Asked by: Jonathan Edwards (Independent - Carmarthen East and Dinefwr)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the potential environmental impact of using modern cable ploughing technology on the installation of 132kv electricity transmission cables.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government consultation on the draft energy National Policy Statements closed on 23 June and we are reviewing the responses. This included that overhead lines should be the strong starting presumption for electricity networks developments but that in nationally designated landscapes the strong starting presumption will be that the applicant should underground the relevant section of the line. Decisions on which technology would be used for construction would be a matter for the developer. Government officials engage and meet with all devolved administrations, including Welsh Government, as required for policy development and evaluation.
Asked by: Jonathan Edwards (Independent - Carmarthen East and Dinefwr)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has had recent discussions with Three on the lessons learned from the test of the emergency alerts service.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
During the national test of the emergency alerts system on 23 April 2023, some Three Mobile customers did not receive the alert.
To address this issue, the Deputy Prime Minister met with the CEO of Three Mobile on 26 April 2023. Following this meeting, Three Mobile has made a number of technical improvements to rectify the errors made on the test day. Three Mobile has since reassured the government that they believe the underlying issue has now been resolved.
Asked by: Jonathan Edwards (Independent - Carmarthen East and Dinefwr)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has had recent discussions with the Marine Management Organisation on regulation of small inshore fishermen.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
I regularly engage with the MMO on a range of issues that impact on the inshore fleet.
Asked by: Jonathan Edwards (Independent - Carmarthen East and Dinefwr)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment she has made of potential effect on the government of China's decision to restrict export of critical minerals including gallium and germanium on the competitiveness of the UK economy and the transition to net zero.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
Gallium and germanium have a range of applications in electronics and communications sectors. The new Chinese export controls applying to germanium, gallium and related items coming into effect on 1st August this year may have impacts on the global supply chains for these sectors. Along with international counterparts, we are following the situation closely and are assessing risks this poses to the UK.
Asked by: Jonathan Edwards (Independent - Carmarthen East and Dinefwr)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many staff work in the Devolved Countries Unit as of 1 July 2023; and if he provide the respective pay grades of the staff in that unit.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
HM Treasury, as with all central government departments, publishes organograms each quarter showing all staff roles and salary scales on gov.uk:
Asked by: Jonathan Edwards (Independent - Carmarthen East and Dinefwr)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the proposals in The BBC Across the UK on local newspapers.
Answered by John Whittingdale
The Charter requires the BBC to consider its market impact and to ensure that it seeks to avoid unnecessary adverse impacts on competition, including local news. The BBC’s ‘Across the UK’ agenda sets out plans to move more of its operation and expenditure out of London, to fulfil its duty to support the creative economy across the UK.
As the independent regulator of the BBC, Ofcom assessed the BBC’s plans to increase its online local news output in December 2022. It concluded that the change was not one that may have a significant adverse impact on fair and effective competition, while also committing to monitor the implementation of the BBC’s proposals, with a view to addressing any emerging evidence of adverse impact on competition.
In May 2022, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport launched the BBC Mid-Term Review, and the Terms of Reference, published in May 2022, stated that the Review will look at competition and market impact, including with regard to the local news market.We are engaging with stakeholders on this to understand their views.
Asked by: Jonathan Edwards (Independent - Carmarthen East and Dinefwr)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment impact of ultra processed foods on people's health.
Answered by Neil O'Brien
The Government encourages everyone to have a healthy balanced diet in line with the United Kingdom’s healthy eating model, the Eatwell Guide, which shows that foods high in fat, salt or sugar should be eaten less often or in small amounts.
UK Government dietary guidelines are based on recommendations from the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN). SACN is currently carrying out a scoping review of the evidence on processed foods and health and aims to publish its position statement in the summer of 2023.
There is currently no universally agreed definition of ultra-processed foods. However, a diet high in foods classified as processed is often high in calories, salt, saturated fat and sugar and low in fibre, fruit and vegetables, which is associated with an increased risk of obesity and developing chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers.
Asked by: Jonathan Edwards (Independent - Carmarthen East and Dinefwr)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many households in Carmarthen East and Dinefwr constituency are in receipt of the National Concessionary Fuel Scheme.
Answered by Graham Stuart
A total of 384 individuals are in receipt of a concessionary fuel entitlement in the Carmarthen East and Dinefwr constituency. Of these, 325 receive Cash In-Lieu and 59 receive solid fuel.
Asked by: Jonathan Edwards (Independent - Carmarthen East and Dinefwr)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has had discussions with the Welsh Government on devolving powers in relation to assisted dying.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
There have been no discussions with the Welsh Government on devolving powers in relation to assisted dying.
Asked by: Jonathan Edwards (Independent - Carmarthen East and Dinefwr)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the (a) Israeli Defence Force operation and (b) reported use of a helicopter gunship in Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank on Monday 19 June; and whether he has had recent discussions with (i) his counterparts in the Israeli Government and (ii) the Israeli Ambassador to the UK on this matter.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We regularly raise the issue of the numbers of Palestinians killed and injured by Israeli Security Forces in the West Bank with the Israeli authorities. Israel has a right to self-defence, but it is vital that Israel's security operations are in line with international humanitarian law, including the principles of proportionality, distinction and necessity. When there are accusations of excessive use of force, we urge Israeli authorities to carry out swift, transparent and thorough investigations and, if wrongdoing is found, that those responsible be held to account.