Asked by: Stephen Doughty (Labour (Co-op) - Cardiff South and Penarth)
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 ensure compatibility of smart meters with different energy suppliers to encourage customers to switch to cheaper tariffs.
Answered by Claire Perry
Energy suppliers are currently transitioning from the first generation of smart meters to the new SMETS2 smart meters that can be used across energy suppliers from the point of installation.
Work is also underway to enrol the first generation of smart meters into the national Data and Communications Company (DCC) which will allow the SMETS1 smart meters to be used by all energy suppliers.
Asked by: Stephen Doughty (Labour (Co-op) - Cardiff South and Penarth)
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 undertaking a review of the Working Time Directive.
Answered by Andrew Griffiths
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is not undertaking a review of the Working Time Directive. The European Commission has recently undertaken such a review and the results are available on its website.
Asked by: Stephen Doughty (Labour (Co-op) - Cardiff South and Penarth)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what guidance his Department or the Environment Agency have issued to EDF regarding the removal of radioactively contaminated mud from the vicinity of Hinkley Point C to the other side of the Bristol Channel at Cardiff Grounds.
Answered by Lord Harrington of Watford
The Environment Agency has advised me that it is not aware of any guidance being issued to EDF on dredging of mud from the vicinity of Hinkley Point C. Permission to dispose of that mud at the Cardiff Grounds is a matter for Welsh Government and Natural Resources Wales, who act for Welsh Ministers.
Licensing for marine disposal of sediments around the South Wales coastline is a devolved matter for Natural Resources Wales and the Welsh Government. Nuclear safety and environmental protection are of paramount importance to the UK Government. The UK has a strong regulatory system and companies involved in the civil nuclear industry are required to meet robust standards overseen by independent regulators.
Asked by: Stephen Doughty (Labour (Co-op) - Cardiff South and Penarth)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what funding his Department has set aside for contingencies relating to the UK leaving the EU in the (a) 2017-18 and (b) 2018-19 financial years.
Answered by Margot James
Like all departments, BEIS is planning for a number of EU Exit scenarios to make sure we are ready on Day 1.
Over £250m of additional funding has been approved across a number of departments in 2017/18 to prepare for Brexit.
BEIS has received additional funding this year to meet new pressures arising from Brexit preparations.
Additional funding received from the reserve for 2017/8 will be set out at Supplementary Estimates.
The costs of EU Exit in 2018-19 will be affected by negotiations over the coming months.
Asked by: Stephen Doughty (Labour (Co-op) - Cardiff South and Penarth)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions Ministers or officials of his Department have had with National Resources Wales and Welsh Government Ministers on the proposal for the removal of radioactively contaminated mud from the Hinkley Point C site to be disposed of at Cardiff Grounds.
Answered by Lord Harrington of Watford
Licensing for marine disposal of sediments around the South Wales coastline is a devolved matter for Natural Resources Wales and the Welsh Government. Nuclear safety and environmental protection are of paramount importance to the UK Government. The UK has a strong regulatory system and companies involved in the civil nuclear industry are required to meet robust standards overseen by independent regulators.
Asked by: Stephen Doughty (Labour (Co-op) - Cardiff South and Penarth)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what guidance his Department has issued to EDF Energy on removal of radioactively contaminated mud from around Hinkley associated with the Hinkley Point C project.
Answered by Lord Harrington of Watford
Nuclear safety and environmental protection are of paramount importance to the UK Government. The UK has a strong regulatory system and companies involved in the civil nuclear industry are required to meet robust standards overseen by independent regulators. The Environment Agency in England and Natural Resources Wales are responsible for licensing, as appropriate, and for enforcing compliance with environmental standards for the operations referred to in relation to Hinkley Point C.