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  • Charles Walker – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Charles Walker – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Charles Walker on 2015-10-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what the level is of public subsidy per megawatt of energy generated sought by the developers and operators of the proposed Swansea Bay tidal lagoon; and how this subsidy compares to similar subsidies sought by the nuclear industry.

    Andrea Leadsom

    The negotiations between the UK Government and Tidal Lagoon Swansea Bay PLC are commercially sensitive and it is not appropriate for us to comment on matters such as the potential strike price.

    The negotiations must be kept confidential in order to allow the Government to secure the best possible deal for consumers.

    Any decision to offer a contract for difference (CFD) would be subject to strict value for money considerations, the funds available within the Levy Control Framework at the time of a decision and be subject to State aid approval.

    If issued, any CFD would be published once completed, including the strike price, having redacted commercially sensitive information.

  • Charles Walker – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Charles Walker – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Charles Walker on 2015-10-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if she will consider the environmental impact of tidal lagoons in the Severn Estuary, Bristol Channel and Swansea Bay before granting permissions for these lagoons; and if she will make a statement.

    Andrea Leadsom

    Before determining any consent applications for tidal lagoons that are nationally significant infrastructure projects, my rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State will consider their individual and cumulative environmental impacts alongside all other relevant information.

  • Charles Walker – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Charles Walker – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Charles Walker on 2015-10-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, whether the plans for the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon have been delayed; and if she will make a statement.

    Andrea Leadsom

    The Government is currently in the first phase of a Contract for Difference negotiation with the developer of the proposed Swansea Bay tidal lagoon project. This process of due diligence will enable us to gain a better understanding of the potential of a tidal lagoon programme in the UK.

    At present there is no timeframe for how long the negotiation process may take. The timeframe depends on a number of factors, many of which would be outside the control of the Department. Robust due diligence is needed to determine whether undertaking this proposed project would be in the best interests of the consumer long term.

  • Liam Fox – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Liam Fox – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Liam Fox on 2015-10-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what the Government’s aims are for the forthcoming Paris Climate Summit; and if she will make a statement.

    Andrea Leadsom

    The Government is committed to securing an ambitious, legally binding, global deal on climate change at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP) 21 in Paris in December.

    The UK is working with other countries to secure ambitious mitigation commitments from all parties that together keep the global goal of limiting global warming to below 2°C within reach. We also want an agreement that includes a regular review of targets to increase ambition over time, a global long term goal and a robust, legally binding rules framework to ensure transparency and accountability of commitments to help the world track progress, improve competitiveness and provide business certainty.

    It will also be important that the Agreement supports the most vulnerable countries to build climate resilience. I am pleased that my rt. hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced a significant uplift in funding through the International Climate Fund (ICF) providing at least £5.8 billion over the next five years. This complements commitments from other countries such as France and Germany and should help build momentum for climate action beyond Paris.

    However, there remains a lot of work to do and we are working closely with international counterparts to help secure an ambitious deal.

    Following the outcome in Paris, my rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State will lay a statement in the House.

  • Roger Mullin – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Roger Mullin – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Mullin on 2015-10-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, whether the new smart meters being rolled-out under her Department’s initiative are competitively-priced as required under EU Directive 2006/EC/32; and what information her Department holds on their competitive pricing.

    Andrea Leadsom

    Meters being rolled-out as part of the DECC programme are compliant with this requirement. Meters are within the competitive part of the GB energy market and are the responsibility of energy suppliers to procure, install and operate. Energy suppliers have a competitive incentive to ensure that they achieve value for money for their customers when purchasing meters.

    DECC has assessed the development of smart meters by manufacturers, as well as the supply chains of energy suppliers in relation to smart metering, and is confident that a well-developed market exists based on competitive pricing.

  • Roger Mullin – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Roger Mullin – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Mullin on 2015-10-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, whether the efficiency of the smart metering system being rolled-out under her Department’s initiative meets the requirements of the 2010 Coalition Agreement to establish a smart grid that would reduce network losses.

    Andrea Leadsom

    The Government is committed to rolling out smart meters to every home and small business in the country by the end of 2020. Smart meters are a core component of establishing a smart grid and our transition to a smarter energy system. The roll-out is expected to deliver benefits in its own right from reduced network losses worth £496 million in the period to 2030, ahead of the wider benefits of a smart grid.

  • Charles Walker – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Charles Walker – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Charles Walker on 2015-10-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will ensure that revenue raised by the sale of rod licences is used to maintain and improve fisheries and fish stocks.

    George Eustice

    The revenue raised from the rod licence fee is classed as a hypothecated tax. The Environment Agency Financial Memorandum clearly sets out that this income is used for the provision of its fisheries service.

  • Charles Walker – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Charles Walker – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Charles Walker on 2015-10-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of the revenue from the sale of rod licences was not allocated to the maintenance and improvement of fisheries and fish stocks in the last five years.

    George Eustice

    The revenue raised from the sale of rod licences is classed as a hypothecated tax. The Environment Agency Financial Memorandum clearly sets out that this revenue is used for the provision of the Environment Agency fisheries service. The Environment Agency Financial Memorandum clearly sets out that the rod licence fees are for maintaining, improving and developing salmon, trout, freshwater and eel fisheries under the Salmon and Fresh Water Fisheries Act 1975.

    The Environment Agency Fisheries Service provides activities including; fisheries monitoring and enforcement, fisheries advice, preparing and responding to incidents and the necessary functions to support these services such as accommodation and legal advice.

  • Charles Walker – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Charles Walker – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Charles Walker on 2015-10-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations she has received from the Environment Agency and Angling Trust on removing the current £5 charge for a junior rod licence.

    George Eustice

    The Environment Agency has submitted for Defra approval proposals for restructuring the rod licence charges from April 2017. This includes removal of the junior rod licence fee.

    In making this proposal, the Environment Agency consulted stakeholders through its England Fisheries Group, which includes the Angling Trust.

  • Laurence Robertson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Laurence Robertson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Laurence Robertson on 2015-10-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department will pay for the cost of traps used in the trial badger culls.

    George Eustice

    While cull companies are encouraged to be self-sufficient in procuring their own equipment, Defra has loaned cull companies a number of traps from its existing stocks, which are used for a number of projects. All cage traps loaned must be returned on completion of culls.