Asked by: Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour - Gower)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, for what reason the Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Fund application launch has been delayed to 27 February 2023.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Government is finalising several elements of the scheme that are critical to delivery. There are significant complexities in delivering a novel scheme with a wide variety of eligible groups with different energy arrangements. The Government must ensure consumers are protected; public money is well spent with robust verification and anti-fraud checks; and that local authorities are prepared to deliver support to eligible households.
Asked by: Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour - Gower)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how long it will take to assess applications to the Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Fund.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The assessment of applications will be completed by local authorities. Cases will vary in complexity and the length of time it takes to assess them will vary accordingly.
Asked by: Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour - Gower)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, for what reason copper is not included on the UK Critical Minerals List 2021.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani
In 2022, BEIS commissioned the British Geological Survey to undertake the UK’s first criticality assessment. 18 minerals – assessed as having the highest supply risk and highest economic importance – were defined as “critical”. Many other minerals, such as copper, have important uses but, by necessity of focus, only some are defined as “critical”. Supply chain risks can be caused by – for example – rapid demand growth, concentrated supply chains in particular countries or highly volatile prices. Criticality changes over time. The assessment will be reviewed regularly through the Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre. The next review is expected later this year.
Asked by: Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour - Gower)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, for what reason gold is not included on the UK Critical Minerals List 2021.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani
In 2022, BEIS commissioned the British Geological Survey to undertake the UK’s first criticality assessment. 18 minerals – assessed as having the highest supply risk and highest economic importance – were defined as “critical”. Many other minerals, such as gold and silver, have important uses but, by necessity of focus, only some are defined as “critical”. Supply chain risks can be caused by – for example – rapid demand growth, concentrated supply chains in particular countries or highly volatile prices. Criticality changes over time. The assessment will be reviewed regularly through the Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre. The next review is expected later this year.
Asked by: Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour - Gower)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, for what reason silver is not included on the UK Critical Minerals List 2021.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani
In 2022, BEIS commissioned the British Geological Survey to undertake the UK’s first criticality assessment. 18 minerals – assessed as having the highest supply risk and highest economic importance – were defined as “critical”. Many other minerals, such as gold and silver, have important uses but, by necessity of focus, only some are defined as “critical”. Supply chain risks can be caused by – for example – rapid demand growth, concentrated supply chains in particular countries or highly volatile prices. Criticality changes over time. The assessment will be reviewed regularly through the Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre. The next review is expected later this year.
Asked by: Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour - Gower)
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 number of people who will be eligible to for Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding payments.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding will provide support of £400 for energy bills for around 900,000 households without a domestic electricity supply.
Asked by: Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour - Gower)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when the Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding scheme will open.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The application portal for the Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding is due to open later this month.
Asked by: Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour - Gower)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of energy prices rises on public sector leisure.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Government recognises the impact rising energy prices is having on both domestic and non-domestic consumers, including public sector leisure. The Energy Bill Relief Scheme is available to all eligible non-domestic energy customers, including businesses, charities and the public sector, and will provide a discount on the wholesale costs of gas and electricity. This includes public sector leisure on eligible non-domestic energy supply contracts.
Asked by: Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour - Gower)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when the £400 equivalent of the Energy Bills Support Scheme will be delivered to park home residents.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Government is working to finalise the details of the Energy Bill Support Scheme Alternative Funding and have the process up and running for applications as soon as possible. Eligibility, timescales and method of delivery will be announced shortly.
Asked by: Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour - Gower)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he will make an announcement on eligibility and delivery of energy bills support to park home residents.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Government is finalising the eligibility, delivery arrangements for the Energy Bill Support Scheme Alternative Funding and will be announcing details shortly.