Asked by: Douglas Chapman (Scottish National Party - Dunfermline and West Fife)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department has had recent discussions with representatives of the events industry on the potential merits of establishing a strategic approach to winning more international events.
Answered by Graham Stuart
Events showcase the UK's industrial strengths to the world while also attracting international visitors to all corners of the UK. The Government is working closely with the Department for International Trade and Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to improve the UK’s already strong offer so that we can attract more high profile events and champion UK sectors on the global stage.
Asked by: Douglas Chapman (Scottish National Party - Dunfermline and West Fife)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent steps his Department has taken to help support (a) venues in the events industry and (b) small business who contribute to the events industry supply chain.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Government has taken action to support UK SMEs in the events sector, including support with business rates; increasing the employment allowance; and exempting small and micro businesses from regulations where possible. The Government has also acted to reverse the National Insurance rise, which will save small businesses £4,200 on average and brought in the Energy Bill Relief Scheme, which will protect small businesses from high energy bills over the winter.
Asked by: Douglas Chapman (Scottish National Party - Dunfermline and West Fife)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of abolishing Ofgem.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The law requires Ofgem, as the expert independent regulator to enforce Supply Licence Conditions and ensure consumers are treated fairly. The Prime Minister announced a review of energy regulation on 8 September and more details will be published shortly.
Asked by: Douglas Chapman (Scottish National Party - Dunfermline and West Fife)
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 launch a public consultation on the issuing of new licenses for oil and gas in the North Sea to the north of 55.81 degrees north.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Government completed an Offshore Energy Strategic Environmental Assessment (OESEA4) of a draft plan/programme for licensing and leasing areas for future offshore energy developments including offshore oil and gas, offshore gas and carbon dioxide storage, offshore renewables, and offshore hydrogen, in relevant waters of the UK Continental Shelf.
Public consultation on the OESEA4 Environmental Report took place between 17 March and 27 May 2022. The Government response to the OESEA4 consultation was published in September 2022 and the plan/programme was adopted in September 2022.
Asked by: Douglas Chapman (Scottish National Party - Dunfermline and West Fife)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he has had recent discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the potential merits of abolishing Ofgem.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The law requires Ofgem, as the expert independent regulator to enforce Supply Licence Conditions and ensure consumers are treated fairly. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced a review of energy regulation on 8 September and more details will be published shortly.
Asked by: Douglas Chapman (Scottish National Party - Dunfermline and West Fife)
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 have discussions within Cabinet colleagues on the potential merits of (a) establishing a separate energy market for Scotland including for stewardship and licencing of Scotland based energy resources and (b) fully devolving energy policy for Scotland to the Scottish Government.
Answered by Graham Stuart
There are no plans to hold such discussions. The UK Government continues to work closely with the Scottish Government on energy matters. This includes engagement through the Net Zero, Energy and Climate Change Intermenstrual Group which facilitates collaboration and coordination across devolved and reserved competence, ensuring we are delivering effectively for all parts of the UK.
Asked by: Douglas Chapman (Scottish National Party - Dunfermline and West Fife)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he will announce further details on the financial support allocated to those living in park homes facing increasing energy bills.
Answered by Graham Stuart
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave the Hon. Member for St Albans on 22nd September to Question 48498.
Asked by: Douglas Chapman (Scottish National Party - Dunfermline and West Fife)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what progress the Government has made on the introduction of a Home Shipbuilding Credit Guarantee Scheme that was due to be launched in spring 2022.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani
The Home Shipbuilding Credit Guarantee is one of my key priorities for early delivery now that the new Government is in place. I will be bringing forward our specific proposals for the scheme to my Whitehall colleagues shortly with a view to launching a scheme this calendar year.
Asked by: Douglas Chapman (Scottish National Party - Dunfermline and West Fife)
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 meet with representatives from the maritime sector to discuss the potential impact of rising energy costs on the sector and its ability to ensure that critical supply chains remain operational.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani
I will be meeting with representatives from the maritime sector for a general introduction in the coming few weeks.
The recently announced Energy Bill Relief Scheme (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-outlines-plans-to-help-cut-energy-bills-for-businesses) ensures that all businesses and other non-domestic customers are protected from excessively high energy bills over the winter period. A review of the scheme, to be published in three months, will identify the most vulnerable non-domestic customers and how the government will continue assisting them with energy costs after the initial six months.
Asked by: Douglas Chapman (Scottish National Party - Dunfermline and West Fife)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps plans to take to support businesses with increased energy costs in 2023.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The details of the Energy Bill Relief Scheme were announced on 21 September 2022. The scheme will initially run for 6 months covering energy use from 1st October 2022 until 31st March 2023.
The Government will publish a review of the scheme in 3 months, which will consider how best to offer further support to customers who are the most vulnerable to energy price increases. These are likely to be those who are least able to adjust, for example by reducing energy usage or increasing energy efficiency. Continuing support to those deemed eligible would begin at the end of the initial 6-month support scheme, without a gap.