Dan Byles

Conservative - Former Member for North Warwickshire

First elected: 6th May 2010

Left House: 30th March 2015 (Retired)


Dan Byles is not a member of any APPGs
Science and Technology Committee (Commons)
1st Dec 2014 - 30th Mar 2015
Energy and Climate Change Committee
12th Jul 2010 - 30th Mar 2015
Science and Technology Committee
1st Dec 2014 - 30th Mar 2015
Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
1st Dec 2014 - 30th Mar 2015


Division Voting information

Dan Byles has voted in 973 divisions, and 18 times against the majority of their Party.

23 Feb 2015 - Serious Crime Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Dan Byles voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 78 Conservative No votes vs 151 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 201 Noes - 292
27 Oct 2014 - Recall of MPs Bill - View Vote Context
Dan Byles voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 110 Conservative Aye votes vs 135 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 166 Noes - 340
28 Apr 2014 - High Speed Rail (London – West Midlands) Bill - View Vote Context
Dan Byles voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 31 Conservative Aye votes vs 221 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 50 Noes - 451
28 Apr 2014 - High Speed Rail (London – West Midlands) Bill - View Vote Context
Dan Byles voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 25 Conservative No votes vs 220 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 452 Noes - 41
31 Oct 2013 - High Speed Rail (Preparation) Bill - View Vote Context
Dan Byles voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 19 Conservative No votes vs 229 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 350 Noes - 34
26 Jun 2013 - High Speed Rail (Preparation) Bill - View Vote Context
Dan Byles voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 20 Conservative Aye votes vs 197 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 37 Noes - 325
26 Jun 2013 - High Speed Rail (Preparation) Bill - View Vote Context
Dan Byles voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 16 Conservative No votes vs 199 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 330 Noes - 27
21 May 2013 - Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill - View Vote Context
Dan Byles voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 124 Conservative Aye votes vs 134 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 366 Noes - 161
20 May 2013 - Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill - View Vote Context
Dan Byles voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 99 Conservative No votes vs 121 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 150 Noes - 340
20 May 2013 - Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill - View Vote Context
Dan Byles voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 95 Conservative No votes vs 125 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 148 Noes - 339
20 May 2013 - Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill - View Vote Context
Dan Byles voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 92 Conservative No votes vs 126 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 163 Noes - 321
5 Feb 2013 - Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill - View Vote Context
Dan Byles voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 131 Conservative Aye votes vs 139 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 400 Noes - 175
11 Jul 2012 - Sittings of the House - View Vote Context
Dan Byles voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 90 Conservative Aye votes vs 123 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 280 Noes - 184
11 Jul 2012 - Sittings of the House - View Vote Context
Dan Byles voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 39 Conservative Aye votes vs 167 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 205 Noes - 228
10 Jul 2012 - House of Lords Reform Bill - View Vote Context
Dan Byles voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 89 Conservative No votes vs 192 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 462 Noes - 124
12 Mar 2012 - Backbench Business Committee - View Vote Context
Dan Byles voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 40 Conservative Aye votes vs 141 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 105 Noes - 186
7 Dec 2011 - London Local Authorities Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Dan Byles voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 26 Conservative No votes vs 47 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 57 Noes - 145
24 Oct 2011 - National Referendum on the European Union - View Vote Context
Dan Byles voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 81 Conservative Aye votes vs 209 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 111 Noes - 483
View All Dan Byles Division Votes

All Debates

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Department Debates
Cabinet Office
(101 debate contributions)
Department for Transport
(40 debate contributions)
Ministry of Defence
(31 debate contributions)
HM Treasury
(13 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
Legislation Debates
Dan Byles has not made any spoken contributions to legislative debate
View all Dan Byles's debates

Latest EDMs signed by Dan Byles

Dan Byles has not signed any Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Dan Byles, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.

MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.


Dan Byles has not been granted any Urgent Questions

Dan Byles has not been granted any Adjournment Debates

1 Bill introduced by Dan Byles


A Bill to make provision for retirement from the House of Lords; and to make provision for the expulsion of Members of the House of Lords in specified circumstances.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 14th May 2014 and was enacted into law.

