Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
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 potential impact of the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill on the free flow of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
We have published an impact assessment for the Bill which is available on GOV.UK. Departments will assess, where required, the impacts of any changes to REUL they make using the powers in the Bill in due course.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
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 HC debate on 9 November 2022 col 241, relating to Benefits of the Union, what the timetable for delivery in Northern Ireland of (a) the £400 energy support scheme and (b) £100 alternative fuels payment; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Households in Northern Ireland will receive a £400 discount on their energy bills through the Northern Ireland Energy Bills Support Scheme (NI EBSS) this winter. The Government is working intensively with electricity suppliers to deliver a solution and to provide the support as soon as possible.
The Government has doubled to £200 the level of support for households that use alternative fuels to heat their home, which will be delivered as soon as possible this winter. The Government will provide this payment to all Northern Ireland households in recognition of the prevalence of alternative fuel usage.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
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 27 October 2022 to Question 67265 on Housing: Fuel Oil, what were the values used in the calculation of (a) heating oil demand for a typical Northern Ireland home, (b) the Northern Ireland heating oil price and (c) a typical Northern Ireland heating oil bill.
Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
As set out in the Impact assessment published on GOV.UK:
It is on the basis of these figures that we have calculated that the cost of an average heating oil bill in Northern Ireland over the past year, based on typical demand, was £820 at September 2021 prices, and £1900 at September 2022 prices.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many meetings the joint taskforce for the £400 energy support scheme in Northern Ireland has had since 15 August 2022.
Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Two taskforce meetings have been held to support the UK Government delivering £400 off energy bills in Northern Ireland this winter.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
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 14 July 22 to Question 36829 on energy bills rebate, what progress the Government has made in identifying a route for the delivery of the Northern Ireland energy bills support scheme; and what the timeframe is for that support being delivered.
Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Households in Northern Ireland will receive a £400 discount on their energy bills through the Northern Ireland Energy Bills Support Scheme (NI EBSS) this winter.
This will offer the same level of support as households in Great Britain are receiving under the Energy Bill Support Scheme (EBSS). The Government is working at pace to deliver a solution which accounts for the Northern Ireland market and to provide the support as soon as possible.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant of the Answer on 13 October 2022 to Question 53449 on Fuel Oil, what was the rate of growth in heating costs for off grid households since last autumn in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) the United Kingdom.
Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The annual cost of heating a typical household with heating oil rose by £903 in Great Britain (from £615 to £1,518) and £1,080 in Northern Ireland (from £820 to £1,900) from September 2021 to September 2022. This was an increase of 147% in Great Britain and 132% in Northern Ireland.
A payment of £100 will effectively limit the increase in heating costs to 130% for a typical household, in line with the benefit offered by the Energy Price Guarantee. A typical household is based on Government analysis of demand which takes into account the characteristics of the UK housing stock.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant of the Answer on 31 March 2022 to Question 14830 on Fuel Oil, if he will publish the methodology for calculating the £100 targeted support payment the Government is providing to heating oil users in Northern Ireland as part of the energy support package announced on 21 September 2022.
Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The support provided to off-grid households is intended to ensure that they do not face a higher rate of growth in their heating costs since last autumn, compared to those on gas supported by the Energy Price Guarantee.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to ensure that residents who (a) live in buildings with communal heating systems and (b) are not subject to the energy price cap receive financial support with their energy bills.
Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
In respect of their heating costs, those on communal heating networks will primarily benefit through the Energy Bill Relief Scheme, details of which were announced on 21 September. They will also receive support in respect of their electricity costs through the Energy Price Guarantee and the Energy Bills Support Scheme.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to ensure that private renters whose energy bills are included in their rent benefit from the £400 energy rebate payment paid directly to their landlords.
Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Where there is a domestic electricity connection and an inclusive charge is made for accommodation with no specified charge for gas or electricity and no separate agreement for the resale of energy, parties are encouraged to come to an agreement on the EBSS discount, in line with the arrangements in their respective contracts or tenancy agreements.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
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 support consumers with the rising price of heating oil in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
This matter is devolved to the Northern Ireland Administration.