Asked by: Stephen Kerr (Conservative - Stirling)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps are being taken to inform the general public about the limitations of first generation smart meters; and what plans he has to ensure that the roll-out of second generation meters removes those limitations.
Answered by Claire Perry
Under licence conditions, energy suppliers must inform their customers prior to the installation of a smart meter that they may lose meter functionality when switching. In addition, before any switch is concluded, the new supplier must tell the consumer about any change in how their meter will operate and the service they will receive.
These requirements aim to help consumers make informed decisions about switching, in the period before first generation smart meters are enrolled into the national data and communications platform and thus can be operated by any energy supplier.
Second generation meters use the smart metering infrastructure run by the Data and Communications Company and will enable all consumers to retain their smart functionality when they switch supplier.
Asked by: Stephen Kerr (Conservative - Stirling)
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 has had discussions with the Global Vehicle Trust on government support for a UK manufacturing base for the Ox flat-packed truck for the developing world.
Answered by Claire Perry
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Department for International Trade have actively supported the Global Vehicle Trust (GVT) in seeking investors and manufacturing partners. This support included helping arrange for the OX to be displayed at the Low Carbon Vehicle show at Millbrook, Bedfordshire in 2016, and introducing GVT to potential international partners at the show; and discussions in 2017 between our Post in India and potential local partners.
Asked by: Stephen Kerr (Conservative - Stirling)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many SMETS1 smart meters have been fitted in domestic premises in each nation and region of the UK since the start of the smart meter roll-out.
Answered by Lord Harrington of Watford
We are unable to provide statistics on smart meter installations broken down by region and nation.
Collectively across both large and small suppliers, around 7.36 million smart meters (SMETS1) have been installed in domestic properties in Great Britain to the end of June 2017.
It should be noted that large supplier statistics are collected at the end of each calendar quarter and small supplier statistics are collected annually, at the end of the calendar year. Therefore installations carried out by small suppliers since 31 December 2016 are not reflected in the above figure. The rollout is also across Great Britain only.
Asked by: Stephen Kerr (Conservative - Stirling)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many domestic energy customers with SMETS1 smart meters have switched energy suppliers since the roll-out programme began.
Answered by Lord Harrington of Watford
We are unable to provide statistics on how many consumers with SMETS1 meters have switched energy suppliers since the programme began.
According to Ofgem’s report, ‘Consumer engagement in the energy market 2017’, 23% of consumers who say they have a smart meter have switched supplier in the past 12 months, compared to 17% of those who say they do not have a smart meter.
Asked by: Stephen Kerr (Conservative - Stirling)
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 publicise the services his Department provides to enable small business to grow their businesses throughout the UK.
Answered by Margot James
The Government is working hard to support businesses and entrepreneurs across the UK to ensure they can access the finance and wider support to grow and have the right conditions for companies to invest long-term. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy publicises these services in a range of ways, including online channels, information delivered by local partners; and regular engagements with businesses, entrepreneurs, representative bodies and others.
Asked by: Stephen Kerr (Conservative - Stirling)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the dates were of the most recent meetings between Ministers from his Department and their counterparts in the devolved administrations; and what the dates are of the next planned meetings.
Answered by Margot James
Ministers in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy regularly discuss matters of mutual interest with their counterparts in the devolved administrations.
The most recent meetings took place on 7 September 2017 when my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and my hon. Friend the Minister for Climate Change and Industry met with both Ken Skates AM, Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure in the Welsh Government and with Paul Wheelhouse MSP, Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy in the Scottish Government. There are currently no Northern Ireland Executive Ministers.
Asked by: Stephen Kerr (Conservative - Stirling)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent meetings he has had with the Big Six energy companies; and what measures his Department plans to being forward to ensure the energy market is a competitive marketplace.
Answered by Margot James
BEIS Ministers and officials regularly meet energy supply companies to discuss a wide range of issues. We are working with Ofgem to make switching supplier quicker and easier for consumers.
Asked by: Stephen Kerr (Conservative - Stirling)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions his Department has had with the Scottish Government on strategic initiatives to support small businesses in Scotland; and what the agreed steps to be taken were at those discussions.
Answered by Claire Perry
As set out in my responses to PQ 411 and PQ 2586 the UK and Scottish Governments have been in discussion at both ministerial and official levels.
Business support in Scotland is largely devolved however, the department engages with all the devolved regions on a number of initiatives aimed at supporting small businesses. Government programmes, backed by the British Business Bank (BBB), the Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme (EFGS) and Innovate UK are investing over £700m to support around 4,500 Scottish companies including: -
Asked by: Stephen Kerr (Conservative - Stirling)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how the Government is addressing the regional productivity gap in each region and constituent part of the UK.
Answered by Margot James
The objective of Government’s Industrial Strategy is to increase productivity and drive growth across the United Kingdom. We have provided a framework to build on the strengths of different places and address the factors that hold others back. This will include investing in key infrastructure projects, increasing skill levels, and backing local innovation strengths.
The Industrial Strategy will build on the £12 billion Local Growth Fund (2015-16 to 2020-21) for local areas; 8 Devolution Deals; and 48 Enterprise Zones that will unlock £2.7 billion of private sector investment. We have also agreed ambitious city deals in Scotland and Wales and we will work towards further such deals across the Devolved Administrations.
Asked by: Stephen Kerr (Conservative - Stirling)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to ensure closer collaboration between the Government and the Scottish Government in relation to the Government's Industrial Strategy.
Answered by Claire Perry
I refer the hon Member to the answer I gave him to Question UIN 411 on 29th June 2017.