Alex Chalk

Under Schedule 7 of the Electricity Act 1989, the supplier shall determine the position of the meter within the customer’s premises, unless in all circumstances it is more reasonable to place it outside premises or in some other position. The position of a gas meter must comply with the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. This requires consumers to have access to the meter and emergency control valve for safety reasons. If a meter box is locked, the consumer must be provided with the corresponding key.

For prepayment meters, under the terms of their supply licence, suppliers must alter the position of the meter if it is not safe and reasonably practicable in all circumstances for the consumer to use it.

The Government has not made such an assessment.

There are now over 60 suppliers operating in the domestic energy market, some of which offer very competitive prices, especially for fixed term tariffs. We have already halved the time it takes to switch supplier to 21 days (including the statutory cooling off period). Ofgem is leading a programme across industry to introduce faster and more reliable switching by 2020.

Smart metering will make it easier and more convenient for consumers to engage with their energy use so they can reduce their bills and identify the best tariff and energy supplier for their needs. Smart Energy GB, who are responsible for national consumer engagement on smart meters, have found that 86% of people with a smart meter said they made energy saving changes to their behaviour.

Achieving clean growth, while ensuring an affordable energy supply for businesses is at the heart of the UK’s Industrial Strategy, and the Government is taking steps to encourage high street retailers to reduce their carbon footprint. Minimum energy efficiency standards and energy labelling regulations for energy-using products are making lighting and appliances that they buy more energy efficient. The Energy Technology List encourages high street retailers to invest in the most energy efficient plant and machinery, as part of the Enhanced Capital Allowance (ECA) for energy-saving technologies. Through energy efficiency programmes such as the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) and Climate Change Agreements (CCAs), high street retailers are encouraged to make improvements to the way in which they use energy.

We also require certain companies to measure and report their energy use and carbon emissions. This helps them to lower their energy costs, gain a better understanding of exposure to the risks of climate change, and demonstrate leadership to strengthen their green credentials in the marketplace. We have recently consulted on proposals to introduce a new and streamlined energy and carbon reporting framework.

Government provides support to businesses, public sector and non-profit organisations in meeting the cost of installing renewable heat technologies through the non-domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). The scheme is designed to bridge the gap between the cost of fossil fuel heat sources and renewable and low carbon heat alternatives through financial support for owners of participating installations.

The Government is also committed to ensuring that small businesses in the country are offered a smart meter by the end 2020. Smart metering will give high street retailers access to the information they need to understand and manage their energy use better, save money on bills and reduce carbon emissions.

There is also a role for behaviour change in emissions reduction. The government has published guidance to help businesses, especially SMEs, identify simple measures like not having doors propped open for convenience, which can help save up to 30% of heating costs.

Without having undertaken such a review, our broad assumption would be that overall the Green Deal would have had very limited effect on average bills. This is because of the small number of Green Deal Plans taken out and the “Golden Rule”, which helps to ensure that loan repayments should not exceed the savings expected to be made on energy bills.

Electrical chargers must comply with the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations which require manufacturers to only put safe products on the market. These Regulations are primarily enforced by Local Authority Trading Standards.

The Government is now considering a recommendation made by the Working Group on Product Recalls and Safety to provide more central capacity to support consumers on product safety, including with regard to electrical products, and we will respond to that recommendation in due course.

The launch of the Green Paper, ‘Building our Industrial Strategy’, in January 2017, commenced an extensive period of consultation, capturing feedback to inform the development of the White Paper. Over 2,000 organisations from across the country responded to the consultation, including a wide range of businesses, public sector organisations and private individuals.

The White Paper set out the government’s approach to working with places to maximise the benefits of the Industrial Strategy, based on the belief that the people best placed to drive forward local economies are those who live, work and do business in them. It included a variety of new opportunities for Local Enterprise Partnerships to drive local economic growth. I am sure that GFirst, the LEP for Gloucestershire, will be keen to build on the area’s cyber security strength with Cheltenham home to GCHQ.

The White Paper also included proposals to work with local leaders to develop Local Industrial Strategies, which will establish new ways of working between national leaders in both the public and private sectors, harnessing their local insights to develop clear, long-term strategies for future growth. Universities, colleges and other local institutions will be key in this process.

Energy suppliers with 250,000 or more domestic customer accounts are obligated to participate in the Warm Home Discount scheme. For 2017/18 this covers 15 suppliers.

Suppliers with less than 250,000 domestic customer accounts can apply to join the scheme voluntarily. Ofgem are responsible for approving applications from suppliers. To support a supplier’s decision to join the scheme voluntarily, Ofgem have published guidance on their website, which includes information about the application process and a supplier’s responsibilities when participating in the scheme: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/environmental-programmes/warm-home-discount-whd

There are three suppliers participating voluntarily in the Warm Home Discount scheme for 2017/18.

The Department will consult on the operation of Warm Home Discount for 2018/19.

We have sought UK intellectual property practitioners’ views on the effects of the UK's withdrawal from the European Union and we are aware that this is a concern to them. We are continuing to engage with practitioners and businesses and are actively considering the options available.

