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 estimate she has made of the number of full-time permanent staff required for Great British Nuclear to fulfill its remit; how many and what proportion of that number has been recruited as of 21 May 2024; and what estimate she has made of the date by which Great British Nuclear will be fully staffed by permanent employees.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - 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: 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 recent estimate her Department has made of the number of heat pump installers there are.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what information her Department holds on the number of (a) students that studied texts by female authors and (b) female authors included in exam board syllabi for GCSE English Literature.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)
The National Curriculum for English aims to ensure that all pupils appreciate the UK’s rich and varied literary heritage. It encourages pupils to read a range of books, poems and plays to encourage the development of a life-long love of literature.
It is statutory that maintained schools follow the English programmes of study. These do not set out specific reading lists. However, at secondary level, they set out categories from which schools should choose texts. Exam boards will set out a range of choices within these categories, from which schools can select texts. Those taking a GCSE in English Literature must study at least one play by Shakespeare; at least one nineteenth-century novel; a selection of poetry since 1789, including representative Romantic poetry; and fiction or drama from the British Isles from 1914 onwards. The GCSE specification encourages students to read widely within these categories, to broaden their knowledge of literature, and enhance critical and comparative understanding. Teachers have flexibility in the choice of books and plays to teach within the context of the National Curriculum.
Schools make their own decisions on choosing texts, within the set requirements. The department provides guidance for teachers on how to make their choices of texts, with literacy organisations and reading charities offering suggestions, book lists, guidance, research and support.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the the Institution of Civil Engineers and All-Party Parliamentary Group on Infrastructure report entitled What are the public behavioural changes required to meet net zero?, published in February 2024, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his polices of the finding that funding safe active travel infrastructure may support people looking to change their behaviour to reduce carbon emissions; and what steps his Department is taking to incentivise transport choices that reduce carbon emissions.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
This Government’s approach to decarbonisation is not to stop people doing things, but to enable people to do the same things differently and more sustainably. The Government set out its plans for decarbonising transport in its 2021 Transport Decarbonisation Plan (TDP) and has continued to build on these plans.
The Government agrees that funding safe active travel infrastructure can enable more people to choose walking, cycling and wheeling for short journeys, and that this in turn can reduce carbon emissions. The TDP includes an assessment of the carbon savings that are projected to be delivered by the Government’s current and projected future support for active travel. This support includes the investment of around £3 billion over the current Parliament, much of which will directly support the roll-out of safe and attractive active travel infrastructure.
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 page 7 of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme Consultation Response, published on 14 March 2024, on what evidential basis her Department removed the requirement to fulfil the recommendations for loft and cavity wall insulation provided on an energy performance certificate for new applicants for the boiler upgrade scheme.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Government response to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme consultation sets out a summary of the responses to each consultation question. Of the 205 responses to question 2 on whether we should maintain the requirement for a valid EPC with no outstanding recommendations for loft or cavity wall insulation, 95 respondents said ‘yes’, 14 respondents did not answer and 96 respondents said ‘no’ meaning just over 50% agreed with the removal of the requirement.
Removing the insulation requirements will reduce barriers to the scheme and support more property owners to move from polluting fossil fuel heating systems to low carbon heating.
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 the Government Response to the consultation entitled Proposed amendments to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme Regulations, published on 14 March 2024, how many and what proportion of responses supported the proposal to cease requiring grant applicants to comply with any fabric-related Energy Performance Certificate recommendations.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Government response to the consultation on proposed amendments to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme regulations sets out the volume and summary of responses to each consultation question. Of the 205 responses to question 2 on whether we should maintain the current requirement for a valid EPC with no outstanding recommendations for loft or cavity wall insulation, 95 respondents said ‘yes’, 14 respondents did not answer and 96 respondents said ‘no’ meaning just over 50% agreed with the removal of the requirement.
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, when she plans to respond to the consultation entitled Empowering drivers and boosting competition in the road fuel retail market, published on 16 January 2024.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The consultation ‘Empowering drivers and boosting competition in the road fuel retail market’ closed on 12 March 2024. We are currently analysing and considering the consultation responses received and will publish the government response shortly.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Transport on incorporating connectivity measures into National Development Management Policies.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
Work is underway to prepare National Development Management Policies, and officials will be working with their counterparts in other departments where they have an interest, including the Department for Transport. We are aware that access to services is an area that a number of departments have an interest in. We intend to consult fully on both the scope and content of the policies before any are put in place.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure that social housing tenants who receive Universal Credit are not financially affected by the 53-week rent year in the 2024-25 financial year.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
In the financial year 2024-25 social housing tenants will face 52 weekly rent payment days so Universal Credit will make provision for the exact amount of their liability.
Universal Credit always converts weekly amounts to monthly sums using 52 weeks. This may lead to a slight advantage to the claimant when converting weekly incomes and to a slight disadvantage when dealing with outgoings. The system is used because it is simple to operate and understand. The department has considered alternative options for those with weekly tenancies, but each have their own limitations and disadvantages for claimants and so there are no plans to change.
The legitimacy of this calculation formula in Universal Credit was confirmed by the High Court in 2020 who found it to be neither irrational or discriminatory.
Discretionary Housing Payments can be paid to those entitled to Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs. Since 2011, the government has provided nearly £1.7 billion in Discretionary Housing Payments to local authorities.
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 it remains her Department's schedule to deliver the Clean Heat Market Mechanism with the associated fines in April 2024.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
As set out in the recently published Clean Heat Market Mechanism Consultation Response Addendum, the Government plans to adjust the launch of the scheme from 1 April 2024 to 1 April 2025.