Author: admin

  • Helen Hayes – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Helen Hayes – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Hayes on 2015-10-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make it her policy to require local authorities to publish data on (a) the number of families with disabled children in their area, (b) how many such families access short breaks provided by the local authority, by category of break, in each local authority area and (c) the levels of short breaks provided in each such area.

    Edward Timpson

    Local authorities are already under a duty under the Children Act 1989 to maintain a register of disabled children in their area. It must be open for any disabled child (as defined in section 17(11) of the Children Act 1989) to join the register, whether on their own request or through their parents.

    Since 2011, local authorities have also been under a duty to provide a range of short break services and to publish a local Short Breaks Duty Statement showing what services are available; how they are responding to the needs of local parent carers; and how short breaks can be accessed, including any eligibility criteria.

  • Steve McCabe – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Steve McCabe – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve McCabe on 2015-10-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children with autism spectrum disorders are excluded from secondary school in Year 10; and what comparative assessment she has made of the level of such exclusions in Year 10 and in other years.

    Edward Timpson

    In the academic year 2013/14, there were 700 fixed period exclusions and 10 permanent exclusions for Year 10 pupils with an autistic spectrum disorder primary need. In percentage terms, 15.33% of such pupils were excluded for a fixed period, while 0.23% were permanently excluded.

    A table showing the number of exclusions for these pupils is attached. The rate of exclusions for these Year 10 pupils is consistent with the rate in Years 7 through 11.

    We recognise that pupils with an autism spectrum disorder can be vulnerable to exclusion. The department is working with the National Autistic Society and is funding their project to help reduce exclusions. The project includes advice to professionals on early intervention, information for parents and guidance on good practice in alternative provision.

  • Stephen Hammond – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Stephen Hammond – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Hammond on 2015-10-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps her Department has taken to prepare for the implementation of the proposed General Data Protection Regulation; which non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) and agencies overseen by her Department will be affected by that regulation; and what estimate she has made of the potential liability of her Department, its agencies and NDPBs in connection with that proposed regulation.

    Andrea Leadsom

    Negotiations on the proposed General Data Protection Regulation are still continuing and our negotiating position has taken into account the likely impact on Government Departments, NDPBs and agencies. Once the outcome of negotiations involving the Council of the European Union, the European Parliament and the Commission are complete, and the Regulation has been adopted, the liabilities will be further assessed. There will then follow a maximum implementation period of two years. Between now and then, Government departments who will be affected by the Regulation are closely involved in work led by the Department for Culture, Media & Sport to consider the implications of the text as it develops through the negotiating process.

  • Stephen Timms – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Stephen Timms – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2015-10-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, whether it is her policy to increase the proportion of energy in the UK generated from renewable sources.

    Andrea Leadsom

    By 2020, the UK is legally committed to obtain 15% of its final energy consumption from renewable sources under the EU Renewable Energy Directive. We continue to make progress towards our target with provisional figures showing 7.0% of final energy consumption came from renewable sources in 2014. A strong start was made to 2015 with over a quarter of electricity generation coming from renewable sources in Q2 2015, up 8.6% from Q2 2014.

    Electricity generation from renewable sources, in 2014, was at 19.1% compared to 14.9% in 2013; renewable heat sources accounted for 4.8% of total heat demand in 2014; and fuel suppliers are already required to meet a 4.75% renewable transport fuel obligation by ensuring that sustainable biofuel is supplied.

    Since 2010, DECC estimates that over £42 billion of private capital has been secured in low-carbon electricity generation projects and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), spread geographically across the UK. 2014 was a record year for investment in renewable energy generation with over £8 billion being invested.

  • Alan Brown – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Alan Brown – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alan Brown on 2015-10-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the Answer of 15 October 2015 to Question 11217, what the cost element is of the projected transmission charges within the agreed electricity strike rate of £92.50/MWh; and which party carries the risk if transmission charges are higher than predicted when the strike rate was agreed.

    Andrea Leadsom

    The Generator’s estimate of transmission costs is commercially sensitive.

    The Strike Price could be adjusted, upwards or downwards, in relation to operational and certain other costs (including balancing and transmission charges) at certain fixed points including through opex reopeners at 15 and 25 years after the start date of the first reactor. Further detail on the treatment of transmission charges is included in the Departmental minute presented to Parliament on 21st October.

