Lord Stoddart of Swindon

When the then Government first asked for expressions of interest in Final Investment Decisions (FID) enabling, EDF was the only nuclear developer to come forward, so it was appropriate to enter bilateral negotiations with EDF on this project. This Government continues to explore many different options for providing secure, affordable and clean electricity, making use of different technologies and commercial developers, including nuclear developers. The UK requires reliable, safe, base load electricity from new nuclear, and other low carbon generation sources, and price is one consideration amongst a number for achieving this.

The Government is focused on delivering a successful renegotiation: it believes it can and will succeed in reforming and renegotiating our relationship with the EU and campaigning to keep the UK in the EU on that basis.

The operators of Ferrybridge and Longannet power plants have announced plans to cease generation in 2016 while the operator of Eggborough plant is currently consulting staff on possible closure. These announcements relate to closures from March 2016 and do not affect security of supply this winter.

Our priority is to ensure that British families and business have access to secure and affordable energy supplies that they can rely on. Since 2014 National Grid have had the ability to procure a Contingency Balancing Reserve (CBR), which consists of the Supplemental Balancing Reserve (SBR), where existing power stations stand by ready to generate additional electricity and the Demand Side Balancing Reserve (DSBR) where companies bid for contracts with National Grid to receive payments in return for reducing their electricity usage times of peak demand should National Grid so require. National Grid and Ofgem agree that we should retain the ability to procure CBR for the next two winters. Government supports this position and we expect confirmation later this month following an Ofgem consultation.

Organisations contracted under DSBR can reduce their use of grid electricity in many ways while still remaining in operation. For example, an industrial customer could switch to a back-up generator or a supermarket chain might raise the temperature slightly on its refrigerators for a short time, using less energy but maintaining safe refrigeration levels.

National Grid’s CBR is tendered competitively keeping procurement at the lowest possible cost to consumers, whilst ensuring electricity security. The additional reserve capacity that National Grid has purchased for 2015/16 represents less than 50p a year on the average annual consumer bill.

From winter 2018/19, the Capacity Market will take over as the long term solution for security of supply. The Capacity Market is a key part of our reform of the electricity market and it will drive new investment in gas and demand side capacity to help keep the lights on, as well as getting the best out of our existing power stations as we transition to a low carbon electricity future. Small-scale flexible generation such as diesel can also bid into the Capacity Market – generation that can turn on quickly has a small but important role to play in securing our electricity system. It is typically run for short periods to meet peaks of demand or local system constraints, so emission impacts can be relatively limited.

The UK’s trade in goods deficit with the EU was £78.9bn in 2014. The overall trade in goods and services deficit with the EU was £61.7bn.

The UK’s total trade deficit is financed by a net inflow of investment in the financial account, for which data is not available on a geographical basis. The UK’s financial account surplus was £89.4bn in 2014.

Source: ONS Pink Book 2015

The Government does not make direct comparisons between projects in different circumstances that have different contracts and are situated in different markets.

There has been a thorough review of the costs of the Hinkley Point C project to ensure that the contract represents value for money. Hinkley will provide reliable low carbon energy for around 60 years and offer 25,000 jobs during construction. My rt. hon Friend the Secretary of State expects to be in a position to take her final decision on the Contract for Difference and associated agreements for Hinkley Point C once the documentation relating to equity investment into the project is finalised.

From 2018, the Capacity Market will ensure that retiring plant can be replaced by new investment by providing additional secure investment for both existing and new electricity generators. In the meantime, National Grid secures adequate loss of load expectation through the Contingency Balancing Reserve in which additional power stations are held to provide security in times of system stress.

Both facilities deliver against the statutory reliability standard of 3 hours of loss of load expectation, a level as high as anywhere else in Europe. Loss of load expectation does not equate to the number of disconnections in a year, but is the estimated number of hours in a year that the System Operator (National Grid) needs to intervene in the market in order the maintain supply. For 2015/16, National Grid procured 2.4GW of reserve to deliver a loss of load expectation of 1.1 hours, sufficient to maintain security of supply even in the toughest system conditions.

The Government informs the European Commission of our employment policies, including female employment and measures to help working women and families, as part of the European Semester process and other engagement with Commission officials. In the area of employment, the Government’s view is that the European Semester should focus on those areas that are most directly relevant to employment outcomes, such as the efficiency and functioning of labour markets and should encourage all Member States to remove barriers to greater participation of women in the economy.

The £3 billion per year figure relates to the management of the UK’s civil nuclear liability and arises from historic and current nuclear operations. Sellafield, the UK’s largest, most complex and challenging site, accounts for £1.9 billion per year of this cost. The best estimate for clean-up costs for the UK’s earliest nuclear sites over a 100 year plus programme is set out in the Nuclear Provision which together with the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority’s (NDA) anticipated costs and expenditure, budget and lifetime financials per site, is made publicly available via the NDA’s website (www.nda.gov.uk).

