Asked by: Royston Smith (Conservative - Southampton, Itchen)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the average annual pay rise for the lowest earners has been since the national living wage was introduced.
Answered by Margot James
In April 2016 the Government introduced a new National Living Wage which applies to all workers aged 25 and over. This brought about the largest ever annual increase of 10.8% in the main rate of the minimum wage.
On 1 April 2017 the Government further increased the National Living Wage by more than the rate of inflation; supporting real pay rises for 1.7 million of the lowest paid workers. The National Living Wage was increased in annual terms by 4.2% from £7.20 to £7.50.
In April 2017, the Government also implemented real terms increases in the National Minimum Wage rates applicable to those aged below 25. The pay rates of an estimated 405,000 workers were increased as follows in annual terms;
- Adult rate for 21 to 24 year olds by 3.2% from £6.95 to £7.05;
- Development rate for 18 to 20 year olds by 3.1% from £5.55 to £5.60;
- Youth rate for 16 to 17 year olds by 2.8% from £4.00 to £4.05; and
- Apprentice rate by 4.5% from £3.40 to £3.50.
Asked by: Royston Smith (Conservative - Southampton, Itchen)
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 takes to ensure that government funding to cavity wall insulation providers is spent as intended.
Answered by Jesse Norman
There are no current government grant schemes for cavity wall insulation. However cavity wall insulation can be installed under the Energy Company Obligation (ECO). ECO requires large energy suppliers to deliver a range of energy efficiency measures, including cavity wall insulation, to eligible households. Ofgem E-Serve administers ECO. They are responsible for allocating proportionate carbon and bill saving targets to the obligated suppliers. They also carry out audits and ensure measures reported are compliant with the ECO rules.
Cavity wall insulation providers may receive funding from ECO-covered energy suppliers, where they have a commercial contract with them to install insulation. BEIS does not collect information on the companies with whom energy suppliers contract, but the work done must adhere to agreed industry standards as set out in the Publically Available Specification (PAS2030). The installation of cavity wall insulation is within the scope of the Each Home Counts Review, an independent review being carried out by Dr Peter Bonfield on consumer advice, protection, standards and enforcement for home energy efficiency and renewable energy measures in the UK. The Review is expected to be published soon.
ECO-covered suppliers determine what is cost-effective to deliver, balancing upfront costs compared to lifetime carbon or fuel cost savings achieved. The measures delivered, suppliers’ progress towards their ECO targets and the costs they incur under ECO are collected by BEIS (and published in the department’s Household Energy Efficiency National Statistics https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/household-energy-efficiency-national-statistics-headline-release-november-2016 (Table 2.8)), allowing the department to measure the cost effectiveness of the scheme over time.
Asked by: Royston Smith (Conservative - Southampton, Itchen)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what information his Department has published on the (a) number and (b) names of cavity wall insulation providers who have received government funding.
Answered by Jesse Norman
There are no current government grant schemes for cavity wall insulation. However cavity wall insulation can be installed under the Energy Company Obligation (ECO). ECO requires large energy suppliers to deliver a range of energy efficiency measures, including cavity wall insulation, to eligible households. Ofgem E-Serve administers ECO. They are responsible for allocating proportionate carbon and bill saving targets to the obligated suppliers. They also carry out audits and ensure measures reported are compliant with the ECO rules.
Cavity wall insulation providers may receive funding from ECO-covered energy suppliers, where they have a commercial contract with them to install insulation. BEIS does not collect information on the companies with whom energy suppliers contract, but the work done must adhere to agreed industry standards as set out in the Publically Available Specification (PAS2030). The installation of cavity wall insulation is within the scope of the Each Home Counts Review, an independent review being carried out by Dr Peter Bonfield on consumer advice, protection, standards and enforcement for home energy efficiency and renewable energy measures in the UK. The Review is expected to be published soon.
ECO-covered suppliers determine what is cost-effective to deliver, balancing upfront costs compared to lifetime carbon or fuel cost savings achieved. The measures delivered, suppliers’ progress towards their ECO targets and the costs they incur under ECO are collected by BEIS (and published in the department’s Household Energy Efficiency National Statistics https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/household-energy-efficiency-national-statistics-headline-release-november-2016 (Table 2.8)), allowing the department to measure the cost effectiveness of the scheme over time.
Asked by: Royston Smith (Conservative - Southampton, Itchen)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how and by what criteria he evaluates the effectiveness of the spending of government grants to cavity wall insulation providers.
Answered by Jesse Norman
There are no current government grant schemes for cavity wall insulation. However cavity wall insulation can be installed under the Energy Company Obligation (ECO). ECO requires large energy suppliers to deliver a range of energy efficiency measures, including cavity wall insulation, to eligible households. Ofgem E-Serve administers ECO. They are responsible for allocating proportionate carbon and bill saving targets to the obligated suppliers. They also carry out audits and ensure measures reported are compliant with the ECO rules.
Cavity wall insulation providers may receive funding from ECO-covered energy suppliers, where they have a commercial contract with them to install insulation. BEIS does not collect information on the companies with whom energy suppliers contract, but the work done must adhere to agreed industry standards as set out in the Publically Available Specification (PAS2030). The installation of cavity wall insulation is within the scope of the Each Home Counts Review, an independent review being carried out by Dr Peter Bonfield on consumer advice, protection, standards and enforcement for home energy efficiency and renewable energy measures in the UK. The Review is expected to be published soon.
