Peter Grant

I refer the hon. Member to the press release published by the Cabinet Office and Scotland Office on 22 May 2015, which can be accessed via the gov.uk website.

Section 38(1)(a) and Section 38(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information Act have not been used by the Government Equalities Office in the last 5 years.

Statistics on the use of Freedom of Information exemptions are published by the Ministry of Justice (Table 10 of annual reports). They are available here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/government-foi-statistics.

These statistics provide the number of times section 38 as a whole has been used by each government department. More detailed figures for the constituent parts of section 38 are not readily available because our systems are not designed to provide a more detailed breakdown than is required for the published statistics.

Statistics on the use of Freedom of Information exemptions are published by the Ministry of Justice (Table 10 of annual reports). They are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/government-foi-statistics.

These statistics provide the number of times section 38 as a whole has been used by each government department. More detailed figures for the constituent parts of section 38 are not readily available because our systems are not designed to provide a more detailed breakdown than is required for the published statistics.

Statistics on the use of Freedom of Information exemptions are published by the Ministry of Justice (Table 10 of annual reports). They are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/government-foi-statistics.

These statistics provide the number of times section 38 as a whole has been used by each government department. More detailed figures for the constituent parts of section 38 are not readily available because our systems are not designed to provide a more detailed breakdown than is required for the published statistics.

The information which is available on the use of section 38(1)(a) and 38(1)(b) by the Law Officers Departments is contained in the following table.

More detailed figures for the constituent parts of section 38 are not readily available for the remaining Law Officers Departments, as their systems are not designed to provide a more detailed breakdown than is required for published statistics.

Statistics on the use of Freedom of Information exemptions by the Law Officers Departments are published by the Ministry of Justice (Table 10 of annual reports). They are available here https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/government-foi-statistics.

These statistics provide the number of times section 38 as a whole has been used by each government department.

No guidance has been issued to staff on the application of Freedom of Information Act Awareness Guidance No.19, issued by the Information Commissioner's Office, about the application of section 38 of the Act. However, the Ministry of Justice has published its own guidance on the use of this exemption. This is available here: http://www.justice.gov.uk/information-access-rights/foi-guidance-for-practitioners/exemptions-guidance.

The information which is available on the use of section 38(1)(a) and 38(1)(b) by the Law Officers Departments is contained in the following table.

More detailed figures for the constituent parts of section 38 are not readily available for the remaining Law Officers Departments, as their systems are not designed to provide a more detailed breakdown than is required for published statistics.

Statistics on the use of Freedom of Information exemptions by the Law Officers Departments are published by the Ministry of Justice (Table 10 of annual reports). They are available here https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/government-foi-statistics.

These statistics provide the number of times section 38 as a whole has been used by each government department.

No guidance has been issued to staff on the application of Freedom of Information Act Awareness Guidance No.19, issued by the Information Commissioner's Office, about the application of section 38 of the Act. However, the Ministry of Justice has published its own guidance on the use of this exemption. This is available here: http://www.justice.gov.uk/information-access-rights/foi-guidance-for-practitioners/exemptions-guidance.

The information which is available on the use of section 38(1)(a) and 38(1)(b) by the Law Officers Departments is contained in the following table.

More detailed figures for the constituent parts of section 38 are not readily available for the remaining Law Officers Departments, as their systems are not designed to provide a more detailed breakdown than is required for published statistics.

Statistics on the use of Freedom of Information exemptions by the Law Officers Departments are published by the Ministry of Justice (Table 10 of annual reports). They are available here https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/government-foi-statistics.

These statistics provide the number of times section 38 as a whole has been used by each government department.

No guidance has been issued to staff on the application of Freedom of Information Act Awareness Guidance No.19, issued by the Information Commissioner's Office, about the application of section 38 of the Act. However, the Ministry of Justice has published its own guidance on the use of this exemption. This is available here: http://www.justice.gov.uk/information-access-rights/foi-guidance-for-practitioners/exemptions-guidance.

The Statistical Expert Group, established by the Infected Blood Inquiry, has provided valuable insight into the numbers of infections from blood and blood products in the UK between 1970 and 1991 and subsequent survival rates. Since October 2022, the Government has paid over £400 million in interim compensation payments to those infected or bereaved partners registered with the UK Infected Blood Support Schemes, totalling over 4,000 individuals. However, the requested information is not available by Parliamentary constituency. There is also considerable uncertainty over the number of people, especially those affected, who might be eligible under Sir Brian Langstaff’s recommendations. Therefore I am not able to provide a substantive response to the Honourable Member’s questions on his constituency.