Operators of new nuclear power stations are required by law to make prudent provision for their decommissioning, waste management and waste disposal costs. These costs are taken into account in the cost per MWh of electricity generated by new nuclear power stations.

The Government is confident that the European Commission’s State aid decision on Hinkley Point C is legally robust and has no reason to believe that Austria has submitted a challenge that has any merit or would delay the project.

On the 9^th July, the EU Parliament considered a non-legislative own initiative report from the Legal Affairs Committee (JURI) on EU copyright reform, and voted against proposals to restrict individuals’ freedom to photograph or film buildings or statues located in public places.

The Government takes note of the Commission’s findings and recommendations. Latest Labour Market Statistics showed female employment in the UK is at its highest ever rate (68.6%), which makes it the 5^th highest female employment rate in the EU.

The Government is committed to helping working women and families. In the last Parliament legislation was enacted which enables eligible working parents to share up to 50 weeks of leave and up to 37 weeks of pay where the mother ends her maternity leave and/or her maternity pay early so that she can opt into the new Shared Parental Leave and Pay system with the child’s father or her partner. All employees who have 26 weeks continuous service with their employer in the UK also now have the right to request flexible working. These measures enable eligible employees to better balance work with other commitments, including childcare.

The UK Government is also providing women and families with additional childcare support:

- Currently funding 15 hours a week of free childcare for all 3 and 4 year olds, and for the 40% most disadvantaged 2 year olds.

- Committing to giving working parents of 3 and 4 year olds 30 hours of free childcare a week, with implementation starting in some areas in September 2016.

- Providing support for childcare costs of people on lower incomes, up to 70% of costs under the childcare element on working tax credits, which will rise to 85% from April 2016 under Universal Credit.

- Introducing Tax Free Childcare which will provide up to 1.8 million families across the UK with up to £2,000 of childcare support per year, per child.

Section 62 of the Copyright, Designs, and Patents Act (1988) permits the photographing and filming of certain artistic works and buildings permanently situated in a public place or in premises open to the public, without prior consent from the owners of copyright in those works. This exception to copyright protection has existed in UK law for over a hundred years, and represents an important freedom for photographers and film-makers, whether amateur or professional.

The Government does not support any restriction to this exception, such as a requirement that prohibits commercial use without prior consent. The Government recognises the diversity of EU Member States’ laws in this area and strongly believes Member States should retain their current discretion in this area of law.

The European Commission is responsible for determining the compatibility of national measures with European Union state aid rules. In this case we understand that the Polish Government is holding discussions with the European Commission regarding their state aid notification.

There are no proposals to ban the use of halogen lightbulbs in the EU. Regulation EC 244/2009, which is made under the provisions of the Ecodesign of Energy-related Products Directive (2009/125/EC), came into force in September 2009. Since then it has progressively removed the least efficient domestic lighting from the market.

On 1^st September 2016 stage 6 will prevent halogen lightbulbs that are equivalent to a “C” label class from being placed on the EU market. Come September 2016, stocks of “C” class halogens already in the supply chain can continue to be sold and used, though manufacturers will cease supplying new “C” class bulbs at this point. However, “B” and “A” label class halogens lightbulbs will be unaffected by the regulation and will still be allowed.

The UK Government supports Ecodesign regulations that reduce energy consumption, thereby reducing consumers’ bills, greenhouse gas emissions and increasing our energy security.

UK’s trade deficit with the European Union was £28.5bn in 2010, £21.7bn in 2011, £39.5bn in 2012 and £56.2bn in 2013.

Currently, UK trade balance figures cover the period up to the second quarter of 2014. In the first half of 2014, UK’s trade deficit with the European Union was £25.5bn.

Source: ONS UK Economic Accounts 2014Q2

Each year the Department of Energy and Climate change publishes estimates of UK oil reserves based on assessments of the amount of oil that is technically and commercially recoverable. The judgement on commerciality rests with the operators of each field/discovery, not the Department. It will depend, among other things, on oil prices when they make that assessment. The latest estimates can be found on the attached.

On 13 May the House agreed a new set of rules to govern the content of written answers, in response to the introduction of a new electronic system for submitting them. While the digital copy of answers will be the definitive record copy, all written answers will continue to be published, and a signed copy will continue to be sent to the Peer asking the question.

These rules make clear that all answers should be complete and comprehensible, and not rely on references to external documents or webpages. They also make clear that supporting documents should be included as attachments, not hyperlinks, and referred to in the answer itself. Any attachments that are included will be available in the Library to be printed out on demand.

All of these rules will help to accommodate those without internet access. I will remind all Lords Ministers to adhere to them.

