Asked by: Lord Ravensdale (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made in reducing the time taken to process Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) applications, and particularly SAP Appendix Q applications.
Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) application processes ensure that effective and innovative products are rewarded in the SAP methodology and thereby in Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) and retrofit schemes. Officials are working to reduce delays in the SAP applications process, including Appendix Q. By collaborating with commercial partners and gathering stakeholder feedback, officials are also looking at ways to continuously improve the turnaround times of SAP applications and reform the overall service.
Asked by: Lord Ravensdale (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the sites currently listed in the current nuclear National Policy Statement EN-6, will be included in the forthcoming EN-7.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Department recently consulted on a proposed policy for siting new nuclear power stations after 2025, which set out a criteria based approach. While EN-7 will be the primary basis for development consent decisions on nuclear power stations after 2025, we recognise that the sites listed in EN-6 are likely to retain many inherent advantages. EN-6 will not be withdrawn, and we expect it to remain an important and relevant consideration in any planning decision for projects at any of the sites listed in EN-6.
Asked by: Lord Ravensdale (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the rise of greenhouse gas emissions associated with fertiliser production since 1990; and what plans they have for lowering such emissions.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
UK territorial greenhouse gas emissions from the fertiliser manufacturing industry between 1990 and 2020 (the latest available year data) have fluctuated between 525 and 812 thousand tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent, with no clear trend.
To reduce future emissions the Government is promoting better nutrient use efficiency through the Sustainable Farming Incentive. The Government is supporting the development of new technologies to manufacture less environmentally damaging fertiliser products through the Farming Innovation Programme and plans to reform the fertiliser regulatory regime.
Asked by: Lord Ravensdale (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government, what plans they have to implement the recommendation in the report Mission Zero: Independent Review of Net Zero, published on 26 September 2022, to bring forward to 2033 the target to phase out the installation of new gas boilers; and when they will make an announcement about any such plans.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Heat and Buildings Strategy set out our aim to phase out the installation of new and replacement natural gas boilers from 2035, to ensure all heating systems used in 2050 are compatible with net zero. This would mean when consumers replace their heating source, they replace it with a low-carbon or low-carbon ready appliance.
We are considering the recommendations made by my Rt Hon Friend the Member for Kingswood in the Independent Review of Net Zero, and will respond in due course.