Robin Millar

Ofgem has launched a wider review into the non-domestic market and has recently issued a Request-for-Information (RFI) to gather evidence on suppliers' deemed rates charges and EBRS scheme application.

The Government has been clear that current levels of support were time-limited and intended as a bridge to allow non-domestic customers to adapt. The new Energy Bills Discount Scheme has a cap set at £5.5 billion based on estimated volumes.

The setting of the standing charge is a commercial matter for individual suppliers.

However, Ofgem has launched a wider review into the non-domestic market. Ofgem has recently issued a Request-for-Information (RFI) to gather evidence on suppliers' deemed rates charges, ensuring they follow rules so as not to charge unduly onerous rates.

A new Energy Bill Discount Scheme will run from April 2023 until March 2024, and will provide a discount to eligible non-domestic customers. This scheme will support non-domestic customers while also limiting taxpayer’s exposure to volatile energy markets.

The Alternative Fuel Payment (AFP) will ensure that all households who do not benefit through the Energy Price Guarantee (EPG) receive support for the cost of the fuel they do use.

The payment has been calculated by reference to past increases in the cost of heating oil between September 2021 and September 2022. It aims to ensure that a typical customer using heating oil will not face a higher rate of growth from October 2022 than those supported by the EPG.

The AFP will limit the increase in heating costs to 130% for a typical household, in line with the benefit offered by the EPG: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/58-03/0159/AnnexB.pdf.

We have committed to bring tree planting rates across the UK up to 30,000 hectares per year by the end of this parliament. Through the England Trees Action Plan, we have launched our flagship England Woodland Creation Offer; our Woodland Officer Apprenticeship Scheme; and three new community forests to boost tree planting across the country. This is backed by the £760 million Nature for Climate Fund.

The Government acknowledges the international nature of the shipping industry and that it is customary for shipping companies to have the freedom to flag and crew vessels in a manner that suits their individual operating models. There are currently no proposals to restrict vessel access to the UK domestic market.

My Rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, replied to Doctors’ Association UK on 21 September 2023.

There are no current plans to secure quarantine hotels in the north of England.

The UK is not aware of any headteachers or deputy headteachers currently working at UNRWA schools that are members of terror organisations. The UK takes allegations of neutrality violations extremely seriously, including any allegations related to terror organisations' involvement in UNWRA's education provision. This is something we monitor carefully in our annual assessment of UNRWA. The UK is following closely the independent review led by Catherine Colonna which is assessing the mechanisms and procedures that the Agency currently has in place to ensure neutrality.

With the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, the UK Government rapidly increased support to hygiene programmes in developing countries. Through the Hygiene, Handwashing and Behaviour Change Coalition on COVID-19 programme, we are working in partnership with Unilever and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in 37 countries to provide advice, promote hand and surface hygiene, and deliver supplies including soap and sanitiser to people in urgent need.

The UK is also helping schools worldwide to re-open safely while managing COVID-19 transmission risks. The UK Government-supported Hygiene Hub for COVID-19 has produced specific guidance on reopening schools after lockdown. The hub provides national governments, NGOs and other stakeholders with evidence-based advice and examples of best practice on hygiene and behaviour change.

By encouraging investment in specific sites through a package of benefits and offering a business-friendly environment, Freeports will create high-skilled jobs and drive productivity. In turn, this will ensure sustainable economic growth and regeneration for communities that need it most. The economic impact of individual bids was an important factor in deciding successful freeport locations, and is further assessed through the business case process.

Levelling up is our defining mission. It was the golden thread running through the Autumn Budget and Spending Review.

We are supporting businesses to thrive through expanded British Business Bank programmes, including a £130 million new investment fund in Wales.

We are supporting local infrastructure with £121 million for 10 projects in Wales through the first round of the Levelling Up Fund. And we are launching the over £2.6 billion UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

We made a clear manifesto commitment to act on the issue of unauthorised encampments and I remain determined to ensure police have the powers they need.

I intend to publish our response to the consultation and to bring forward legislation later this session.

We are grateful to over 110 local authorities who have participated in the voluntary National Transfer Scheme. Through this scheme in excess of 1,000 unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) have been transferred to other local authorities, relieving pressure on areas who look after large numbers of UASC.

We have recently undertaken an informal consultation with local authorities on proposals to improve the NTS and are carefully considering the responses to this.

We are also grateful to the over 340 local authorities who have volunteered to resettle in excess of 25,000 vulnerable refugees under our schemes since 2015. If other local authorities wish to support these schemes, we would encourage local government officials to speak with their Strategic Migration Partnership for more information and guidance.

Many individuals, charities and community interest groups have also provided practical support for over 440 refugees through the UK's community sponsorship scheme, including providing accommodation and teaching English.

If members of the public would like to offer their support, either through donating goods, services or their time locally, they should visit the Help Refugees page at https://helprefugees.campaign.gov.uk/ where information about the types of support local authorities require can be found. The website also contains practical advice on becoming a community sponsor and signposts to refugee charities and voluntary organisations.

The National Audit Office (NAO) audits the Ministry of Defence (MOD) financial accounts and conducts investigations on MOD programmes and activities. It does not inspect or audit defence industry companies and, as such, companies do not fail NAO audit inspections.

The MOD regularly scrutinises the performance of its suppliers, holding them to account for performance against the terms and conditions of their contracts. This includes monitoring costs and progress against delivery milestones and taking action as appropriate in the event of an over or underrun. As a general principle, the MOD would seek to resolve issues of under or overestimation of cost through the terms and conditions of the contract, rather than through financial penalties.

This Government is committed to strengthening the Union. The UK is a family of nations which shares cultural, social and economic ties that, together, make us safer, more secure, and more prosperous.

The Government is committed to levelling up the whole of the UK and we will take every opportunity to strengthen Northern Ireland’s place within the Union, particularly as we approach its centenary year. This is something we have clearly demonstrated through the £2.8 billion previously provided to the Northern Ireland Executive to help fight coronavirus, along with the announcement last week by the Chancellor of an additional £918 million of funding for Northern Ireland for the incoming financial year.

The Government is clear that the UK must function as a single customs territory in practice as we operationalise the Protocol. That is why we have unequivocally committed to unfettered access for Northern Ireland goods to the rest of the UK, as outlined in New Decade, New Approach and in the 2019 manifesto.

We have brought forward draft regulations which establish the definition of Qualifying Northern Ireland Goods, ensuring no changes in how Northern Ireland businesses move goods directly to the rest of the UK from 1 January 2021, and the UKIM Bill will ensure that qualifying Northern Ireland goods can continue to be placed on the whole UK market and prohibit checks and controls as goods move from Northern Ireland to the rest of the UK.

The Government is committed to facilitating national recognition and international awareness of this important national anniversary.

The centenary will be an opportunity to reflect on this moment of profound significance in the history of the United Kingdom, in a way that includes diverse perspectives and facilitates respectful discussion.

It will also offer a platform to showcase what is best about Northern Ireland around the world. The programme of centenary events being developed will therefore celebrate Northern Ireland’s people, business, culture, arts, and young talent, looking forward to a positive future.