A copy of the text of the Council Conclusions on energy prices and costs, protection of vulnerable consumers and competitiveness – as adopted by Ministers at the European Union Energy Council of 13 June and set out on the European Commission’s website – will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

The conclusions adopted by Ministers at the European Union Energy Council of 13 June are available on the European Commission's website at:

http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/trans/143198.pdf

The arrangements for policing and security on the Parliamentary Estate needed to be renewed because the current contract with the Metropolitan Police Service expires in March 2015. In line with best practice, a number of options have been evaluated to ensure that Parliamentary security remains effective and responsive to future demands. All options assume that both armed and unarmed police officers will continue to be provided by the Metropolitan Police. It would be inappropriate to provide information on the costs of the new arrangements while negotiations are underway.

The number of police officers and security staff required under the new arrangements will be determined by Parliament's operational and security requirement and how providers, including the Metropolitan Police Service, propose to meet these requirements. It will not be possible to give final numbers for police officers and security staff until new arrangements are agreed.

The following information about decisions on the new security contract arrangements was published in March 2014:

“In March 2015, the current contract with the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to provide armed protection, policing and security officer functions will expire. Over the last year, the Security Arrangements Renewal Programme (SARP) Board has been working to analyse options and make a recommendation on new contract arrangements to be introduced next year. That recommendation was endorsed by the Lords House Committee and the Commons Commission.

The agreed recommendation is that the two Houses should renegotiate with the MPS to continue to provide security officer functions, armed protection and policing, whilst moving the provision of the search and screening function for the three main public entrances (Black Rod's Garden, Cromwell Green and Portcullis House) to a specialist commercial provider. The Clerk of the House and the Clerk of the Parliaments have now written to the Metropolitan Police Commissioner requesting new arrangements from 2015, and a commercial procurement for search and screening will start soon.

This is a major contract for Parliament, both in terms of its financial value and its central role in ensuring the security of parliamentarians, employees and visitors to the Parliamentary Estate. As well as continuing to benefit from the expertise and experience of the Metropolitan Police officers and staff, new search and screening arrangements at the busiest public entrances will be better able to provide the greater flexibility and scalability needed to meet Parliament's changing requirements for public access”.

Discussions with the Metropolitan Police Service on future arrangements are continuing. Security matters are not discussed on the floor of the House and the House Committee has agreed to the initial approach taken by the Security Arrangements Renewal Programme Board. That Committee will be further consulted during the process. I have no plans to initiate a debate on the floor of the House.

The Government believes in a strong United Kingdom Parliament for a strong United Kingdom. English votes for English laws embeds fairness and balance into Parliament’s law making process, strengthening England’s voice, just as devolution has strengthened the voices of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland within our Union. We therefore do not believe there is public appetite or need for an English Parliament. English Votes for English Laws ensures English matters are approved by English MPs.

The cabinet office has no plans to arrange for the collation or publication of these details.

The information requested is not collected centrally.

We will not be examining the case for an English Parliament. The Government believes in a strong United Kingdom Parliament for a strong United Kingdom.

There are no formal plans to review government policy on donations.

The Civil Service Code requires civil servants to support the government of the day in developing and implementing its policies. This applies to all Government policies, including carrying out the decision to leave the European Union. The same requirement is set out in the Code of Conduct for members of the Diplomatic Service.

The UK contributes to the EU budget as a whole, and not to individual programmes within it.

Financial support from the European Parliament is available to political parties at European level, in the form of operating grants. These grants cannot be used to fund national parties or candidates. Full details of the amounts awarded to European-level political parties are published by the European Parliament [1].

We are focussed on securing the best possible deal for the United Kingdom as we leave the European Union. Once we have left it will be for the United Kingdom to decide how taxpayers' money is spent.

[1] Data on grants paid since 2004 is attached.

The information requested is not collated centrally.

The Government is clear that, following our withdrawal from the EU, control of our laws will be brought back to Parliament. All options for ​our​ future relationship​ with the EU​ are being considered ahead of the negotiations​

A new Department for Exiting the European Union has been established by the Prime Minister. The Department will lead the UK’s negotiations to leave the European Union and establish the future relationship between the EU and the UK, working closely with the UK’s devolved administrations, Parliament, and a wide range of other interested parties on this approach. Officials and ministers will work closely with other departments, including the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for International Trade and others, to ensure the British public and business interests get the best possible deal when the UK leave the EU.

All public appointments to the boards of public bodies are made on merit and are regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments, the Rt Hon Peter Riddell. The boards of non-departmental public bodies should ensure that the body’s rules for recruitment and management of staff provide for appointment and advancement on merit. These requirements also apply to the BBC.

Gov.uk provides a range of Government information, including links to the eureferendum.gov.uk website which sets out information for the public in order to ensure they are able to make an informed decision on 23rd June.

It is legal for Government to do so and there are no additional costs associated with this. These links will be removed at the start of the restricted 28 day period.

The Government is considering the Tribunal’s judgement in this matter, and will respond in due course.

In his letter of 28 October 2015 to the Prime Minister, Sir John Chilcot said that he hopes to be in a position to agree a publication date for his report in June or July of this year. The timing of publication is a matter for the independent Inquiry.

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.