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  • Charlotte Leslie – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Charlotte Leslie – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Charlotte Leslie on 2016-01-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether his Department plans to review its policy on the safety of private firework use in residential areas.

    Anna Soubry

    I am aware of concerns raised recently regarding the safety of fireworks available for sale to the general public. However, I have no immediate plans to review the regulations governing their use.

    The general public are allowed by law to buy and use Category 1 to 3 fireworks which have low risk and noise levels and are considered safe for family use and for private displays in residential areas.

    They are banned from purchasing, using or possessing Category 4 fireworks which present higher levels of risk and noise. These can only be bought and used by professional fireworks display operators who have successfully undertaken an accredited pyrotechnics training course.

    Although a minority of anti-social people misuse fireworks, the majority enjoy them sensibly, responsibly and in accordance with the manufacturers’ instructions.

  • Mark Pritchard – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Mark Pritchard – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Pritchard on 2016-01-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will simplify the fishing licence regime to expand fishing as a sport.

    George Eustice

    The Environment Agency is currently undertaking a number of activities to modernise the current rod licence service. This includes a proposal to change the licence structure and associated charges. The proposed new licence structure includes a number of changes such as a full year rolling licence rather than a fixed single season; a licence for a maximum of three rods rather than the current two and a free junior licence for anglers under the age of 16. The Environment Agency will consult on these proposals in the spring.

  • Daniel Zeichner – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Daniel Zeichner – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Daniel Zeichner on 2016-01-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will set standards for the implementation of a low emission strategy in those areas currently exceeding EU nitrogen dioxide emissions limits which will not be part of the five Clean Air Zones.

    Rory Stewart

    In the UK plan for improving air quality, published on 17 December 2015, we set out that as a minimum we expect all Local Authorities with areas currently exceeding the required NO2 levels, to consider putting in place a Low Emission Strategy. Such a Strategy could be used to set out a range of commitments and actions to tackle pollution as part of a coherent multi-year programme.

    Defra, in collaboration with the Low Emissions Strategies Partnership of Local Authorities, published the Low Emissions Strategies Guidance Document in 2010. This guidance provides an outline of the principles of Low Emission Strategies and examples of good practice.

  • Daniel Zeichner – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Daniel Zeichner – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Daniel Zeichner on 2016-01-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding will be allocated to local authorities to undertake scoping studies related to the establishment of Clean Air Zones.

    Rory Stewart

    We will be providing funding to support the implementation of Clean Air Zones where necessary and will be discussing the details of this with the relevant Local Authorities.

  • Daniel Zeichner – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Daniel Zeichner – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Daniel Zeichner on 2016-01-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to issue guidance on the maximum length of time that a charging Clean Air Zone could be operated on a voluntary basis.

    Rory Stewart

    We will be consulting on the framework for Clean Air Zones and the secondary legislation to be introduced later this year. This will include the important principles that need to be consistent from city to city to ensure Clean Air Zones are implemented in the same way by Local Authorities across England. We will work with Local Authorities and other stakeholders to ensure that we provide the guidance they will find most relevant and useful.

  • Daniel Zeichner – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Daniel Zeichner – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Daniel Zeichner on 2016-01-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of trends in the level of particulate matter pollution; and what account her Department took of such trends when developing its air quality plan.

    Rory Stewart

    There has been a long term decrease in the emissions of all air pollutants, including particulate matter (PM). This trend can be seen in our recent statistical release, Emissions of Air Pollutants in the UK 1970 to 2014, published on 17 December 2015. Emissions of PM10 have fallen by 72.6 percent since 1970 and emissions of PM2.5 have fallen by 76 percent. The UK plan for improving air quality is designed to fulfil our requirements in relation to nitrogen dioxide. Many of the sources of nitrogen oxides are also sources of particulate matter. A number of the solutions identified in the plan to address nitrogen dioxide will also have an impact on emissions of particulate matter and will contribute to this downward trend.

  • Neil Parish – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Neil Parish – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Neil Parish on 2016-01-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, when her Department plans to publish the terms of reference for its Renewable Heat Incentive consultation.

    Andrea Leadsom

    To be eligible for Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) support, all biomass combined heat and power (CHP) must be certified by the Combined Heat and Power Quality Assurance (CHPQA) scheme, and must demonstrate that they have a valid CHPQA certificate. Any installation claiming the CHP Renewable Obligation Certificate uplift will not be eligible for receiving support under the RHI scheme.

    We intend to reform the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) to improve value for money and reduce costs; improve cost control and budget management; and ensure the scheme focuses more on our long-term needs, while contributing to both our carbon and renewable energy targets. We plan to consult on the changes shortly. Therefore, I am unable to make specific commitments as to the future shape of the scheme at this point.

  • Neil Parish – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Neil Parish – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Neil Parish on 2016-01-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what criteria her Department plans to use to determine which biomass combined heat and power schemes receive support under the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme.

    Andrea Leadsom

    To be eligible for Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) support, all biomass combined heat and power (CHP) must be certified by the Combined Heat and Power Quality Assurance (CHPQA) scheme, and must demonstrate that they have a valid CHPQA certificate. Any installation claiming the CHP Renewable Obligation Certificate uplift will not be eligible for receiving support under the RHI scheme.

    We intend to reform the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) to improve value for money and reduce costs; improve cost control and budget management; and ensure the scheme focuses more on our long-term needs, while contributing to both our carbon and renewable energy targets. We plan to consult on the changes shortly. Therefore, I am unable to make specific commitments as to the future shape of the scheme at this point.

  • Neil Parish – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Neil Parish – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Neil Parish on 2016-01-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what support her Department plans to provide to ensure that proposed biomass combined heat and power schemes are not affected by changes to the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme.

    Andrea Leadsom

    To be eligible for Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) support, all biomass combined heat and power (CHP) must be certified by the Combined Heat and Power Quality Assurance (CHPQA) scheme, and must demonstrate that they have a valid CHPQA certificate. Any installation claiming the CHP Renewable Obligation Certificate uplift will not be eligible for receiving support under the RHI scheme.

    We intend to reform the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) to improve value for money and reduce costs; improve cost control and budget management; and ensure the scheme focuses more on our long-term needs, while contributing to both our carbon and renewable energy targets. We plan to consult on the changes shortly. Therefore, I am unable to make specific commitments as to the future shape of the scheme at this point.

  • Jim Shannon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Jim Shannon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-01-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps she is taking to fund the development of clean energy sources.

    Andrea Leadsom

    This parliament we intend to hold three new Contracts for Difference allocation rounds to support large scale renewables. The revised Feed-in Tariff scheme will support small-scale renewable projects, providing around £2bn funding for renewables over the lifetime of the new FIT agreements. This is in addition to the ongoing support we are already providing through these schemes and though the Renewable Obligation which has allowed us to more than treble our renewable capacity since 2010.