Asked by: Anne Main (Conservative - St Albans)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much has been spent from the public purse on research and development in the field of biodegradable and compostable plastics in each of the last 15 years.
Answered by Sam Gyimah
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy sets the overall budgets of the independent Research Councils and Innovate UK, which then allocate funds for individual grants and research organisations in line with the Haldane Principle.
The Research Councils and Innovate UK have spent the following amounts on research and development in the field of biodegradable and compostable plastics in each of the last 15 years. Data older than 10 years may be less reliable. Further information on research and development projects can be found on the RCUK Gateway to Research, see: http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk.
| Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) | Innovate UK | Total |
2016/17 | £210,000 | £4,644,293 | £104,344 | £4,958,637 |
2015/16 | £276,000 | £3,663,120 | £0 | £3,939,120 |
2014/15 | £262,000 | £3,352,169 | £5,000 | £3,619,169 |
2013/14 | £219,000 | £2,744,545 | £792,827 | £3,756,372 |
2012/13 | £110,000 | £1,444,270 | £0 | £1,554,270 |
2011/12 | £0 | £1,508,745 | £248,045 | £1,756,790 |
2010/11 | £233,000 | £1,481,377 | £0 | £1,714,377 |
2009/10 | £394,000 | £1,848,298 | £0 | £2,242,298 |
2008/9 | £514,000 | £2,390,929 | £0 | £2,904,929 |
2007/8 | £463,000 | £1,445,324 | £0 | £1,908,324 |
2006/7 | £114,000 | £1,011,496 | £0 | £1,125,496 |
2005/6 | £34,000 | £717,932 | £0 | £715,932 |
2004/5 | £8,000 | £476,455 | £0 | £484,455 |
2003/4 | £67,000 | £227,859 | £0 | £294,859 |
2002/3 | £90,000 | £259,863 | £0 | £349,863 |
Total | £2,994,000 | £27,216,675 | £1,150,216 | £31,360,891 |
In the last 15 years, DEFRA has spent approximately £277,000 on a number of research projects in the field of biodegradable and compostable plastics.
Asked by: Anne Main (Conservative - St Albans)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what representations he has made to the (a) Secretary of State for Justice and (b) Home Secretary on the level of retail crime during 2016.
Answered by Margot James
I regularly meet with Ministerial colleagues to discuss a wide range of issues affecting the retail sector. The Department also works closely with the Home Office’s National Retail Crime Steering Group.
Asked by: Anne Main (Conservative - St Albans)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the effect on Swansea of a pathfinder tidal lagoon.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Hendry Review published its report on tidal lagoons in January. The issues considered by the report are complex, both in relation to the proposed Swansea Bay project and to a potentially wider lagoon programme. Government will require a period of time to assess those issues and determine what is in the best interest of the UK energy consumer and taxpayer in the long term, and will publish its response to the Hendry Review in due course.
Asked by: Anne Main (Conservative - St Albans)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential role of tidal lagoons in the cultivating world leading sectors pillar of his Department's industrial strategy.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
Government is considering the recommendations from the Hendry Review and the issues which arise from a broader programme. Government will require a period of time to assess those issues and determine what is in the best interest of the UK energy consumer and taxpayer in the long term. The Government will publish its response to the Hendry Review in due course.
Asked by: Anne Main (Conservative - St Albans)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what his Department's policy is on ensuring pathfinder tidal lagoons include a no regrets policy.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Hendry Review published its report in January. Government is considering its recommendations and the issues which would arise from a broader lagoon programme, and will publish its response to the Hendry Review in due course.
Asked by: Anne Main (Conservative - St Albans)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that (a) lagoons meet the criteria required to obtain a marine licence and (b) alternative habitats are found for wildlife affected by each lagoon.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
Marine Licences are issued in England and Wales by the Marine Management Organisation and Natural Resources Wales respectively. It is for the developers of projects to engage with the MMO and NRW directly on any marine licence application they wish to make.
The impact of any proposed new lagoons on habitats and wildlife, including the need for any alternative habitats, will be assessed as part of the consent or licence application process for those projects taking into account the requirements of any relevant legislation.
Asked by: Anne Main (Conservative - St Albans)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.
Answered by Amber Rudd
The EU has an effective carbon market in the form of the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). Since 2005 the EU ETS has been the world’s largest emissions trading system, limiting greenhouse gas emissions in the power and heavy industrial sectors. The Government recognises that while the EU ETS works well in terms of process, an oversupply of allowances in the system means it is not delivering the degree of low carbon investment it should. This is why we strongly support structural changes to strengthen the EU ETS and are actively pressing for reforms in discussion with EU counterparts and other stakeholders.
Asked by: Anne Main (Conservative - St Albans)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how much EU funding the UK has received to tackle climate change in each of the last 10 years.
Answered by Amber Rudd
DECC does not hold this information centrally and to collate it would incur disproportionate costs.
Asked by: Anne Main (Conservative - St Albans)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment she has made of the effect of the European Court of Justice's ruling on VAT on energy-saving materials of 4 June 2015, on achievement of the UK's annual carbon emissions target.
Answered by Amber Rudd
We have made no such estimate of the effect of the ECJ ruling on VAT, since there has been no decision to amend VAT since the ECJ ruling. The reduced rate on 11 different types of energy saving materials remains in place and remains unchanged.
The Government is still considering the responses to the consultation on VAT on energy saving materials and will issue a response to that consultation in due course.
Asked by: Anne Main (Conservative - St Albans)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how much his Department and its agencies and non-departmental public bodies have spent on infraction proceedings in each of the last 10 years.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 11 May 2016 to Question UIN 36288.