Dan Byles has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting


Latest 29 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
24 Other Department Questions
9th Feb 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many wind turbines have been deployed in each county within the 100-500kW feed-in tariff to date.

Information on regional breakdown of FIT deployment is published quarterly, including a break down by technology and Local Authority area here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/sub-regional-feed-in-tariffs-confirmed-on-the-cfr-statistics.

9th Feb 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what progress he has made on addressing manufacturers selling wind turbines which have been de-rated to allow them to benefit from higher tariffs within the feed-in tariff; and if he will make a statement.

We are closely monitoring the impact of de-rating wind developers are found to be unfairly exploiting the FiTs scheme we will act to stop it.

9th Feb 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, when his Department first became aware of wind turbines being excessively de-rated in order for generators to benefit from higher than intended feed-in tariffs; and if he will make a statement.

We are actively monitoring the extent of de-rating and will consider whether action is necessary to prevent wind developers from unfairly exploiting the FITs scheme.

9th Feb 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many medium wind turbines deemed excessively de-rated have been granted pre-accreditation or have been commissioned in (a) 1 April 2010 to 30 November 2012 at £22.16 per kWh, (b) 1 December 2012 to 31 March 2014 at £18.83 per kWh, (c) 1 April 2014 to 30 September 2014 at £15.06 per kWh, (d) 1 October 2014 to 31 March 2015 at £13.55 per kWh and (e) 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016 at £12.05 per kWh.

We are closely monitoring the extent of de-rating and its impact.

26th Sep 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what discussions officials in his Department have had with the European Commission on the principle of electrical interconnectors being allowed to bid in the new capacity market auctions.

The Government made clear in December 2011 when it announced its decision to develop a Capacity Market that interconnected capacity should in principle be able to participate within the mechanism. We have worked since that time to achieve this aim, including discussing this issue with the European Commission on a number of occasions.

On 25th September, we published, for consultation, our proposals for enabling interconnectors to participate in the Capacity Market. As part of this process, we will continue to discuss this issue with the Commission before introducing legislation in early 2015.

29th Aug 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, on what date his Department plans to meet pedlar stakeholders to discuss Consultation documents BIS/12/605 and 606 on street trading and pedlar laws as proposed by his Department via email on 19 December 2013.

The Government’s response to the consultation held in 2012/13 will be published soon and once it is, BIS officials will be very happy to meet with pedlar stakeholders.

17th Jul 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what recent discussions he has had with the Valuation Office Agency about changes to the rates for gas storage facilities.

There have been no discussions between DECC Ministers and representatives of the Valuation Office Agency regarding changes to the business rates for gas storage facilities.

It is for the Valuation Office Agency to set business rates in accordance with the relevant legislative framework.

17th Jul 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment his Department has made of the effects of the changes made by the Valuation Office Agency to rates for gas storage facilities on security of supply and price stability in the UK.

Business rates are only one part of a suite of costs faced by gas storage operators and the impact of business rate changes on gas storage sites can only be understood when compared to commercially sensitive information about each gas storage site, to which the Government does not have access. It is not feasible to assess the impact of rate changes in isolation and for this reason we have made no such assessment.

11th Jul 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how much carbon dioxide is saved per pound of CfD strike price offered for (a) advanced conversion technologies, (b) anaerobic digestion, (c) biomass conversion, (d) dedicated biomass (with chp), (e) energy from waste (with chp), (f) geothermal, (g) hydro, (h) landfill gas, (i) offshore wind, (j) onshore wind, (k) sewage gas, (l) large solar photo-voltaic (m) tidal stream and (n) wave.

The amount of carbon saved per MWh of renewable generation will depend upon what is assumed about the mix of technologies displaced, which is uncertain. In order to determine the carbon saved per pound of support, CfD strike prices should also be adjusted for wholesale electricity prices.

2nd Jul 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what plans he has to (a) amend or repeal the Pedlars Acts 1871 and 1881 and (b) amend Schedule 4 to the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 covering the street trading regime of England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

The original Street Trading and Pedlary consultation was issued in November 2012 and covered the repeal of the Pedlars Acts 1871 and 1881 and other, incidental changes to the Local Government and Miscellaneous Provisions Act to ensure compliance with the EU Services Directive 2006/123/EC. The consultation had been extended in order for the Government to engage further with the UK's pedlar community and closed in April 2013. We hope to issue a response by the end of the summer.

