Tag: Angus Brendan MacNeil

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Brendan MacNeil on 2015-12-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how much EU funding was allocated to the operation of carbon capture and storage projects which is not now available for spending on UK projects.

Andrea Leadsom

In 2009 the Don Valley Project was awarded a €180m European Energy Programme for Recovery grant which contributes towards the feasibility and design phase of the project’s development. The award is still in place and ~€125m has so far been claimed. In 2013 the White Rose CCS project was awarded up to €300m in potential NER300 funding. This award, which remains available, is subject to the project being able to successfully store carbon dioxide before the end of June 2020.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Brendan MacNeil on 2016-02-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what progress is being made on introducing data sharing arrangements between the Valuation Office Agency and the Department for Work and Pensions that would allow the up-front identification of fuel poor households; and whether she plans that those arrangements will be introduced in 2017 in time to support the new energy efficiency obligation announced in the Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015.

Andrea Leadsom

We intend to consult this year on the future design of the Energy Company Obligation, including the use of Government data to help identify fuel poor households in greatest need of support. The Government is considering how access to data, including that held by the Valuation Office Agency, could be improved for the purposes of providing assistance to fuel poor households.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Brendan MacNeil on 2015-12-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment she made of the value for money of carbon capture and storage before the Government’s carbon capture and storage competition was suspended; and how much from the public purse had been spent on that competition at the time of suspension.

Andrea Leadsom

The provision of ring-fenced capital support for CCS was judged against other Government funding priorities as part of the Spending Review. My department has paid £78.6m between 2011/12 and November 2015 on the CCS Competition including the investment in Front End Engineering and Design (approximately £60 million), independent professional technical, legal, financial and commercial advice and civil service staff.

The Government continues to view CCS as having a potential role in the long-term decarbonisation of the UK’s power and industrial sectors, and considers that the investment to date remains value for money to the UK.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Brendan MacNeil on 2016-03-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the cost of state pensions to the Government as a proportion of GDP was over each of the last 30 years; and what the projected cost of state pensions as a proportion of GDP is over each of the next 30 years.

Justin Tomlinson

The requested information is available from 1991/92 to 2045/46 in the table below:

	UK expenditure on State Pension as a proportion of Gross Domestic Product (GDP)	UK expenditure on State Pension as a proportion of GDP per million claimants of State Pension
1991-92	4.0%	0.39%
1992-93	4.0%	0.39%
1993-94	4.0%	0.39%
1994-95	3.9%	0.38%
1995-96	3.9%	0.36%
1996-97	3.8%	0.36%
1997-98	3.8%	0.35%
1998-99	3.9%	0.35%
1999-00	3.9%	0.35%
2000-01	3.8%	0.34%
2001-02	4.0%	0.35%
2002-03	4.0%	0.35%
2003-04	3.9%	0.34%
2004-05	3.9%	0.33%
2005-06	3.9%	0.33%
2006-07	3.8%	0.32%
2007-08	3.9%	0.32%
2008-09	4.2%	0.34%
2009-10	4.6%	0.36%
2010-11	4.5%	0.35%
2011-12	4.7%	0.36%
2012-13	4.9%	0.37%
2013-14	4.8%	0.37%
2014-15	4.8%	0.37%
2015-16	4.9%	0.37%
2016-17	4.8%	0.37%
2017-18	4.8%	0.36%
2018-19	4.8%	0.36%
2019-20	4.7%	0.36%
2020-21	4.6%	0.35%
2021/22	4.7%	0.35%
2022/23	4.8%	0.35%
2023/24	4.9%	0.35%
2024/25	5.0%	0.35%
2025/26	5.1%	0.35%
2026/27	5.2%	0.35%
2027/28	5.2%	0.35%
2028/29	5.2%	0.35%
2029/30	5.4%	0.35%
2030/31	5.5%	0.35%
2031/32	5.6%	0.36%
2032/33	5.8%	0.36%
2033/34	5.9%	0.36%
2034/35	5.9%	0.36%
2035/36	5.9%	0.36%
2036/37	5.9%	0.36%
2037/38	6.1%	0.36%
2038/39	6.2%	0.36%
2039/40	6.3%	0.36%
2040/41	6.4%	0.36%
2041/42	6.4%	0.36%
2042/43	6.5%	0.36%
2043/44	6.5%	0.36%
2044/45	6.6%	0.36%
2045/46	6.6%	0.36%

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Brendan MacNeil on 2015-12-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment the Government has made of the potential contribution of carbon capture and storage to the UK meeting its 2020 carbon reduction targets.

Andrea Leadsom

In DECC’s most recently published reference scenario, Carbon Capture and Storage would generate one per cent of electricity in 2020. The UK has a carbon budget for the period 2018-22 which requires a 37% reduction in emissions on 1990 levels, which we are on track to meet and over-perform by 51 MtCO2e.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Brendan MacNeil on 2016-10-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the effect on the UK solar power market of the proposed 2017 business rate rise for organisations investing in roof top solar power for their own consumption.

Mr Marcus Jones

Business rates policy in Scotland is devolved to the Scottish Government. In England, business rates are based on valuations from the Valuation Office Agency and we do not intervene in their independent assessments. We have proposed a £3.4 billion transitional relief scheme for England to ensure that no ratepayer is unfairly penalised by the 2017 revaluation.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Brendan MacNeil on 2015-12-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment she has made of the effect of cancelling the carbon capture and storage on oil recovery from the North Sea oil field over the next 20 years.

Andrea Leadsom

The Government’s view remains that Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) has a potential role in the long-term decarbonisation of the UK’s power and industrial sectors. There are also potential opportunities for the oil and gas and CCS industries to work together.

The Wood Review identified a range of key issues faced by the maturing UK continental shelf, which the Government and industry must jointly address to deliver maximum economic recovery (MER) of UK petroleum. In response, the Government has established the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) as a body focused on delivering MER. This has attracted strong industry support.

The OGA is considering the role of CCS in the technology and decommissioning strategies it is developing and will engage with the CCS industry to ensure that opportunities between the industries are identified and explored wherever possible.

DECC will continue to engage with industry and academia, to understand the potential for any future schemes to enhance oil recovery from the North Sea.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Brendan MacNeil on 2016-10-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to review the planned business rate increase for organisations that seek to own or supply their energy with roof top solar panels in the light of carbon emissions targets agreed at the Paris Climate Change Conference.

Mr Marcus Jones

Business rates policy in Scotland is devolved to the Scottish Government. In England, business rates are based on valuations from the Valuation Office Agency and we do not intervene in their independent assessments. We have proposed a £3.4 billion transitional relief scheme for England to ensure that no ratepayer is unfairly penalised by the 2017 revaluation.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Brendan MacNeil on 2015-12-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many legal challenges have been made against her Department related to renewable energy policy in the last year.

Andrea Leadsom

There have been no such legal challenges in the last year.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Brendan MacNeil on 2016-10-19.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to increase funding for BBC ALBA.

Mr David Gauke

The Government recognises MG Alba’s valuable contribution to Gaelic language broadcasting. Although MG ALBA are funded by the Scottish Government, the previous government provided them with two one-off grants that ended in March 2016, for additional support for minority language services. MG ALBA continues to receive public funding from the Scottish Executive. There are no plans for the UK Government to provide further direct funding.