Asked by: Stephen Flynn (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions officials in his Department (a) have had and (b) plan to hold with relevant stakeholders on increasing the number of trading standards officers to meet potential increase in demand arising from the (a) UK's departure from the EU, (b) recovery from the covid-19 outbreak and (c) changes in the environmental standards for goods and services.
Answered by Paul Scully
The role and number of trading standards officers is a matter for local authorities who fund and appoint them to consider.
BEIS officials regularly meet with stakeholders such as Chartered Trading Standards Institute, National Trading Standards Board and Trading Standards Scotland, as well as others, in relation to consumer policy enforcement. However, staffing levels are a matter for local authorities to decide.
Asked by: Stephen Flynn (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions officials in his Department (a) have had and (b) plan to hold with relevant stakeholders on potential increased demand on Trading Standards Scotland arising from the (a) UK's departure from the EU, (b) recovery from the covid-19 outbreak and (c) changes in the environmental standards for goods and services.
Answered by Paul Scully
The role and number of trading standards officers is a matter for local authorities who fund and appoint them to consider.
BEIS officials regularly meet with stakeholders such as Chartered Trading Standards Institute, National Trading Standards Board and Trading Standards Scotland, as well as others, in relation to consumer policy enforcement. However, staffing levels are a matter for local authorities to decide.
Asked by: Stephen Flynn (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether dedicated (a) capacity and (b) strike price arrangements, to support tidal stream and wave technology, will be included in Contracts for Difference Auction Round 4 in 2021.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The draft auction parameters for the fourth Contracts for Difference allocation round, including the administrative strike prices for wave and tidal stream, and any minima for particular technologies, will be published shortly.
Asked by: Stephen Flynn (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he last met with representatives of OFGEM to discuss transmission charging costs for renewables projects in Scotland.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
BEIS Ministers and officials meet regularly with representatives of Ofgem to discuss a range of energy related matters, including transmission charging arrangements for renewable generation projects in Scotland and across GB.
Asked by: Stephen Flynn (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen South)
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 the report published in May 2021 by the Renewables Infrastructure Development Group entitled Charging The Wrong Way, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the finding in that report that EU electricity generators pay £0.46 per megawatt hour (MWh) in transmission system charges while the average payment in Scotland is £6.42 per MWh.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Transmission charging is a matter for Ofgem as the independent regulator, and it is currently reviewing some aspects of these charging arrangements, with plans to consult on proposals this year. The Department is in close touch with Ofgem to understand how its proposals can help support delivery of a secure, net zero energy system at lowest cost for consumers. Most major investment in new renewable generation projects continues to be underpinned by Contracts for Difference arrangements introduced by the UK Government, and for which overseas generators are not eligible to bid.
Asked by: Stephen Flynn (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when discussions first took place on an oil and gas sector deal.
Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng
In 2018, the upstream oil and gas industry sent BEIS its first proposal for a Sector Deal. This proposal was not formally pursued as a complete package but certain aspects were taken forward, such as establishment of the National Decommissioning Centre which opened in January 2019. Following our manifesto commitment to a transformational oil and gas Sector Deal aligned to the energy transition, we have re-commenced discussions with the industry, which we are committed to delivering this Parliament.
Discussions have been held at both official and Ministerial levels and have also involved the Oil and Gas Authority. This conversation will develop further over the next few months as the sector seeks to develop its proposals and consults with a wide range of stakeholders.
Whilst there is no formal timescale for concluding a Sector Deal we recognise that the challenges facing the sector from the collapse of the oil price and the operational challenges of Covid-19 provide an opportunity to channel the Sector Deal as part of the recovery for the sector.
The meeting of the MER UK Forum on 11 June will provide an opportunity for the sector to bring forward its ideas for a Sector Deal proposal and to discuss these with industry leaders and Ministers.
Asked by: Stephen Flynn (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the timescale is for the conclusion of discussions on an oil and gas sector deal.
Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng
In 2018, the upstream oil and gas industry sent BEIS its first proposal for a Sector Deal. This proposal was not formally pursued as a complete package but certain aspects were taken forward, such as establishment of the National Decommissioning Centre which opened in January 2019. Following our manifesto commitment to a transformational oil and gas Sector Deal aligned to the energy transition, we have re-commenced discussions with the industry, which we are committed to delivering this Parliament.
Discussions have been held at both official and Ministerial levels and have also involved the Oil and Gas Authority. This conversation will develop further over the next few months as the sector seeks to develop its proposals and consults with a wide range of stakeholders.
Whilst there is no formal timescale for concluding a Sector Deal we recognise that the challenges facing the sector from the collapse of the oil price and the operational challenges of Covid-19 provide an opportunity to channel the Sector Deal as part of the recovery for the sector.
The meeting of the MER UK Forum on 11 June will provide an opportunity for the sector to bring forward its ideas for a Sector Deal proposal and to discuss these with industry leaders and Ministers.
Asked by: Stephen Flynn (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he plans to announce the details of an oil and gas sector deal.
Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng
In 2018, the upstream oil and gas industry sent BEIS its first proposal for a Sector Deal. This proposal was not formally pursued as a complete package but certain aspects were taken forward, such as establishment of the National Decommissioning Centre which opened in January 2019. Following our manifesto commitment to a transformational oil and gas Sector Deal aligned to the energy transition, we have re-commenced discussions with the industry, which we are committed to delivering this Parliament.
Discussions have been held at both official and Ministerial levels and have also involved the Oil and Gas Authority. This conversation will develop further over the next few months as the sector seeks to develop its proposals and consults with a wide range of stakeholders.
Whilst there is no formal timescale for concluding a Sector Deal we recognise that the challenges facing the sector from the collapse of the oil price and the operational challenges of Covid-19 provide an opportunity to channel the Sector Deal as part of the recovery for the sector.
The meeting of the MER UK Forum on 11 June will provide an opportunity for the sector to bring forward its ideas for a Sector Deal proposal and to discuss these with industry leaders and Ministers.
Asked by: Stephen Flynn (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what sector-specific support has been put in place to support the oil and gas industry during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng
The Government has put together a far-reaching package of support to help businesses through the COVID-19 outbreak. We continue to engage extensively with businesses across all sectors, including with the oil and gas industry, to understand current challenges and consider what more we can do in support. Oil and gas staff were amongst those deemed essential workers and have therefore been supported in continuing to work safely, including having access to priority testing for COVID-19.
The Department has rapidly stood up resources to address the twin challenges of COVID-19 and the low oil price following the collapse in global demand, working closely with the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) and the sector to monitor impacts and track and mitigate any risks to critical infrastructure.
Our Manifesto included a commitment to deliver a transformational Sector Deal for the UK’s oil and gas industry. This is likely to focus on the energy transition and will be critically important for the sector as it seeks to recover from the current crisis.
Asked by: Stephen Flynn (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what financial support his Department is planning to ensure a sustainable energy transition for (a) Aberdeen and (b) the north east of Scotland.
Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng
The oil and gas industry supports c.270,000 jobs in the UK, around 40% of which are in Scotland, with Aberdeen and the north east of Scotland being a major hub. This sector has a key role to play as we move to a net zero economy. The Department is in early stage discussions with the oil and gas industry over plans for a transformational upstream oil and gas Sector Deal as set out in the Conservative Party Manifesto 2019. There is no formal proposal at this early stage of the process.