24th Jun 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate he has made of the total amount of available coal-fired electricity generation capacity in the UK in each year up to 2030.

The Electricity Market Reform (EMR) Delivery Plan published in December 2013 included an estimate for the total amount of available coal-fired electricity generation capacity in Great Britain in each year to 2030. It is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/268221/181213_2013_EMR_Delivery_Plan_FINAL.pdf

See table:

Year

Total coal-fired capacity (GW)

2014

20

2015

18

2016

18

2017

18

2018

18

2019

15

2020

12

2021

12

2022

12

2023

9

2024

9

2025

8

2026

8

2027

7

2028

7

2029

5

2030

2

* Based on a scenario of average carbon intensity of electricity generation of 100g CO2/kWh in 2030

24th Jun 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, with reference to the Answer of 14 May 2014, Official Report, column 595W, on electricity, what assessment he has made of whether the ability of auctions to drive value for money is dependent on market plurality and competition; and if he will make it a formal objective of his Department to ensure that independent generators are able to compete in Contracts for Difference auctions on an equal footing.

The secondary legislation for the Electricity Market Reform programme contains provisions to move straight to allocation rounds, with competitive auctions setting the price where the demand for CfDs exceeds the available budget.

DECC analysis shows that the pipeline of projects is strong and can deliver a competitive outcome, whilst the Administrative Strike Price sets a cap to protect consumers.

More generally, the auction has been designed to encourage participation, and we are introducing the Offtaker of Last Resort (OLR) to support independent renewable generators by providing them with a guaranteed route to market and improving their ability to raise project finance.

DECC officials have worked closely with developers and other stakeholders on these proposals, and the approach to implementing the OLR is currently being consulted on.

24th Jun 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, with reference to the Answer of 14 May 2014, Official Report, column 593W, on electricity, what recent discussions he has had with the Independent Renewables Generators Group on the timing of the introduction of auctioning; what assessment he has made of independent generators' ability to raise project finance against the Offtaker of Last Resort before October 2014; and if he will make a statement.

I met with the Independent Renewable Generators Group on 24th February 2014 and discussed the introduction of auctioning for Contracts for Difference (CfDs).

The Offtaker of Last Resort will support independent renewable generators by providing for the worst-case route-to-market, allowing generators to raise project finance without necessarily having to enter long-term PPAs. As a result, such generators are likely only to need short-term PPAs in order to maximise their secured revenue and level of gearing. We are on track to deliver the final policy and introduce enabling regulations ahead of first allocation of CfDs. CfD applicants will, therefore, have a high degree of clarity about the arrangements for OLR in advance of the first auctions.

12th Jun 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment he has made of the proportion of the Demand Side Balancing Reserve that will comprise of active demand reduction rather than switching on generation assets.

The Demand Side Balancing Reserve is operated by National Grid independently from Government. Once National Grid has concluded the procurement of the reserve in the autumn it will be possible to identify the proportion of the reserve that comprises ‘load reduction' rather than the export of additional generation onto the grid (though initial expressions of interest to National Grid suggest that around 75% of the reserve may be provided by load reduction). However, it will not be possible to determine whether this load reduction is achieved through a reduction in demand, or by turning on local back up generation to meet local needs.

12th Jun 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policy on the need for additional gas storage in the UK of the statement on 16 May 2014 of the EU Energy Commissioner that the gas security of supply directive should be amended to increase the mimimum quantity of gas that member states are obliged to store.

The Energy Commissioner's statement predates the EU Energy Security Strategy on 28 May 2014which sets out the position on this issue and is available at:

http://ec.europa.eu/energy/security_of_supply_en.htm.

The EU Energy Security Strategy does not call for additional gas storage, nor minimum quantities of gas, to be held in storage by Member Storage. Rather, it proposes ‘stress tests' to security of supply shocks which could include, if necessary, increasing gas stocks in Europe amongst other measures.

We will engage with any stress test process and consider the implications for our approach to gas security arising from the results. It also sets out a wide range of other measures, highlighting that storage is only one aspect of gas security.

12th Jun 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policy on the need for additional gas storage capacity in the UK of recent events involving Russia and Ukraine; and if he will make a statement.

