Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to ensure pensioners’ properties are installed with insulation to tackle cold-related illnesses.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Officials in DHSC and BEIS have had discussions on these matters. We recognise the link between ill health and fuel poverty and we are aware of the benefits of insulating properties for all, including pensioner households.
Improving the energy efficiency of homes remains the most sustainable long-term solution to tackling fuel poverty, and therefore in reducing the impact of ill health exacerbated by cold homes.
The Energy Company Obligation is a GB wide energy efficiency scheme worth £640m per year until March 2022 and is focused on low-income and vulnerable households. Households with a resident in receipt of Pension Credit Guarantee Credit are eligible.
The Green Homes Grant, launched in September 2020, is a £2 billion programme which will help improve the energy efficiency of homes in England. Of this, around half is specifically for low income, vulnerable and fuel poor households, including those in receipt of Pension Credit Guarantee Credit. The Green Homes Grant consists of a voucher scheme and a Local Authority Delivery Scheme (LAD). The primary purpose of the LAD scheme is to raise the energy efficiency rating of low income and low EPC rated homes (those with D, E, F or G). Funding is available through LAD to support the retrofit of existing domestic dwellings for all tenure types.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
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 Ministers in the Department for Health and Social Care on the potential effect on the reduction of cold-related illnesses from the installation of insulation in pensioners’ properties.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Officials in DHSC and BEIS have had discussions on these matters. We recognise the link between ill health and fuel poverty and we are aware of the benefits of insulating properties for all, including pensioner households.
Improving the energy efficiency of homes remains the most sustainable long-term solution to tackling fuel poverty, and therefore in reducing the impact of ill health exacerbated by cold homes.
The Energy Company Obligation is a GB wide energy efficiency scheme worth £640m per year until March 2022 and is focused on low-income and vulnerable households. Households with a resident in receipt of Pension Credit Guarantee Credit are eligible.
The Green Homes Grant, launched in September 2020, is a £2 billion programme which will help improve the energy efficiency of homes in England. Of this, around half is specifically for low income, vulnerable and fuel poor households, including those in receipt of Pension Credit Guarantee Credit. The Green Homes Grant consists of a voucher scheme and a Local Authority Delivery Scheme (LAD). The primary purpose of the LAD scheme is to raise the energy efficiency rating of low income and low EPC rated homes (those with D, E, F or G). Funding is available through LAD to support the retrofit of existing domestic dwellings for all tenure types.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much (a) European Structural and Investment Funding and (b) UK matched funding was or will be allocated to (i) Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, (ii) the Sheffield City Region, (iii) England and (iv) the UK, in each of the four fiscal years from 2018-19 to 2021-22.
Answered by Paul Scully
Allocations of European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) for each UK programme and region by year are published in the latest revision (31 January 2020) of the EU Structural and Investment Funds UK Partnership Agreement at Table 1.6*.
Information on ESIF match funding at national level is difficult to collate. We will place any available information in the Libraries of the House. Information on match funding for ESIF programmes in the Sheffield City Region is available and will be placed in the Libraries of the Houses shortly. Equivalent information for Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council cannot be provided as information is not available at this level.
*see attached
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of state aid rules under the Covid-19 Temporary Framework for UK Authorities on the level of financial support available to (a) pubs, (b) restaurants and (c) the hospitality sector; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Paul Scully
The Government has put forward a package of support for businesses in the hospitality sector in recognition of the disruption caused by Covid-19. In England, this included the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grants Fund (RHLGF). The Government published clear guidance on the grant scheme, and local authorities were responsible for delivering grants to businesses that were in scope. As stated in the guidance, RHLGF grants could be paid to eligible businesses under the Covid-19 Temporary Framework for UK Authorities up to a limit of £800,000 and subject to the recipient confirming they were not an undertaking in difficulty (within the definition of Article 2(18) of the General Block Exemption Regulation) on 31 December 2019.
As at 30 September, over £11.12 billion had been paid out to 906,620 business premises across the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grants Fund (RHLGF) and the Small Business Grants Fund (SBGF) schemes. We do not hold grant payment data from local authorities broken down by sector or type of business, however a full breakdown of final grant payment figures by local authority is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-grant-funding-local-authority-payments-to-small-and-medium-businesses Both schemes have now closed.
