Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many people secured a grant from the Great British Insulation Scheme since it opened in April 2003.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) is not a government grant, rather it is an obligation on larger energy suppliers to deliver the most cost-effective single insulation measures to eligible households across Great Britain.
Information on the number of measures installed and the number of households that have received measures under GBIS since it launched in 2023 can be found in Tables 1 and 2 of the latest GBIS Statistics Release.
Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps her Department is taking to ensure a just transition when moving from fossil fuels to a hydrogen-based economy.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Shadow Minister (Energy Security and Net Zero)
As well as supporting UK energy independence, low carbon hydrogen will be critical to helping British industries transition from oil and gas, provide greener energy for power, transport and potentially home heating. Government’s working closely with the oil and gas industry to achieve a managed transition, including through the North Sea Transition Deal. Deal recognises the world-leading skills of the sector and supply chain and key role it could have in helping deliver net zero and Hydrogen production ambition. The Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill sends a strong signal to support the continued investment necessary to our energy security and transition to cleaner technologies.
Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will make it her policy to cap energy prices based on the time of day that households use their appliances.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
The price cap on default tariffs remains in place. Ofgem are seeking views on how price protections could apply in future, in light of innovations such as time of use tariffs www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/ofgem-launches-discussion-future-price-cap .
Alongside this the Government is seeking views on how default tariffs should support households in the future https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/default-energy-tariffs-for-households-call-for-evidence.
Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will make an assessment of the implications for her policies of trends in the level of profits made by oil and gas companies in the last 12 months.
Answered by Graham Stuart
No such assessment has been made.
Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment her Department has made of the potential implications of the provisions of the Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill for membership of the Energy Charter Treaty.
Answered by Graham Stuart
On 1 September 2023, the UK announced it would be reviewing its membership of the ECT if the modernised Treaty was not adopted by November 2023. The Government is considering the views of stakeholders in business, civil society, and Parliament as part of this process.
Investments in the UK energy sector are potentially in scope of the investment protection provisions of the Energy Charter Treaty. This protection is dependent on the details of the investment and the relationship between the investor and a Contracting Party to the Energy Charter Treaty.
Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to her Department’s review of the UK’s membership of the Energy Charter Treaty, what discussions her Department has had with other signatories and contracting parties to that Treaty who are seeking to withdraw from it.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The UK holds regular meetings with Contracting Parties to the Energy Charter Treaty, including the EU and EU Member States.
Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will make it her policy to introduce an emergency energy tariff.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
The Government recognises the challenges posed by the cost-of-living pressures, including energy bill costs, and is already providing extensive financial support. This includes a package of support worth £104 billion, or £3,700 per household on average, between 2022-2025.
The Government is continuing to support those most in need, with millions of vulnerable households receiving up to £900 in cost-of-living payments. This is in addition to established financial support for vulnerable households through the Winter Fuel Payment, which delivered £250 - £600, and the £150 Warm Homes Discount. We are continuing to monitor the situation and keeping options under review.
Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether the Government has made an assessment of potential opportunities for collaboration with the Republic of Korea on nuclear energy projects in the UK.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Shadow Minister (Energy Security and Net Zero)
We recognise the opportunities to cooperate with South Korea on civil nuclear, including on fuel supply chains; safety; security; non-proliferation; decommissioning; and the development of new reactors, in both countries. This is underpinned by agreements signed between us in November 2023.
Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the policy paper entitled Net Zero Strategy: Build Back Greener, published on 19 October 2021, when she plans to publish the nuclear roadmap for delivery; and whether her Department has consulted with relevant stakeholders on this roadmap.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
The Government is finalising plans for the civil nuclear roadmap, which will be published soon. The document aims to send a clear signal to industry and set out the Government’s role in supporting and enabling the delivery of our nuclear ambitions. The Department regularly engages with the nuclear sector regarding a range of issues, and these have helped inform the priorities for the civil nuclear roadmap.
Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether people living in the UK on a British National (Overseas) visa are eligible for the boiler upgrade scheme.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) supports the installation of air source heat pumps, ground source heat pumps, and, in limited circumstances, biomass boilers in domestic and small non-domestic buildings in England and Wales.
For someone to access the BUS grant they must be the property owner and their property must be in England or Wales.