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Written Question
Solar Power: Industrial Estates
Thursday 24th March 2022

Asked by: Caroline Ansell (Conservative - Eastbourne)

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 incentivise the use of industrial spaces for the generation of solar power using solar panels; what assessment he has made of the feasibility of increasing the use of industrial spaces for that purpose; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Solar is a versatile low-cost technology which can be deployed on domestic and industrial roof tops and on the ground in a variety of spaces. In the Net Zero Strategy, the Government committed to sustained increase in deploying renewable generation technologies, including all types solar into the 2020s and beyond.

The Government is supporting the deployment of large scale solar through the Contracts for Difference scheme. Those installing rooftop solar on industrial and other buildings can receive payment for any surplus electricity that is exported to the grid through the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG). Government is also providing fiscal incentives through capital allowances for spend on solar panels, and as announced by my Rt. Hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Autumn Budget 2021, solar and storage used on site will be exempt from business rates from 1 April 2022 until 31 March 2035.


Written Question
Coronavirus: Vaccination
Wednesday 23rd December 2020

Asked by: Caroline Ansell (Conservative - Eastbourne)

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 the supply of the Pfizer vaccine in the event that the transition period ends without a deal on the future relationship with the EU; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Nadhim Zahawi

The UK has put in place a number of measures to facilitate trade with the EU beyond the end of the transition period and to avoid any adverse impact to vaccine supply beyond 1 January 2021.

The Government has worked with COVID-19 vaccine suppliers to support them with robust contingency plans.

If necessary, we will use alternative supply routes and Government procured freight capacity, in line with current Government advice.


Written Question
Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund
Monday 13th July 2020

Asked by: Caroline Ansell (Conservative - Eastbourne)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether English language schools are eligible for support through the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Paul Scully

Businesses in England that would have been in receipt of the Expanded Retail Discount (which covers retail, hospitality and leisure) on 11 March?with?a rateable value of less than £51,000 will be eligible for the following cash grants per property?via the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund (RHLGF). The Expanded Retail Discount scheme is targeted at properties that are wholly or mainly being used:

  • as shops, restaurants, cafes, drinking establishments, cinemas and live music venues;
  • for assembly and leisure; or
  • as hotels, guest & boarding premises and self-catering accommodation.

Guidance on the Expanded Retail Discount was published on 25 March 2020. Local authorities are responsible for implementing the discount in line with the guidance.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/business-rates-retail-discount-guidance

Officials are keeping in close contact with local authorities to monitor the progress of the grant scheme and regarding the operation of the business rates system. Any enquiries on eligibility for, or provision of, the RHLGF?should be directed to the relevant local authority.

On?1 May,?the Government announced that up to £617 million has been made available to local authorities?in England to allow them to provide discretionary grants to support businesses based on local economic priorities and not directly tied to the business rate system. Clearly, this funding is under pressure and local authorities are to individually decide which businesses to support, within the eligibility criteria set by Government: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-business-support-grant-funding

ELT businesses and individuals within this sector continue to have access to a range of additional support measures including, but not limited to:

  • Small business grant funding of £10,000 for all business in receipt of small business rate relief or rural rate relief
  • The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme
  • The Bounce Back Loan Scheme for small and micro enterprises
  • VAT deferral for up to 12 months
  • The Time To Pay scheme, through which businesses and self-employed individuals in financial distress, and with outstanding tax liabilities, can receive support with their tax affairs
  • Protection for commercial leaseholders against automatic forfeiture for non-payment until June 30, 2020 – with the option for the Government to extend if needed.

The Business Support website provides further information about how businesses can access the support that has been made available, who is eligible, and how to apply - https://www.gov.uk/business-coronavirus-support-finder.


Written Question
Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund
Monday 13th July 2020

Asked by: Caroline Ansell (Conservative - Eastbourne)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many local authorities have made Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant payments to English language schools; whether his Department has contacted local authorities that have not made those payments; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Paul Scully

As of 5 July, £10.65 billion has been paid out to over 867,600 business properties under the Small Business Grants Fund (SBGF) and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grants Fund (RHLGF). The grant schemes replicate the eligibility for the specific rate relief schemes. It is for local authorities to determine eligibility for reliefs, having regard to the guidance issued by government, and to deliver grants to businesses that are in scope. We do not hold sector-specific data from local authorities on grant payments. We have, however, published a full breakdown of grant funding allocated to and distributed by each local authority here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-grant-funding-local-authority-payments-to-small-and-medium-businesses.

We are working closely with all local authorities to deliver remaining funding to businesses that are in scope of the two schemes as quickly as possible, while safeguarding public funds. As part of this, we have provided detailed guidance and FAQs, regular briefings and one-to-one support from ministers and officials, as well as a communications toolkit to help local authorities reach remaining businesses.