Further grant support?totalling?£2.2 billion has been made?available via local authorities to support businesses?that had to close during the 5 November and 2 December nationalrestrictions, as well as businesses impacted by?localised restrictions. State aid limits apply. On 13 October 2020 the European Commission (CION) announced further amendments to its State Aid Temporary Framework. The U.K. Government has notified the CION of its intention to use the new provision and must await approval from the CION to do so. The Covid-19 Temporary Framework for UK Public Authorities will need to be amended before aid under this new measure may be provided. All Local Restrictions Support Grants guidance documents will be updated to reflect the new provisions if and when they are applied to the LRSG schemes once the UK Government has approval.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
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 effectiveness of the Fireworks Regulations 2004 in reducing noise pollution.
Answered by Paul Scully
There is already a comprehensive regulatory framework in place for fireworks that aims to reduce the risks to people and disturbance to animals. Existing legislation controls the sale, availability and use of fireworks, as well as setting a curfew and noise limit.
The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) published its Fireworks Evidence Base on 29 October 2020. This included reviewing existing data around fireworks including producing a research paper on fireworks noise levels and impacts on health and the environment.
We remain committed to promoting the safe and considerate use of fireworks through the effective legislative framework and through non-legislative measures.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions his Department has had with Bounce Back Loan Scheme lenders on access to credit for businesses that have business accounts with other lenders.
Answered by Paul Scully
The Bounce Back Loan Scheme, launched in May 2020, has been introduced to help smaller businesses impacted by coronavirus (COVID-19). It is available through a range of British Business Bank accredited lenders and partners listed on the British Business Bank website: www.british-business-bank.co.uk/ourpartners/coronavirus-business-interruption-loan-schemes/bounce-back-loans/current-accredited-lenders-and-partners/
In the first instance and where possible, businesses should approach a Bounce Back Loan Scheme accredited provider with whom they have an existing relationship. They may also consider approaching other Scheme accredited providers if they are unable to access the finance they need or if their existing provider is not accredited to provide loans under the Scheme.
The Bounce Back Loan Scheme does not mandate that the applicant must have a business relationship with the lender in order to receive a loan. However, certain lenders may require that you enter into a business relationship with them before you can apply and, within their standard policies and terms and conditions of business, some lenders may not permit an existing customer to operate their business via a personal account.
All lending decisions remain solely at the discretion of the lender.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what criteria were used to define essential retail in relation to the guidance issued on the additional public health restrictions which came into force on 5 November 2020 in England.
Answered by Paul Scully
The decision to close non-essential retail is part of a wider package of measures to make clear that people should stay at home except for a limited set of exemptions – allowing non-essential retail to remain open would run contrary to that aim. These restrictions?have been?brought in because we?have to?limit social contact.
All shops can continue to offer home delivery and click and collect services to customers.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he has taken to ensure that supply chains for perishable goods are maintained in the event that the UK and EU do not agree a deal on their future relationship by the end of the transition period.
Answered by Paul Scully
The Department is not responsible for all supply chains of all perishable goods.
The Department of Health and Social Care, in consultation with the Devolved Administrations and Crown Dependencies, is working with trade bodies, product suppliers, and the health and care system to make detailed plans to help ensure continued supply of medicines and medical products to the whole of the UK, including Northern Ireland, at the end of the transition period.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
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 bring forward legislative proposals to amend the Consumer Rights Act 2015 so that the same rights apply to non-consumer sales.
Answered by Paul Scully
The Government has no plans to amend the Consumer Rights Act 2015 to apply to non-consumer sales.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many smart meters were installed in England in each month of 2020.
Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng
From January to the end of June 2020 1,119,775 smart electricity and gas meters were installed in homes in Great Britain. The latest data on the number of smart electricity and gas meters installed is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/smart-meters-in-great-britain-quarterly-update-june-2020
Data is collected at Great Britain level on a quarterly basis from large energy suppliers. Therefore a breakdown of installations for England by month is not available.
The next quarterly publication covering the period from July to end of September is due for release on 26 November.