Asked by: Steve Barclay (Conservative - North East Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential economic impact of extending the grandfathered pre-1997 3.5 to 7.5 tonne C1 entitlement to all driving licence holders.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department has made no specific assessment of the potential impacts of granting C1 to all Category B licence holders, nor any specific assessment on granting D1 to all Category B licence holders on community transport schemes.
The previous Government published a call for evidence in 2022 on opportunities to change the driver licensing regime. While there was support for extending driving licence entitlement, the evidence presented was not sufficient to fully understand the associated road safety risks.
Asked by: Steve Barclay (Conservative - North East Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the cost estimates presented to the public for the Grimsby to Walpole project.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Ofgem assesses electricity transmission investment through its price control framework and decides the efficient costs that can be recovered from consumers. The Government does not assess project costs.
Network companies must manage cost pressures and justify any proposed expenditure or changes to Ofgem, who scrutinises these costs and considers them alongside the benefits of investment, including increased network capacity and lower constraint costs.
The Government and Ofgem are committed to ensuring that the investment needed for a secure, reliable and clean electricity system is delivered at the lowest reasonable cost to consumers. This approach supports timely delivery while maintaining rigorous regulatory oversight.
Asked by: Steve Barclay (Conservative - North East Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what safeguards are in place to protect consumers from substantial cost increases to the Walpole to Grimsby project.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Ofgem assesses electricity transmission investment through its price control framework and decides the efficient costs that can be recovered from consumers. The Government does not assess project costs.
Network companies must manage cost pressures and justify any proposed expenditure or changes to Ofgem, who scrutinises these costs and considers them alongside the benefits of investment, including increased network capacity and lower constraint costs.
The Government and Ofgem are committed to ensuring that the investment needed for a secure, reliable and clean electricity system is delivered at the lowest reasonable cost to consumers. This approach supports timely delivery while maintaining rigorous regulatory oversight.
Asked by: Steve Barclay (Conservative - North East Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether National Grid (a) has sought or (b) plans to seek any increase in funding or budget allowances for the Grimsby to Walpole project.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Ofgem assesses electricity transmission investment through its price control framework and decides the efficient costs that can be recovered from consumers. The Government does not assess project costs.
Network companies must manage cost pressures and justify any proposed expenditure or changes to Ofgem, who scrutinises these costs and considers them alongside the benefits of investment, including increased network capacity and lower constraint costs.
The Government and Ofgem are committed to ensuring that the investment needed for a secure, reliable and clean electricity system is delivered at the lowest reasonable cost to consumers. This approach supports timely delivery while maintaining rigorous regulatory oversight.