Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he has made an assessment of the implications for his policies of the IPCC data which shows that the carbon emissions from burning wood are 1.18 times higher than those for burning coal; and what the corresponding change in gross stack emissions has been at Drax per MWh as a result of its switch to wood from coal.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The UK reports and accounts for biomass use in accordance with internationally agreed rules, follow the guidance from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. This guidance avoids double counting of emissions in both the forest and energy sectors. The loss of carbon stock from harvesting operations in the forestry sector are reported in the Land Use, Land Use Change, and Forestry sector of the country of harvest and may lead to an increase in the carbon stock of other carbon pools such as deadwood, litter, soil and harvested wood products. The portion of forestry products that is used for energy is assumed to be instantaneously oxidised in the country in which harvesting happens.
For transparency, the UK reports internationally the emissions of carbon dioxide from bioenergy use as a memo item, outside of national totals, in accordance with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change requirements. It also reports the emissions of nitrous oxide and methane from biomass combustion as part of the national total of GHG emissions. OFGEM also publishes data on company-specific supply chain emissions from biomass, which can be found here: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/biomass-sustainability-dataset-2019-20
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when the Government plans to publish the Strategy and Policy Statement to Ofgem, as outlined in the Energy White Paper.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government plans to launch a public consultation on the Strategy and Policy Statement for Ofgem later this year.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
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 plans for the regulation of district heating networks regarding the energy price cap.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government has committed to legislating within this parliament to regulate the district heating sector. In December 2021 the Government announced that Ofgem will take on the role of regulator for heat networks, which will give it new powers to regulate prices in this sector as a matter of priority. This will enable domestic heat network customers to receive equivalent protection to other energy customers as well as ensuring heat network operators are securing good deals for their consumers. This will mean that consumers are charged a fair rate for heating whilst encouraging investment in heat networks.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment the Government has made of the potential effect of the Strategy and Policy Statement to Ofgem on levels of investment in renewable energy development.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Strategy and Policy Statement is intended to give a strategic steer to the regulator on the Government’s priorities in relation to the statutory objectives of Ofgem, including protecting consumers and achieving net zero. Allowing strategic investment to ensure the grid is prepared to support renewable energy and low carbon technologies, and investment in those technologies, is within scope of these objectives.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the Strategy and Policy Statement to Ofgem, outlined in the Energy White Paper, will encourage proactive grid investment to support renewable energy development.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Strategy and Policy Statement is intended to give a strategic steer to the regulator on the Government’s priorities in relation to the statutory objectives of Ofgem, including protecting consumers and achieving net zero. Allowing strategic investment to ensure the grid is prepared to support renewable energy and low carbon technologies, and investment in those technologies, is within scope of these objectives.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of changes since 2010 in the relative value of the standard weekly rate of statutory maternity, paternity and shared parental leave pay compared to (a) the adult rate of National Living Wage, (b) women's median weekly earnings and (c) men's median weekly earnings.
Answered by Paul Scully
Statutory parental pay is intended to provide a degree of earnings replacement to support parents in taking time off around the birth of their children. It has never been intended to completely replace employee earnings; they represent only a portion of the state-funded support available to new families in the first year of their child's life. Many employers choose to offer more generous contractual provisions. The Government welcomes this, though we believe such arrangements are a contractual matter best agreed between employers and employees.
The National Living Wage (NLW) was introduced in April 2016. Minimum wage increase recommendations are made to the Government by the independent Low Pay Commission considering a wide range of economic and labour market factors. The Government continues to set a minimum hourly wage, but remuneration over and above that rate, again, is a contractual matter between the employer and the employee.
The table below shows the standard rate of statutory parental payments, the NMW/NLW and median weekly earnings for women and men in each year since 2010.
Table 1: Standard rate of statutory parental payments, the NMW/NLW and median weekly earnings for women and men, 2010-11 to 2022-23.
