Asked by: Lord Grantchester (Labour - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many applications for the Green Homes Grant scheme have been turned down by International Climate Finance because they were unable to verify the identity of the applicant.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Verifying the identity of applicants is part of ensuring applications contain sufficient evidence for approval and that government funding is spent appropriately. Under the Green Homes Grant, additional information may be sought from customers when processing applications in order to progress them. More vouchers are being issued every day.
Official scheme statistics will be published in due course.
Asked by: Lord Grantchester (Labour - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the average number of days people wait to receive a voucher from the Green Homes Grant scheme after the application has been approved.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Official scheme statistics will be published in due course.
We have designed the voucher process to automate checks where possible and minimise the time taken for voucher approval. However, applications must be thoroughly checked for compliance with the scheme rules to help ensure value for money, consumer protection, and detect malpractice. We will continue to work to reduce the time between application and issuance, where possible.
BEIS will continue to monitor application data as the scheme progresses.
Asked by: Lord Grantchester (Labour - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the target number of days for vouchers to be sent out once an application to the Green Home Grant scheme has been approved.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We have designed the voucher process to automate checks where possible and minimise the time taken for voucher approval. However, applications must be thoroughly checked for compliance with the scheme rules to help ensure value for money, consumer protection, and detect malpractice. We will continue to work to reduce the time between application and issuance, where possible.
Asked by: Lord Grantchester (Labour - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people who have received a voucher from the Green Homes Grant scheme are (1) recipients of benefits, (2) not recipients of benefits, and (3) landlords whose applications will benefit their tenants.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
As of 8th February 21,947 vouchers have been issued. Further scheme statistics will be published in due course.
Asked by: Lord Grantchester (Labour - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many applications for the Green Homes Grant scheme have been declined.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Official scheme statistics will be published in due course. BEIS will continue to monitor application data as the scheme progresses.
Asked by: Lord Grantchester (Labour - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many meetings Ministers had with ICF before the Green Homes Grant scheme contract was awarded.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Department contracted ICF to administer the Green Homes Grant Voucher Scheme, following a competition, using the Crown Commercial Grants and Programme Services framework.
Asked by: Lord Grantchester (Labour - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the total value of contracts awarded to ICF to run the Green Homes Grant scheme.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
In line with Public Contracts Regulations (2015) and Policy Procurement Note 07/16, BEIS will be publishing a redacted contract and the legally required information on GOV.UK in due course.
Asked by: Lord Grantchester (Labour - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure the maintenance and timely replacement of the nuclear power element of the UK’s electricity production.
Answered by Lord Prior of Brampton
The Government recognises the important role of nuclear in our energy mix. Last September we signed a deal to build the first new nuclear plant in the UK for over 20 years. Hinkley Point C will provide 3.2 gigawatts low carbon electricity for 60 years, meeting around 7% of the UK’s electricity needs.
Further, on 12 October the Government published its Clean Growth Strategy, which committed continuing to work with nuclear developers on their new build proposals, including on financing plans, as well as investing £460 million in nuclear to support work in areas including future nuclear fuels, new nuclear manufacturing techniques, recycling and reprocessing, and advanced reactor design. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is also working with industry to develop a nuclear Sector Deal as part of the Industrial Strategy, looking at boosting competitiveness and skills across the sector.
Asked by: Lord Grantchester (Labour - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government which departments will be responsible for the management of any future legislation relating to Euratom and EU Directives on (1) radioactive waste and spent fuel management, (2) protection against ionising radiation, (3) the supervision and control of shipments of radioactive waste and spent fuel, and (4) drinking water.
Answered by Lord Prior of Brampton
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is the Department responsible for negotiating and reporting on the transposition of legislation relating to Euratom. Arrangements for future co-operation with Euratom are currently under negotiation. The implementation of Euratom Directives on radioactive waste and spent fuel management, protection against ionising radiation and the supervision and control of shipments of radioactive waste and spent fuel is generally the responsibility of BEIS, although some other Government departments and agencies have responsibility for specific areas. The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs generally has responsibility for EU Directives regarding drinking water. Decisions on departmental responsibilities for the management of any future legislation will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Asked by: Lord Grantchester (Labour - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to promote integrated working between the agencies responsible for licensing nuclear sites and for safeguarding the public and the environment in the UK following the UK’s withdrawal from Euratom.
Answered by Lord Prior of Brampton
Robust arrangements are in place to ensure effective joint regulatory working in relation to safe plant operation and in relation to controlling the use of radioactive substances and the safe management and disposal of consequential waste arisings. It is not anticipated that these arrangements will be affected by the UK’s withdrawal from Euratom.