The Government supports research into Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) through the Medical Research Council (MRC), which receives funding from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy; and through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), which is funded by the Department of Health.

Together the MRC and the NIHR welcome high quality applications for research into all aspects of CFS/ME which would include studies to investigate the biological causes of the condition, improve our understanding of it and to evaluate treatments.

CFS/ME research is a current MRC priority area and has funded such research to the tune of £2.1 million. Research proposals are particularly encouraged that address the mechanisms underlying chronic changes related to CFS/ME and which aim to increase research capacity by bringing new researchers into the field, building partnerships and supporting multidisciplinary teams to tackle research challenges.

The Government recognises the importance of broadband access throughout the UK for businesses of all sizes. Under the Broadband Connection Voucher Scheme, over 50,000 SMEs across 52 cities took a connection voucher, with around 41,000 businesses already connected to super and ultra-fast broadband.

The Government is also undertaking a Review into Business Broadband, jointly led by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, to explore the barriers faced by businesses, including SMEs, in accessing the affordable, high-speed broadband they need. That Review is ongoing and will report later this year.

We’ve set out clear standards on transparent decision making, which Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) must comply with through their local assurance frameworks. These are verified by their accountable section 151 officers. We commissioned the Government Internal Audit Agency to review the quality of these frameworks, and keep the system under review through annual performance conversations with each LEP.

More than £80m UK public sector support (including Ofgem innovation funding) has been committed to energy storage research, development and demonstration activities since 2012, which is helping to drive down the costs of storage and bring new technologies closer to market. The Department has provided more than £18m of innovation funding for development and demonstration storage technologies; including funding for four technology demonstration projects.

We are facilitating the deployment of a smart grid through:

• Rolling out smart meters which are an integral part of a smart grid;
• The DECC-Ofgem Smart Grid Forum with a range of active workstreams to remove barriers to smart grid deployment.

Achieving clean growth, while ensuring an affordable energy supply for businesses is at the heart of the UK’s Industrial Strategy, and the Government is taking steps to encourage high street retailers to reduce their carbon footprint. Minimum energy efficiency standards and energy labelling regulations for energy-using products are making lighting and appliances that they buy more energy efficient. The Energy Technology List encourages high street retailers to invest in the most energy efficient plant and machinery, as part of the Enhanced Capital Allowance (ECA) for energy-saving technologies. Through energy efficiency programmes such as the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) and Climate Change Agreements (CCAs), high street retailers are encouraged to make improvements to the way in which they use energy.

We also require certain companies to measure and report their energy use and carbon emissions. This helps them to lower their energy costs, gain a better understanding of exposure to the risks of climate change, and demonstrate leadership to strengthen their green credentials in the marketplace. We have recently consulted on proposals to introduce a new and streamlined energy and carbon reporting framework.

Government provides support to businesses, public sector and non-profit organisations in meeting the cost of installing renewable heat technologies through the non-domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). The scheme is designed to bridge the gap between the cost of fossil fuel heat sources and renewable and low carbon heat alternatives through financial support for owners of participating installations.

The Government is also committed to ensuring that small businesses in the country are offered a smart meter by the end 2020. Smart metering will give high street retailers access to the information they need to understand and manage their energy use better, save money on bills and reduce carbon emissions.

There is also a role for behaviour change in emissions reduction. The government has published guidance to help businesses, especially SMEs, identify simple measures like not having doors propped open for convenience, which can help save up to 30% of heating costs.

As part of its work to make the UK the safest place in the world to be online, the Government published the Internet Safety Strategy Green Paper in October 2017 and published its consultation response in May this year.

The consultation response included a draft statutory social media code of practice. This provides guidance to social media providers on appropriate reporting mechanisms and moderation processes to tackle abusive content. By setting out clear standards for industry, we will make sure there is improved support for users online, and that more companies are taking consistent action to tackle abuse.

The Government will continue to consult with tech companies, charities and other stakeholders on the draft statutory social media code of practice ahead of the publication of a joint DCMS and Home Office White Paper.

Online TV channels licensed by Ofcom must comply with robust rules in the Ofcom Broadcasting Code on harmful or offensive content. Video-on-demand services within UK jurisdiction are subject to higher level rules which focus on harmful material, for example prohibiting incitement to hatred. More widely, as part of the work on the Digital Charter, the government is considering a range of options to counter internet harms. This includes an Internet Safety Strategy, published on 11 October, which considers the responsibilities of companies to their users, the use of technical solutions to prevent online harms and government’s role in supporting users.

As of 1 May 2016, over £476m of BDUK funding had been spent on Phase 1 of the superfast broadband programme. Funding is released on completion of project delivery milestones. The remainder of the funding will be spent by end 2017 which is the completion date for some of the Phase 1 projects.

Gloucestershire and Herefordshire County Councils (Fastershire broadband partnership) has been allocated £2 million from the South West ultrafast broadband fund. Fastershire are responsible for setting local coverage priorities and spending funds in line with procurement rules, and are undertaking new procurements with uncommitted funding from the Phase 2 Superfast Broadband Programme to address as many as the remaining non-served areas within the two counties as possible.

