Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the BBC’s announcement of the launch of spin-off stations on BBC Sounds before Ofcom have completed their regulatory scrutiny of DAB+ proposals.

Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay

The BBC has responsibilities set out in its Royal Charter to avoid unnecessary adverse impacts on the market, which were underscored in the Government’s recent Mid-Term Review. HM Government will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the reforms as we approach the renewal of the BBC’s Royal Charter.

The BBC is required by the Royal Charter to submit a Public Interest Test to Ofcom for review when considering making any material changes to its public service output. The Corporation is currently consulting on the Public Interest Test regarding planned new radio services.

As the BBC’s independent regulator, it will be for Ofcom to review the evidence provided and robustly to hold the BBC to account in meeting its obligations to both its audiences and the market.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the feasibility of producing green gas from grass-fed anaerobic digesters, and (2) the claim by the Green Foundation and Ecotricity in their May 2022 report, Green Gas: The Green Economy under our feet, that there is enough grassland in Britain to produce all the gas needed to heat British homes.

Answered by Lord Callanan

The Green Gas Support Scheme (GGSS) is already growing the biomethane market by supporting grid injected biomethane. All feedstocks, including grass, must meet the relevant sustainability criteria and be verified for eligibility by the scheme administrator, Ofgem.

The Government will consult on a future framework for biomethane to follow the GGSS. Following a Call for Evidence, my department is assessing the feasibility of producing biomethane from a variety of feedstocks, including grass, and is aware of this report. A key focus will be the use of sustainable feedstocks, which can deliver the required carbon savings to help meet Net Zero.

Found: The Chair: Just before we move to Lord Kamall, who will pick up on some of those things, can I check

Found: The Chair: That is a nice segue to Lord Kamall. Lord Kamall: Thank you very much.

Found: Stowell of Beeston (The Chair); Lord Dunlop; Lord Hall of Birkenhead; Baroness Healy of Primrose Hill; Lord

Found: Lord Kamall: Thank you.

Found: Chair); Lord Hall of Birkenhead; Baroness Harding of Winscombe; Baroness Healy of Primrose Hill; Lord

Found: Chair); Lord Hall of Birkenhead; Baroness Harding of Winscombe; Baroness Healy of Primrose Hill; Lord

Found: The Baroness Brinton The Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb The Lord Kirkhope of Harrowgate The Lord