The Statistical Expert Group, established by the Infected Blood Inquiry, has provided valuable insight into the numbers of infections from blood and blood products in the UK between 1970 and 1991 and subsequent survival rates. Since October 2022, the Government has paid over £400 million in interim compensation payments to those infected or bereaved partners registered with the UK Infected Blood Support Schemes, totalling over 4,000 individuals. However, the requested information is not available by Parliamentary constituency. There is also considerable uncertainty over the number of people, especially those affected, who might be eligible under Sir Brian Langstaff’s recommendations. Therefore I am not able to provide a substantive response to the Honourable Member’s questions on his constituency.

We have been informed by officials at the Parliamentary Health & Services Ombudsman (PHSO) that the technical problems were caused by third-party servers used by the House of Commons. This issue was swiftly resolved by the House of Commons IT team. Members wanting to follow up on any cases submitted during this time should contact the PHSO directly via the MP mailbox as usual.

I refer the Hon. Member to the Oral Statement I gave on Leaving the European Union on the 21 January 2019, Official Report, Column 25.

I refer the Hon. Member to the Oral Statement I gave on Leaving the European Union on the 21 January 2019, Official Report, Column 25.

I replied to the Hon Member on Friday 15 March.

Government has committed £1.1 billion to the Green Industries Growth Accelerator to support the expansion of domestic green manufacturing capacity and strengthen clean energy supply chains. At Spring Budget, government announced provisional allocations of up to £390 million for offshore wind and networks, up to £390 million for carbon capture, utilisation and storage and hydrogen and up to £300m to support domestic production of high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) for nuclear fuel.

Government is conducting engagement with industry on the design of the Accelerator and more detail on eligibility and how to apply for funding will be shared in due course.

The Government received applications from each of the four Gas Distribution Networks for funding to develop outline plans for how a roll out of hydrogen heating might start in each of their network areas, starting with a potential hydrogen town

The Government decided in December 2023 not to proceed with a hydrogen village trial in Redcar as the main source of hydrogen would not be available. The Government is assessing the implications of that decision for our policy on planning for a hydrogen town pilot and will provide an update on this work in due course.

The Government received applications from each of the four Gas Distribution Networks for funding to develop outline plans for how a roll out of hydrogen heating might start in each of their network areas, starting with a potential hydrogen town

The Government decided in December 2023 not to proceed with a hydrogen village trial in Redcar as the main source of hydrogen would not be available. The Government is assessing the implications of that decision for our policy on planning for a hydrogen town pilot and will provide an update on this work in due course.

The Government aims to complete all Green Deal complaints as soon as possible, taking into account the requirements of the Green Deal Framework Regulations. It is not possible to provide a timeframe on completion due to the variance in individual cases and required stages within the complaints handling process.

Under the Green Deal Framework Regulations, where eligible complaints are referred to the Secretary of State for consideration, he is required to first issue an intention notice before a sanction is imposed. Since re-starting this process, the Department has issued 15 intention notices and 14 final decisions in respect of complaints about mis-selling of Green Deal Plans.

In the 2021/22 scheme year, all low-income pensioners who are potentially eligible for a rebate under the Warm Home Discount Core Group will have received a letter from the Government by mid-December 2021. Most will receive the rebate automatically; in 2020/21, around 95% of Core Group recipients received their rebates automatically. In addition, the Warm Home Discount website is widely signposted and used by consumer groups, charities, and energy comparison websites to maximise uptake.

Energy suppliers are responsible for administering their Broader Group rebates, including setting their eligibility criteria and providing the rebates to eligible households. Suppliers make their customers aware of the scheme and are usually over-subscribed with applications.

Last summer, the Government consulted on extending, expanding, and reforming the scheme such that from winter 2022/23 the vast majority of all Warm Home Discount rebates would be provided automatically.

As of 1 February 2022, there are 421 live Green Deal complaint cases referred to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Ministers and officials regularly met energy companies during the first and second covid-19 lockdowns to discuss a range of issues relating to the energy retail market. The Government’s Voluntary Agreement with energy suppliers prioritises customers at risk and supports those impacted by covid-19. Based on circumstances, this could include reassessing, reducing or pausing debt repayments for households in financial distress and support for prepayment meter customers to stay on supply. The Agreement was introduced in March 2020 and is still in place today.