Asked by: Andrew Mitchell (Conservative - Sutton Coldfield)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Net Zero strategy, what steps the Government is taking to help promote apprenticeships in the environmental sector.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Apprenticeships will play a key part in supporting the creation of two million skilled jobs to build back greener and support the UK to transition to net-zero by 2050.
The department has put employers at the heart of our apprenticeship system, empowering them to design a range of high-quality apprenticeship standards that are directly aligned to the green economy. This includes Dual Smart Meter Installer level 2, Countryside Ranger level 4 to level 7 Sustainability Business Specialist.
The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (the Institute) has identified over 50 apprenticeship standards that are supportive of the green economy. This includes some in the Digital, Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, and Project Management spheres. This will support employers to develop the right skills and build the workforce for tomorrow.
The department is encouraging employers to make full use of apprenticeships in the environmental sector, including those in construction and manufacturing who want to develop green skills. We are also improving training options and supporting modern methods of construction that support greener approaches and deliver our commitment to a net-zero economy.
The department will continue to ensure apprenticeships support new and emerging occupations with the help of the Institute, which is prioritising the development of green apprenticeship standards. This will ensure that employers in the green economy can benefit from apprenticeships and support our transition to net-zero.
Asked by: Andrew Mitchell (Conservative - Sutton Coldfield)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with relevant stakeholders on Royal Mail’s decision to add barcodes to its postage stamps; and what assessment has been made of the impact of that decision on consumers with unused non-barcoded and Christmas stamps after they cease to be valid in January 2023.
Answered by Paul Scully
The Department has regular discussions with Royal Mail on a wide range of issues. However, the development of stamp products is an operational matter for Royal Mail, a private company, and the Government is not involved in Royal Mail’s operational or commercial decisions.
Royal Mail launched a ‘Swap Out’ scheme for regular non-barcoded stamps on 31 March and has clarified that special issue and Christmas stamps will continue to be valid and will not need to be swapped out.
Further information about its plans for barcoded stamps is available on Royal Mail’s website: www.royalmail.com/sending/barcoded-stamps.
Asked by: Andrew Mitchell (Conservative - Sutton Coldfield)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 24 May 2021 to Question 3807, on Cabinet Office: Buildings, what progress has been made over the last twelve months on developing plans by the Government Property Agency to refurbish No. 36 Whitehall for use by civil servants; when that building was vacated by its last public service occupants; what the annual cost to the public purse in respect of (a) rates, (b) maintenance and utilities and (c) security relating to that building has been since that date; when he plans to provide the commercially sensitive information referred to in that Answer to the hon. Member for Sutton Coldfield; whether he has plans to visit No. 36 Whitehall; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jacob Rees-Mogg
The GPA has developed detailed designs for the building to be refurbished for use by Civil Servants. Records indicate the building was vacated in 2012.
As at 31 March 2021:
From 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022:
I visited 36 Whitehall on 4 May 2022. I have written to my Right Honourable Friend with regards to the letter he was expecting.
Asked by: Andrew Mitchell (Conservative - Sutton Coldfield)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the likelihood that trailblazer deeper devolution deals being negotiated with West Midlands Combined Authority and Greater Manchester Combined Authority will be followed by other mayoral combined authorities.
Answered by Neil O'Brien
In our Levelling Up White Paper, Government announced it's intention to negotiate Trailblazer deals with the West Midlands Combined Authority and Greater Manchester Combined Authority which will deepen the areas' devolution settlements.
Since publishing the Levelling Up White Paper we have already begun negotiations with both Greater Manchester Combined Authority and the West Midlands Combined Authority, which will provide a blueprint for other MCAs and the GLA to follow.
Government welcomes proposals from the existing MCAs and the GLA to deepen devolution arrangements, in line with the devolution framework.
Asked by: Andrew Mitchell (Conservative - Sutton Coldfield)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to promote the return of public transport following the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Government has provided nearly £2bn of support for local transport networks to date through emergency and recovery grants to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic.
The Government has announced a further £183.9m in funding for local transport providers to continue supporting the sector following the Covid-19 pandemic from April until October 2022. A condition of this new funding will be that both Local Transport Authorities and operators work closely together to ensure that effective and financially sustainable networks which cater for the needs of the local public are implemented once recovery funding ends.
The Government has also started to see some substantial changes in passenger demand for rail travel and is working with the rail industry to develop a number of recovery initiatives, including a recent promotional national marketing campaign, focused on restoring passenger confidence and encouraging passengers to choose rail. Further announcements will be made in due course.
Asked by: Andrew Mitchell (Conservative - Sutton Coldfield)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the Government is taking to simplify and streamline the process for bus franchising.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Transport Act 2000 (as amended by the Bus Services Act 2017) provides access to franchising powers to all Mayoral Combined Authorities in England. These powers enable them to implement franchised bus services in their areas, following the completion of a franchising assessment and consultation process.
The Department is currently revising the existing guidance – “The Bus Services Act 2017 Franchising Scheme Guidance”, published in November 2017, to provide updated detailed advice on the franchising process. The revised version will be published as soon as possible.
Asked by: Andrew Mitchell (Conservative - Sutton Coldfield)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to establish a long term, enhanced and devolved approach to funding bus services in the West Midlands.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
On 04 April 2022, the Government allocated £87.9m of indicative Bus Service Improvement Plan funding to West Midlands Combined Authority to deliver London-style services, fares and infrastructure improvements to their bus network. West Midlands Combined Authority has an enhanced partnership in place and is currently conducting an assessment exploring whether to pursue bus franchising in future.
The West Midlands will also receive over £1bn in a five-year funding deal from the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement to help deliver transformational transport programmes, which includes bus rapid transit corridors in this area.
Asked by: Andrew Mitchell (Conservative - Sutton Coldfield)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, for what reason the renovation of the British residence in Washington DC has exceeded its contractual completion date; when the renovation of that embassy is expected to be completed; and what steps she is taking to ensure the timely completion of those renovations.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The contract for all works was signed in February 2020; the original Residence renovation as part of the main contract was due to be completed in February 2022, and the overall project by April 2022. The current contractual completion date is July 2022. Reasons for the delay have included - but are not limited to - absorbing the direct impact of COVID 19, and its related indirect impact on supply chain, logistics, changing construction market conditions, discovery of unknown asbestos and continued failing infrastructure/pipework. For commercially sensitive reasons we cannot give more information at the present time.
The entire project is meant to be concluded in summer 2022. Installing the interior furnishings in the Residence will take some weeks beyond that.
We are committed to completing the renovation of the Lutyens Washington Residence, one of the Government's most outstanding and prestigious overseas assets, in a timely manner and to a high-quality. The supply chain problems have eased and additional design resource has been provided to keep up the pace of the project. We are managing the companies involved closely to ensure that pace is maintained and there is an effective response to any new challenges.
Asked by: Andrew Mitchell (Conservative - Sutton Coldfield)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support research on (a) the effect of climate change on nature and (b) the carbon capture potential of woodland; and if he will hold discussions with the Birmingham Institute of Forest Research on the implications for his policies of research on carried out in the northern hemisphere’s largest Free-Air CO2 Enrichment facility.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave on 19 January 2022 to PQ 101646 and PQ 101647.
Asked by: Andrew Mitchell (Conservative - Sutton Coldfield)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support research on (a) the effect of climate change on nature and (b) the carbon capture potential of woodland; and if he will hold discussions with the Birmingham Institute of Forest Research on the implications for his policies of research on the rate of photosynthesis in mature woodland exposed to artificially raised levels of CO2.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave on 19 January 2022 to PQ 101646 and PQ 101647.