Year | Statutory Payment Rate (Weekly) 1 | Adult NMW/NLW (Hourly) 3 | Female Average (median) Weekly Earnings4 | Male Average (median) Weekly Earnings4 |
2010-11 | £124.88 | £5.93 | £315.80 | £496.50 |
2011-12 | £128.73 | £6.08 | £313.20 | £493.00 |
2012-13 | £135.45 | £6.19 | £319.70 | £498.10 |
2013-14 | £136.78 | £6.31 | £327.20 | £507.80 |
2014-15 | £138.18 | £6.50 | £330.40 | £507.40 |
2015-16 | £139.58 | £6.70 | £337.10 | £517.50 |
2016-17 | £139.58 | £7.20 | £349.10 | £530.40 |
2017-18 | £140.98 | £7.50 | £358.30 | £540.60 |
2018-19 | £145.18 | £7.83 | £369.90 | £554.60 |
2019-20 | £148.68 | £8.21 | £388.10 | £574.90 |
2020-21 | £151.20 | £8.72 | £400.10 | £568.40 |
2021-22 | £151.97 | £8.91 | £420.10 | £594.10 |
2022-23 | £156.66 | £9.50 | N/A | N/A |
Notes
1. Statutory payments rates are the same across Statutory Maternity Pay, Statutory Paternity Pay and, since 2015/16, Statutory Shared Parental Pay. Statutory payments rates are updated each April using The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order. The uprating is based on September CPI figures as published by the Office for National Statistics.
3. The NLW was introduced in April 2016. For earlier years the NMW rate for those aged 21 and over has been presented in the table, these rates came into effect in October each year.
4. Average weekly earnings are taken from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings as published by the Office for National Statistics based on a snapshot date. Earnings estimates are based on a pay period that covers a specific date in April each year.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, in the context of the National Audit Office's recommendations that the decarbonising roles for local and national authorities be clarified, when his Department plans to convene the Local Net Zero Forum established as part of the Net Zero Strategy.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government responded to the National Audit Office’s recommendations that the decarbonising roles for national and local authorities be clarified in the Net Zero Strategy. This sets out the Government’s commitments to enable local areas to deliver net zero, including setting clearer expectations on how local and national authorities interact in the delivery of net zero. The Government will use the Local Net Zero Forum to discuss these issues with local government.
The Government is in the process of establishing the Local Net Zero Forum. It will be a cross departmental effort and will bring together national and local government senior officials on a regular basis to discuss net zero policy and delivery options.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans he has to align the completion of the transition from fossil fuel heating in off-gas grid settings with the EPC C target date.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
In the Heat and Buildings Strategy, the Government set out the actions it will be taking to reduce emissions from buildings to ensure that it remains on track to Net Zero by 2050. For example, the government is providing a package of support, including targeted funding of £950million for the Home Upgrade Grant, for consumers in fuel poverty off the gas grid to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. In addition to improving EPC standards, the government is supporting consumers to make the transition to low carbon heating by providing £450 million for the new Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps the Government is taking to assess the suitability of the UK’s existing housing stock for heat pump installation.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
BEIS modelling on the energy efficiency of homes and their electrical connections suggests it would be feasible to install heat pumps in around 80 per cent of homes, potentially rising to around 90 per cent with fabric upgrades. Furthermore, the £14.6 million Electrification of Heat Demonstration Project has successfully demonstrated that heat pumps are a viable and effective heating solution across the diverse housing archetypes in the UK.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment the Government has made of the potential merits of introducing minimum energy efficiency standards for owner-occupied homes.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
In the Clean Growth Strategy, the Government set the aspiration for as many homes as possible to reach EPC Band C by 2035 where practical, cost-effective, and affordable. There are 15.6 million owner occupied households in England, of which 9 million have an EPC rating below Band C.
The Government committed in the Energy White Paper to seek primary powers to create a long-term regulatory framework to improve the energy performance of homes, alongside a package of incentives. The Government has consulted with a wide range of stakeholders and will undertake further consultation on specific policy design before secondary legislation.
Subsequently, in the Net Zero strategy, the government also committed to consulting on phasing in higher minimum performance standards to ensure all homes meet EPC Band C by 2035 where practical, cost effective and affordable.