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  • Anna Turley – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Anna Turley – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Anna Turley on 2015-09-17.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps she is taking to ensure that domestic energy suppliers are passing on reductions in the wholesale prices of electricity and gas to consumers.

    Andrea Leadsom

    Strong competition in the energy supply market is the best way to keep prices down. The Government is committed to ensuring that the market works effectively for consumers, including through implementing the final recommendations of the Competition and Markets Authority following their investigation. In the meantime we will continue our focus on keeping bills down through promoting competition, making switching quicker and easier, and providing direct help to the most vulnerable.

  • Phil Boswell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Phil Boswell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Phil Boswell on 2015-09-17.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps she is taking to ensure that core UKCS Oil and Gas infrastructure is identified, supported and rendered fit-for-purpose for the long-term development of marginal fields and future significant fields off the west coast of Scotland, and for transportation and distribution around the UK.

    Andrea Leadsom

    The Oil and Gas Authority’s Call to Action report highlighted the risk that low profitability in producing fields could lead to premature decommissioning of critical infrastructure. It is important to avoid decommissioning for as long as possible and the OGA is as a priority working with companies to facilitate discussions, remove barriers to cooperation and encourage investment. In addition it is conducting rigorous economic assessments of key production hubs to explore the drivers of continued investment, including fiscal levers. Work is also taking place to facilitate the preparation of Regional Development Plans for critical regions of the North Sea, building on data provided by operators.

  • 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 2015-09-17.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what (a) representations and (b) advice she has received on health and safety at unrestored open-cast coal mines in the UK.

    Andrea Leadsom

    With regard to the general issue of the restoration of former opencast coal mining sites in Wales and Scotland in addition to meeting the Welsh Assembly Government Minister for Natural Resources on 16 July 2015 and a meeting with the hon. Members for Bridgend; Ogmore; Aberavon; and Kilmarnock and Loudoun on 9 September 2015 I have received written communications from other hon. Members and representations of the Welsh Assembly Government and Scottish Government. Officials from the Department’s Coal Liabilities Unit will be travelling to Wales next month to meet with Welsh Government and Local Authority officials, along with those directly affected, to discuss the matter. In the meantime my Department’s Non-Departmental Public Body, the Coal Authority, has provided expert advice to Local Authorities on calculating the level of security required for future surface mine operations to ensure the restoration costs are covered should the mining company no longer be in a position to carry out the work.

    In relation to the health and safety of these sites, this is a matter for the individual Local Authorities.

  • Angela Smith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Angela Smith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angela Smith on 2015-09-17.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what consultations her Department held with animal welfare organisations before laying the draft Hunting Act 2004 (Exempt Hunting) (Amendment) Order 2015.

    Rory Stewart

    The Government has received representations from a wide range of interested parties both for and against any repeal or amendment to the Hunting Act 2004.

    The measures proposed in the draft Hunting Act 2004 (Amendment) Order 2015 would not remove the ban on hunting. Given this we judged that more consultation would not have been likely to add to the information available to us.

  • Angela Smith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Angela Smith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angela Smith on 2015-09-17.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations her Department has received on amendments to the Hunting Act 2004.

    Rory Stewart

    The Government has received representations from a wide range of interested parties both for and against any repeal or amendment to the Hunting Act 2004.

    The measures proposed in the draft Hunting Act 2004 (Amendment) Order 2015 would not remove the ban on hunting. Given this we judged that more consultation would not have been likely to add to the information available to us.

  • Angela Smith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Angela Smith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angela Smith on 2015-09-17.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions her Department has had with the (a) police, (b) Crown Prosecution Service and (c) Law Commission on the draft Hunting Act 2004 (Exempt Hunting) (Amendment) Order 2015.

    Rory Stewart

    The Government has received representations from a wide range of interested parties both for and against any repeal or amendment to the Hunting Act 2004.

    The measures proposed in the draft Hunting Act 2004 (Amendment) Order 2015 would not remove the ban on hunting. Given this we judged that more consultation would not have been likely to add to the information available to us.

  • Angela Smith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Angela Smith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angela Smith on 2015-09-17.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans her Department has to bring forward further amendments to the Hunting Act 2004.

    Rory Stewart

    The Government stands by its manifesto commitment to give Parliament the opportunity to repeal the Hunting Act on a free vote, with a Government Bill in Government time.

  • Angela Smith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Angela Smith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angela Smith on 2015-09-17.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reason the Government withdrew the draft Hunting Act 2004 (Exempt Hunting) (Amendment) Order 2015.

    Rory Stewart

    While the debate on the Statutory Instrument did not take place, the Government has not withdrawn the Draft Hunting Act 2004 (Amendment) Order 2015.

  • Angela Smith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Angela Smith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angela Smith on 2015-09-17.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions her Department had with the Scottish Government on the Protection of Wild Mammals Act (Scotland) 2002 prior to tabling the draft Hunting Act 2004 (Exempt Hunting) (Amendment) Order 2015.

    Rory Stewart

    The Government has received representations from a wide range of interested parties both for and against any repeal or amendment to the Hunting Act 2004.

    The measures proposed in the draft Hunting Act 2004 (Amendment) Order 2015 would not remove the ban on hunting. Given this we judged that more consultation would not have been likely to add to the information available to us.

  • Valerie Vaz – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Valerie Vaz – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Valerie Vaz on 2015-09-17.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to announce her decision on the designation of the 23 marine conservation zones proposed in tranche 2.

    George Eustice

    Decisions on the marine conservation zones being designated in the second tranche will be announced by the end of January 2016.