Asked by: Simon Fell (Conservative - Barrow and Furness)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he has made an assessment of the effect of increased numbers of electric cars on the grid capacity of the (a) UK and b) North West.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government is working with the energy industry to plan for electric vehicle uptake, and the market is already set up to bring forward investment in new generation capacity; for example, the Contracts for Difference scheme supports investment in new low carbon generation, and additional demand can be managed through adjustments to the amount of capacity secured through the Capacity Market auctions.
Ensuring the adequacy of the electricity network is the responsibility of electricity network companies, and they are incentivised to do so through the regulatory framework set out by Ofgem, the independent regulator. Electricity distribution network operators (DNOs) submitted their draft business plans for the next price control (RIIO ED2), which will run from 2023-28, on 1 July. As part of this, DNOs, including Electricity North West, will include forecasts for electric vehicle uptake and how they plan to ready the network for these technologies.
As well as creating significant new demand, the transition to electric vehicles offers opportunities for flexible management of the electricity system. Smart charging during off-peak periods, when demand is low, can reduce peak demand and avoid triggering unnecessary network reinforcement. It can also maximise use of renewable electricity and can benefit consumers with cheaper electricity.
Asked by: Simon Fell (Conservative - Barrow and Furness)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to work with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to identify opportunities for combined transport and planning policies, including the potential merits of the 20-minute walkable neighbourhood, to encourage walking, cycling and public transport use.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
My Department is working closely with the Ministry for Housing Communities and Local Government on the forthcoming planning reforms to deliver on our commitments in Gear Change and Bus Back Better to ensure that walking, cycling and public transport are the first choice for journeys.
Asked by: Simon Fell (Conservative - Barrow and Furness)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions (a) he and (b) officials in his Department have had with relevant stakeholders on a refresh to the tonnage tax regime.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - President of the Board of Trade
As with all taxes, the Government keeps the tonnage tax regime under review and regularly engages with relevant stakeholders. Any changes to the tax system are considered and announced by the Chancellor.
Asked by: Simon Fell (Conservative - Barrow and Furness)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions (a) he and (b) officials in his Department have had with relevant stakeholders on a refresh to the tonnage tax regime.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
The Government is engaged in regular discussions with stakeholders at both Ministerial and official level. As with all taxes, the Government keeps the tonnage tax regime under review and regularly engages with relevant stakeholders. Any changes to the tax system are considered and announced by the Chancellor.
Asked by: Simon Fell (Conservative - Barrow and Furness)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on social enterprises of the end of Social Investment Tax Relief once the sunset clause is reached in April 2021.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Social Investment Tax Relief (SITR) was introduced in 2014 to encourage risk finance investments in qualifying social enterprises and charities. HMRC statistics show that up to 2018-19, about 110 enterprises have used the scheme to raise £11.2 million.
The Government keeps all taxes and reliefs under review in order to ensure they continue to meet policy objectives in a way that is fair and effective. The Government previously published a Call for Evidence on SITR’s use to date. A response to the consultation will be published in due course and a decision on SITR’s future will be announced at the Budget ahead of its sunset clause in April 2021.
Asked by: Simon Fell (Conservative - Barrow and Furness)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
What steps his Department is taking to support the NHS in tackling future waves of coronavirus.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
We have made over £59 billion available this year to support the response to COVID-19 and are committing a further £20.3 billion in 2021/22, of which £3 billion is to support National Health Service recovery from the impact of the pandemic.
The Government continues to ensure the NHS has the resourcing and support it needs to meet any pressures or costs arising from its continued response to COVID-19.
Asked by: Simon Fell (Conservative - Barrow and Furness)
Question to the Home Office:
What steps her Department is taking to prevent acquisitive crimes.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
This Government recognises the devastating impact acquisitive crime can have on individuals, businesses and the wider community.
This Government is committed to tackling these crimes and preventing them from being committed in the first place and we are working closely with police, industry and other Government Departments to understand what more we can do.
Asked by: Simon Fell (Conservative - Barrow and Furness)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations he is making to his Indian counterpart on the arrest and imprisonment of Fr Stan Swamy.
Answered by Nigel Adams
FCDO officials raised Father Stan Swamy's case with the Indian High Commission on 12 November. On 9 October, British High Commission officials in New Delhi highlighted to the Ministry of Home Affairs the impact of recent amendments to Indian security legislation on activists and human rights campaigners in India.
Where we have concerns, we raise them directly with the Government of India, including at ministerial level.
Asked by: Simon Fell (Conservative - Barrow and Furness)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made for the implications of his policy of the Spending Review on funding school breakfast provision beyond March 2021.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The department is considering how to encourage and support schools to ensure that children continue to benefit from school breakfasts beyond March 2021. We are developing our thinking in this area. The department is engaging with the breakfast food market, following the release of a Public Information Notice in October 2020.
Asked by: Simon Fell (Conservative - Barrow and Furness)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment she has made of the potential merits of allowing women born in the 1950s to be able to access their state pensions early.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Secretary of State has made no such assessment.
Unlike a personal or workplace pension, it has always been the case that nobody can claim their State Pension before they reach their State Pension age.
We have no plans to reverse changes to State Pension age. Changes to State Pension age were made over a series of Acts by successive governments from 1995 onwards, following public consultations and extensive debates in both Houses of Parliament.