Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help ensure the enforcement of the single-use plastics ban.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government recognises farmers’ concerns about imports produced using methods not permitted in the UK. We have been clear that we will use our Trade Strategy to promote the highest food production standards.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 18 September 2024 to Question 5089 on Great British Nuclear: Recruitment, for what reason his Department is unable to provide a list of (a) the 16 organisations from which personnel have been seconded to Great British Nuclear and (b) the number of personnel supplied by each organisation.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department is unable to share information potentially sensitive to individuals working within GBN. GBN has grown rapidly as an organisation with permanent recruitment underway.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of recognising book and claim as a form of corporate emissions reporting.
Answered by Kerry McCarthy - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Large or listed UK companies are required to disclose specified emissions under the regulations which underpin Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting. Currently, Government is considering the International Sustainability Standards Board reporting requirements which do not prohibit the use of book and claim for emissions, subject to transparent reporting and verification. DESNZ is also reviewing the Environmental Reporting Guidance which includes guidance on reporting renewable energy where Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin are used alongside physical purchase of energy, as well as use of carbon offsets. However, there are no plans to conduct a specific assessment of the merits of book and claim at the present time.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the withdrawal of the temporary easement for wine on the supply chain for UK-based importers.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
In August 2023 the Government introduced reforms to alcohol duty so that products are taxed in proportion to their alcoholic strength, not volume.
To help the wine industry adapt to the new duty system, the current, temporary duty easement was introduced as a transitional measure, which was intended to allow time for wine producers to adapt to calculating duty based on alcohol by volume.
By the end-date of 31 January 2025, the wine industry will have had over two years to adapt to the new strength-based system.
The Government publishes tax information and impact notes (TIINs) for tax policy changes. The summary of impacts from the changes to alcohol duty announced at Spring Budget 2023, including the wine easement, can be found here: Reform of Alcohol Duty Rates and Reliefs - GOV.UK
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the withdrawal of the temporary easement for wine on SMEs in the wine industry.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
In August 2023 the Government introduced reforms to alcohol duty so that products are taxed in proportion to their alcoholic strength, not volume.
To help the wine industry adapt to the new duty system, the current, temporary duty easement was introduced as a transitional measure, which was intended to allow time for wine producers to adapt to calculating duty based on alcohol by volume.
By the end-date of 31 January 2025, the wine industry will have had over two years to adapt to the new strength-based system.
The Government publishes tax information and impact notes (TIINs) for tax policy changes. The summary of impacts from the changes to alcohol duty announced at Spring Budget 2023, including the wine easement, can be found here: Reform of Alcohol Duty Rates and Reliefs - GOV.UK
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make it his policy to strengthen the biomass sustainability auditing regime before any new Contracts for Difference are awarded.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The 2023 Biomass Strategy contained a commitment to consult on developing and implementing a cross-sector sustainability framework to enable greater consistency across sectors. Next steps on this will be announced in due course.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what steps his Department is taking to help support a just energy transition in the North Sea.
Answered by Ian Murray - Secretary of State for Scotland
The UK Government is committed to making Britain a clean energy superpower by 2030.
As we make the carefully phased transition to clean energy, we will build alternative opportunities for oil and gas workers - to which we’ve already committed £22bn of investment.
What’s more, we have created the National Wealth Fund to invest in our clean energy industries. I have seen first hand what great work is taking place - including just last week at Dundee Port.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 14 October 2024 to Question 6413 on Sizewell C Power Station: Finance, for what reason disclosure of the proportions of capital allocated by Sizewell C Ltd is considered commercially sensitive; and whether his Department holds that information.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Sizewell C’s spending plans are agreed by shareholders, including Government. The public disclosure of detailed spending plans whilst the project is engaged in live commercial negotiations could have a negative impact on the project’s negotiating position and undermine the project’s value for money.
Sizewell C Ltd publishes an annual report and accounts, which are available to view at Companies House. This sets out expenditure and income for each financial year.
The Department also includes information about amounts invested into the project via its annual report and accounts, which are published and laid before Parliament.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if her Department will add heat batteries for a central heating system to the list of energy saving materials that are zero-rated.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The installation of qualifying energy-saving materials in residential accommodation and buildings used solely for a relevant charitable purpose benefits from a temporary VAT zero rate until March 2027.
Last year, a Call for Evidence (CfE) seeking views on additional technologies to potentially include within this relief was run. Heat batteries were one of the technologies put forwards by respondents. As set out in the Government response to the CfE, at that time, the Government was unable to identify sufficient independent data regarding the efficiency of heat batteries, making it difficult to assess the technology’s energy-saving properties objectively.
The Government currently has no plans to add further technologies to this VAT relief. Nevertheless, the Government keeps all taxes under review as part of the policy making process. Changes to the tax system are announced at fiscal events in the usual way.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he plans to take steps to provide financial support to the homes that his Department considers to be too expensive or difficult to install a heat pump into.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises that heat pumps may not be feasible in a small number of properties, and these homes will require alternative low-carbon heating solutions to help them decarbonise.
The Government is committed to incentivising properties to transition to cleaner, affordable heating and our Warm Homes Plan will offer grants and low interest loans to support investment in insulation, low carbon heating and other home improvements to cut bills.