  • Alan Brown – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Alan Brown – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alan Brown on 2015-10-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the Answer of 15 October 2015 to Question 11217, what rate of non-guaranteed reasonable profit has been included in the calculated strike price.

    Andrea Leadsom

    The forecast rate of return is commercially confidential and is naturally subject to change as it will depend on the performance of NNB Generation Company Ltd. (NNBG), given that the Contract for Difference (CfD) is designed so that many of the risks belong to NNBG. The CfD contains a series of gainshare mechanisms in which consumers would benefit if the project construction costs or equity returns were more favourable than forecast.

    However, although the actual number is confidential, the European Commission’s Closing Decision for the Hinkley Point C State aid case, where they judged the Strike Price to be proportionate, gives an expected range for the project rate of return of between 9.25 and 9.75% as of October 2014.

    http://ec.europa.eu/competition/state_aid/cases/251157/251157_1615983_2292_4.pdf

    “

  • Alan Brown – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Alan Brown – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alan Brown on 2015-10-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the Answer of 15 October 2015 to Question 11023, how many developers are developing proposals at each of the sites referred to in that Answer; what indicative electricity strike rates have been discussed with those developers; and what (a) generating capacity and (b) potential timescales have been discussed with each developer in each case.

    Andrea Leadsom

    I set out the position below. It is too soon to say what any strike price might be for these projects.

    Site

    Developer

    Proposed generating capacity

    Potential timescale for operation

    Wylfa

    Horizon

    2.7 GW

    mid-2020s

    Oldbury

    Horizon

    2.7 GW

    to be confirmed

    Moorside

    NuGen

    3.6 GW

    mid-2020s

    Sizewell

    EDF/CGN

    3.2 GW

    to be confirmed

    Bradwell

    EDF/CGN

    to be confirmed

    to be confirmed

  • Adam Afriyie – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Adam Afriyie – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Adam Afriyie on 2015-10-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the Answer of 7 September 2015 to Question 7974, what research her Department has conducted into the ease of switching energy supplier.

    Andrea Leadsom

    The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has, as part of its investigation into the energy market, commissioned research into consumer experiences and views of the energy market including the ease of switching energy supplier.

    The CMA investigation is still ongoing but the report it commissioned has already been published can be found at:

    https://assets.digital.cabinet-office.gov.uk/media/54e75c53ed915d0cf700000d/CMA_customer_survey_-_energy_investigation_-_GfK_Report.pdf

    “

  • Adam Afriyie – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Adam Afriyie – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Adam Afriyie on 2015-10-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many In Home Displays have been installed in households to date; and how many such displays are still in operation 12 months after installation.

    Andrea Leadsom

    It is not possible to give an accurate figure on the number of In Home Displays (IHDs) installed as while energy suppliers are required to offer their domestic consumers an IHD where they install a smart metering system, domestic consumers can choose not to accept one.

    Data from the Early Learning Project1 (ELP) which covered the very early part of the rollout at time when energy suppliers were trialling and testing approaches to consumer engagement, found that six in ten (61%) smart meter customers who had received an In Home Display (IHD) reported that they still had their IHD plugged in. These consumers had had their smart meters over a period of between six months and two and half years. The research also found that smart meter customers who had received their installation more recently were no more likely than those who did so around two years ago to still have their IHD plugged in.

    [1]https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/smart-metering-early-learning-project-and-small-scale-behaviour-trials

    “

  • Adam Afriyie – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Adam Afriyie – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Adam Afriyie on 2015-10-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, whether her Department (a) has conducted and (b) plans to conduct any research into alternative customer engagement tools to In Home Displays.

    Andrea Leadsom

    In 2011 the Energy Demand Research Project reported on a series of Government-supported supplier-led trials covering a range of feedback mechanisms from over 50,000 GB houses. These included but were not limited to In Home Displays with research into energy efficiency advice, benchmarking, billing, financial incentives and digital media (e.g. web and television). The findings showed that electricity savings with an In Home Display were generally 2-4% higher than with a smart meter only.

    More recently, the Department has consulted on enabling suppliers to undertake controlled trials of innovative In Home Display alternatives when they install a compliant smart metering system. We are currently considering responses ahead of publishing decisions.