We have no plans to reassess the need for additional gas storage capacity in the UK in the light of events between Russia and Ukraine. The Department commissioned from Redpoint Energy analysis on the case for Government support for additional gas storage in the UK, which was published in September 2013. This cost-benefit analysis did not support intervention to deliver additional gas storage capacity due to a combination of low risk, poor rates of return for the taxpayer, and the risk of unintended consequences within the market.

Disputes between Russia and Ukraine affecting gas supply to Europe do not change this stance. Previous analysis has demonstrated that the UK gas market is resilient to all but the most unlikely combination of high-demand conditions and supply disruption. The UK has a diverse range of gas suppliers and routes to market and receives less than 1% of its gas from Russia.

4th Jun 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what recent assessment he has made of the potential need for additional gas storage capacity in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

The Department commissioned independent analysis by Redpoint Energy on the case for intervention in the UK gas storage market.

This cost-benefit analysis did not support intervention to deliver additional gas storage capacity within the UK due to a combination of low risk, poor rates of return for the taxpayer, and the risk of unintended consequences within the market. A written statement to Parliament on gas security of supply policy and gas storage was made by my rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 4 September 2013.

The market continues to bring forward gas storage projects: two storage facilities have recently been completed and two more are currently under construction.

4th Jun 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps he is taking to reassess the need for additional gas storage capacity in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

We published on 3 September 2013 an independent assessment about the need to intervene in the gas storage market. With reference to my answer to written question 198546, we decided against intervention on the basis of the cost-benefit analysis undertaken by Redpoint Energy.

The factors which underpinned this decision have not changed. I have no plans to reassess the need for additional gas storage capacity within the UK.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if he will recconsider the proposal to introduce Contract for Difference auctioning three years earlier than planned.

We have always been clear that auctions can be used to drive value for money, once the market is sufficiently developed. As set out in the Consultation on Competitive Allocation, published by the Department on 16 January 2014, we consider that market conditions are such that for some, more established, technologies this will be the case from the start of the allocation of Contracts for Difference (CfDs) under the enduring arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment he has made of the impact on independent generators of introduction of Contract for Difference auctioning before the Offtaker of Last Resort is in place.

The OLR will support independent renewable generators by providing them with a guaranteed route to market and improving their ability to raise project finance.

My officials have worked closely with developers and other stakeholders in working up the Offtaker of Last Resort proposals. The policy design is already at an advanced stage, and the detail of the proposals has been recently consulted on. We are on track to deliver the final policy and introduce enabling regulations ahead of the first allocation of CfDs. CfD applicants will, therefore, have a high degree of clarity about the arrangements for OLR, well in advance of the first auctions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, with reference to the Answer of 3 December 2012, Official Report, column 590W, on wind power, what progress he has made on addressing the issue of manufacturers selling turbines which have been derated to allow them to benefit from higher tariffs; and if he will make a statement.

DECC takes the issue of turbine de-rating under the Feed-in Tariff scheme (FITs) seriously.

To the end of September 2013, 110 turbines had been installed under the Feed-in Tariff scheme (FITs) in the 100-500kW band, representing just 2.2% of wind sites. Of these 110, eight, with a total installed capacity between 490 -500kW, had been de-rated.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment he has made of (a) the readiness of markets for a Contract for Difference (CfD) competitive bidding process and (b) the effect on independent generators of early introduction of CfD auctioning.

The Department launched a consultation on our approach to competitive allocation of Contracts for Difference (CfDs) in January 2014. This included proposals to move to auctioning of CfDs from the first allocation this autumn. We carefully considered the responses to the consultation before confirming our policy position in the Government Response published on 13 May 2014. Competitive allocation will deliver renewable energy at a lower cost for consumers.

In developing our proposals for the move to competitive allocation, my officials have also worked closely with developers and other stakeholders, including representatives of independent renewable energy generators.

In particular, we are introducing the Offtaker of Last Resort (OLR) to support independent renewable generators by guaranteeing a route-to-market and therefore improving their ability to raise project finance. The policy design is already at an advanced stage, and the detail of the proposals has been recently consulted on. We are on track to deliver the final policy and introduce enabling regulations ahead of the first allocation of CfDs. CfD applicants will, therefore, have a high degree of clarity about the arrangements for OLR well in advance of the first auctions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the Answer of 3 April 2014, Official Report, column 805W, on renewable energy, what the standard period is for stakeholders to be given to respond to a Government consultation.

