To match an exact phrase, use quotation marks around the search term. eg. "Parliamentary Estate". Use "OR" or "AND" as link words to form more complex queries.


Keep yourself up-to-date with the latest developments by exploring our subscription options to receive notifications direct to your inbox

Written Question
Aviation
Thursday 5th January 2023

Asked by: Lord Hay of Ballyore (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the current support available for the aviation sector and its supply chain.

Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Through the Aerospace Technology Institute Programme, industry and Government are co-investing in the development of cutting-edge aircraft technology to grow UK’s share of the global aerospace market.

The 2021 Spending Review increased government’s commitment to aerospace R&D by 50% to £685 million across the Spending Review Period, extending the programme to 2031. By 2025, government and industry will invest almost £4 billion in developing new ultra-efficient and zero emission aircraft technologies.

We have supported industry investment in supply chain competitiveness through our ‘Sharing in Growth’, SC21 Competitiveness & Growth, and NATEP programmes, which have benefited from over £140m public funding, leveraging additional private investment.


Written Question
Energy Bills Rebate: Northern Ireland
Thursday 5th January 2023

Asked by: Lord Hay of Ballyore (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask His Majesty's Government what date those entitled to support under the Northern Ireland Energy Support Scheme will receive payment.

Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

On 19 December 2022 the Government announced that all households in Northern Ireland will receive support with their energy bills this winter through a single payment of £600. This is made up of £400 of the Energy Bills Support Scheme and £200 of the Alternative Fuel Payment. This will be delivered through electricity suppliers, with payments starting in January.


Written Question
Energy Bills Rebate: Northern Ireland
Wednesday 30th November 2022

Asked by: Lord Hay of Ballyore (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to ensure that payments due to Northern Ireland consumers under the Energy Bills Support Scheme will be made before Christmas.

Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Households in Northern Ireland will receive a £400 discount on their energy bills through the Northern Ireland Energy Bills Support Scheme (NI EBSS) this winter. The Government is working intensively with electricity suppliers to deliver a solution and to provide the support as soon as possible.


Written Question
Natural Gas: Production
Tuesday 8th November 2022

Asked by: Lord Hay of Ballyore (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to strengthen the UK's energy security through an increase in domestic gas production.

Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government plans to strengthen energy resilience and manage declining domestic gas production through the North Sea Transition Authority’s launch of the 33rd licensing round on 7 October 2022. Applications for the 33rd round will be open until 12 January 2023 and the first licence awards should follow in the second quarter of 2023.


Written Question
Energy Supply
Tuesday 19th July 2022

Asked by: Lord Hay of Ballyore (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure the UK’s energy security.

Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Energy security is a top priority for this Government, which is taking the necessary steps to ensure security of supply this winter.

The Government’s British Energy Security Strategy, published on 7 April, sets out ambitious measures to deliver secure, clean and affordable energy for the long term.


Written Question
Fracking
Tuesday 19th July 2022

Asked by: Lord Hay of Ballyore (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of shale gas extraction and a short-term lifting of the moratorium on shale gas extraction.

Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

In 2019, the Government confirmed that the pause on the exploration of shale gas reserves in England would remain in place unless and until further evidence was provided that shale gas extraction could be carried out safely. Any exploration or development of shale gas would need to meet rigorous safety and environmental protections both above ground and sub-surface.

In April, the Government commissioned the British Geological Survey to undertake a review of the latest scientific evidence around shale gas extraction. This review has now been completed and the Government is considering their detailed and technical report.


Written Question
Energy: Prices
Tuesday 19th July 2022

Asked by: Lord Hay of Ballyore (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to increase the affordability of energy for elderly people during the winter; and what steps they plan to take to make energy bills more affordable for elderly people.

Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government provides a range of support to eligible UK pensioners such as the Warm Home Discount, Winter Fuel Payments and Cold Weather Payments.

In recognition that households across the UK are struggling to make their incomes stretch to cover the rising cost of living, the Government announced on 26 May a £15 billion package of cost-of-living support, in addition to the £22 billion already announced. As part of the Energy Bills Support Scheme package, pensioners in receipt of Winter Fuel Payments, will receive an extra £300 this year, in addition to a £400 rebate on all energy bills, from October and a £150 Council Tax rebate for households, including pensioners, living in bands A-D in England.


