Angus MacDonald

The government is committed to a sustainable universal postal service for users throughout the UK, including maintaining the one-price-goes anywhere principle including for those in remote and rural areas.

It is for Ofcom, as the independent regulator of postal services, to set and monitor Royal Mail’s service standards and decide how to use its powers to investigate and take enforcement action should Royal Mail fail to achieve its obligations without good justification.

The UK’s Trade Envoys play a crucial role in supporting HMG’s growth priorities, through helping deliver the industrial and trade strategies and attracting foreign direct investment to the UK. Lord Austin, in his capacity as Trade Envoy, visited Israel to continue to support these key UK businesses.

DBT publishes data on export licences issued for military and dual-use equipment. Enquiries related to data on the final exports of specific products should be referred to HMRC.

The most recent publication on export licences covers the quarter up to December 2024: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/strategic-export-controls-licensing-data.

The Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU) has also on an exceptional basis published further information on the current status of export licences to Israel: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/export-control-licensing-management-information-for-israel/israel-export-control-licensing-data-6-december-2024.

This data shows that licences for the export of all military equipment that might be used in current military operations in Gaza have been suspended, subject to the special measures put in place for exports to the global F-35 programme.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 17^th September 2024 to question 4955.

Seasonal businesses in Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire can benefit from a range of British Business Bank programmes for example, through the Start Up Loans programme, in addition, the Investment Fund for Scotland also provides debt and equity funding to businesses across Scotland to help them grow and invest.

The BBB's website hosts a 3-step Finance Finder that can help businesses understand the options available to them, while Help to Grow: Management provides practical training to enhance small business productivity and growth.

This government regularly engages with stakeholders including the Federation of Small Businesses to discuss the potential impacts of relevant policies.

In taking difficult decisions to address issues with public finances, the Government increased employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) while lowering the per-employee threshold. Government has protected small businesses by raising the Employment Allowance from £5,000 to £10,500. Consequently, 865,000 employers will pay no NICs this year, and over half will gain or see no change. While addressing fiscal challenges, the measure will help to alleviate the burden on the smaller businesses.

The UK continues to support the protection of human rights in Colombia, including by improving access to justice, protecting human rights defenders and promoting media freedom.

The UK-Colombia Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) includes binding investment protection provisions which protect both UK and Colombian investors against unfair and discriminatory treatment, and expropriation without adequate compensation. These commitments do not remove a government’s right to regulate in the public interest, nor its obligations to comply with other commitments, including with respect to human rights.

Products containing ethylene glycol can only be placed on the market if they are safe. This includes meeting any legal requirements on the concentration within that product so that it is at a level that is safe for both humans and the environment. I have not held, and do not plan to hold, specific discussions with manufacturers at this time.

The Government funds the Citizens Advice Consumer Service in England and Wales, providing impartial advice on a range of consumer issues, including buying online. In Scotland, where consumer advice and advocacy are devolved, a similar service is provided by Advice Direct Scotland, funded by the Scottish Government.

The department publishes estimates of the number of domestic properties not connected to the gas network in Great Britain by country, English regions, local authority and constituency.

For Northern Ireland, data on the total number of gas connections is available via the Annual Retail Energy Market Monitoring Report.

Equivalent figures for the electricity network are not published.

The department publishes estimates of the number of domestic properties not connected to the gas network in Great Britain by country, English regions, local authority and constituency.

For Northern Ireland, data on the total number of gas connections is available via the Annual Retail Energy Market Monitoring Report.

Equivalent figures for the electricity network are not published.

The Radio Teleswitch (RTS) signal has been switched off in some carefully targeted localised areas, where suppliers have the capacity to respond quickly in case of any issues.

Industry’s phase out plan is flexible and subject to change, as suppliers must demonstrate to Ofgem and Government that they are sufficiently prepared before they can proceed further.

