Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they had with Bombardier about its decision to sell its aerospace structures division, including its manufacturing facilities in Belfast.
Answered by Lord Henley
My rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State has spoken to Alain Bellemare, the Bombardier President and CEO, and Michael Ryan, the Chief Operating Officer of Aerostructures and Engineering Services, about their plans to sell the Belfast Aerostructures and Engineering Services operations. This is a result of Bombardier’s decision to focus its aerospace division on business jets.
The Belfast plant, its expertise and its highly skilled and dedicated staff will be highly sought after. The Government will work with potential buyers to ensure this successful and ambitious business is positioned for future growth.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what powers they have to prevent the sale of UK-owned companies to entities from, or associated with, China; and what criteria they apply in reaching a decision on such investments.
Answered by Lord Henley
Under the Enterprise Act 2002, Ministers have powers to intervene in mergers that raise public interest considerations of national security, media plurality and financial stability.
In October 2017, the Government also published a Green Paper on proposals for long-term reform of the arrangements for the scrutiny of investments in relation to national security. The public consultation has now closed and the Government will bring forward a White Paper later this year.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Prime Minister has raised the issue of exceptional tariffs being imposed on Bombardier aircraft by the government of the United States, with President Trump; and if so, when.
Answered by Lord Henley
Since the outset of this investigation the Government robustly defended UK interests. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister raised this issue with President Trump a number of times, most recently in Davos last week. We are therefore pleased that the US ITC found in favour of Bombardier and ruled that there is no injury to the US aerospace industry.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether monies provided by them to Bombardier Aircraft Division for the "C" Series aircraft were examined for compliance with EU state aid rules; and, if so, with what result.
Answered by Lord Prior of Brampton
The UK Government's Repayable Launch Investment of £113.37 million to support Bombardier Aerospace (Shorts) in the design and development of the C Series aircraft wings was notified to the European Commission on 19 December 2008; and was approved on 18 June 2009.
Terms of the repayable launch investment are commercially sensitive.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what financial support they provided to Bombardier Aircraft Division for the "C" Series aircraft; what was the amount of that support; and when that support was forthcoming, and under what terms.
Answered by Lord Prior of Brampton
The UK Government's Repayable Launch Investment of £113.37 million to support Bombardier Aerospace (Shorts) in the design and development of the C Series aircraft wings was notified to the European Commission on 19 December 2008; and was approved on 18 June 2009.
Terms of the repayable launch investment are commercially sensitive.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answers by Baroness Neville-Rolfe on 20 December (HL3914, HL3915, HL3916), whether the fact that renewable energy is a devolved matter means that they did not have any discussions or consultations with the Northern Ireland Executive during or after the introduction of the Northern Ireland Renewable Heat Incentive scheme; whether advice was given to the Northern Ireland Executive regarding the Northern Ireland Renewable Heat Incentive scheme’s compliance with EU law; and what discussions they have had with the Scottish and Welsh governments regarding their implementation of renewable energy schemes.
Answered by Lord Prior of Brampton
The Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme in Great Britain covers England, Scotland and Wales. Section 113 of the Energy Act 2011 contains provisions to enable the Northern Ireland Executive to make regulations to introduce and operate a Renewable Heat Incentive scheme in Northern Ireland. Records suggest officials from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (now the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy - BEIS) discussed the introduction of these provisions with officials in the Northern Ireland Executive.
BEIS does not hold records of any subsequent discussion with the Northern Ireland Executive in relation to the design or operation of the Northern Ireland Renewable Heat Incentive scheme until March 2016 when the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment confirmed the closure of the RHI scheme in Northern Ireland. There is no record of advice being provided on the Northern Ireland Renewable Heat Incentive scheme’s compliance with EU law.
BEIS has engaged closely with the Welsh and Scottish Governments on all amendments to the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme in Great Britain, and informed the Northern Ireland Executive in parallel.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the operation of the Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme in Great Britain.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) in Great Britain is administered by Ofgem. They are responsible for the day-to-day running of the scheme.
On the 14th December we published the government response and accompanying impact assessment to the consultation on reforming the RHI. The reforms will ensure that the scheme is affordable and incorporates robust scheme design. The changes will focus on long-term decarbonisation, offering better value for money to the tax payer and protecting consumers.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what percentage of the UK's electricity is generated by companies based outside the UK.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The United Kingdom’s electricity producers have a 73GW power generation capacity, of which 58.8%, representing 43GW, is generated by companies whose parent company is based outside the UK.
The UK is open for business and welcomes investment that meets the UK’s legal and regulatory standards.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what percentage of the UK's electricity distribution system is owned and operated by companies based outside the UK.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
All of the GB electricity distribution network companies are owned and operated by companies registered and based in the UK, and are subject to a domestic legal and regulatory framework. These companies are owned by a diverse range of stakeholders based both within the UK and outside:
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what percentage of the UK's gas distribution industry is owned and operated by companies based outside the UK.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
All of the GB gas distribution network companies are owned and operated by companies registered and based in the UK, and are subject to a domestic legal and regulatory framework. These companies are owned by a diverse range of stakeholders based both within the UK and outside: