Asked by: Robin Millar (Conservative - Aberconwy)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what information his Department holds on the number and proportion of (a) headteachers and (b) deputy headteachers at UNWRA schools in Gaza that are members of terror organisations; and whether he has had recent discussions with international counterparts on the adequacy of the governance of UNRWA in Gaza.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The UK is not aware of any headteachers or deputy headteachers currently working at UNRWA schools that are members of terror organisations. The UK takes allegations of neutrality violations extremely seriously, including any allegations related to terror organisations' involvement in UNWRA's education provision. This is something we monitor carefully in our annual assessment of UNRWA. The UK is following closely the independent review led by Catherine Colonna which is assessing the mechanisms and procedures that the Agency currently has in place to ensure neutrality.
Asked by: Robin Millar (Conservative - Aberconwy)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to reply to the correspondence from Doctors’ Association UK on the Climate and Ecology Bill.
Answered by Will Quince
My Rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, replied to Doctors’ Association UK on 21 September 2023.
Asked by: Robin Millar (Conservative - Aberconwy)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of increases in electricity standing charges on (a) charities and (b) businesses in Aberconwy constituency; and whether he has made a recent assessment of the adequacy of the level of Government support for energy costs in the the context of recent changes in market pricing.
Answered by Graham Stuart
Ofgem has launched a wider review into the non-domestic market and has recently issued a Request-for-Information (RFI) to gather evidence on suppliers' deemed rates charges and EBRS scheme application.
The Government has been clear that current levels of support were time-limited and intended as a bridge to allow non-domestic customers to adapt. The new Energy Bills Discount Scheme has a cap set at £5.5 billion based on estimated volumes.
Asked by: Robin Millar (Conservative - Aberconwy)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of increases in electricity standing charges on (a) charities and (b) businesses in Aberconwy constituency; and whether he is taking steps to help reduce electricity standing charges.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The setting of the standing charge is a commercial matter for individual suppliers.
However, Ofgem has launched a wider review into the non-domestic market. Ofgem has recently issued a Request-for-Information (RFI) to gather evidence on suppliers' deemed rates charges, ensuring they follow rules so as not to charge unduly onerous rates.
A new Energy Bill Discount Scheme will run from April 2023 until March 2024, and will provide a discount to eligible non-domestic customers. This scheme will support non-domestic customers while also limiting taxpayer’s exposure to volatile energy markets.
Asked by: Robin Millar (Conservative - Aberconwy)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of freeports on the economy.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
By encouraging investment in specific sites through a package of benefits and offering a business-friendly environment, Freeports will create high-skilled jobs and drive productivity. In turn, this will ensure sustainable economic growth and regeneration for communities that need it most. The economic impact of individual bids was an important factor in deciding successful freeport locations, and is further assessed through the business case process.
Asked by: Robin Millar (Conservative - Aberconwy)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, for what reason the support provided under the Energy Price Guarantee scheme for households that are off-grid will be limited to £100.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Alternative Fuel Payment (AFP) will ensure that all households who do not benefit through the Energy Price Guarantee (EPG) receive support for the cost of the fuel they do use.
The payment has been calculated by reference to past increases in the cost of heating oil between September 2021 and September 2022. It aims to ensure that a typical customer using heating oil will not face a higher rate of growth from October 2022 than those supported by the EPG.
The AFP will limit the increase in heating costs to 130% for a typical household, in line with the benefit offered by the EPG: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/58-03/0159/AnnexB.pdf.
Asked by: Robin Millar (Conservative - Aberconwy)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to increase tree planting.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We have committed to bring tree planting rates across the UK up to 30,000 hectares per year by the end of this parliament. Through the England Trees Action Plan, we have launched our flagship England Woodland Creation Offer; our Woodland Officer Apprenticeship Scheme; and three new community forests to boost tree planting across the country. This is backed by the £760 million Nature for Climate Fund.
Asked by: Robin Millar (Conservative - Aberconwy)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress his Department has made in levelling up all regions of the UK.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Levelling up is our defining mission. It was the golden thread running through the Autumn Budget and Spending Review.
We are supporting businesses to thrive through expanded British Business Bank programmes, including a £130 million new investment fund in Wales.
We are supporting local infrastructure with £121 million for 10 projects in Wales through the first round of the Levelling Up Fund. And we are launching the over £2.6 billion UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Asked by: Robin Millar (Conservative - Aberconwy)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of ensuring ships (a) registered in UK and (b) mainly operating in the UK are staffed by UK nationals or permanent residents of the UK to assist the UK seafaring industry.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
The Government acknowledges the international nature of the shipping industry and that it is customary for shipping companies to have the freedom to flag and crew vessels in a manner that suits their individual operating models. There are currently no proposals to restrict vessel access to the UK domestic market.
Asked by: Robin Millar (Conservative - Aberconwy)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Health and Social Care, what plans he has to secure quarantine hotels in the north of England for passengers returning home to North Wales via Manchester during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
There are no current plans to secure quarantine hotels in the north of England.