Asked by: Josh Newbury (Labour - Cannock Chase)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether she plans to standardise first aid training requirements across public sector contracts; and if she will include first aid provision within social value procurement criteria.
Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Cabinet Office will publish detailed guidance on the application of social value criteria in central government procurement in the autumn.
Asked by: Josh Newbury (Labour - Cannock Chase)
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 merits of the Office for Gas and Electricity Markets moving to weekly budget monitoring of the Green Gas Support Scheme, in the context of levels of funding for the sector in recent years.
Answered by Katie White - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
As the administrator of the Green Gas Support Scheme (GGSS), Ofgem is responsible for operational matters. Under regulation 4(14) of the GGSS regulations, Ofgem has a statutory duty to publish aggregate information relating to (but not limited to) applications, registrations, and budget on a quarterly basis.
From 8 June 2026, Ofgem has updated their website with both allocated and remaining GGSS budget on a weekly basis, providing prospective applicants with up-to-date information.
Asked by: Josh Newbury (Labour - Cannock Chase)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what the cumulative capacity of applications now queued by Ofgem is in relation to the Green Gas Support Scheme since the scheme reached its budget cap.
Answered by Katie White - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
As of 2 September 2026, there are 15 tariff guarantee applications in the budget queue (https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/environmental-and-social-schemes/green-gas-support-scheme-and-green-gas-levy/applicants) and these have a combined maximum initial capacity of 199,285,200 m3. This is subject to change based on ongoing queue movement and there may be recent applications currently under review which have not yet been allocated budget or entered the budget queue.
In line with regulations, the Department will publish the GGSS budgets and corresponding levy rate by 31 December for the following scheme year.
Asked by: Josh Newbury (Labour - Cannock Chase)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate she has made of the future budget of the Green Gas Support Scheme.
Answered by Katie White - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
As of 2 September 2026, there are 15 tariff guarantee applications in the budget queue (https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/environmental-and-social-schemes/green-gas-support-scheme-and-green-gas-levy/applicants) and these have a combined maximum initial capacity of 199,285,200 m3. This is subject to change based on ongoing queue movement and there may be recent applications currently under review which have not yet been allocated budget or entered the budget queue.
In line with regulations, the Department will publish the GGSS budgets and corresponding levy rate by 31 December for the following scheme year.
Asked by: Josh Newbury (Labour - Cannock Chase)
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 contribution of domestic green gas production to UK energy security.
Answered by Katie White - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises that domestically produced biomethane can strengthen energy resilience by displacing imported gas with a low-carbon alternative and reducing exposure to volatile international gas markets. The latest Department data shows that 5.8 TWh of biomethane was injected into the UK gas grid in 2025, equal to about 1% of natural gas demand (Digest of UK Energy Statistics (DUKES) 2026 Chapter 4).
The Biomass Strategy 2023 set out that 30 – 40 TWh of biomethane production in 2050 could support a cost-effective route to net zero. It could also play an important role in reducing future reliance on imported gas.
Asked by: Josh Newbury (Labour - Cannock Chase)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when the Government plans to proceed with the zero rating of biomethane on the UK ETS.
Answered by Katie White - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises biomethane as a practical and cost-effective way of contributing to net zero greenhouse gas emissions. The UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) applies a zero emissions factor to combustion of biomethane where supplied directly to ETS installations. Where biomethane is injected into the gas grid, there is not currently a mechanism in the UK ETS to ensure biomethane is accounted for separately.
The UK ETS Authority is considering whether and how the Scheme could account for biomethane injected into the gas grid and will provide an update in due course.
Asked by: Josh Newbury (Labour - Cannock Chase)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will consider introducing (a) tax relief and (b) grants for SMEs to offset the cost of staff first aid training, similar to the apprenticeship levy model.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)
The Government recognises that the cumulative burden of taxation, business rates, regulation and reporting requirements impose costs on businesses, recognising that smaller firms can experience these burdens more acutely.
The Government assesses the effects of tax and regulatory measures when they are introduced and keeps wider pressures on businesses under review. For example, tax measures are accompanied by assessments of their impacts on businesses, and the Government has published analysis of the Employment Rights Act. That analysis estimates its costs at around 0.1 per cent of annual employment costs.
The Government has taken action to reduce administrative and compliance burdens, while considering the wider operating environment for small and medium sized businesses (SMEs). This includes increasing the monetary size thresholds for micro-entities, SMEs and large companies in April 2025 – moving 132,000 firms onto lighter touch reporting requirements, and saving £185m per year.
Around one third of properties pay no business rates through 100 per cent Small Business Rate Relief, with a further 85,000 benefiting from tapered relief. The Small Business Regulatory Taskforce is identifying further opportunities to streamline regulation and reduce administrative burdens, including those associated with reporting and data requirements. The Government continues to support employers through wider labour market and skills policies, including fully funded apprenticeship training for eligible young people in SMEs.
The Treasury works closely on small business issues with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade which is the lead department on SME policy.
Asked by: Josh Newbury (Labour - Cannock Chase)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what consideration she has made of the potential merits of extending the Green Gas Support Scheme to new applications beyond 2028.
Answered by Katie White - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The GGSS budget is set to balance delivery of the intended benefits of biomethane with affordability for bill payers. In the context of the original budget envelope for the Green Gas Support Scheme being fully allocated, we are carefully considering our approach to budget setting for the GGSS, including the case for supporting new applications from 1 April 2028.
The Department is aware of the need to provide certainty on this as soon as possible.
Asked by: Josh Newbury (Labour - Cannock Chase)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that departmental approval processes do not delay private investment in electric vehicle charging infrastructure on the Strategic Road Network.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
A reliable, accessible public charging network is essential to support electric vehicle drivers on long journeys. There are now over 1,740 rapid and ultra-rapid chargers (July 2026, industry data) at the 116 motorway service areas in England, having trebled over three years (July 2023 – July 2026, industry data).
Government is working with industry to target support to continue to strengthen charging for long journeys. The Strategic Charging Infrastructure Scheme will strengthen electrical capacity to improve charging at some motorway service areas, where high connection costs are a barrier. Alongside this, National Highways is working to support minimum levels of provision at key sites.
At Norton Canes, officials are working closely with relevant parties to progress the approvals required for improved electric vehicle charging while ensuring all contractual, legal and technical requirements are met.
Asked by: Josh Newbury (Labour - Cannock Chase)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to expedite outstanding approvals for electric vehicle charging infrastructure at Norton Canes motorway service area.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
A reliable, accessible public charging network is essential to support electric vehicle drivers on long journeys. There are now over 1,740 rapid and ultra-rapid chargers (July 2026, industry data) at the 116 motorway service areas in England, having trebled over three years (July 2023 – July 2026, industry data).
Government is working with industry to target support to continue to strengthen charging for long journeys. The Strategic Charging Infrastructure Scheme will strengthen electrical capacity to improve charging at some motorway service areas, where high connection costs are a barrier. Alongside this, National Highways is working to support minimum levels of provision at key sites.
At Norton Canes, officials are working closely with relevant parties to progress the approvals required for improved electric vehicle charging while ensuring all contractual, legal and technical requirements are met.