Asked by: Toby Perkins (Labour - Chesterfield)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to her Department's National Policy Statements for Energy Infrastructure, published on 22 November 2023, whether she has made an assessment of the impact of the change in definition of critical national priority on protected (a) habitats and (b) species.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department has published an Appraisal of Sustainability of the National Policy Statements. This assesses Critical National Priority against several themes, including the natural environment, and includes proposed monitoring to examine effects predicted through the Appraisal of Sustainability against the actual effects of the National Policy Statements once implemented. An accompanying Habitats Regulations Assessment has assessed the likely significant impacts of the National Policy Statements on protected sites, and the habitats and species associated with these sites.
The published Post Adoption Statement also addresses amendments to the National Policy Statements, informed by the Appraisal of Sustainability findings.
Asked by: Toby Perkins (Labour - Chesterfield)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department is taking steps to identify households who use (a) liquefied petroleum gas, (b) heating oil and (c) other off-grid fuels to help them apply for the £200 alternative fuel payment.
Answered by Graham Stuart
In order to identify households that are eligible for the Alternative Fuel Payment, the Government has produced a list of eligible Meter Point Administration Numbers (MPANs) and told electricity suppliers to pay those customers. MPANs are unique codes assigned to everyone’s electricity supply.
The Government determined if an MPAN was eligible by taking a list of all domestic MPANs and removing those which are in on gas grid postcodes or where the local area predominantly uses electricity for heating, as defined by the most recent Census in their area.
Asked by: Toby Perkins (Labour - Chesterfield)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when households who use (a) liquefied petroleum gas, (b) heating oil and (c) other off-grid fuels will receive the £200 alternative fuel payment.
Answered by Graham Stuart
Most households eligible for the Alternative Fuel Payment will receive the payment discount automatically via their electricity supplier in February. Delivery mirrors the methods used to provide support under the government’s other energy bill support schemes. Most households will not need to take any action to receive the support.
For the small proportion of households that will need to apply for the Alternative Fuel Payment they will be able to do so by the end of February, through a GOV.UK portal which will include an overview of eligibility and what applicants need to do to apply for support.