ECO-covered suppliers determine what is cost-effective to deliver, balancing upfront costs compared to lifetime carbon or fuel cost savings achieved. The measures delivered, suppliers’ progress towards their ECO targets and the costs they incur under ECO are collected by BEIS (and published in the department’s Household Energy Efficiency National Statistics https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/household-energy-efficiency-national-statistics-headline-release-november-2016 (Table 2.8)), allowing the department to measure the cost effectiveness of the scheme over time.
Asked by: Royston Smith (Conservative - Southampton, Itchen)
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 potential merits of introducing (a) guidance on and (b) legislative proposals for making mandatory noiseless fireworks at major public events in the interests of the safety of (i) live stock animals and (ii) people with post-traumatic stress syndrome.
Answered by Margot James
The Government recognises concerns about the use of noisy fireworks, particularly the potential distress caused to pets, livestock and the public, especially those with PTSD. That is why there is significant regulation in place covering their supply, storage, possession and use.
For example, retailers are restricted to selling fireworks for limited periods around the four traditional occasions of November 5th, Diwali, New Year’s Eve and Chinese New Year, unless they have a valid licence specifically allowing all year round sales. There are curfews in place which limit the hours fireworks can be used. Furthermore, there is maximum noise level of 120 decibels on fireworks sold to the public, and local authorities have powers to deal with excessive firework noise.
The Government continues to focus on the safe use of fireworks and reducing nuisance by encouraging industry, retailers and others to promote responsible use through guidance and public education. For example, the Health and Safety Executive publishes specific guidance on organising fireworks displays safely and responsibly.
We urge those using fireworks to be considerate to their neighbours and give sufficient notice of firework use, particularly where they are proposing to let off fireworks in the vicinity of animals, especially livestock, where they should notify owners of livestock nearby of their plans.
The Government has no plans to extend legislation in this area at present.
Asked by: Royston Smith (Conservative - Southampton, Itchen)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent progress has been made on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership negotiations; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Anna Soubry
The thirteenth round of negotiations for the EU-US Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) took place between 20 and 24 April in New York. The next negotiating round is due to take place in July. We are making progress and our ambition remains to reach a political agreement during the Obama presidency.
The UK is working for an ambitious agreement that removes remaining tariffs between the EU and US, cuts the regulatory and bureaucratic barriers faced by our exporters without lowering our standards, and opens up opportunities for our businesses to compete for public procurement. We want a deal that is good for businesses of all sizes and for consumers.
In addition to the potential £10 billion annual benefit to the UK, TTIP provides an opportunity for the EU and US to shape the rules and standards for the global business environment.
Asked by: Royston Smith (Conservative - Southampton, Itchen)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what proportion of students from low-income households attended Russell Group universities in the last three years.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) collects and publishes information on students at UK Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Provider-level measures on the share of their students who have come from disadvantaged backgrounds are available as part of the UK Performance Indicators; these include the proportion of young full-time first degree entrants who are from low participation neighbourhoods, otherwise known as POLAR3 quintile 1 wards. POLAR3 is an indicator of disadvantage in the absence of income information. The data is provided in the table:
Percentage of UK-domiciled young (1) full-time first degree entrants from POLAR3 quintile 1 wards | |||
English Higher Education Institutions | |||
Academic Years 2012/13 to 2014/15 | |||
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Academic Year | All Russell Group HEIs in England (2) |
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2012/13 | 6.0% |
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2013/14 | 6.0% |
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2014/15 | 6.4% |
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Source: HESA Performance Indicators https://www.hesa.ac.uk/pis/ |
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Notes: |
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My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced in January 2016 that the Government intends to legislate to require individual universities to publish statistical information on admissions by gender, ethnicity and social background of students in order to make each institution’s record on admissions more transparent.
Asked by: Royston Smith (Conservative - Southampton, Itchen)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what proportion of the workforce in Southampton is in receipt of the national living wage.
Answered by Nick Boles
The Government published its Impact Assessment of the National Living Wage on 7 December 2015.
2.9 million workers are expected to directly benefit from the National Living Wage by 2020, 8% of which are located in the South East of England. The Department has made no detailed assessment of the benefits of the National Living Wage at local authority level.
Asked by: Royston Smith (Conservative - Southampton, Itchen)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if her Department will take steps to ensure that (a) the UK is energy secure and independent and (b) reliance on foreign gas supplies and cross border electrical connections coupled with decommissioning of UK energy resources does not result in an energy shortage in the UK in the next 10 years.
Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Energy security is my top priority. The Department will take the steps needed to ensure hard working families and business have the energy they need, including from overseas where this adds to the diversity and cost effectiveness of our energy supplies.
Interconnection provides greater security of supply as we import from a diverse generation mix, allowing us to access, for example, Norway’s large amounts of hydropower.
The UK has an open and competitive gas market in which gas is traded freely. Gas enters the UK system from a range of sources including the UK Continental Shelf, Norway, the Netherlands and Belgium, as well as the LNG imports. This diverse and flexible range of domestic and foreign supplies ensures security of supply, encourages competition and helps to lower energy costs for British consumers and industry.
Asked by: Royston Smith (Conservative - Southampton, Itchen)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate he has made of how many people in Southampton will benefit from the introduction of the national living wage.
Answered by Nick Boles
The Government published its Impact Assessment with a full assessment of the National Living Wage policy on 7 December 2015.
300,000 workers in the South East will directly benefit from the National Living Wage by 2020. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has made no detailed assessment of the benefits of the National Living Wage at local authority level.