The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Hayes on 2016-07-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate he has made of the change in the number of jobs in the UK solar sector since May 2015.
Jesse Norman
The Department does not hold estimates of the number of jobs in the UK solar sector.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Birt on 2016-09-12.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the case for not taxing the income from interest-bearing savings whilst interest rates are low.
Lord O’Neill of Gatley
Since April 2016 savers have benefitted from a new Personal Savings Allowance of up to £1,000 for basic rate taxpayers, and £500 for higher rate taxpayers. They can also save up to £15,240 tax-free in ISAs this tax year. Together these measures mean that 95% of taxpayers have no savings tax to pay at all.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Mulholland on 2015-10-28.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps she is taking to support the increased use of wind and solar power.
Andrea Leadsom
In 2014, renewables provided nearly one fifth of the UK’s electricity needs[1] and we are on track to reach our aim of delivering 30 per cent by 2020. Generation from onshore wind, offshore wind and solar PV is making a significant contribution to achieving this aim due to the support these technologies receive through the Renewables Obligation (RO). The deployment of substantial amounts of solar PV and wind capacity has also been supported through the small-scale Feed-in Tariff (FITs) scheme.
In addition to the support provided through the RO and FITs, fifteen onshore wind, two offshore wind and three solar PV projects, with a combined installed capacity of nearly 2 gigawatts, signed a Contract for Difference (CfD) earlier this year following the first CfD allocation round. These projects are expected to commission between 2016/17 and 2018/19.
Onshore wind and solar PV have now reached the point where there is enough capacity in the pipeline to help the UK meet its 2020 renewables commitments. We are therefore proposing changes to RO and FITs support which are intended to ensure that deployment from these technologies remains affordable under the Levy Control Framework. The changes proposed to RO support for onshore wind through the Energy Bill will also deliver our election commitment to end subsides for new onshore wind.
[1] Energy Trends
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2015-11-25.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the outcome of the Strategic Defence and Security Review, whether they plan for the Royal Navy to have a two-tier escort force in the future.
Earl Howe
In addition to setting out the Government’s commitment to build eight Type 26 anti-submarine warfare ships, the statement by the Prime Minister on the outcome of the Strategic Defence and Security Review (Official Report, column 1049 dated 23 November 2015) announced the launch of a concept study for a new class of lighter, flexible general purpose frigates, so that by the 2030s we can further increase the total number of frigates and destroyers. This study will consider the utility of the new frigate within the wider force structure across the spectrum of tasks the Royal Navy undertakes.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Daniel Zeichner on 2015-12-16.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will bring forward amendments to regulations under the Pet Animals Act 1951 to include a ban on the sale of kittens in pet shops.
George Eustice
Under the Pet Animals Act 1951 local authorities can already apply conditions to individual pet shop licences. This includes, for example, restricting the species that can be sold. The power to apply conditions to an individual licence is in section 1(3) of the 1951 Act and is intended to help secure the welfare requirements set out in that section. We are currently reviewing animal establishment licensing which will include looking at the 1951 Act.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2016-01-27.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2016 to Question 22808, what Network Rail maintenance, renewal or enhancement works that were planned to be carried out under blockade the 2015-16 Christmas and New Year period were deferred.
Claire Perry
Detailed information of this kind is an operational matter for Network Rail.
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 instruct the National Measurement and Regulation Office to publish a list of all known heat networks in the UK.
Andrea Leadsom
In the final quarter of this year DECC will publish summary tables, including regional breakdowns, of the data gathered as a result of the notification requirement in the Heat Networks (Metering and Billing) Regulations. Due to the commercially sensitive nature of the data, this information will be aggregated rather than a list of individual networks.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Blomfield on 2016-03-21.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans the Government has to support efforts to achieve goal 6 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development on water and sanitation.
Mr Nick Hurd
In the manifesto in April 2015 and in the UK Aid Strategy published in November 2015, we committed to help 60 million people get access to clean water and sanitation in support of goal 6 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
We will achieve this target through projects managed by our Country Offices, through projects managed from the UK and through our contributions to multilateral organisations such as the World Bank. We will continue to invest in country and regional programmes to improve water resources management, water efficiency and improve water quality, as well as drive value for money.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Wills on 2016-04-11.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the conclusion by Professor Bee Wee, National Clinical Director for End of Life Care, in the National Survey of Patient Activity Data for Specialist Palliative Care Services MDS Summary Report for the year 2013–14, that there is still a need to improve the quality and use of data in the palliative care sector”; and what action they are taking to address that issue.”
Lord Prior of Brampton
We are committed to ensuring that everyone at, or nearing, the end of life receives high quality, compassionate care, tailored to their individual needs and preferences.
The Government’s forthcoming response to the independent Review of Choice in End of Life Care, which will be published shortly, will set out our vision for high quality, personalised care and the steps we will take to achieve this. The response will also address each of the Review recommendations, including on care coordination; improving the quality, availability and responsiveness of care; improving the quality and use of data; care planning and the use of digital care records; and the involvement of family members and carers in discussions about care.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nic Dakin on 2016-05-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to reduce geographic variation in access to surgical and transcatheter interventions for heart valve disease.
Jane Ellison
NHS England is working with professionals across the healthcare system to look at ways in which services and outcomes for patients with heart valve disease can be improved further, for example, by encouraging practitioners to follow clinical guidelines.
Service specifications and policy for the surgical and interventional treatment of heart valve disease are published by NHS England’s Cardiothoracic Clinical Reference Group. These define what NHS England expects to be in place in order for providers to offer evidence-based, safe and effective services. NHS England is working on the next iteration of the specifications, which will include important standards relating to mitral valve surgery.
In addition, NHS England is holding a clinical summit on 15 June 2016, which will bring together cardiologists and cardiac surgeons to examine the issues relating to heart valve disease, including variation. Outputs from discussions will be used to inform the future commissioning approach within specialised commissioning.
Information on the number of people with an undiagnosed heart valve condition is not collected centrally. Patients with undiagnosed heart valve disease, once diagnosed, may require a range of treatments, including surgery. Therefore it is not possible to estimate what the aggregate costs might be.