Asked by: Bernard Jenkin (Conservative - Harwich and North Essex)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will estimate the likely (a) length of cabling, (b) transmission capacity, (c) financial cost of the proposed Sealink 1 undersea electrical cable from Sizewell to Kent, referred to as SCD1 in the latest National Grid Network Options Appraisal; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Greg Hands
National Grid Electricity Transmission is currently developing proposals for Sea Link, a new planned 2GW high voltage undersea electricity link between Suffolk and Kent.
(a) Length of cabling: ~150km, consisting of ~140km DC cable (of which 130km will be offshore and 10km onshore) and ~10km of onshore AC cables);
(b) Transmission capacity: 2GW High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC);
(c) Financial cost of the proposed Sea Link undersea electrical cable from Sizewell to Kent: This project is forecast to cost ~£1.2bn. This includes the cost to connect the link to the existing transmission system at either end, the converter stations and the cable required between the two. This figure is however subject to final engineering design, commodity prices, landowner agreements and mitigation.
Asked by: Bernard Jenkin (Conservative - Harwich and North Essex)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much of the estimated cost of each of the following undersea electricity transmission cables will ultimately be funded through electricity bills to residential and commercial customers (a) western link (Hunterston to Flintshire Bridge), (b) eastern link (Peterhead to Drax) and (c) Sealink 1 (Sizewell to Kent).
Answered by Greg Hands
All electricity network costs approved by the independent regulator Ofgem are funded through the network charges paid by electricity suppliers and generators. Ultimately, all such costs will be met by electricity consumers through their electricity bills.
Asked by: Bernard Jenkin (Conservative - Harwich and North Essex)
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 CGN on plans for the construction of a Chinese designed nuclear reactor at Bradwell in Essex; whether it is the Government’s policy to facilitate this project; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Greg Hands
The Government regularly speak to a range of developers, including CGN. The Government is not making any decisions on Bradwell at the present time. The proposed project is at an early stage of development, and we are focused on delivering at least one gigawatt scale power plant this Parliament.
Asked by: Bernard Jenkin (Conservative - Harwich and North Essex)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, which covid-19 Government support schemes are (a) subject to the European Commission’s Temporary Framework for State Aid; (b) subject to the De Minimis Framework for State Aid; and (b) not subject to State Aid rules.
Answered by Paul Scully
Although the UK has left the EU, under the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement, the EU State Aid rules continue to apply in the UK during the Transition Period. The European Commission has introduced some flexibilities into the rules to deal address the impacts of the Coronavirus, in the form of a Temporary Framework, which the UK has taken advantage of.
The UK has two schemes that have been approved by the European Commission under its Temporary Framework: the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS), and the COVID-19 Temporary Framework for UK authorities. Information about these schemes is available on DG Competition’s Coronavirus pages. The COVID-19 Temporary Framework for UK authorities allows public authorities to introduce their own aid measures without the necessity of obtaining an individual Commission approval. This provides cover for measures such as the Retail Hospitality and Leisure Grant scheme (RHLGF) and CBILS for large business.
The UK is not required under State Aid rules to maintain a database of De Minimis aid, or of non-aid measures, but has used introduced measures on these bases to support affected business. For example, the Small Business Grant Fund (SBGF), operates on a De Minimis basis, while the Job Retention schemes and business rate reliefs, which are key elements of the Government’s support package, do not involve State Aid at all.
Asked by: Bernard Jenkin (Conservative - Harwich and North Essex)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate he has made of (a) the outstanding student loan debt held by non-UK EU citizens, (b) the proportion of that debt that will be repaid and (c) the proportion of that debt that is outstanding.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
The Student Loans Company (SLC) administers student loans for each of the UK Government Administrations. Statistics covering English loans to EU domiciled borrowers are published annually by SLC in the Statistical First Release ‘Student Loans in England’.
http://www.slc.co.uk/official-statistics/student-loans-debt-and-repayment/england.aspx
At the end of the financial year 2014-15, the overall Higher Education English Income Contingent Repayment (ICR) loan balance outstanding was £64.7 billion. Of this, around 1.5% (£958 million) was held by EU domiciled borrowers.
Between 75% and 80% of the total value of loans from borrowers of all domiciles are expected to be repaid. An estimate for loans to EU domiciled borrowers is not available. Borrowers do not have to repay until they are earning over the relevant repayment threshold. Repayment is income contingent at 9% of any income over the repayment threshold.
SLC has arrangements in place to collect repayments from borrowers who move away from the UK; SLC establishes a 12 month repayment schedule based on the borrower’s income and provides information on the methods of repayment available.
SLC sets up fixed repayment schedules for borrowers who do not remain in contact and will place those borrowers in arrears. Further action, including legal action, can then be taken to secure recovery. European Commission regulations allow the SLC to obtain judgments in UK courts, which can be enforced by courts in other EU countries.
Asked by: Bernard Jenkin (Conservative - Harwich and North Essex)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the total liability was for student debt acquired by non-UK citizens in each of the last 10 years; and what the outstanding arrears was of such debt in each of those years.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
The Student Loans Company (SLC) administers student loans for each of the UK Government Administrations. Statistics covering English loans to EU domiciled borrowers are published annually by SLC in the Statistical First Release (SFR) ‘Student Loans in England’.
http://www.slc.co.uk/official-statistics/student-loans-debt-and-repayment/england.aspx
Information on the loan balance held by EU domiciled borrowers that are liable for repayment and in arrears at the end of each of the financial years 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15 can be found in table 1 of the SFR.
The information for the financial years prior to this could only be provided at disproportionate cost.