Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to help reduce energy costs for rural businesses.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We are closely monitoring the impact of energy prices on businesses caused by the instability in the Middle East, and much will depend on the length of the ongoing crisis. We are increasing the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) grant for properties heated by oil and LPG, taking the total grant to £9,000. This will help SMEs in England and Wales most impacted by rising energy prices to electrify their heating and provide greater certainty over energy bills.
The Government’s primary focus is on ensuring energy is affordable for all businesses and we work closely with Ofgem to identify and implement policy changes which can improve the non-domestic market.
The Government plans to directly regulate Third-Party Intermediaries (TPIs) by appointing Ofgem as the regulator when parliamentary time allows. At their best, TPIs can have significant impact on the cost of energy for businesses by helping consumers secure contracts that meet their needs. A regulated market will ensure that businesses can save money on their bills through improved competition and lower commissions.
The conflict in the Middle East is yet another reminder that the only route to energy security and sovereignty for the UK is by getting off the rollercoaster of volatile fossil fuels and onto clean homegrown power which we control, to bring down bills for good.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to help residents change to smart meters in South Shropshire constituency.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Energy suppliers are obligated under their licence conditions to take all reasonable steps to install smart meters for their customers where a meter is fitted for the first time or when replacing an existing meter.
To strengthen this obligation, the Government worked with Ofgem to introduce new smart metering Guaranteed Standards of Performance for energy suppliers, where customers receive £40 compensation if their supplier fails to offer a smart meter installation appointment to take place within 6 weeks of the customer requesting one.
The Department continues to drive the rollout alongside industry to ensure all households nationwide can access smart meters.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many people in South Shropshire constituency use Radio Teleswitch Service meters.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department does not hold constituency level data on remaining RTS meters. This data is held by Ofgem. The Department is working closely with energy suppliers, Ofgem and the industry body Energy UK to drive continued progress on RTS meter replacements in the final phase of the switch off.
The RTS phase out is industry led, and energy suppliers have contacted their remaining customers recorded as having RTS meters to offer appointments to replace those meters as appropriate. Ofgem is also encouraging customers with RTS meters to book or accept an appointment promptly.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many people in South Shropshire constituency use Radio Teleswitch Service meters.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what support is in place for those facing increases to the price of heating oil.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is closely monitoring heating oil supply and price in light of instability in the Middle East. We recognise that wholesale oil price volatility is placing pressure on domestic heating oil costs.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has written to the industry reminding heating oil distributors of their commitments under the UKIFDA Code of Practice, including the need for fair, transparent and justifiable pricing. Ministers have also spoken with the Competition and Markets Authority, who are considering their options available if there is evidence of unfair practices or anti-competitive behaviour.
We are keeping under review whether any further support or action is needed to protect consumers.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to increase energy security.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is strengthening energy security by reducing dependency on volatile global fossil fuel markets and delivering a diverse, secure and clean energy system based on renewables and nuclear, backed up by unabated gas supply to be used only when essential.
Delivering the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan will require £40 billion of investment into generation and network projects per year. This includes major upgrades to the electricity grid, expanding the renewable auction process, and speeding up planning decisions to prioritise critical infrastructure.
The Government has also launched Great British Energy, which aims to invest in offshore wind, and provide long term support for carbon capture and hydrogen, while ensuring reliable fossil fuel supply.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what his policy is on the use of agricultural land for solar energy.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Our policy remains unchanged. Solar farms should be built on brownfield sites or previously developed land, wherever possible. Where the development of agricultural land is shown to be necessary, lower-quality land should be preferred to higher-quality land.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential contribution of the domestic tourism sector on his net zero targets.
Answered by Katie White - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery Plan, published in October, sets out how the UK will continue to reduce emissions across all sectors of the economy on the pathway to net zero.
The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero engages regularly on net zero with his colleagues in other departments.
Policy on domestic tourism is led by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. In 2023, tourism contributed £58.2bn GVA (2.5% of the UK economy) and directly employed 1.2 million people. DCMS works with VisitEngland, destinations, local visitor economy partnerships (LVEPs) and industry to support sustainable tourism practices. The government is committed to supporting the sector through the forthcoming Visitor Economy Growth Plan.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of of green levies on utility bills.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The key to bringing down energy bills in the long term is clean power. With gas prices still significantly higher than historic levels, our exposure to international fossil fuel markets is still the main driver of high energy bills.
Taken together, the actions announced by my Rt. Hon. Friend the Chancellor at the Budget take an average £150 of costs off people’s energy bills and deliver on funding more of the investment we need in our energy system through public expenditure rather than levies. £7 billion worth of the historic Renewables Obligation levy has been moved into public expenditure and the ECO scheme has been scrapped. The government is delivering the biggest public investment in home energy efficiency ever, increasing the settlement we received at the Spending Review.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to promote limestone insulation as an energy efficiency measure.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The government does not promote one measure over another, instead energy efficiency measures installed under current Government energy efficiency schemes must be compliant with PAS 2035/2030 to ensure installations are done to the highest quality and the risk of unintended consequences, such as condensation or damp, are minimised.