The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2015-10-22.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, for what reasons the construction cost of the planned Hinkley Point C power station has reduced from £24.5 billion to £18 billion.
Andrea Leadsom
The £24.5 billion figure included financing costs (interest and guarantee costs) assuminga £16 billion IUK guarantee. The £18 billion figure is not directly comparable as it does not include these financing costs.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2015-10-22.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, on what date her Department commissioned a study of the technical and economic options for small modular nuclear reactors; which organisation her Department asked to carry this out; what departmental resources have been committed to support this study; and when the final report of that study is expected to be delivered.
Andrea Leadsom
A range of studies has been commissioned by the Department of Energy and Climate Change in order to deliver a techno-economic assessment of small modular reactors. The organisations currently under contract to deliver projects for the techno economic assessment are: Atkins Limited (contracted on 22/7/15); Energy Technologies Institute LLP (contracted on 3/8/15); National Nuclear Laboratory Limited (contracted on 3/8/15); Checkendon Hill Ltd (contracted on 25/6/15); and Ernst and Young LLP (contracted on 201/10/15).
The total budget for this study is up to £4.5million excluding VAT. The equivalent of approximately 4 full time staff are supporting the study in my Department.
The final report will be delivered in Spring 2016.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2015-10-22.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if she will make an assessment of the (a) causes and (b) effect of the construction delays of reactors in China and France built by the proposed vendors of reactors planned for Hinkley Point C and Bradwell; and what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies on the construction of new nuclear power stations of these delays.
Andrea Leadsom
Delays at the Olkiluoto 3 and Flamanville 3 reactors have resulted from a combination of technical, regulatory and contractual reasons, many of which are unlikely to be repeated at Hinkley Point C due to differing regulatory regimes, improved contracting arrangements and in light of the experience that the developer is gaining from these projects.
In addition, there are strong commercial incentives built into the contract for difference to minimise construction delays and cost overruns. The Contract for Difference (CfD) Strike Price cannot rise if there are construction cost over-runs so any cost overrun would have to be borne by the Project’s investors. Further, low carbon payments under the CfD will only be made once the plant starts generating. The incentives are therefore on the developer to deliver the Project within budget and on time, and if it succeeds in bringing it in under budget, there is a construction gainshare mechanism to ensure sharing of any savings with the consumer.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2015-10-22.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many visits her Departmental officials have made to China in support of the development of the Strategic Investment Agreement between EDF and China General Nuclear Corporation announced on 21 October 2015; how much each such visit cost; and if she will publish the minutes of each meeting held between UK and Chinese government officials on this agreement.
Andrea Leadsom
Officials visited China twice, in July and September, as part of my rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State’s visits at the same time. The cost of the first visit for the relevant officials was £8,900, the cost of the second visit was £6,750. I do not intend to publish minutes of the meetings, which discussed commercially sensitive information.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2015-10-22.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment she has made of the potential threat to national security of the choice of the Chinese government company General Nuclear International as an investment partner for the development of the Hinkley Point C nuclear plant.
Andrea Leadsom
We have a robust system in the UK for examining whether investments into our country are in the national interest. Safety and security in the civil nuclear industry are of paramount importance to the Government. Companies involved in the UK nuclear industry must do so in accordance with the UK’s stringent regulations enforced by an independent regulator. On this basis we welcome companies which can demonstrate the capability to contribute to safe and secure nuclear power generation in the UK.
There is a longstanding convention of successive Governments not commenting in detail
on security and intelligence matters.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2015-10-27.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people have died as a result of a heroin overdose in each of the last 15 years.
Mr Rob Wilson
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2015-10-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the total in unpaid wages owed to seafarers working in the UK shipping industry in (a) 2013 and (b) 2014.
Mr Robert Goodwill
No estimate has been made of unpaid wages owed to seafarers working on vessels registered in the UK or for shipping companies operating out of the UK in (a) 2013 and (b) 2014.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2015-10-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will raise with (a) his ministerial colleagues and (b) the International Labour Organisation the extent of non-compliance amongst open registers with the minimum standards for seafarers’ rights established in the Maritime Labour Convention 2006.
Mr Robert Goodwill
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) carry out Port State Control inspections on board foreign vessels in UK waters. The Port State Control regime has a requirement of no more favourable treatment to other vessels many of which are registered in these so called “open registers”.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2015-10-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what discussions he has had with student body organisations on the effects of removing student maintenance grants.
Joseph Johnson
My Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and Ministers regularly meet stakeholders from across the Higher Education sector to inform policy development including on Higher Education student support.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2015-10-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the findings of the International Transport Workers Federation’s Maritime Labour Convention compliance inspections on international shipping in 2014.
Mr Robert Goodwill
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is not aware of the findings of the International Transport Workers Federation’s Maritime Labour Convention compliance inspections on international shipping in 2014. However, you may wish to note that the MCA works very closely with The International Transport Workers Federation (ITF). When ITF inspectors have concerns on board, they notify the MCA who subsequently carry out a review of the issues and carry out a Port State Control inspection, if deemed necessary. This would either result in deficiencies being raised or the ship being detained until satisfactory corrective actions are initiated in response to the deficiencies raised.