The below Parliamentary question was asked by Matthew Pennycook on 2015-10-29.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average cost to his Department is of an appeal against a fit for work decision.
Priti Patel
The level of information requested is not available.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Matthew Pennycook on 2016-01-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, whether she plans to provide funding for carbon capture and storage projects in the next Contracts for Difference allocation round.
Andrea Leadsom
Under the Contracts for Difference (Definition of Eligible Generator) Regulations 2014, Contract for Difference allocation rounds are limited to renewable technologies. The next allocation round for less established technologies is expected to take place by the end of 2016. We are currently working with HM Treasury to finalise the budget for future allocation rounds and will set out more information in due course.
Contracts for Difference for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) are issued only on direction from my rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Matthew Pennycook on 2016-02-23.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if she will publish an updated set of Levy Control Framework projections.
Andrea Leadsom
The Office for Budget Responsibility published updated Levy Control Framework (LCF) spend projections alongside the Spending Review on 25 November and we anticipate they will publish an update alongside the March budget. The Department will publish further details on the LCF projections in due course.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Matthew Pennycook on 2016-03-21.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, whether her Department plans to develop standard technical guidance and best practice guidelines for the energy storage market to ensure the safety and consistency of installations.
Andrea Leadsom
DECC has provided more than £18million of innovation funding for energy storage since 2012 and this has included support for development of a Good Practice Guide on Electrical Energy Storage which was published in December 2014. The Good Practice Guide uses case studies and key lessons from recent energy storage demonstration projects to provide a practical reference guide for organisations which are interested in deploying or developing electrical energy storage in Great Britain.
DECC officials are also involved in ongoing discussions led by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) on technical guidance for electrical energy storage systems. Independent, professional bodies, such as the IET, are well-placed to lead development of relevant technical guidelines.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Matthew Pennycook on 2016-09-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent estimate he has made of the number of gas and electricity smart meters (a) that have been installed to date and (b) projected to be installed by the end of 2016.
Jesse Norman
As of the end of March 2016 over 3.6 million smart meters were operating under the programme. The Government publishes official statistics on the rollout of smart meters quarterly. The latest release can be found at:
The Government receives estimates of forecast smart meter installations from the larger energy suppliers. Their latest projections suggest a further 2.9 million meters are expected to be installed between 1 April 2016 and 31 December 2016.
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Matthew Pennycook on 2015-10-29.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many appeals by claimants in the work related activity group of employment and support allowance whose primary medical condition is a mental health condition have resulted in subsequent placement in the support group of employment and support allowance in each quarter since 2013.
Justin Tomlinson
The information as requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Matthew Pennycook on 2016-02-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to incentivise developers to co-fund the deployment of local fibre broadband networks to properties which are not scheduled for connection free of charge.
Mr Edward Vaizey
The Government’s recent announcement of a new deal bringing industry together will see fibre-based broadband offered to all new developments for free or part of a co-funded initiative. In addition, the Home Builders Federation are committed to promoting and supporting uptake of the co-funding offer among their membership.
This new offer sets a high bar for all suppliers and developers in the market, and Government will be working with industry closely to monitor success over the next year.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Matthew Pennycook on 2016-02-23.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, when she will publish the findings of the Frontier Economics analysis commissioned by her Department in 2014 with the aim of further systematising her Department’s understanding of the whole system impacts of electricity generation technologies.
Andrea Leadsom
DECC commissioned Frontier Economics late in 2014 to undertake a project on the Whole System Impacts of Electricity Generation Technologies on the electricity system.
Given the variety of different terminologies and approaches to whole system impacts in existing literature, the core aim of the project is to set out a comprehensive framework to define whole system impacts and their components and drivers, which can be used to further systematise DECC’s modelling capability. The resulting methodological report is nearing completion following peer review by experts in the field of whole system impacts.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Matthew Pennycook on 2016-03-21.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential effect of replacing final consumption levies on energy storage devices with a net charging levy to ensure that energy storage devices are not charged twice.
Andrea Leadsom
We have identified the issue raised and are actively working on what actions can be taken to ensure policy levies are not overpaid by storage providers. Net charging is just one of the proposed solutions, and we are discussing a range of options with stakeholders. We expect to set out our views in the coming months.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Matthew Pennycook on 2016-09-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans he has to review the 2020 deadline for the rollout of smart meters to 100 per cent of UK households after delays to the DCC go-live date.
Jesse Norman
Energy Suppliers are required under licence conditions to take all reasonable steps to install smart meters in all of their domestic customers’ premises, and smart or advanced meters in smaller non-domestic sites, by 31 December 2020. There are no plans to amend this obligation.