Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps she is taking to support the development of (a) advanced nuclear technology and (b) routes to market for that technology.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
In 2020, the Government committed up to £385m to an Advanced Nuclear Fund to provide funding for a Small Modular Reactor (SMR) design and to progress plans for an Advanced Modular Reactor demonstration by the early 2030s. In July 2023, the Government shortlisted potential grants from the Future Nuclear Enabling Fund, releasing up to £77.1m of targeted support for new nuclear development.
Great British Nuclear, the arms-length body responsible for helping to deliver new nuclear projects, has launched a Technology Selection Process (TSP) to select the SMR technologies best able to deliver projects by the mid-2030s. Six companies have been down-selected for the next stage of the process. The Government is also consulting in the autumn on alternative routes to markets for new nuclear projects, in addition to the TSP.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will take steps to decouple the price of gas and electricity.
Answered by Graham Stuart
As part of the Review of Electricity Market Arrangements (REMA) programme, the Government is considering a range of potential options to shield consumers from the impacts of potential future commodity price spikes and to ensure they benefit from lower-cost renewables.
The Contracts for Difference scheme already insulates consumers against electricity price spikes. Over time, this scheme will significantly reduce dependence on fossil fuelled power generation, lowering consumer exposure to gas prices.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what comparative assessment his Department has made of levels of excess deaths in (a) 2023 and (b) the 2015-2019 average. what assessment he has made of the potential links between excess deaths and age; and what the most common causes of excess deaths are in people under 50.
Answered by Neil O'Brien
There are several organisations producing estimates of excess deaths using different methods. Excess deaths are the difference between registered deaths and the number expected each week.
The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) reports monthly on Excess Mortality in England and English regions, and more information is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/excess-mortality-in-england-and-english-regions
OHID’s expected deaths are based on the trend in mortality rates in England for the five years 2015 to 2019. Estimates of excess deaths are therefore not available for the pre-pandemic period using the same methodology. OHID estimates take change in population size and ageing into account.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) also publishes weekly estimates of excess deaths, which are available at the following link:
ONS expected deaths are based on a simple five-year average of deaths registered each week in previous years. For deaths in 2023, the five-year average is based on deaths in 2017 to 2019 and 2021 to 2022.
In the weeks ending 6 January 2023 to 29 September 2023, OHID estimates that there have been 23,001 excess deaths in England, 6% more deaths than expected. Over this period, there were only three weeks that did not have any excess deaths, namely the weeks ending 10 March 2023, 14 April 2023, and 7 July 2023.
Additionally, over the same period, ONS estimates that there have been 24,292 excess deaths in England which, like OHID’s estimate, is 6% higher than expected. However, ONS figures show that seven weeks over the period did not have excess deaths, these being the weeks ending 10 and 17 February 2023, 14 April 2023, 21 and 28 July 2023, 29 September 2023, and 6 October 2023.
Numbers of excess deaths generally increase with age and OHID estimates that excess deaths in England over this same period above were highest in those aged 85 and over, specifically 6,955 deaths. However, the relative excess was highest in the 50 to 64 age group where excess deaths were 14% higher than expected, specifically 5,278 deaths.
Of the causes of death which OHID routinely report on, deaths involving cardiovascular diseases including heart disease and stroke, and acute respiratory diseases including flu and pneumonia had the highest numbers of excess deaths for those aged under 50 in England in January to June 2023. Data for later months are not available.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that the UK is taking a leading role in the development of nuclear energy.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The British Energy Security Strategy set an ambition of up to 24 GW of nuclear capacity by 2050 to support energy security and net zero objectives. To deliver on this objective, the Government is undertaking a range of activities. We have launched Great British Nuclear, which has an immediate focus on bringing forward small modular reactors, we have invested in Sizewell C to deliver the next large-scale project, and we have provided support for a range of enabling activities through the Low-Cost Nuclear Challenge, Nuclear Fuel Fund and the Future Nuclear Enabling Fund.
In addition, we will publish a Roadmap this autumn setting out the long-term trajectory for the nuclear sector, as well as publish a consultation on alternative routes to market for new nuclear projects.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether her Department is taking steps to ensure a resilient supply of ammonia as a future fuel for the maritime sector.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Hydrogen Production Business Model will provide revenue support to producers to overcome the operating cost gap between low carbon hydrogen and high carbon alternatives. This will provide a contractual, producer-focused business model that could facilitate hydrogen use in a broad range of sectors, including low carbon ammonia production.
The Net Zero Hydrogen Fund will help to stimulate the growth of the hydrogen economy by providing £240m to support the development and construction of new low carbon hydrogen production plants. In addition, the Government is supporting innovation for shipping decarbonisation through funds such as the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his Department's timeline is for works to complete the electrification of the North Wales mainline; what the estimated cost is for the electrification of that line; and what estimate he has made of the effect of the upgrade on journey times between Holyhead and London and other destinations.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government has announced its commitment to fund the electrification of the North Wales Mainline within the £36 billion Network North programme. We are undertaking detailed delivery planning on a project-by-project basis and will share further information when that work is complete.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential economic benefits of the funding for the electrification of the North Wales mainline on the constituents of (a) Ynys Mon and (b) North Wales.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government has announced its commitment to fund the electrification of the North Wales Mainline within the £36 billion Network North programme. We are undertaking detailed delivery planning on a project-by-project basis and will share further information when that work is complete.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure the (a) adequacy and (b) resilience of supplies of ammonia as a feedstock for fertiliser.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We are aware of recent announcements in industry which mean a reduction to prospects for domestic production of ammonia, however Defra and wider government do not anticipate issues as we have recently been reliant on an import model without experiencing any issues. If companies experience difficulties in accessing the chemicals they need, then Defra and wider government encourage them to engage with their suppliers. If this does not resolve any challenges, then they should engage with their industry bodies.
With regards to ammonium nitrate fertilisers, the UK typically imports fertiliser products from more than 20 countries. The supply chain has remained dynamic and we understand farmers have been able to purchase fertiliser for the 2023 growing season. Defra continues to monitor the situation and work closely with other government departments and industry to understand fertiliser supply, demand and price challenges.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of implementing a programme to inform the public about the potential contribution of hydrogen to (a) domestic heating, (b) transport and (c) carbon reduction.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Hydrogen Strategy sets out the important role that low carbon hydrogen could play in decarbonising vital UK industrial sectors, providing flexible deployment across power, transport and potentially heat. The Government is providing significant support for research and development across these sectors.
The Government is supporting industry to deliver a hydrogen heating trial in Fife and the Tees Valley Hydrogen Hub, and discussing a potential village trial in Redcar, to understand hydrogen’s future uses better. The Government is working with industry partners to engage the public, informing them about hydrogen and what to expect. The Government will continue public engagement as hydrogen technology matures.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she is taking steps to encourage inward investment for (a) components and (b) other equipment to enable the scaling up of low carbon hydrogen.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
My department has been working closely with the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero to showcase the opportunity for investment in the UK hydrogen sector. Together we’ve published a Net Zero Investment Roadmap setting out the UK’s strategy, policies and funding for scaling-up low-carbon hydrogen. The Sector Development Action Plan published in 2022 committed to regular meetings with investors and ‘Meet the-Specifier’ events to help industry understand supply chain opportunities. My officials in the UK and overseas are in communication with equipment manufacturers across the world to ensure they understand what the UK has to offer investors and to advertise the pipeline of hydrogen production projects in development across the country.