-£240bn of investment to meet net zero and could support 50,000-130,000 jobs and contribute £4-11bn to the economy by 2050.
The Government is working closely with Ofgem, as the body responsible for network regulation, to deliver the capacity needed to accommodate additional generation.
Asked by: Paul Maynard (Conservative - Blackpool North and Cleveleys)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many applications the Park Homes Warm Home Discount scheme has had in each of the last five years; and if he will increase capacity of that scheme in 2022-23.
Answered by Greg Hands
The Park Homes Warm Home Discount scheme was set up by the Government and Charis Grants. The number of applicants for the scheme over the past five scheme years is as follows:
Scheme Year | Total Number of Applications |
2017/18 | 7,017 |
2018/19 | 7,892 |
2019/20 | 6,543 |
2020/21 | 4,048 |
2021/22 | 3,813 |
As the Park Homes Warm Home Discount scheme is funded voluntarily by energy suppliers through Warm Home Discount Industry Initiatives, the funding and therefore the application window can vary year on year.
Asked by: Paul Maynard (Conservative - Blackpool North and Cleveleys)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he intends to announce details of extended eligibility for the Warm Homes Discount.
Answered by Greg Hands
The Government intends to lay the Regulations in Parliament in the coming months, with the reforms coming into force from the 2022/23 scheme year.
Asked by: Paul Maynard (Conservative - Blackpool North and Cleveleys)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he plans to make payment of the Warm Homes Discount automatic.
Answered by Greg Hands
As confirmed in the recently published Government Response on the future of the Warm Homes Discount scheme, from 2022/23 onwards most eligible households will receive their rebates automatically. Each year the Government will identify around 1.9 million households on low incomes with the highest energy costs through data matching. This will enable the vast majority of households to receive their rebates automatically without having to apply, including working-age households for the first time. Eligibility would also be the same across all participating energy suppliers.
Asked by: Paul Maynard (Conservative - Blackpool North and Cleveleys)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he plans to respond to the letter of 25 November 2021 from the hon. Member for Blackpool North and Cleveleys on behalf of a constituent regarding solar panels.
Answered by George Freeman
My hon Friend provided a copy of the enquiry to the Department on 1 February. A reply has now been sent to my hon Friend.