Superfast broadband of at least 24 Mbps is available to 90 per cent of homes and businesses in the UK – up from 45 per cent in 2010. We currently estimate that 94% of homes and businesses in the Cheltenham constituency will have access to superfast broadband by December 2017. Government is also working with major broadband suppliers to encourage them to further extend commercial coverage, particularly in urban areas.

Broadband Delivery UK are working closely with BT and other suppliers to deliver our Manifesto commitment to provide 95% of the UK with access to superfast broadband by the end of 2017. Almost 4 million homes and business now have access to superfast broadband for the first time thanks to the Superfast Broadband Programme. In addition, BT has recently announced an additional £179m of supplier funding for the programme under the contractual profit sharing arrangements. BDUK also has rigorous controls in place to ensure that all investment is in areas that will not be reached commercially for at least three years, and represents value for money.

The Cyber Innovation Centre in Cheltenham will help local innovators develop new cyber security products and start new companies. This will have a direct benefit to the tech sector in Cheltenham, a benefit which will increase over time as these start-ups grow into what we hope will be world-class firms.

The Herefordshire and Gloucestershire local broadband project team are currently not operating in the Cheltenham constituency. Based on DCMS modelled estimates and current delivery plans, it is estimated that 94% of premises in the Cheltenham constituency will have access to superfast broadband as a result of commercial coverage. In addition all premises which cannot currently get 2Mbps will be able take advantage of a subsidised satellite broadband service which can deliver speeds of 10Mbps or more.

DCMS has also placed estimates of superfast coverage at constituency level at the end of the current broadband programme in the House of Commons library, reference DEP2015-0163:

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/business-papers/commons/deposited-papers/?fd=2015-02-01&td=2015-04-01&house=1&search_term=Department+for+Culture%2c+Media+and+Sport&itemId=122028#toggle-163

Following the Chancellor’s announcement last November, my department has been working with GCHQ and the Office for Cyber Security and Information Assurance to take forward development of the innovation centres. We will ensure that you are kept regularly apprised of progress.

The previous chancellor announced his intention that funding from the sugar levy would help up to 25% of secondary schools provide a longer school day, to include a range of activities including sport. The Department is currently determining the details of how the funding will be allocated. We will provide further details in due course so that schools have sufficient time to apply for the funding and implement their plans.

The previous chancellor announced his intention that funding from the sugar levy would help up to 25% of secondary schools provide a longer school day, to include a range of activities including sport. The Department is currently determining the details of how the funding will be allocated. We will provide further details in due course so that schools have sufficient time to apply for the funding and implement their plans.

Children and young people’s mental health is a priority for the Department and we recognise the importance of supporting parents and schools to help children use social media safely.

To provide information to parents who are concerned about mental health the Department funded MindEd to set up a new site, MindEd for Families, which was launched earlier this year (http://minded.e-lfh.org.uk/families/index.html). This provides free on-line advice on a range of mental health issues affecting children and young people and includes a section on social media. Teachers can also find advice and training on mental health issues from the main MindEd site, which was funded by the Department of Health (https://www.minded.org.uk/). We are also continuing to provide funding to the YoungMinds parents helpline, a national service providing free, confidential online and telephony support, information and advice, to any parent/carer concerned with the emotional problems, behaviour or mental health of a child or young person up to the age of 25.

One of the risks to mental health from social media use is cyberbullying. The Department has produced guidance for parents and teachers on cyberbullying, which can be found online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/preventing-and-tackling-bullying. These contain advice and signpost further sources of detailed information and support – including for talking to children about social media use. We have also recently announced £4.4 million in funding for 10 projects to tackle bullying in schools. One of these is developing an online approach for reporting bullying to schools, including cyberbullying on social media.

To reflect the importance of keeping children safe online, e-safety is covered at all key stages in the computing curriculum. Children are taught: how to use technology safely and respectfully; how to keep personal information private; and where to go for help and support when they have concerns about content or contact on the internet, or other online technologies. Schools are also able to teach pupils about the use of social media and to learn strategies for keeping physically and emotionally safe, including safety online, as part of their Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education programme of study.

The Department has issued statutory guidance ‘Keeping children safe in education’, which flags the potential safeguarding issues that school staff should be aware of, including online safety. The guidance clearly sets out the role all school staff have in safeguarding children and the actions staff should take if they have a concern about a child. As part of their induction all school staff should be provided safeguarding training, which should be regularly updated.

The £55 million additional funding for maintained nursery schools for at least two years will provide them with stability while they explore how to become more sustainable in the longer term. We plan to consult the sector on the future of nursery schools in further detail, including what happens after this two year period, in due course.

Children’s centres are funded through the Business Rates Retention Scheme and local authorities have the freedom to decide what services are appropriate to meet local needs. Our early years funding proposals, on which we recently consulted, are designed to maximise the funding that goes to the front-line, including children’s centres where they provide early education. We will issue our response later in the autumn.