Written Question
Natural Gas
Wednesday 23rd March 2022

Asked by: Lord Hay of Ballyore (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential of shale gas as a domestic energy source.

Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

According to data published by the Oil and Gas Authority in 2021 (based on 2020 data) and set out on the North Sea Transition Authority’s website, oil reserves and resources in the UK Continental Shelf stand at 7.9 billion barrels of oil equivalent, as well as 560 billion cubic metres of gas, based on ‘probable’, ‘proven’ and ‘contingent’ reserves and resources. It is not possible to say with certainty how much of this could or will be extracted, as this will be driven by a range of commercial and regulatory factors, however UK oil and gas production is expected to decline over time in line with the natural decline of the UK Continental Shelf basin coupled with a decrease in domestic demand for natural gas. The Oil and Gas Authority has published a report titled “UK Oil and Gas Reserves and Resources Report 2021” on their website which includes further information on UK reserves and resources.

As set out on the British Geological Society’s website, estimates of the total gas-in-place for the Bowland Shale Formation and Hodder Mudstone Formation vary. Initial estimates were between 822 and 2281 trillion cubic feet (tcf). However, other estimates have suggested the total gas-in-place volume could be considerably less, around 140 tcf.

The Government has been clear that shale gas development must be safe and sustainable – both for local communities and the environment. On the basis of the current scientific evidence, the Government has confirmed that it will take a presumption against issuing any further Hydraulic Fracturing Consents, which are required before hydraulic fracturing operations can take place. Even if the current moratorium were lifted, development would also need to secure environmental permitting and planning consents, and it would take some years of exploration and development before commercial quantities of gas could be produced.


Written Question
Fossil Fuels
Wednesday 23rd March 2022

Asked by: Lord Hay of Ballyore (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the amount of (1) North Sea (a) oil, and (b) gas, and (2) shale gas, in the UK; and under what circumstances they would exploit such resources.

Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

According to data published by the Oil and Gas Authority in 2021 (based on 2020 data) and set out on the North Sea Transition Authority’s website, oil reserves and resources in the UK Continental Shelf stand at 7.9 billion barrels of oil equivalent, as well as 560 billion cubic metres of gas, based on ‘probable’, ‘proven’ and ‘contingent’ reserves and resources. It is not possible to say with certainty how much of this could or will be extracted, as this will be driven by a range of commercial and regulatory factors, however UK oil and gas production is expected to decline over time in line with the natural decline of the UK Continental Shelf basin coupled with a decrease in domestic demand for natural gas. The Oil and Gas Authority has published a report titled “UK Oil and Gas Reserves and Resources Report 2021” on their website which includes further information on UK reserves and resources.

As set out on the British Geological Society’s website, estimates of the total gas-in-place for the Bowland Shale Formation and Hodder Mudstone Formation vary. Initial estimates were between 822 and 2281 trillion cubic feet (tcf). However, other estimates have suggested the total gas-in-place volume could be considerably less, around 140 tcf.

The Government has been clear that shale gas development must be safe and sustainable – both for local communities and the environment. On the basis of the current scientific evidence, the Government has confirmed that it will take a presumption against issuing any further Hydraulic Fracturing Consents, which are required before hydraulic fracturing operations can take place. Even if the current moratorium were lifted, development would also need to secure environmental permitting and planning consents, and it would take some years of exploration and development before commercial quantities of gas could be produced.


Written Question
Energy: Billing
Wednesday 23rd March 2022

Asked by: Lord Hay of Ballyore (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the article by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation New measures won't protect poorest families from new energy price cap, published on 3 February; and in particular, the finding that "single adult households on low incomes will spend a shocking 43 per cent on average of their income after housing costs on energy bills".

Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government is providing a package of support worth £9.1 billion in 2022-23 which includes a £150 Council Tax rebate for bands A-D, £144 million discretionary funding for local authorities and a £200 energy bill reduction which will help over 28 million households. This is in addition to the support Government will continue to provide through the Warm Home Discount Scheme, which this winter is providing over 2 million households a £140 rebate off their energy bill. The Government has announced that it would be increasing to £150 and help an extra 780,000 households next winter. Further, Winter Fuel Payments and Cold Weather Payments help ensure the most vulnerable are better able to heat their homes over the colder months.