Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
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 help increase the use of solar panels on roofs; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Government is supporting the installation of rooftop solar photovoltaic panels through provision of fiscal incentives for business, removal of VAT for residential accommodation, availability of grants under several energy efficiency schemes and the right to be paid for any electricity exported to the grid under the Smart Export Guarantee. The Government is also exploring options to facilitate low cost finance from retail lenders for solar installations.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what powers exist for local authorities to restrict the use of fireworks; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government recognises that people want to enjoy fireworks while reducing the risks and disturbances to individuals, animals and property. The majority of individuals who use fireworks do so in a responsible and safe manner.
Enforcement powers exist for local authorities to take action when fireworks are unsafe, sold illegally or misused. Local authorities and the police also have powers to tackle anti-social behaviour caused by the misuse of fireworks. It is for local areas to decide how best to deploy these powers, based on their specific circumstances.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes to the Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing Access rebate on (a) foreign direct investment into UK research and development, (b) employment levels and (c) the size of the life sciences industry.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 10th January 2023 to Question 113163.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent assessment he has made of the impact of changes to the Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing Access (VPAS) rebate on (a) foreign direct investment into UK R&D and (b) employment levels and footprint of the UK life sciences industry.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
The Government is working to better understand the impacts the operation of the current Voluntary Scheme on investments and the footprint of the UK life sciences industry. We are therefore in direct conversations with companies to understand these impacts. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is in close discussions with the Department of Health and Social Care, the Department responsible for the Voluntary Scheme, about the business environment for life sciences and its impact on investment.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent estimate he has made of the level of investment into the national grid that will be required to ensure there will be sufficient infrastructure in place to cater for the charging of electric vehicles after 2035; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Graham Stuart
In August 2022, the Government and Ofgem jointly published the Electricity Networks Strategic Framework, setting out a vision for the transformation of the electricity network to ensure it enables a clean, secure and low-cost energy system. The Framework included analysis suggesting that the network could require an additional £100-£240bn of investment to meet net zero and could support 50,000-130,000 jobs and contribute £4-11bn to the economy by 2050. Network regulation, including ensuring sufficient investment to meet demand from electric vehicles in both rural and urban areas, is a matter for Ofgem.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
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 is taking steps to help ensure that rural properties are supplied with sufficient electricity to charge vehicles; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Graham Stuart
In August 2022, the Government and Ofgem jointly published the Electricity Networks Strategic Framework, setting out a vision for the transformation of the electricity network to ensure it enables a clean, secure and low-cost energy system. The Framework included analysis suggesting that the network could require an additional £100-£240bn of investment to meet net zero and could support 50,000-130,000 jobs and contribute £4-11bn to the economy by 2050. Network regulation, including ensuring sufficient investment to meet demand from electric vehicles in both rural and urban areas, is a matter for Ofgem.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent estimate his Department has made of the additional electricity generation that will be required following the ban on petrol and diesel cars in 2035; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Graham Stuart
Figure 3.2 of the Energy White Paper[1]shows indicative demands from electric vehicles for 2035 and 2050 that align with the ban on petrol and diesel vehicles in 2035.
Annex O of the Energy and Emission Projections[2]provides indicative scenarios to show how the power sector might evolve to meet this additional demand.
[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/energy-white-paper-powering-our-net-zero-future
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what proportion of domestic consumers' energy bills are made up of green taxes on average; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Environmental and social policy costs currently represent 8% of the average dual fuel bill. A full breakdown of these costs was published by Ofgem in April and is available at: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/energy-data-and-research/data-portal.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy or Industrial Strategy, what the total amount of revenue collected in green taxes placed on domestic energy bills has been in each of the years for which those taxes have been levied.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
This information is available from the Office for Budget Responsibility: https://obr.uk/efo/economic-and-fiscal-outlook-march-2022/.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of space based solar power; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by George Freeman
The Government recognises that space based solar power has the potential to contribute significantly to our Net Zero ambition. Because of this, BEIS has recently commissioned an independent assessment and report that calculates both benefits and cost of developing space based solar power. The report was published on 27th September 2021 and is available on the Government website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/space-based-solar-power-de-risking-the-pathway-to-net-zero.