The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2014-06-11.
To ask the Prime Minister, for what reasons the G7 Summit Declaration does not mention Iraq; what discussions took place at that summit on (a) the rise of Al Qaeda-linked organisations in western and northern Iraq and (b) other issues relating to Iraq; and if he will make a statement.
Mr David Cameron
I refer the hon. Member to my Oral Statement on the G7 on 11 June 2014, Official Report, column 549.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2014-04-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, he will take steps to ensure that for future generations the Cumbrian coast is not contaminated by radioactive waste; what plans he has to ensure the resilience of nuclear waste sites to rising sea levels and flood risk; what steps he plans to take in response to the Environment Agency document of 9 January on the site of the Drigg Low-Level Waste Repository; and if he will place a copy of the document in the Library.
Michael Fallon
Radioactive waste management activities are subject to permitting by the Environment Agency under legislation introduced by the Department.
The Agency requires radioactive waste management sites to prepare and maintain an Environmental Safety Case (ESC). Its purpose is to demonstrate that any impacts now and into the far future resulting from disposals of radioactive waste at the site are acceptable in accordance with relevant UK legislation, standards and guidance. This assessment must consider all reasonable futures for the site, including coastal erosion and flooding scenarios. The Environment Agency will only permit further disposals at the site if it is satisfied that the operator has demonstrated that the short and long term impacts of disposals are in accordance with this legislation, standards and guidance.
The January document referred to is “Advice to Environment Agency Assessors on the Disposal of Discrete Items, Specific to the Low Level Waste Repository, Near Drigg, Cumbria” was prepared to support the Environment Agency in assessing the ESC for the LLWR, submitted by LLW Repository Ltd in May 2011. The agency conducts such assessments independently and therefore I do not plan to respond to this document.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2014-06-04.
To ask the Prime Minister, if he will attend the global leaders Climate Summit in September 2014 in New York; and if he will make a statement.
Mr David Cameron
The UK strongly welcomes the UN Secretary General’s leadership in convening a Climate Summit in September in New York. It will provide added momentum to international action on tackling climate change and showcase significant actions to address the issue. No decision has yet been taken about the composition of the UK’s delegation to the Summit.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2014-06-16.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what the timetable is for the next periodic safety review of each of the UK’s nuclear power stations; whether an environmental impact assessment is required as part of the periodic safety review procedure; and what opportunities exist for public involvement in such reviews.
Michael Fallon
The Timetable for the next periodic safety reviews of each of the operating nuclear power stations is included below. The nine stations are the seven Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor (AGRs) sites, the single Pressurised Water Reactor at Sizewell B and the remaining operating Magnox reactor at Wylfa.
|
Station |
Submission to ONR |
ONR Decision Date |
|
Hinkley Point B/Hunterston B |
January 2016 |
January 2017 |
|
Dungeness B |
January 2017 |
January 2018 |
|
Hartlepool/Heysham 1 |
January 2018 |
January 2019 |
|
Heysham 2/Torness |
January 2019 |
January 2020 |
|
Sizewell B |
January 2024 |
January 2025 |
|
Wylfa |
October 2013 |
September 2014 |
An environmental impact assessment is undertaken by each licensee covering the radiological impact of routine discharges. Such assessments are carried out separate to the PSR submitted to ONR by the licensee under Licence Condition 15, and are regulated by the appropriate UK environmental agency – the Environment Agency, Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, or Natural Resources Wales – in each case.
While there is no legal requirement for public involvement in PSRs, the decision of whether to include public involvement is taken at the discretion of each station licensee. ONR completes an assessment of the licensee’s submission prior to the decision date to ensure it meets the expectations set out in its guidance and that it provides an adequate demonstration of the future safe operation of the plant – see ONR guidance at:
“
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2014-05-01.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what recent assessment he has made of levels of public support for solar photovoltaic; and if he will make it his policy that there will be no changes to the level of support available for large-scale solar under the Renewable Obligation scheme until at least April 2015.
Gregory Barker
The latest results from the DECC Public Attitudes Tracking survey, published on 29 April 2014, show strong levels of public support for solar photovoltaic, with current support levels at 85%. In previous surveys solar PV has consistently scored 81% or above. However, these figures relate to support for solar PV in general, rather than any specific form of solar energy generation. In addition, the survey does not include any reference to large-scale or ground-based solar.
The Government said in the UK Solar PV Strategy Part 2, published on 4 April 2014, that we are considering the implications of current trends of deployment in solar PV on the financial incentives available in Great Britain under the Renewables Obligation and small-scale Feed-in-Tariff. We will issue a public consultation shortly proposing changes to financial support for solar PV. The proposals on which we will be consulting are intended to take effect from the 2015/16 financial year.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2014-06-04.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Community Work Placement providers schemes (a) were operating by 28 April 2014, (b) were operating no later than 2 June 2014 and (c) are yet to commence; for what reasons any providers have breached of the 2 June 2014 commencement deadline; at what capacity the scheme is currently running; and when he estimates that the scheme will be fully operational (i) in Brighton and Hove Local Authority Area and (ii) nationally.
Esther McVey
Community Work Placements are being introduced in a phased approach from 28 May 2014 to 09 June 2014. Brighton and Hove started on 9 June 2014 and is taking placements as planned.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2014-06-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate he has made of the number of community energy schemes that have not gone ahead due to the cost of securing a connection to the local grid; if he will make it his policy to (a) introduce standardised affordable grid connection charges for community energy schemes and (b) exempt community energy schemes from wider network upgrade costs; and if he will make a statement.
Michael Fallon
In January 2014, the Department of Energy and Climate Change launched the UK’s first Community Energy Strategy. As part of this, my rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State established a Community Energy Grid Connection Working Group to consider barriers to community energy project grid connections, including issues such as the cost of securing a connection and the impact this has on deployment. The Working Group is due to report to the Secretary of State in summer 2014 outlining its recommendations.
The comments made by Caroline Lucas, the Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion, on Twitter on 20 October 2022.
Anything other than a #GeneralElection2022 is undemocratic. It’s not just Liz Truss’ breathtaking incompetence, it’s the chaos & division amongst the Tory MPs behind her and anyone else they pretend is a “unity” candidate to replace her. 3 Tory PMs & 4 chancellors in 1 year? No.
The comments made by Caroline Lucas, the Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion, on Twitter on 17 October 2022.
Hunt smoothly says he’ll take “whatever tough decisions are necessary” after saying there’d be public service cuts – why are such “difficult” decisions always on the backs of poorest & public services, when instead he could take the “difficult” decision to up taxes on wealthiest?
The comments made by Caroline Lucas, the Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion, on Twitter on 14 October 2022.
Throwing out one bad apple in Kwarteng doesn’t undo damage that an entirely rotten tree of a Liz Truss Govt has done to economy, international relations, natural environment & so much more, after barely 40 days in office.
We didn’t vote for this – we need a #GeneralElectionNow.