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Written Question
Alternative Fuels: Heating
Friday 22nd March 2024

Asked by: Steve Double (Conservative - St Austell and Newquay)

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to section 159 of the Energy Act 2023, whether she plans to consult on regulations for renewable liquid heating fuel.

Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

The Government has begun developing a consultation on the role of renewable liquid fuels in heat and intends to issue the consultation by September this year, in line with commitments made by ministers during Parliamentary debates on the Energy Act.


Written Question
Renewable Fuels
Thursday 21st March 2024

Asked by: Steve Double (Conservative - St Austell and Newquay)

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether she has had discussions with the renewable liquid fuels industry on potential regulations under section 159 of the Energy Act 2023.

Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

The Department has had several discussions with the heating oil industry, including on the powers we have taken in the Energy Act for a Renewable Liquid Heating Fuel Obligation. The Department has begun developing a consultation on the role of renewable liquid fuels in heat and would expect to hold further discussions with the heating oil industry as part of that consultation.


Written Question
Heat Pumps: Housing
Thursday 21st March 2024

Asked by: Steve Double (Conservative - St Austell and Newquay)

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what her planned timetable is to introduce exemptions for homes identified as unsuitable for heat pumps.

Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

The Government has set out that it will exempt from its policy to end the installation of new and replacement fossil fuel heating systems from 2035 those properties that are not suitable for heat pumps, and we will set out further details in due course on how the exemption will operate in practice.


Written Question
Renewable Fuels: Excise Duties
Thursday 21st March 2024

Asked by: Steve Double (Conservative - St Austell and Newquay)

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether her Department has had discussions with (a) HM Treasury and (b) the Department for Transport on equalising fuel duty rates for renewable liquid fuels and kerosene for home heating.

Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

As with all taxes, the Government keeps fuel duty on HVO under review, and any changes are announced by the Chancellor at fiscal events.


Written Question
Total Allowable Catches: Cornwall
Tuesday 30th January 2024

Asked by: Steve Double (Conservative - St Austell and Newquay)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential (a) economic and (b) social impact of the reduction in total allowable catch for pollock to zero on the (i) Cornish under ten-metre fishing fleet and (ii) port of Mevagissey.

Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

On 30 June 2023 the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas issued zero-catch advice for pollack 6 and 7 for the first time. In the annual UK-EU negotiations on fishing opportunities, our approach to negotiating catch limits is based on the best available scientific advice, balanced with commitments to economic sustainability and providing opportunities for the UK fleet, consistent with the objectives of the Fisheries Act and Joint Fisheries Statement.

We are aware of the significant potential implications of a zero-catch fishery for pollack. In line with our approach to other zero-advice stocks, we negotiated with the EU a bycatch-only TAC of 823 tonnes for pollack in area 7 (925 tonnes for 6 and 7). This should cover unavoidable bycatch needs for Celtic Sea netters and trawlers and enable this large part of the UK fleet to continue participating in other fisheries.

We recognise that this bycatch TAC will not address some critical needs for certain industry sectors that target pollack. This is informed by initial economic assessments of the value of the fishery and the importance of this fishery to different groups such as ports in Cornwall and under ten-metre vessels, including those using handlines. Officials have also met with industry representatives and heard directly from those affected about the potential social and economic impacts of a zero-catch fishery.

We are continuing to explore potential actions that could be taken to mitigate the impact to this sector.

With respect to further detail on what support is available to fishers, we will soon be reopening the Fisheries and Seafood Scheme, which is currently closed for applications. The scheme supports a variety of measures, including diversification and new forms of income. We will be providing more information on plans for reopening later this month. We will also continue to work closely with industry on the longer-term management of pollack, to support its recovery.


Written Question
Probation Service
Tuesday 16th January 2024

Asked by: Steve Double (Conservative - St Austell and Newquay)

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of enabling the probation service to share caseloads between regions.

Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The Probation Service supervises both offenders serving community sentences and offenders released from custody who are subject to licence conditions or other types of post-release supervision. The legislation underpinning both types of sentence requires a single officer to own and be responsible for the supervision of that case. The cases are allocated to a practitioner in the Probation Delivery Unit (PDU) in the area in which an offender resides, because of the importance of regular and consistent contact between the offender and their supervisor for managing risk and supporting rehabilitation.

However, other staff can support the supervisor in delivering the sentence. Within PDUs, other practitioners and administrative staff may deliver particular tasks such as referrals to other organisations, report writing or letters to the offender. The Probation Service has experience of such support being delivered beyond PDU boundaries when there are acute pressures. However, the ownership of the case remains with the relevant region.


Written Question
Holiday Accommodation: Licensing
Friday 24th November 2023

Asked by: Steve Double (Conservative - St Austell and Newquay)

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when he plans to publish the Government's response to the consultation entitled Introduction of a use class for short term lets and associated permitted development rights which closed on 7 June 2023.

Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)

We are currently considering the responses received and will make further announcements in due course.


Written Question
NHS: Staff
Tuesday 1st November 2022

Asked by: Steve Double (Conservative - St Austell and Newquay)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether her Department will maintain its commitment to publishing a long-term NHS workforce plan by the end of 2022; and whether that plan will be underpinned by multi-year funding.

Answered by Will Quince

In January 2022, the Department commissioned NHS England to develop a long-term workforce plan to follow the NHS People Plan. The plan is due for completion by the end of 2022 and its key conclusions will be available in due course. The plan will be used to inform how we can meet the future needs of patients and the National Health Service workforce. Funding plans beyond the current Spending Review period will be subject to the outcome of future Spending Reviews.


Written Question
Shipbuilding and Shipping
Thursday 27th October 2022

Asked by: Steve Double (Conservative - St Austell and Newquay)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans he has to support maritime and shipbuilding.

Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)

The Marine sector and shipbuilding are an important part of my Ministerial portfolio. BEIS is supporting the delivery of the refreshed National Shipbuilding Strategy led by the Ministry of Defence. The Home Shipbuilding Credit Guarantee Scheme will underwrite lending, in partnership with commercial lenders, for domestic operators to encourage more UK builds and is a key priority for early delivery. I am bringing forward our specific proposals for the scheme to Government colleagues, with a view to updating Parliament and launching a scheme this calendar year.


Written Question
Home Shipbuilding Credit Guarantee Scheme
Thursday 27th October 2022

Asked by: Steve Double (Conservative - St Austell and Newquay)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when the Home Shipbuilding Guarantee Scheme will be published.

Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)

Shipbuilding falls within my Ministerial portfolio, and the Home Shipbuilding Credit Guarantee Scheme is a key priority for early delivery. I am bringing forward our specific proposals for the scheme to Government colleagues, with a view to updating Parliament and launching a scheme this calendar year.