Suppliers are continuing to contact households with RTS meters to arrange appointments to have them replaced in advance of any switch offs, but are also encouraging consumers to not wait, with over a quarter of a million meters having already been replaced across GB this year. Ofgem has also been contacting local authorities and members of parliament to inform them of planned activity in their area ahead of any switch offs.

Our announcement on Reformed National Pricing in the summer set out a package of reforms that will deliver a more strategic and coordinated approach to the energy system, provide stronger signals for efficient siting of new assets and improve overall operation efficiency. This will support increased investment by industry in the coming years by encouraging market stability, reducing transitional burdens on industry and transport, and providing certainty for investors.

We will continue to work with stakeholders across industry through the development and delivery of these reforms, ensuring that any associated costs with changes to processes are kept to a minimum.

We thank the Climate Change Committee for their report which highlights the significant progress this Government has made to reduce emissions over the past year. We are now considering their recommendations and will respond by October.

The transition to net zero is the economic and industrial opportunity of the century. The government's approach is built on fairness and it is committed to ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to access the benefits. The upcoming publication of the Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery Plan and the Clean Energy Workforce Strategy will outline this approach further. This includes ongoing work supporting both rural and urban communities and working with Devolved Governments to ensure a prosperous and fair transition for all.

In particular, the Clean Energy Workforce Strategy which will set out our approach to upskilling and reskilling the workforce into clean energy roles through initiatives including the Energy Skills Passport, in collaboration with industry. The skills system is delivering training for existing workers looking to retrain or upskill into clean energy.

The transition to net zero is the economic and industrial opportunity of the century. The government's approach is built on fairness and it is committed to ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to access the benefits. The upcoming publication of the Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery Plan and the Clean Energy Workforce Strategy will outline this approach further. This includes ongoing work supporting both rural and urban communities and working with Devolved Governments to ensure a prosperous and fair transition for all.

In particular, the Clean Energy Workforce Strategy which will set out our approach to upskilling and reskilling the workforce into clean energy roles through initiatives including the Energy Skills Passport, in collaboration with industry. The skills system is delivering training for existing workers looking to retrain or upskill into clean energy.

My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero engages regularly with his international counterparts on a range of departmental priorities and interests, including on COP30. During London Climate Action Week, for example, he met with counterparts from a range of countries, and he will meet others in the coming weeks.

The Department does not hold data on the value of community benefits payments made by onshore and offshore renewables across Great Britain. Community benefit schemes are administered by the projects themselves and provided voluntarily. We have however, recently publishing a Working Paper on mandatory community benefits and responses to this will help inform our evidence base.

The Scottish Government maintains a public register of projects that includes detailed information on community benefit schemes operating across Scotland.

Under the conditions of government energy efficiency schemes the government does not specify which types of insulation are appropriate for a particular property. They require that each must be assessed individually by a qualified professional to establish what is best on a property-by-property basis.

Any measures fitted under government schemes must be fitted to the highest standards with issues promptly and properly rectified. Installations of any insulation under current Government schemes must be installed in accordance with the PAS 2030 and PAS 2035 standards.

In any instance where insulation is installed improperly under a government-backed scheme, consumers may be entitled to remediation by their installer or, failing that, the insurance-backed guarantee.

Any measures fitted under government schemes must be fitted to the highest standards with issues promptly and properly rectified. Consumers are entitled to repair work by the original installer or, failing that, they can use their guarantee provided on installation. TrustMark can support them through this process.

The Government recognises that the consumer protection system that we inherited needs reform, we will press ahead with a sweeping overhaul through the Warm Homes Plan.

The Department and Ofgem agree that seven-port meters can be an adequate replacement option for households with more complex metering arrangements, such as Total Heating Total Control.

The DCC is obligated under the conditions of its licence to provide Wide Area Network (WAN) coverage to at least 99.25% of premises across Great Britain, and to assess opportunities to increase the overall level of coverage. The Government is working closely with the DCC on its network communications strategy, and solutions for properties currently without WAN are becoming available.

