Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking with the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero to increase investment in renewable infrastructure projects.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Prime Minister’s Plan for Change sets out our ambitious but achievable target of Clean Power by 2030.
The Clean Power Action Plan demonstrates the significant investment requirements to reach this target, including in renewable infrastructure, and actions we will take to facilitate this.
We have already taken action to remove the de-facto ban on onshore wind in England, approved major solar projects, and delivered a record-breaking renewables auction.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to enforce statutory guidelines on implementing low traffic neighbourhoods.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The draft guidance on low traffic neighbourhoods published in March 2024 was never brought into force and remains in draft. As it says in the introduction, the intention was that when published in final form, it would apply to all traffic authorities in England. However, due to the general election, further work on it was put on hold and the Government is now considering appropriate next steps.
As has always been the case, local authorities are responsible for managing their roads and are accountable to their communities.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which Department or agency leads on the Cross Government Working Level Group on Indoor Air Quality; how often it has met since Public Health England closed in September 2021; and which Ministers are involved in its meetings.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department co-ordinated the Cross Government Working Level Group on Indoor Air Quality following the closure of Public Health England in September 2021. Since that date the group has met five times, most recently in July 2023. Ministers have not attended this official-level group. Government departments involved in the group have included the Department for Business and Trade, the Department for Education, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the Department of Health and Social Care, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and the Department for Transport, as well as the Scottish Government, the UK Health Security Agency, and the Health and Safety Executive.
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 his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of treating biomethane in the same way as fossil gases under the UK Emissions trading scheme on (a) the anaerobic digestion and biogas sector and (b) the wider economy.
Answered by Kerry McCarthy - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Biomethane can play an important role in reducing reliance on imported gas, increasing our country’s energy security, and helping to deliver net zero.
The UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) applies a zero emissions factor to biomethane combustion where it is supplied directly to ETS installations. Where biomethane is injected into the gas grid, there is not currently a mechanism to account for the use of biomethane.
The Department is considering stakeholder feedback from the 2024 Call for Evidence on the impacts of this to inform the next steps. The Department will provide an update in due course.
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 provide support to (a) anaerobic digestion plants and (b) other small energy producers.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is aware that the expiration of Renewables Obligation accreditation may affect the commercial viability of generators from a range of technologies, including anaerobic digestion plants and other small scale generators.
We are continuing to assess the situation to understand the impact of the end of Renewables Obligation support on security of supply, clean power 2030 and the environment.
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, how much innovation funding has the (a) tidal stream and (b) wave energy sectors received since 2020.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Tidal stream and wave technology projects are eligible to apply for a suite of innovation funding programmes delivered by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
Through UKRI, several such projects have won support through programmes administered by Research and Innovation organisations, including Innovate UK and the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult.
Detailed information on amounts of funding awarded to research and innovation projects is publicly available and can be found on the UKRI website:
https://www.ukri.org/what-we-do/what-we-have-funded/
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, what engagement he has had with the wave energy sector to support the technology commercialising in the UK.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Details of ministers’ meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on 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, what assessment he has made of the role marine energy will play in the UK's industrial strategy.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Industrial Strategy will channel support to eight growth-driving sectors, including the Clean Energy sector, and will be published in Spring 2025. These are sectors in which the UK excels today and will propel us tomorrow.
Regarding marine energy, existing policy levers such as the Contracts for Difference scheme and innovation funding delivered by UK Research & Innovation offer substantial levers to unlock marine energy deployment and support supply chain development.
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 his Department will take steps to support the training of heat pump installers through (a) apprenticeships and (b) re-training existing engineers.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
According to Heat Pump Association estimates, we currently need to train at least 6,600 installers a year. Around 9,000 individuals completed training in 2024, so we are well in line with current workforce training needs.
The £5 million Heat Training Grant is supporting the upskilling of existing heating engineers in England. The scheme launched in July 2023 and is on track to support 6,000 heat pump training opportunities by April 2025.
The Low Carbon Heating Technician apprenticeship launched in Autumn 2023. This is helping bring new entrants into the sector and build a sustainable skills pipeline.
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 his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of convening an advisory panel to inform its approach to supporting the decarbonisation of buildings.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We understand the importance of bringing people along with us on the journey to decarbonise buildings across the UK. We will continue to be in contact with a range of stakeholders as we develop our Warm Homes Plan.