Asked by: Louise Haigh (Labour - Sheffield, Heeley)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he expects the Insolvency Service to deliver its conclusions on the civil investigation into redundancies made by P&O Ferries.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Insolvency Service has confirmed that the civil investigation into the circumstances surrounding the redundancies made by P&O Ferries is ongoing.
As such no further comment or information can be provided at this time.
Asked by: Louise Haigh (Labour - Sheffield, Heeley)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when the Insolvency Service will report on the formal and civil investigations into the circumstances surrounding the redundancies made by P&O Ferries in March 2022.
Answered by Paul Scully
On 1 April, the Insolvency Service wrote to my rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy confirming that, following its enquiries, it has commenced formal criminal and civil investigations into the circumstances surrounding the recent redundancies made by P&O Ferries. As these are ongoing investigations, it is not appropriate for the Insolvency Service to provide any comment or information before the investigations have concluded.
Asked by: Louise Haigh (Labour - Sheffield, Heeley)
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 make it his policy to reform section 188 of the Trade Union Act 2016 to allow punitive damage for breach of the duty to consult.
Answered by Paul Scully
There are clear rules in place requiring companies to consult when making large scale redundancies.
Most companies follow these rules. In the case of P&O Ferries, the Insolvency Service wrote to the Secretary of State for Business on 01 April confirming that following its enquiries it has commenced formal criminal and civil investigations into the circumstances surrounding their recent redundancies.
The Hon. Member will appreciate that while these investigations are being progressed it would not be appropriate to make further comment but the Insolvency Service will provide an update in due course.
Asked by: Louise Haigh (Labour - Sheffield, Heeley)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate he has made of the timetable for installing a boiler under the eco Boiler Grant Scheme for the constituent of Sheffield, Heeley, referred to in the email of 24 March 2022 from the hon. Member for Sheffield, Heeley with the case reference LH20073.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) is not a grant but an obligation on large energy suppliers, who contract installers to deliver energy efficiency measures. These parties decide where to install, based on property suitability and cost-effectiveness. This approach promotes value-for-money.
The Government does not become involved in the private contractual decisions of these parties and so cannot influence which households receive measures. The Government does not manage applications for ECO, so does not collect data on application volume or wait times. Suppliers generally identify eligible households via sub-contracted lead generators. Households can contact any obligated supplier to seek ECO support, however eligibility does not guarantee assistance under the scheme.
Separate to ECO, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme will provide capital grants for the installation of low carbon heat technologies in domestic and small non-domestic properties. Installations commissioned after April 1st will be eligible, with voucher applications opening in May. Further detail can be found at: www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-you-may-be-eligible-for-the-boiler-upgrade-scheme-from-april-2022.
Asked by: Louise Haigh (Labour - Sheffield, Heeley)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the average waiting time is for a boiler grant to be issued under the Eco Boiler Grant Scheme.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) is not a grant but an obligation on large energy suppliers, who contract installers to deliver energy efficiency measures. These parties decide where to install, based on property suitability and cost-effectiveness. This approach promotes value-for-money.
The Government does not become involved in the private contractual decisions of these parties and so cannot influence which households receive measures. The Government does not manage applications for ECO, so does not collect data on application volume or wait times. Suppliers generally identify eligible households via sub-contracted lead generators. Households can contact any obligated supplier to seek ECO support, however eligibility does not guarantee assistance under the scheme.
Separate to ECO, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme will provide capital grants for the installation of low carbon heat technologies in domestic and small non-domestic properties. Installations commissioned after April 1st will be eligible, with voucher applications opening in May. Further detail can be found at: www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-you-may-be-eligible-for-the-boiler-upgrade-scheme-from-april-2022.
Asked by: Louise Haigh (Labour - Sheffield, Heeley)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many requests there have been in total for the Eco Boiler Grant Scheme.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) is not a grant but an obligation on large energy suppliers, who contract installers to deliver energy efficiency measures. These parties decide where to install, based on property suitability and cost-effectiveness. This approach promotes value-for-money.
The Government does not become involved in the private contractual decisions of these parties and so cannot influence which households receive measures. The Government does not manage applications for ECO, so does not collect data on application volume or wait times. Suppliers generally identify eligible households via sub-contracted lead generators. Households can contact any obligated supplier to seek ECO support, however eligibility does not guarantee assistance under the scheme.
Separate to ECO, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme will provide capital grants for the installation of low carbon heat technologies in domestic and small non-domestic properties. Installations commissioned after April 1st will be eligible, with voucher applications opening in May. Further detail can be found at: www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-you-may-be-eligible-for-the-boiler-upgrade-scheme-from-april-2022.
Asked by: Louise Haigh (Labour - Sheffield, Heeley)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the longest recorded time is between an application being made to the Eco Boiler Grant Scheme to final installation.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) is not a grant but an obligation on large energy suppliers, who contract installers to deliver energy efficiency measures. These parties decide where to install, based on property suitability and cost-effectiveness. This approach promotes value-for-money.
The Government does not become involved in the private contractual decisions of these parties and so cannot influence which households receive measures. The Government does not manage applications for ECO, so does not collect data on application volume or wait times. Suppliers generally identify eligible households via sub-contracted lead generators. Households can contact any obligated supplier to seek ECO support, however eligibility does not guarantee assistance under the scheme.
Separate to ECO, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme will provide capital grants for the installation of low carbon heat technologies in domestic and small non-domestic properties. Installations commissioned after April 1st will be eligible, with voucher applications opening in May. Further detail can be found at: www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-you-may-be-eligible-for-the-boiler-upgrade-scheme-from-april-2022.
Asked by: Louise Haigh (Labour - Sheffield, Heeley)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the average waiting time is between making an application to the Eco Boiler Grant Scheme to installation of a boiler.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) is not a grant but an obligation on large energy suppliers, who contract installers to deliver energy efficiency measures. These parties decide where to install, based on property suitability and cost-effectiveness. This approach promotes value-for-money.
The Government does not become involved in the private contractual decisions of these parties and so cannot influence which households receive measures. The Government does not manage applications for ECO, so does not collect data on application volume or wait times. Suppliers generally identify eligible households via sub-contracted lead generators. Households can contact any obligated supplier to seek ECO support, however eligibility does not guarantee assistance under the scheme.
Separate to ECO, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme will provide capital grants for the installation of low carbon heat technologies in domestic and small non-domestic properties. Installations commissioned after April 1st will be eligible, with voucher applications opening in May. Further detail can be found at: www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-you-may-be-eligible-for-the-boiler-upgrade-scheme-from-april-2022.
Asked by: Louise Haigh (Labour - Sheffield, Heeley)
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 issued legal proceedings to P&O under section 194(2) of the Trade Union Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992.
Answered by Paul Scully
The Insolvency Service prosecutes offences contrary to section 194(1) of the Trade Union Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 on behalf of the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. The Insolvency Service is currently conducting urgent enquiries into the circumstances of the recent redundancies made by P&O Ferries at the request of the Secretary of State.
Asked by: Louise Haigh (Labour - Sheffield, Heeley)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what meetings he has had with petrol retailers on fuel prices from 25 October 2021 to 17 January 2022.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department’s officials are in regular contact with the fuel supply industry, including those within retail operations, to discuss a range of issues. The department also monitors changes in fuel prices. The Government has subsequently kept fuel duty frozen for 12 successive years, recognising that fuel is a major cost for households and businesses.