Energy suppliers are now able to install smart meters in the ‘North’ region which communicate using the 4G cellular mobile network. Additionally, a new solution that would involve harnessing, with the consumer’s consent, their broadband connections to carry smart metering communications will be piloted early next year, with a wider rollout expected later in 2026.

The Department does not collect data on Wide Area Network (WAN) availability at constituency level.

The DCC is obligated under the conditions of its licence to provide Wide Area Network (WAN) coverage to at least 99.5% of premises in the ‘North’ region, which includes Scotland, and to assess opportunities to increase the overall level of coverage.

The Government does not hold this information centrally.

As tariffs are a commercial matter for suppliers, the Government is unable to comment on individual tariffs offered by energy suppliers.

Energy suppliers are best placed to advise on suitable tariffs for their customers, and to ensure that they inform affected customers of any changes to the cost of their energy. The Department and Ofgem have been clear with suppliers that we expect consumers to be switched to a similar or equivalent tariff and should not face detriment due to switching from an RTS meter.

Ofgem has consulted on plans to ensure that suppliers must take all reasonable steps to provide a similar energy tariff to their customers once their RTS meter is replaced. Ofgem will make further announcements on this in due course.

Energy suppliers are best placed to advise on suitable tariffs for their customers, and to ensure that they inform affected customers of any changes to the cost of their energy. The Department and Ofgem have been clear with suppliers that we expect consumers to be switched to a similar or equivalent tariff and should not face detriment due to switching from an RTS meter.

Ofgem has consulted on plans to ensure that suppliers must take all reasonable steps to provide a similar energy tariff to their customers once their RTS meter is replaced. Ofgem will make further announcements on this in due course.

The Government published an impact assessment in early 2024 as part of the consultation on proposed support options for large scale biomass generators, including Drax.

This assessment was consistent with the views of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which recognise that bioenergy can play a significant role in decarbonising economies, provided that policies are in place to mitigate the use of unsustainable biomass.

The Government only provides support for biomass sourced from sustainably managed forests, and biomass generators must comply with local air quality requirements as part of their environmental permits.

On 21 May, the government published a working paper on community benefits and shared ownership of low carbon energy infrastructure. The government recognises that community benefit funding from renewable energy infrastructure creates opportunities for long term investment into host communities, and the government believes that funding packages will have the most impact if they can be tailored to the community’s preferences and priorities. The working paper intends to gather insight on how prescriptive the government should be on how funds can be used, and any other factors that should be considered in order to maximise their impact.

At present, the provision of community benefits in Great Britain is voluntary . In Scotland, developers are strongly encouraged to provide community benefits in line with the Scottish Government’s Good Practice Principles.

The government is, currently exploring mandating community benefits as we believe that where communities host this low carbon infrastructure they should benefit and the proposals were set out in the working paper the government published on 21 May.

Under voluntary or mandatory schemes, the process should be community led and the fund tailored to local priorities so that the impact can be maximized.

Communities close to clean energy infrastructure should benefit from it. Offshore wind developers have established community benefit packages, and via the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, the Government has published guidance on community funds and direct benefits in the form of bill discounts.

The Government has recently asked for views on the proposed introduction of a mandatory community benefit scheme in Great Britain and will respond in due course.

The government believes community fund packages will have the most impact if they can be tailored to the community’s preferences and priorities. The process should be community led and decisions on how community benefit funds are spent should rest with the community. This may include, for example, new school clubs, new bus routes, investment in biodiversity or local insulation.

In developing the government’s policy on community benefits, we have undertaken a review of international best practices to ensure our approach is effective and well-informed. This has included consideration of the Offshore Renewable Energy Support Scheme/Renewable Electricity Support Scheme in Ireland and other international examples.

Details of Ministers' and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK

The Department does not hold data on the value of community benefits payments made by onshore and offshore renewables across Great Britain. Community benefit schemes are administered by the projects themselves and provided voluntarily. We have however, recently publishing a Working Paper on mandatory community benefits and responses to this will help inform our evidence base.