Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Callanan on 18 March (HL2249), what assessment they have made of the impact of HMRC rates and allowances on the ability of producers of hygiene gel to produce such gel; and what plans they have, if any, to dispense with those rates and allowances to assist such producers to meet demand.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Alcohol used in the production of retail sanitiser gel is not subject to excise duty, providing it is denatured. Producers, suppliers, and users of denatured alcohol must be authorised by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).
Licensed suppliers of trade-specific denatured alcohol or duty-free spirit that are supplying it for hand sanitiser do not need to restrict the volume supplied. However, they should continue to inspect authorisations and record details of supplies made.
On 23 March 2020, HMRC announced a series of easements designed to increase the amount of denatured alcohol available, as well as the number of businesses authorised to use it in the production of sanitiser gel. These measures will make it easier for manufacturers to meet the sudden increase in demand during the Coronavirus outbreak. Further information on the easements announced to support hand sanitiser production can be found at gov.uk.
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there are shortages of hygiene gel distributed to retail outlets; and if so, what is the reason and what measures are being taken to resolve those shortages.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The UK is well prepared for this type of outbreak; we are taking all necessary precautions to protect the public, including engaging with industry and the business community to discuss their preparedness planning.
The Government recognises that there has been increased demand on a number of products, including hygiene gel. These shortages are caused by increased consumer demand, rather than supply chain disruption. Retailers are working with suppliers to increase stock and reassure consumers there is no need to buy higher quantities than usual.
We will work with local authorities to extend the hours that deliveries can be made to supermarkets and other food retailers to help the industry respond to COVID-19. The new measures mean retailers can increase the frequency of deliveries to their stores and move stock more quickly from warehouses across the country to replenish their shelves.
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans UK regulators are implementing to ensure continuity of electricity supplies from national and local grids to supply electric cars during rush hour journeys.
Answered by Lord Henley
The Government is committed to making sure consumers have secure, affordable and clean energy now and in the future.
The Capacity Market secures the capacity required to meet peak demand, including demand for electric vehicles, in a range of scenarios through auctions held four- and one-year ahead of delivery. Although currently in a standstill period, the Capacity Market has already procured the bulk of the electricity capacity we need up to 2022.
In addition, the Government has taken powers in the Automated and Electric Vehicles Act 2018 to mandate that charge points sold or installed in the UK must be smart enabled – allowing demand for charging of electric vehicles to be shifted, where appropriate, to off-peak times.
Finally, Ofgem regulates network companies to ensure that they deliver a safe, reliable network whilst investing for the future and providing value for money for consumers. This includes ensuring that networks can reliably deliver the energy that consumers need, including for charging electric vehicles.
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what relationship the UK will have with (1) the International Science and Technology Centre, and (2) the Science and Technology Centre in Ukraine following the UK's withdrawal from the EU.
Answered by Lord Henley
The UK is currently funding one project with the International Science and Technology Centre which is due to conclude in March 2019, and is not currently working on any projects with the Science and Technology Centre in Ukraine.
Following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, we would consider whether to fund projects with these organisations on a case by case basis, depending on their importance for meeting our international non-proliferation and security objectives.
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their relationship with the British Chambers of Commerce; what assessment they have made of the performance of that organisation; whether they have expressed any concerns to that organisation in the past four years; and if so, what was the nature of those concerns.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The British Chambers of Commerce is an important stakeholder for government and we engage actively with their senior team and the network of 52 accredited Chambers of Commerce in the UK.
The British Chambers of Commerce is also a delivery partner for the Overseas Business Network initiative – a programme to increase the number and range of private sector partners supporting UK exporters in overseas markets. In 2013/14 and 2014/15, UK Trade & Investment trialled a number of initiatives with the British Chambers of Commerce, including co-ordinating UK-end activity and accrediting the overseas delivery partners.
Following a review in November 2014, it was agreed that responsibility for co-ordinating the UK-end activity would be shifted from the British Chambers of Commerce to UK Trade and Investment’s regional delivery contracts with effect from April 2015. The British Chambers of Commerce continue to accredit overseas delivery partners.
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the result of the referendum on the UK's membership of the EU, what assessment they have made of the impact on funding for scientific and medical research at UK universities, and what plans they have to address any such impact.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Government intends to maintain and enhance the strength of our research and innovation base This is why we have protected the science resource budget in real terms from its 2015/16 level of £4.7 billion for the rest of the parliament.
While the UK remains a member of the EU, current EU funding arrangements continue unchanged, including those that apply to students, researchers, and businesses. We remain fully open to scientists and researchers from across the EU. We hugely value the contribution of EU and international staff and there are no immediate changes to their rights to live and work in the UK.
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the result of the referendum on the UK's membership of the EU, what plans they have to make up any shortfall in funding for scientific and medical research.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Government intends to maintain and enhance the strength of our research and innovation base This is why we have protected the science resource budget in real terms from its 2015/16 level of £4.7 billion for the rest of the parliament.
While the UK remains a member of the EU, current EU funding arrangements continue unchanged, including those that apply to students, researchers, and businesses. We remain fully open to scientists and researchers from across the EU. We hugely value the contribution of EU and international staff and there are no immediate changes to their rights to live and work in the UK.
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of whether gas supplies to the UK are secure and will remain competitively priced following the vote to leave the EU, and what contingency plans they have in place; what percentage of UK gas supplies originate from Russia; and what assessment they have made of whether the devaluation of sterling against the rouble following the vote to leave the EU will adversely affect gas prices.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
Energy security is my top priority. The Department will take the steps needed to ensure hard working families and business have the energy they need, including from overseas where this adds to the diversity and cost effectiveness of our energy supplies.
The UK has high levels of gas security from a diverse supply mix including storage facilities; pipelines from Norway, Netherlands and Belgium; and LNG terminals. This is in addition to domestic production which met over half our annual demand of 773TWh in 2014. Gas shippers in the UK purchase gas from hubs across Europe without HMG intervention in a competitive market.
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many trade agreements are currently being negotiated by the EU, and with which countries.
Answered by Lord Price
The European Commission is actively negotiating seven bilateral trade and investment agreements. These are with the following countries: USA, Japan, Philippines, India, the Mercosur bloc, Morocco and Tunisia. The European Commission is negotiating bilateral investment agreements with Burma and China. In addition, the European Commission is also engaged in the negotiation of two “plurilateral” agreements on behalf of the EU: the Trade in Services Agreement and the Environmental Goods Agreement.
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government which European trade agreements are awaiting ratification by the UK Parliament.
Answered by Lord Price
The EU-Southern Africa Economic Partnership Agreement and the EU-Central America Association Agreement are expected to be presented to Parliament in the near future.
The EU has concluded negotiations with the following partners and, assuming that these agreements are approved in Council as being of “mixed competence”, each will need to be approved by Parliament: Canada, Ecuador, Singapore, Vietnam, Eastern Africa, and Western Africa.