Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
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 develop the (a) expertise and (b) capabilities of Local Planning Authorities to deliver new (i) renewable generation and (ii) battery projects.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We work closely with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on addressing Local Planning Authorities’ capabilities, as set out in the Government’s Action Plan for Planning Reform published in March last year, and the Prospectus published in November alongside the Autumn Statement.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information his Department holds on the total length of bus lanes per local transport authority.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport does not hold this information.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his planned timetable is for the publication of the draft Rail Reform Bill.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
We will be bringing forward a draft Bill on Great British Railways (GBR) for pre-legislative scrutiny in this session.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has made an assessment of the viability of Hong Kong as an international financial centre.
Answered by Bim Afolami - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The government monitors the operation and functioning of the international financial system on an ongoing basis.
As noted in the latest Six-Monthly report on Hong Kong, published by the FCDO on 19 September 2023, Hong Kong continues to be recognised as an international financial centre with sole discretion over its monetary and financial policies.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
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 prepayment meters are not involuntarily installed in people's homes.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Prepayment meters can continue to play a role in the market, however it is important that the rules around their use are sufficient to protect consumers and are properly enforced. Involuntary installations should only ever be a last resort for managing customer debts.
Ofgem implemented new rules regarding the involuntary installation of prepayment meters on 8th November and suppliers must refrain from all involuntary installations for high-risk customers. The Government will continue to work closely with Ofgem and industry to see that the new rules lead to positive changes for consumers and won't hesitate to intervene again if necessary.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his Department's guidance entitled Waste collection services: guidance for local authorities, published on 23 July 2021, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of publishing statutory guidance for local authorities on sorting waste materials.
Answered by Robbie Moore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We recently consulted on the content of the statutory guidance for Simpler Recycling. We will publish our final statutory guidance once the regulations relating to Simpler Recycling have been made.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
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 publication entitled Evaluation of the Green Homes Grant Voucher Scheme, published in June 2023, how many (a) leaseholders and (b) freeholders (i) applied for and (ii) received funding from the Green Homes Grant Voucher Scheme.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Information on the number of household applications and the number of households with at least one measure installed under the Green Homes Grant Voucher scheme can be found in Table 1.1 of the latest Green Homes Grant Voucher statistical release.
The Department does not hold data on the leasehold or freehold status of property owners under the scheme.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what data her Department holds on the number of (a) leaseholders and (b) freeholders on behalf of leasehold properties who have successfully accessed retrofitting grants in the last 12 months.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government does not record this data.
Under the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, Home Upgrade Grant, and Local Authority delivery schemes, grants are allocated to local authorities rather than individual households. For these schemes the Government does not hold data on whether the property is leasehold or freehold. For the Energy Company Obligation, grants are not given to individual households as energy companies are obligated to install measures.
For the Boiler Upgrade scheme where grants go directly to households, the Government also does not collect information about the leasehold or freehold status of a property owner that applies for the grant.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what data her Department holds on the number of (a) leaseholders and (b) freeholders that have received retrofitting grants in the last 12 months.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government does not record this data.
Under the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, Home Upgrade Grant, and Local Authority delivery schemes, grants are allocated to local authorities rather than individual households. For these schemes the Government does not hold data on whether the property is leasehold or freehold. For the Energy Company Obligation, grants are not given to individual households as energy companies are obligated to install measures.
For the Boiler Upgrade scheme where grants go directly to households, the Government also does not collect information about the leasehold or freehold status of a property owner that applies for the grant.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
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 a recent assessment of the potential merits of launching a consultation on a social energy tariff.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The outlook for energy prices has improved significantly since the 2022 Autumn Statement, with the Ofgem price cap falling 55% since its peak earlier this year.
The Government is providing Cost of Living Payments to UK households on eligible means tested benefits, including over 6 million people across the UK eligible ‘extra-costs’ disability benefits’, for those who face wider affordability challenges. This is in addition to ongoing winter support payments such as the Warm Home Discount, Winter Fuel Payment and Cold Weather Payments
Government will continue to monitor the situation and keep options under review.