Asked by: Tracey Crouch (Conservative - Chatham and Aylesford)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions the Government has had with Ofcom on the financial sustainability of (a) Royal Mail and (b) the Universal Postal Services Order.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Ministers and officials meet with Ofcom regularly to discuss a range of issues in relation to its role as the regulatory authority for the postal sector, including the provision of the universal service obligation.
Ofcom, as the independent regulator for the postal sector, has a duty to ensure the provision of a financially sustainable and efficient universal postal service. Ofcom publishes an annual report summarising its monitoring programme on its website (www.ofcom.org.uk/postal-services/information-for-the-postal-industry/monitoring_reports).
Asked by: Tracey Crouch (Conservative - Chatham and Aylesford)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he plans to amend the minimum requirements in the Postal Services Act 2011 to allow Royal Mail to move to a five day letter service.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government currently has no plans to change the minimum requirements of the universal postal service which are set out in the Postal Services Act 2011.
Asked by: Tracey Crouch (Conservative - Chatham and Aylesford)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he plans to legislate on the accessibility and sale of fireworks.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government recognises that people want to enjoy fireworks, while reducing the risks and disturbances to individuals, animals and property. The Government has no current plans to legislate further but continues to monitor the situation.
Asked by: Tracey Crouch (Conservative - Chatham and Aylesford)
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 energy companies who have increased their electricity prices for customers with a renewable energy tariff in response to the general rise in energy costs.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government does not set electricity prices, because setting tariffs is a commercial decision for suppliers, within the constraints of the price cap.
The Government has recently published a consultation setting out options as part of its Review of Electricity Market Arrangements (REMA). REMA is considering how the role of gas as a price setter for electricity could be reduced. This will include examining reforms for helping bring forward investment in low carbon generation, leading to less frequent use of gas so that it sets the price of electricity for shorter periods, as well as wholesale market reform options that could help to reduce the link.
Asked by: Tracey Crouch (Conservative - Chatham and Aylesford)
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 merits of increasing regulation of petrol prices, in the same way that household energy prices are regulated.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Strangford on 17 June to Question 14492.