Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 29 April 2024 to Question 23517 on Work Capability Assessment: Parkinson's Disease, when she (a) last met and (b) is next scheduled to meet representatives from Parkinson's UK.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Ongoing engagement continues with a range of charities and clinical experts specialising in disability and health conditions as well as representatives from national organisations to understand the experiences of people with Parkinson’s going through the Work Capability Assessment.
Details of ministerial meetings are published quarterly on gov.uk in line with transparency data releases and can be found here.
Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the policy paper entitled Assessment of the F gas Regulation in Great Britain, published on 16 December 2022, if he will make an assessment of what the research and development requirements will be for businesses switching from f-gas to alternative gases to meet the quotas set out in that report; and whether he has had recent discussions with relevant industry stakeholders on the adequacy of resourcing for that research and development.
Answered by Robbie Moore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The F gas regulation in Great Britain Assessment report included HFC demand forecast, modelled for Great Britain, for four forecast scenarios. The assumptions behind these scenarios were informed by stakeholder engagement. We have continued to discuss the feasibility of the scenarios with stakeholders following publication of the report.
We are aware that further research and development, as well as investment, will be needed as the transition to lower GWP alternatives continues. We remain engaged with stakeholders to understand the barriers and challenges faced by industry.
We intend to consult in due course on proposals for legislative reform to the GB F-gas Regulation. This will provide all stakeholders with an opportunity to respond to the proposals and highlight any concerns with resourcing for research and development.
Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the policy paper entitled Assessment of the F gas Regulation in Great Britain, published on 16 December 2022, whether he has had recent discussions with relevant industry stakeholders on their ability to meet the quotas in that report.
Answered by Robbie Moore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The F gas regulation in Great Britain Assessment report included HFC demand forecast, modelled for Great Britain, for four forecast scenarios. The assumptions behind these scenarios were informed by stakeholder engagement. We have continued to discuss the feasibility of the scenarios with stakeholders following publication of the report.
We are aware that further research and development, as well as investment, will be needed as the transition to lower GWP alternatives continues. We remain engaged with stakeholders to understand the barriers and challenges faced by industry.
We intend to consult in due course on proposals for legislative reform to the GB F-gas Regulation. This will provide all stakeholders with an opportunity to respond to the proposals and highlight any concerns with resourcing for research and development.
Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Answer by the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work to the Question from the hon. Member for Kilmarnock and Loudoun on 13 November 2023, Official Report, column 371, when he plans to contact Parkinson's UK to arrange a meeting to discuss Work Capability Assessments.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
I have recently met with individuals diagnosed with Parkinson’s, and we continue to engage with a range of clinical experts and charities specialising in disability and health conditions as well as representatives from national organisations to understand the experiences of people with Parkinson’s going through the Work Capability Assessment.
Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
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 25 March 2024 to Question 19394 on Fuel Poverty, if she will take steps to extend the list of energy efficiency measures to include new technologies; and if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of extending that list on energy bills for low-income households.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Government energy efficiency schemes prioritise measures that have beneficial long-term effects on lowering bills and making homes more comfortable and affordable to live in, within the scope of the Standard Assessment Procedure model. The Government is currently developing the Home Energy Model which will replace the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP).
The current Energy Company Obligation schemes require eligible measures to result in a reduction in the cost of heating a consumer’s home. There are mechanisms for new measures to be eligible where they meet this and other scheme requirements. The potential impact of new measures on energy bill savings for low-income households would have to be assessed in relation to the specific new measures selected.
Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending until 2027 periods for finalising reconciliation for energy supplier subsidies following the closure of the Energy Bill Relief Scheme.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Department has been working with energy suppliers and industry stakeholders to determine the best course of action on this matter, which includes ensuring that we retain the necessary protections to protect public funds.
Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, with reference to the Note to Correspondents on the Independent Review of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) of 20 March 2024, what assessment he has made of the (a) adequacy of the mechanisms and procedures UNRWA has in place to ensure compliance with the Humanitarian Principle of neutrality and (b) potential implications of that Note for his policies towards UNRWA; and if will resume funding to UNRWA.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
We are appalled by allegations that UNRWA staff were involved in the 7 October attack against Israel, a heinous act of terrorism that the UK Government has repeatedly condemned.
We are aware that the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services and Catherine Colonna have now provided their interim reports to the UN Secretary-General
We want UNRWA to give detailed undertakings about changes in personnel, policy and precedents to ensure this can never happen again.
We are working with allies to try to bring this situation to a rapid conclusion - not least because UNRWA have a vital role to play in providing aid and services in Gaza. We continue to urge Israel and all parties with relevant information to cooperate fully with the independent investigations.
Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, pursuant to the Answer of 15 April 2024 to Question 20677 on UNRWA: Finance and with reference to the measures and conditions set out in correspondence published by the EU Commissioner on 6 March 2024, whether (a) he and (b) the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs has had discussions with UNRWA to (i) seek similar assurances and (ii) ascertain the detailed undertakings relating to changes in personnel, policy and precedents.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
We are appalled by allegations that UNRWA staff were involved in the 7 October attack against Israel, a heinous act of terrorism that the UK Government has repeatedly condemned.
We are aware that the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services and Catherine Colonna have now provided their interim reports to the UN Secretary-General
We want UNRWA to give detailed undertakings about changes in personnel, policy and precedents to ensure this can never happen again.
We are working with allies to try to bring this situation to a rapid conclusion - not least because UNRWA have a vital role to play in providing aid and services in Gaza. We continue to urge Israel and all parties with relevant information to cooperate fully with the independent investigations.
Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2024 to Question 18736 on Hamas: UNRWA, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of Israel's cooperation with the investigations carried out by the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services and Catherine Colonna; and whether the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs has had discussions with his Israeli counterpart on that country's cooperation with those investigations.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
We are appalled by allegations that UNRWA staff were involved in the 7 October attack against Israel, a heinous act of terrorism that the UK Government has repeatedly condemned.
We are aware that the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services and Catherine Colonna have now provided their interim reports to the UN Secretary-General
We want UNRWA to give detailed undertakings about changes in personnel, policy and precedents to ensure this can never happen again.
We are working with allies to try to bring this situation to a rapid conclusion - not least because UNRWA have a vital role to play in providing aid and services in Gaza. We continue to urge Israel and all parties with relevant information to cooperate fully with the independent investigations.
Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, pursuant to the answer of 15 April 2024 to Question 20677 on UNRWA: Finance, what evidence his Department has received from Israel confirming allegations made against UNRWA; and whether he has shared that evidence with (a) UNRWA and (b) governments that have reinstated funding to UNRWA.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
We are appalled by allegations that UNRWA staff were involved in the 7 October attack against Israel, a heinous act of terrorism that the UK Government has repeatedly condemned.
We are aware that the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services and Catherine Colonna have now provided their interim reports to the UN Secretary-General
We want UNRWA to give detailed undertakings about changes in personnel, policy and precedents to ensure this can never happen again.
We are working with allies to try to bring this situation to a rapid conclusion - not least because UNRWA have a vital role to play in providing aid and services in Gaza. We continue to urge Israel and all parties with relevant information to cooperate fully with the independent investigations.