Asked by: Lord Naseby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what progress has been made in the domestic heating market with the use of blends of hydrogen up to 20 per cent by volume in Great Britain's gas network.
Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government remains committed to examining the case for hydrogen heating and is reviewing plans. This work aims to gather evidence on the feasibility, costs and benefits of hydrogen heating that can inform decisions on its potential role.
Asked by: Lord Naseby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the European Union to increase the allowance under its visa-waiver policy to allow UK citizens working for UK-based hauliers to remain in the Schengen Area for more than 90 days in any 180-day period.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Both the UK and the EU allow for visa-free short-term travel in line with their arrangements for Third Country Nationals. The Schengen Borders Code allows for third country nationals to travel within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period; this is standard for third countries travelling to the EU. While we recognise that extending the 90-180 day period is a matter for Member States and the EU, the Government will continue to listen to and advocate for UK nationals. In November 2023, officials raised the challenges the 90 days in 180-day limit presents for UK national hauliers and coach drivers through the UK-EU Specialised Committee on Road Transport; the EU Co-Chair noted that there are no plans to change the rules on the conditions of entry of third country nationals to the EU, including for visa-free travel for short-term visits.
Asked by: Lord Naseby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with Great British Nuclear to speed up the decision-making process to pick a supplier of small nuclear reactors.
Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Great British Nuclear, the Department’s arm’s-length body responsible for helping deliver the government’s nuclear programme, is currently running a small modular reactor technology selection process for UK deployment. This is a live procurement and is on-going. The window for submitting tenders has now closed and Great British Nuclear is currently evaluating bids. We look forward to providing further information in due course.
Asked by: Lord Naseby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to following the example set in the Australia–Tuvalu Falepili Union Treaty by recognising publicly that the formal statehood and sovereignty of small island states will not lapse under international law even in the event of catastrophic sea level rise.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Lord Chamberlain (HM Household)
Sea level rise is a matter of critical concern particularly for Small Island Developing States (SIDS), who are uniquely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. We have taken careful note of the Pacific Islands Forum 2023 Declaration on the continuity of statehood in the face of sea level rise and are considering its content in detail. The UK also welcomes the International Law Commission's ongoing work on these issues. We also continue to work with SIDS to drive global ambition of emissions reductions, and support adaptation and resilience in SIDS including through programmes such as the global £500 million Blue Planet.
Asked by: Lord Naseby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to work with other countries on ways to formally recognise the legal continuity of small island developing states under international law, notwithstanding the existential threat posed by human-caused sea level rise.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Lord Chamberlain (HM Household)
Sea level rise is a matter of critical concern particularly for Small Island Developing States (SIDS), who are uniquely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. We have taken careful note of the Pacific Islands Forum 2023 Declaration on the continuity of statehood in the face of sea level rise and are considering its content in detail. The UK also welcomes the International Law Commission's ongoing work on these issues. We also continue to work with SIDS to drive global ambition of emissions reductions, and support adaptation and resilience in SIDS including through programmes such as the global £500 million Blue Planet.
Asked by: Lord Naseby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following changes in the leadership of the Confederation of British Industry, whether they plan to renew their relationship to help business and Government work in partnership.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Lainston
The Government is focused on driving long-term, sustainable economic growth and an ambition to make the UK the best place in the world to start and grow a business. Following the changes that CBI have put in place over the past year, and the vote of confidence that their members gave them at their EGM last summer, Government is rebuilding a working relationship with the business organisation.
Asked by: Lord Naseby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government why a grant of £8 million was recently paid to Vertical Aerospace to develop a flying taxi company at a time when the firm faced material uncertainty.
Answered by Lord Offord of Garvel - Shadow Minister (Energy Security and Net Zero)
A research consortium led by Vertical Aerospace, including four universities, was awarded an Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) Programme grant to develop propeller technology.
The ATI Programme co-funds UK research and development activity with industry to develop zero-carbon and ultra-efficient aircraft technology. Grants are awarded after a competitive process, with only the best projects recommended - those that offer real innovation, emissions reduction and tangible economic benefits to the UK.
Due diligence checks are completed ahead of all awards, with grants paid in arrears based on activity delivered against an agreed plan. Safeguards are in place in the event of business failure.
Asked by: Lord Naseby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what action they propose to take to reduce the approximately 71 per cent of candidates who drop out of the application process for the Armed Forces, and whether the primary cause of such drop outs is the slow process of recruitment.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Shadow Minister (Defence)
Recruitment and retention are absolute priorities and we have introduced a range of measures to respond to the current recruitment challenge, which is affecting many other militaries across the world. While it does take time to recruit the right people to our Armed Forces, we have sped up Army recruitment by 9% in the last year, and the majority of regular soldiers join in less than 140 days. There are a multitude of factors which impact on a candidate’s engagement with Armed Forces recruiting systems, and we are actively seeking to address these within our measures.
Asked by: Lord Naseby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce a legislative control framework before implementing the Future of Flight Action Plan.
Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Shadow Minister (Home Office)
We already have a regulatory framework for drones and eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing). Key legislation includes Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 on common rules in the field of civil aviation, Regulation (EU) 2019/945 on unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), Regulation (EU) 2019/947 on the rules and procedures for the operation of unmanned aircraft, the Air Navigation Order 2016 and the Air Traffic Management and Unmanned Aircraft Act 2021.
The Action Plan outlines activities to identify and develop any further regulation as needed.
Asked by: Lord Naseby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the cause of the fire at Terminal 2 of Luton Airport on 10 October 2023; and whether the cause has been established to be a diesel or an electric car.
Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Shadow Minister (Home Office)
A joint investigation by Bedfordshire Police and Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service has concluded, indicating that the fire started accidentally, with the most likely cause being an electrical fault or component failure that originated in the engine bay of a diesel vehicle while it was in motion.