Asked by: Baroness Coffey (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 27 February (HL5005) is consistent with his Written Answer on 6 February (HL4366) that clause 3 of the Great British Energy Bill would, if enacted, be considered ‘environmental law’.
Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The answers are consistent with one another. Whilst the Great British Energy Bill is considered environmental law, it is not proposing any changes to environmental law so there is no basis for the minister to form a view on the need for advice from the Office for Environmental Protection on any matter relating to the natural environment.
Asked by: Baroness Coffey (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Office for Environmental Protection intends to give advice to a Minister of the Crown with regard to the Great British Energy Bill on its own initiative, in line with section 30(3) of the Environment Act 2021.
Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Section 30(1) of the Environment Act 2021 states that the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) must give advice to a Minister of the Crown about any proposed changes to environmental law, or any other matter relating to the natural environment, on which the Minister requires it to give advice.
Section 30(3) of the Environment Act 2021 states that the OEP may give advice to a Minister of the Crown about any changes to environmental law proposed by a Minister of the Crown.
The Great British Energy Bill does not propose any change to environmental law. Therefore, as there is no basis for the minister to form a view on the need for advice from the OEP on any matter relating to the natural environment, the OEP is not providing advice.
Asked by: Baroness Coffey (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether a Minister of the Crown asked the Office for Environmental Protection for advice with regards to the Great British Energy Bill, in line with section 30(1) of the Environment Act 2021; and if not, why not.
Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Section 30(1) of the Environment Act 2021 states that the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) must give advice to a Minister of the Crown about any proposed changes to environmental law, or any other matter relating to the natural environment, on which the Minister requires it to give advice.
Section 30(3) of the Environment Act 2021 states that the OEP may give advice to a Minister of the Crown about any changes to environmental law proposed by a Minister of the Crown.
The Great British Energy Bill does not propose any change to environmental law. Therefore, as there is no basis for the minister to form a view on the need for advice from the OEP on any matter relating to the natural environment, the OEP is not providing advice.
Asked by: Baroness Coffey (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government which provisions of the Great British Energy Bill would, if enacted, constitute environmental law.
Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Clause 3 of the Great British Energy Bill, if enacted, would be considered ‘environmental law’.
Asked by: Baroness Coffey (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will publish their assessment which informed their statement under section 20 of the Environment Act 2021 that the Great British Energy Bill will not have the effect of reducing the level of environmental protection provided for by any existing environmental law.
Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The advice received by the Department regarding the Secretary of State’s statement under section 20 of the Environment Act 2001 is legally privileged. Therefore, this information will not be released.
Asked by: Baroness Coffey (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend the duty to conserve and enhance biodiversity in the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 as amended by section 102 of the Environment Act 2021 to apply to the proposed Great British Energy company.
Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The biodiversity duty, set out in the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 as amended by section 102 of the Environment Act 2021 applies to public authorities. As Great British Energy is being established as a non-departmental public body, the company will be required to comply with the biodiversity duty.
Asked by: Baroness Coffey (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend the environmental principles duty to apply to the proposed Great British Energy company.
Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Under the environmental principles duty set out in the Environment Act 2021, ministers and policy makers must consider the environmental principles when making policy. Ministers and Officials working on the establishment of Great British Energy (GBE) have considered the potential environmental impacts of establishing the company. GBE’s projects will also be subject to relevant environmental regulation as with any similar projects.
Asked by: Baroness Coffey (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 18 April 2024 to Question 21031 on Carbon Emissions: Suffolk Coastal, if her Department will provide a breakdown of funding granted through Energy Company Obligation Schemes to residents of Suffolk Coastal constituency.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
The ECO scheme is not funded directly by government, rather it is funded by obligated energy suppliers who then recoup the cost from their domestic customers. Government does not hold data on the geographical distribution of ECO spending.
To end of December 2023 (the latest available data) ECO schemes have supported the installation of 2,668 measures in 2,069 homes in the Suffolk Coastal constituency.
Asked by: Baroness Coffey (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many households have participated in the Boiler Upgrade Scheme in Suffolk Coastal constituency since January 2022.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme opened to applications in May 2022. Up to the end of February 2024, there were 106 grants paid for installations in properties in the constituency of Suffolk Coastal.
Asked by: Baroness Coffey (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps her Department is taking with OFGEM to reduce daily standing charges for gas and electricity in Suffolk.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
In November, Ofgem announced a review into standing charges, exploring how it is applied to energy bills and potential alternatives. The review had now closed and Ofgem is currently analysing the input it has received. Ofgem will publish its response in due course.
The variance in standing charge is mainly due to regional differences in energy distribution costs. These costs reflect the expenses of maintaining a live supply in a specific area, and the number of consumers those costs are spread across.
On 30 March, I wrote to Ofgem, highlighting the importance of keeping standing charges as low as possible.