Written Question
Non-domestic Rates: Coronavirus
Monday 11th May 2020

Asked by: Caroline Ansell (Conservative - Eastbourne)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether businesses not on the rates register but that pay rates through a landlord can access financial support through (a) the Small Business Grant Scheme or (b) other Government financial support schemes during the covid-19 outbreak; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Nadhim Zahawi

The Small Business Grant Fund and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund have?been designed to support smaller?businesses, as well as those sectors which have been hit hardest by the preventative lockdown measures due to Covid-19.

On 1 May, the Business Secretary announced that up to £617 million is being made available to local authorities as a discretionary fund for businesses outside the scope of the Small Business Grants Fund and Retail Hospitality and Leisure Grants Fund. This includes where small businesses occupy space and pay rent and rates through a landlord.

Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, we have monitored the performance of the business support schemes available, introducing necessary changes, including the recently announced Bounce Back Loans. Businesses can search for available support via the business support finder tool at: https://www.gov.uk/business-coronavirus-support-finder.


Written Question
Industry: Coastal Areas
Monday 19th December 2016

Asked by: Caroline Ansell (Conservative - Eastbourne)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans his Department has to develop a coastal industrial strategy with regard to (a) renewable energy, (b) small-scale fishing, (c) aquaculture and (d) tourism; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Nick Hurd

To deliver an effective Industrial Strategy that works for all, it is important to build on local excellence and learning from our strengths to boost growth across the UK. We need to learn from the best ideas across the country - businesses, workers, consumers, the research community, and local leaders – including from coastal communities.

The Government is already supporting coastal areas to create jobs and investment. By 2017 the Coastal Communities Fund will have invested over £120 million in projects that are helping to create or safeguard over 18,000 jobs, provide more than 12,000 training places and apprenticeships, and attract over £200 million of public/private sector co-finance. A further £90m is available between 2017 & 2021 and is the first time Coastal Community Teams in England are able to bid to the Coastal Communities Fund ensuring that, wherever possible, projects have the support of the local community and meet wider economic objectives.


Written Question
Conditions of Employment
Monday 28th November 2016

Asked by: Caroline Ansell (Conservative - Eastbourne)

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 publish advice for employers on how to support parents of premature or sick babies; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Margot James

There is guidance on entitlement to different types of family related leave and pay on gov.uk and on the Acas website. This is relevant to all new parents, including those who have had a premature child, and their employers. The Acas guidance includes an on-line tool for employers which, for example, helps them manage their employees return to work.

The Acas website also includes guidance for employers on good practice in managing absence, including circumstances in which staff need time off to care for premature or sick babies.


Written Question
Solar Power: South East
Wednesday 27th April 2016

Asked by: Caroline Ansell (Conservative - Eastbourne)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps she is taking to support the solar industry in the South East; and if she will make a statement.

Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Government recognises the significant role that solar deployment under the Feed-in-Tariffs (FITs) has played in engaging non-energy professionals in the electricity market, and the role that small-scale generation can play in the future energy mix. We therefore decided to keep the FITs scheme open in order to support the solar industry on a path to subsidy-free deployment.

Some 91,000 solar installations directly supported by FITs have been undertaken in the South East, providing 425 MW of generating capacity.

The new tariffs we’ve introduced will provide appropriate rates of return within a capped budget, encouraging further solar deployment whilst providing significantly better value for money to bill payers.


Written Question
Electricity Generation: Eastbourne
Wednesday 27th April 2016

Asked by: Caroline Ansell (Conservative - Eastbourne)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps she is taking to encourage the use of photovoltaic-generated electricity in Eastbourne constituency; and if she will make a statement.

Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Government recognises the significant role that solar deployment under the Feed-in-Tariffs (FITs) has played in engaging non-energy professionals in the electricity market, and the role that small-scale generation can play in the future energy mix. We therefore decided to keep the FITs scheme open in order to support the solar industry on a path to subsidy-free deployment.

Over 1,250 solar installations directly supported by FITs have been undertaken in the Eastbourne constituency, providing 4.4 MW of generating capacity.

The new tariffs we’ve introduced will provide appropriate rates of return within a capped budget, encouraging further solar deployment whilst providing significantly better value for money to bill payers.


Written Question
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: Families
Wednesday 20th April 2016

Asked by: Caroline Ansell (Conservative - Eastbourne)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what training his Department has provided to staff on the family test; what other steps he has taken to raise awareness of the family test among staff of his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Anna Soubry

The Family Test was announced by my Rt. hon Friend the Prime Minister in August 2014 and introduced in October 2014.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills welcomed the introduction of the Family Test and has taken steps to embed it by building it into the Department’s Public Sector Equality Duty commitments. This has included training officials on applying the test, disseminating learning materials and best practice.

The Family Test is an integral part of the policy making process and is applied in a proportionate way in the development of all new policy in line with the Family Test guidance, published by the Department for Work and Pensions.