Written Statements

Friday 22nd March 2019 Written Statements

Friday 22 March 2019

EU Emissions Trading System

Friday 22nd March 2019 Written Statements

[The Minister for Energy and Clean Growth (Claire Perry)]

On 11 March, the Government published legislation which changed the compliance deadline to surrender allowances for the 2018 reporting year under the EU emissions trading system (ETS) from 15 March to 26 March.

Today, the Government are publishing further legislation in relation to the EU ETS compliance deadline. This legislation will amend the compliance deadline from 26 March 2019, to 22:59 on 29 March 2019. It will also allow further changes to the compliance deadline to either the revised EU exit date, or 30 April 2019 if such a date is 1 May 2019 or later.

Extending the compliance deadline will allow all UK operators additional time to meet their EU ETS compliance requirements, and if extended to 30 April, enable them to comply at the same time as operators in other EU member states. UK operators would still be able to surrender allowances to meet their 2018 compliance obligations on any date before the compliance deadline.

The Government remain committed to meeting their target to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% by the year 2050, relative to 1990 levels. The UK also remains strongly committed to achieving the climate goals of the Paris agreement. This includes our commitment to carbon pricing as an emissions reduction tool, supporting a level playing field across the EU, while ensuring energy and trade-intensive businesses are appropriately protected from any detrimental impacts on competitiveness.

Our participation in the EU ETS has shown the benefits of carbon pricing, which gives emitters a choice to reduce their emissions where it is economic to do so, achieving our environmental goals in the least-cost way to society. The EU ETS covers around 1,000 installations and approximately 140 aircraft operators in the UK. Across the EU ETS, the scheme covers around 45% of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions.

EU ETS participants are required to monitor their emissions during each calendar year and, at the end of each reporting year, surrender one emissions allowance for every tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) they have emitted, to meet their EU ETS obligations. This extension does not change the requirement for all UK operators to fully comply with all their obligations under the EU ETS.

[HCWS1440]

Public Bodies 2018-19

Friday 22nd March 2019 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Chloe Smith)]

I am pleased to announce the publication of “Public Bodies 2018-19” and will today be placing a copy in the Library of both Houses.

Public bodies play a vital role in the delivery of public services for all our citizens, covering wide-ranging functions. Well-governed, effective and efficient public bodies enable the Government to deliver their priorities.

“Public Bodies 2018-19” is an annual directory that provides a single transparent source of top-level financial and non-financial data on all executive agencies,non- departmental public bodies and non-ministerial departments across government.

[HCWS1438]

Defence Procurement: Boeing E-7

Friday 22nd March 2019 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Stuart Andrew)]

I am pleased to inform the House today that a $1.98 billion contract to deliver five E-7 airborne early warning and control aircraft has been signed with Boeing Defence UK.

The E-7 will replace the current E-3D Sentry airborne warning and control aircraft fleet, providing UK armed forces with a highly effective, world-leading capability that has already been proven on operations with the Royal Australian Air Force. A thorough investment approvals process has taken place, with the contract concluded after a period of intensive negotiation with Boeing. The E-7 not only represents value for money for the UK taxpayer, it also provides the optimum surveillance solution to allow UK armed forces to monitor and manage airspace on deployments and provide early warning of threats. The E-7 is in operation with one of our key allies and this UK procurement will increase opportunities for interoperability and collaboration. It is also a vital element of the UK’s continued 25% airborne early warning and control contribution to NATO, which will benefit from a greatly enhanced UK capability.

The E-7 contract will also bring significant prosperity benefits to this country, building on Boeing’s current commitment to maximising investment in the UK. Modification work to transform the base Boeing 737 aircraft into the E-7 will be carried out in the UK, sustaining several hundred highly skilled jobs at Marshall Aerospace and Defence in Cambridge. In addition, there are also expected to be significant future opportunities for the UK supply chain in through-life support and training for these UK aircraft and their crews.

Boeing will begin work immediately, with the first of our aircraft expected in 2023.

As part of the plan for a managed transition to E-7, it has been decided to reduce the existing E-3D fleet from six to four aircraft by removing the two long-term unserviceable assets from the active fleet. Doing this now will enable the Sentry force to focus resources on providing better availability from the remaining four aircraft, to better assure the future Sentry fleet output, including our commitments to the NATO airborne early warning and control force and the provision of NATO assurance measures missions.

[HCWS1437]

Offensive Weapons Bill

Friday 22nd March 2019 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Victoria Atkins)]

I am today placing in the Libraries of both Houses the Home Office’s analysis on the application of Standing Order No. 83O of the Standing Orders of the House of Commons relating to public business in respect of the Lords amendments to the Offensive Weapons Bill.

[HCWS1439]