The amount of time required for stakeholders to respond to a Government consultation will depend on the nature and impact of the proposal and might typically vary between 2 and 12 weeks.

14th Jul 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many sites in England are currently designated as local wildlife sites; how many sites in England have been de-selected as local wildlife sites in each of the last 10 years; and how many new sites in England have been designated as local wildlife sites in each of the last 10 years.

Local wildlife sites are usually selected within a local authority area. This process is often managed by the local Wildlife Trust along with representatives of the local authority and other local wildlife conservation groups. Local sites are afforded protection through the National Planning Policy Framework.

Defra receives annual reports from local authorities on the number and management of local wildlife sites. The latest data published in the 2013 update of our England Biodiversity indicators show that there were 43,500 local wildlife sites in the 2011/12 reporting period. We do not hold national information on the numbers of new or de-selected local wildlife sites, nor the specific habitat within those sites.

An England-wide sampling framework is under development to enable monitoring activity to contribute to an assessment of trends in habitat extent and condition.

14th Jul 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the proportion of (a) limestone grasslands, (b) marshy grasslands, (c) acid grasslands, (d) lowland meadows and pastures and (e) upland hay meadows that has been lost in each of the last 10 years.

Defra has not undertaken an estimate of this nature. Natural England published an inventory of priority grassland habitats in 2013 which shows the current area of each priority grassland habitat type as follows:

Priority grassland habitat type

Area (Ha)

Upland Calcareous Grassland

10,353

Upland Hay Meadows

3,525

Purple Moorgrass & Rush Pasture

9,328

Lowland Calcareous Grassland

65,567

Lowland Dry Acid Grassland

15,453

Lowland Meadows

3,6129

Coastal & Floodplain Grazing Marsh

218,182

Total

358,537

An England-wide sampling framework is under development to enable monitoring activity. This is to contribute to an assessment of trends in habitat extent and condition.

14th Jul 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many sites in England are designated as local wildlife sites and contain neutral grassland; how many sites in England containing neutral grassland have been de-selected as local wildlife sites in each of the last 10 years; and how many new sites in England containing neutral grassland have been designated as local wildlife sites in each of the last 10 years.

Local wildlife sites are usually selected within a local authority area. This process is often managed by the local Wildlife Trust along with representatives of the local authority and other local wildlife conservation groups. Local sites are afforded protection through the National Planning Policy Framework.

Defra receives annual reports from local authorities on the number and management of local wildlife sites. The latest data published in the 2013 update of our England Biodiversity indicators show that there were 43,500 local wildlife sites in the 2011/12 reporting period. We do not hold national information on the numbers of new or de-selected local wildlife sites, nor the specific habitat within those sites.

An England-wide sampling framework is under development to enable monitoring activity to contribute to an assessment of trends in habitat extent and condition.

17th Mar 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any recent study has been made of the value for money and operation of the Reserve Forces and Cadets' Associations.

An internal review of the Reserve Forces' and Cadets' Associations was undertaken between August and December 2014. The review was initiated in order to consider what Defence requires of the Associations and to propose any change to outputs, processes, structure or staffing that would better meet Defence needs. The recommendations resulting from the review are currently being considered as part of wider business as usual in the Ministry of Defence.

30th Jun 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many coroners' inquests have been held into the death of a child below the age of four as a result of being a passenger in a road traffic accident in each of the last five years; in how many of those cases the inquest found that a faulty child's car seat was a contributory factor; and in how many of those cases the inquest found that an incorrectly fitted child's car seat was a contributory factor.

The Ministry of Justice collects data from coroners for the annual Coroners Statistics bulletin, which is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coroners-statistics-2013

The statistical information is collected in summary form, which does not include data at the level of detail requested.

Coroners are independent judicial office holders, appointed by a local authority within the coroner area, and are not employed by the Ministry of Justice.

To provide the information requested would require the Ministry of Justice to ask coroners in England and Wales to examine their records for over five thousand inquests to extract the information and provide a summary report to the centre. As such, this information is only available at disproportionate cost.