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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, 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, 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.

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

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

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alan Whitehead on 2015-10-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what the (a) fuel source and (b) capacity is of each of the new energy plants that obtained long term capacity contracts in the last capacity auction.

    Andrea Leadsom

    The information requested can be found in the following table. This includes new build Capacity Market Units (CMUs) who have obtained 14 or 15 year capacity agreements.

    Plant Type

    Number of CMUs

    Capacity MW (de-rated)

    Fuel Source

    CCGT

    2

    1,656

    Gas

    CHP

    1

    3

    Gas

    Energy from waste

    2

    31

    Waste

    Small generation – gas / diesel reciprocating engines consisting of:

    59

    733

    Gas (estimated)

    615

    Gas (est)

    Diesel (estimated)

    118

    Diesel (est)

    64

    2,423

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

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

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alan Whitehead on 2015-10-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what her policy is on the introduction of net metering for (a) domestic and (b) commercial electricity generating installations.

    Andrea Leadsom

    We are currently consulting on the future of the Feed-in Tariff and will consider all stakeholder views, including any representations on net metering, as part of the government response. The consultation closes on 23rd October 2015.

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

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

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alan Whitehead on 2015-10-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what her preferred means of levy support is for the operation of Carbon Capture and Storage plants.

    Andrea Leadsom

    The Contract for Difference is the means of providing support for all low carbon generation including Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). The Supplier Obligation mechanism is a compulsory levy on electricity suppliers to meet the cost of Contract for Differences. Total funds used for this purpose are managed through the Levy Control Framework (LCF).

  • Liam Fox – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Liam Fox – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

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

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to promote zero carbon housing.

    James Wharton

    As detailed in the Productivity Plan – ‘Fixing the foundations: Creating a more prosperous nation’ – the Government will not be implementing zero carbon homes. The zero carbon homes standard, in particular the ‘allowable solutions’ carbon off-setting element, would have placed a significant regulatory burden on the house building industry.

    The energy performance standards for new homes were strengthened by over 30% during the last Parliament. The latest changes to standards came into force last year and it is important for those changes to be given time to bed in.

    The Government is keeping the energy standards for homes under review and must also meet its obligations under the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. As part of this the Government must report to the European Commission in 2017 on whether UK building standards are ‘cost optimal’ and ensure that all new buildings are ‘nearly zero energy buildings’ from 2021.

  • Helen Jones – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Helen Jones – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Jones on 2015-10-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what representations she has received on the probability of electricity shortages during winter 2015-16; and if she will make a statement.

    Andrea Leadsom

    Ensuring that hardworking families and businesses across the country have secure, affordable energy supplies they can rely on is our top priority.

    National Grid has recently published their Winter Outlook Report with a capacity margin of 5.1% for winter 2015-16.

    National Grid continually assesses the risks to security of supply and system stability across GB. They have confirmed they have all the tools they need to manage the system this winter.

  • Helen Jones – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Helen Jones – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Jones on 2015-10-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate she has made of the expected capacity margin of the National Grid during winter 2015-16.

    Andrea Leadsom

    National Grid has recently published their Winter Outlook Report with a capacity margin of 5.1% for winter 2015-16.

    National Grid continually assesses the risks to security of supply and system stability across GB. They have confirmed they have all the tools they need to manage the system this winter.

  • Liam Fox – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Liam Fox – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

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

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what timescale he has set for the completion of the next tranche of zero carbon housing.

    James Wharton

    As detailed in the Productivity Plan – ‘Fixing the foundations: Creating a more prosperous nation’ – the Government will not be implementing zero carbon homes. The zero carbon homes standard, in particular the ‘allowable solutions’ carbon off-setting element, would have placed a significant regulatory burden on the house building industry.

    The energy performance standards for new homes were strengthened by over 30% during the last Parliament. The latest changes to standards came into force last year and it is important for those changes to be given time to bed in.

    The Government is keeping the energy standards for homes under review and must also meet its obligations under the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. As part of this the Government must report to the European Commission in 2017 on whether UK building standards are ‘cost optimal’ and ensure that all new buildings are ‘nearly zero energy buildings’ from 2021.

  • Richard Arkless – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Richard Arkless – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Arkless on 2015-10-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the effect of the Government’s proposed changes to tax credits on the number of children able to access free school meals.

    Mr Sam Gyimah

    The government’s changes to tax credits will have no effect on the number of children accessing free school meals (FSM) in England. All households receiving out-of-work benefits continue to be entitled to FSM, while changes to Child Tax Credit will have no impact. The number of children growing up in workless households has decreased by 480,000 since 2010, a record low. This has led to the number of households claiming FSM decreasing and we expect this to continue as the economy continues to improve.