Asked by: Shabana Mahmood (Labour - Birmingham, Ladywood)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether domestic customers on private wire electricity networks will be included in the Energy Bill Discount Scheme.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Energy Bill Discount Scheme supports non-domestic consumers with their energy bills, including those supplied via private wire arrangements. Domestic customers on private wire electricity are also eligible to apply for the Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding (EBSS AF) if they meet the full eligibility requirements, which launched on 27 February and will close on 31 May 2023. Further information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/non-domestic-alternative-fuel-payment-scheme-great-britain-guidance-for-electricity-suppliers.
Asked by: Shabana Mahmood (Labour - Birmingham, Ladywood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, who his Department consulted when selecting the areas to be used for the new noise camera trials announced on 30 April 2022.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
The shortlisted sites in Bristol, Great Yarmouth, Keighley and Rubery were chosen based on a number of factors, including the ability to use existing infrastructure and street furniture, and the type of vehicle noise problem at each site in order to achieve a sufficiently wide range of road types to test the noise camera technology. The current trials completed on 1 February, with data from the trials being evaluated later this year. If the trials prove to be successful, noise cameras may be considered for wider rollout.
Asked by: Shabana Mahmood (Labour - Birmingham, Ladywood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, by what process his Department selected the areas to be used for the new noise camera trials announced on 30 April 2022.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
The shortlisted sites in Bristol, Great Yarmouth, Keighley and Rubery were chosen based on a number of factors, including the ability to use existing infrastructure and street furniture, and the type of vehicle noise problem at each site in order to achieve a sufficiently wide range of road types to test the noise camera technology. The current trials completed on 1 February, with data from the trials being evaluated later this year. If the trials prove to be successful, noise cameras may be considered for wider rollout.
Asked by: Shabana Mahmood (Labour - Birmingham, Ladywood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what criteria his Department used to select the sites to be used for the new noise camera trials announced on 30 April 2022.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
The shortlisted sites in Bristol, Great Yarmouth, Keighley and Rubery were chosen based on a number of factors, including the ability to use existing infrastructure and street furniture, and the type of vehicle noise problem at each site in order to achieve a sufficiently wide range of road types to test the noise camera technology. The current trials completed on 1 February, with data from the trials being evaluated later this year. If the trials prove to be successful, noise cameras may be considered for wider rollout.
Asked by: Shabana Mahmood (Labour - Birmingham, Ladywood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has made an assessment of the quality of the facilities and infrastructure at Aston railway station.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
As with all stations on the West Midlands Trains network, Aston station is subject to regular audits and inspections as part of a Service Quality regime under the National Rail Contract. Along with nearby Witton, Aston station serves the local football stadium at Villa Park and I know their CEO has recently written to my Rt Hon Friend the Transport Secretary to discuss increasing capacity at the station on matchdays. It is fully accessible, with lift access from the platforms to street level and, as well as having CCTV and ticket purchasing facilities, has recently been fitted with new digital customer information screens.
Asked by: Shabana Mahmood (Labour - Birmingham, Ladywood)
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 an estimate of the number of people on Universal Credit who are no longer eligible for the Warm Homes Discount following the changes to eligibility in 2022.
Answered by Graham Stuart
As households on Universal Credit previously applied through their suppliers, who set their own application processes and eligibility criteria and selected successful applicants each year, the Government has not been able to assess how many households are no longer eligible.
In England and Wales, over 770,000 households in receipt of Universal Credit were identified as eligible to receive a rebate automatically. Additionally, the Government has contacted potentially eligible households that could not be provided with the rebate automatically. They may become eligible if they contact the Warm Home Discount helpline.
Asked by: Shabana Mahmood (Labour - Birmingham, Ladywood)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate he has made of the number of people living in houses with an Energy Performance Certificate score of D or below who are no longer eligible for the warm homes discount following changes to eligibility in 2022.
Answered by Graham Stuart
As households previously applied through their suppliers, who set their own application processes and eligibility criteria and selected successful applicants each year, the Government has not been able to assess how many households are no longer eligible.
The Government does not have data available on eligibility by Energy Performance Certificate energy rating.
Asked by: Shabana Mahmood (Labour - Birmingham, Ladywood)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate he has been made of the number of people living in terraced houses who are no longer eligible for the warm homes discount following the changes to eligibility in 2022.
Answered by Graham Stuart
As households previously applied through their suppliers, who set their own application processes and eligibility criteria and selected successful applicants each year, the Government has not been able to assess how many households are no longer eligible.
3.9 million terraced properties in England and Wales were calculated as having a low energy cost score using property characteristic data from the Valuation Office Agency. Although 3.0 million had a high energy cost score, not all of the households living in these properties will be eligible, for instance if they do not meet the low-income criteria or were not named on the participating energy supplier’s electricity bill or account.
Asked by: Shabana Mahmood (Labour - Birmingham, Ladywood)
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 13 December 2022 to Question 104179 on Energy Bills Rebate, what steps he will take against businesses that are not passing on the discount from the Energy Bills Support Scheme to non-domestic customers with private wire electricity networks.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding will provide support of £400 for energy bills for around 900,000 households without a direct relationship with a domestic electricity supplier. This is expected to include households on private wire networks. On 19th December 2022, the Government announced that the application portal for the Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding is due to open later in January, with a dedicated customer helpline available to assist customers without online access.
Asked by: Shabana Mahmood (Labour - Birmingham, Ladywood)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate he has made of total spending on the Energy Bill Support Scheme in (a) England, (b) the West Midlands, (c) Birmingham.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Energy Bills Support Scheme is an £11.7bn scheme which forms part of the £37bn cost-of-living assistance package announced in May 2022. The Department will publish location data shortly.