Author: admin

  • Rushanara Ali – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Rushanara Ali – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rushanara Ali on 2016-02-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what progress the Government has made on reforming the EU Emissions Trading Scheme as a result of discussions with her EU counterparts and the recent COP21 climate conference.

    Andrea Leadsom

    The Government strongly supports reform to strengthen the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS). Ministers and officials have discussed this recently with counterparts in other Member States, as well as with members of the European Parliament, the European Commission and industry representatives. At the recent COP21 climate conference in Paris in December 2015 Ministers also participated in a session to promote the EU ETS and strengthen links to other national and international ETS. Whilst the Commission has not indicated an intention to change its proposals for the next phase of the EU ETS in light of Paris, the global climate deal means robust reforms of the EU ETS are now even more important.

  • Jamie Reed – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Jamie Reed – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jamie Reed on 2016-02-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment her Department has made of the number of jobs that will be created by the construction phase of (a) the new nuclear build at Moorside and (b) Solway Firth Tidal Lagoon project in West Cumbria.

    Andrea Leadsom

    Nugen is proposing to build three AP1000 reactors at Moorside in Cumbria. Nugen have indicated that Moorside would bring at least £10 billion of investment into the UK with estimated peak on-site employment of up to 6,000 during construction.

    Regarding the Solway Firth Tidal Lagoon, the proposed project is in the early stages of development. It is too early to say how many jobs could be created.

  • Jamie Reed – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Jamie Reed – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jamie Reed on 2016-02-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment her Department has made of the number of jobs that will be created by the running and maintaining of (a) new nuclear build at Moorside and (b) Solway Firth Tidal Lagoon project in West Cumbria.

    Andrea Leadsom

    Nugen is proposing to build three AP1000 reactors at Moorside in Cumbria. Nugen have indicated that Moorside would bring at least £10 billion of investment into the UK with estimated peak on-site employment of up to 6,000 during construction.

    Regarding the Solway Firth Tidal Lagoon, the proposed project is in the early stages of development. It is too early to say how many jobs could be created.

  • David Hanson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    David Hanson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Hanson on 2016-02-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what the average hourly earnings of (a) female, (b) male, (c) full-time and (d) part-time employees of her Department were in each of the last five years.

    Andrea Leadsom

    The average hourly earnings of (a) female, (b) male, (c) full-time and (d) part-time employees of DECC for each of the last five years are set out in the table below:

    Year

    Average hourly earnings (£)

    Female

    Male

    Full-time

    Part-time

    2011

    23.80

    25.80

    24.70

    25.70

    2012

    23.80

    25.80

    24.70

    26.00

    2013

    22.80

    25.80

    24.30

    25.40

    2014

    23.30

    25.50

    24.40

    25.40

    2015

    23.20

    25.70

    24.30

    26.80

    “

  • Jamie Reed – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Jamie Reed – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jamie Reed on 2016-02-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what plans the Government has to support research and development in the use of thorium reactor technology in (a) the UK, (b) the EU and (c) worldwide.

    Andrea Leadsom

    The UK has been supporting research and development into the use of thorium nuclear fuels since such fuels were used in the Dragon reactor at Winfrith in the 1960s and 1970s.

    Examples of current activity on thorium and related technologies include academic research into thorium fuelled reactor systems and fuel cycle processes through Research Council grants to UK universities; collaboration on thorium fuels, via the UK Research Councils’ Energy Programme, with national nuclear energy programmes of other countries on safety, performance and non-proliferation; experimental development of thorium fuels through the UK’s National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) and private sector organisations, as part of international consortia, and thorium fuel modelling and fuel cycle scenario analysis by the NNL. These activities cover UK, EU and worldwide initiatives and receive either financial or strategic support from the Government. The Government plans to continue a similar approach to support future research and development in the use of thorium as a nuclear reactor fuel.

  • Jamie Reed – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Jamie Reed – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jamie Reed on 2016-02-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of recent flooding and severe weather in Cumbria on livestock prices.

    George Eustice

    Approximately 600 farmers in Cumbria suffered flooding as a result of Storm Desmond. Considerable damage has been done to stone walls, hedges and tracks. We have established a Farm Recovery Fund which enables farmers to claim grants of between £500 and £20,000 to cover the cost of restoring their farmland. The deadline for fund applications is 1 April 2016.

    While recognising the significant impact on those farmers affected, the overall impact on UK livestock prices and production is likely to be limited.

  • Philip Davies – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Philip Davies – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Davies on 2016-02-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the number of (a) homes and (b) businesses flooded in 2015 which did not have flood insurance.

    Rory Stewart

    We understand some Local Authorities may collate information on the number of (a) homes and (b) businesses flooded in 2015 which did not have flood insurance, but we have made no assessment.

    To help those affected by the recent flooding, including the uninsured, the Government has announced nearly £200m to support recovery efforts. This includes grants of up to £5000 to make properties and businesses more resilient to future flooding, £500 per household to help with recovery costs, such as provision of temporary accommodation, an average of £2500 per business to support to businesses whose trade has been affected by flooding and Council Tax and Businesses Rate relief.

    We are also taking action to protect domestic properties at the highest flood risk by making sure that households can access affordable flood insurance, regardless of where they live. Flood Re has now been set up and it is expected to start accepting policies in April.

    We are aware that some small businesses in high flood risk areas may find accessing affordable insurance challenging. We are working to further understand what problems the small business community are experiencing and to discuss the options available for taking action.

  • Jo Cox – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Jo Cox – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jo Cox on 2016-02-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to ensure adequate funding of flood alleviation schemes planned for the River Spen in Cleckheaton and Liversedge.

    Rory Stewart

    The Environment Agency plans to undertake investigative work to identify and assess options to further reduce flood risk within the constituency. Depending on the outcome of this work, the Environment Agency has earmarked approximately £1 million of capital funding in the period 2021/22 for works to further reduce flood risk in Cleckheaton and Liversedge.

  • David Hanson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    David Hanson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Hanson on 2016-02-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the average hourly earnings of (a) female, (b) male, (c) full-time and (d) part-time employees of her Department were in each of the last five years.

    George Eustice

    The table below provides details of the average hourly earnings of each group of employees in the core-Department as at 30th June 2015 in each of the last five years.

    Year

    Female

    Male

    Full-time

    Part-time

    2015

    £19.79

    £21.31

    £20.51

    £20.84

    2014

    £19.36

    £21.43

    £20.32

    £20.80

    2013

    £18.62

    £20.88

    £19.76

    £19.44

    2012

    £18.23

    £20.94

    £19.64

    £19.04

    2011

    £18.69

    £21.20

    £19.80

    £20.92

    The difference in hourly rate of pay for male and female staff can be explained by a greater proportion of male staff at the higher grades.

    A recent equal pay review, analysing pay by grade, found that there were no significant equal pay differences based on gender.

  • Jamie Reed – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Jamie Reed – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jamie Reed on 2016-02-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effect on the agriculture sector in Cumbria of recent flooding and severe weather.

    George Eustice

    Approximately 600 farmers in Cumbria suffered flooding as a result of Storm Desmond. Considerable damage has been done to stone walls, hedges and tracks. We have established a Farm Recovery Fund which enables farmers to claim grants of between £500 and £20,000 to cover the cost of restoring their farmland. The deadline for fund applications is 1 April 2016.

    While recognising the significant impact on those farmers affected, the overall impact on UK livestock prices and production is likely to be limited.