Tag: Tom Greatrex

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Greatrex on 2014-04-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance were sanctioned for failing to complete their job search evidence form for the week of 25 December 2013 to 1 January 2014.

Esther McVey

Published data on sanctions is currently available up to 30th September 2013, with the next scheduled release in May 2014.

Claimants are expected to do all that is reasonable within full time working hours in any week to look for work and this is not restricted to specific days.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Greatrex on 2014-04-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate he has made of the quantity of biomass consumed by the one per cent of biomass plant that was below 1MW in capacity.

Michael Fallon

We have not made a recent estimate of the quantity of biomass consumed by biomass plant below 1MW in capacity.

However, based on modelling published in the Impact Assessment to the Renewables Obligation Banding Review 2012, we can estimate the theoretical quantity of biomass that would be consumed by 1% of total generating capacity. Assuming all the planned plants were built, this would give a theoretical maximum equivalent to around 150,000 oven dried tonnes per annum in 2016/17. This figure excludes potential capacity changes to plants below 1 MW as a result of the introduction of the 400MW cap for new build dedicated biomass.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Greatrex on 2014-04-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the costs of the regulation and monitoring of exploration and extraction of unconventional gas (a) at each drilling site and (b) the exploration in England and Wales.

Dan Rogerson

The Environment Agency raises charges for environmental permits and licences at the individual sites it regulates in England. The costs can vary depending on the nature of the site and the permits required. The shale gas industry remains at an early exploration stage and the Agency will keep its charges under review in light of developments. The annual budget the Environment Agency receives is adequate to ensure that sufficient money is allocated to costs associated with regulating the industry and for monitoring of sites during the exploration phase. As the industry develops over the next few decades appropriate funds will continue to be available to ensure the safe and sustainable exploitation of shale gas.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Greatrex on 2014-04-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make it his policy that costs associated with the regulation and monitoring of exploration and extraction of unconventional gas are levied on industry.

Dan Rogerson

The issue of environmental licences and permits at individual shale gas sites is financed through the Environment Agency’s charges. The shale gas industry remains at an early exploration stage and the Agency will keep its charges under review in light of developments. In the meantime, the Environment Agency will ensure that it allocates sufficient resources within its overall budget to regulate a safe and sustainable shale gas industry.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Greatrex on 2014-03-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the contribution of the Minister of State of 3 March 2014, Official Report, column 725, on Government levies on energy bills, when he plans to present to the House the first annual report on consumer-funded policies, covering actual expenditure and forecast expenditure.

Michael Fallon

The first annual report on consumer-funded levies will be published to a timetable consistent with Ofgem’s reporting on the Renewables Obligation for 2013/14, scheduled for March 2015. Officials are currently considering how that date could be brought forward.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Greatrex on 2014-04-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what (a) amount and (b) proportion of the budget of the Environment Agency is allocated to staff and other departmental costs associated with the regulation of hydraulic fracturing and unconventional gas in each year between 2010-11 and 2014-15.

Dan Rogerson

The Environment Agency does not keep separate records of its regulatory costs for hydraulic fracturing and unconventional gas so we cannot provide figures for previous years.

For 2014-15 the Environment Agency has allocated £2.6 million to its work on onshore oil and gas. This is 0.39% of the Environment Agency’s total revenue budget.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Greatrex on 2014-03-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the contribution of the Minister of State of 3 March 2014, Official Report, column 721, on Government levies on energy bills, what assessment he has made of the potential effects of a freeze of the carbon floor price on the number and capacity of projects that will be brought forward under the levy control framework.

Michael Fallon

The levy control framework has been designed with the flexibility to be able to respond to policy changes. The government expects to meet its renewable energy ambition as set out in the Electricity Market Reform Delivery Plan within the Levy Control Framework.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Greatrex on 2014-04-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many staff of the Environment Agency are engaged in regulation of hydraulic fracturing and unconventional gas.

Dan Rogerson

The Environment Agency has set up a team of ten national officers working full time to develop the regulatory regime for oil and gas activities. This work covers conventional and unconventional oil and gas activities.

This team is supported by additional technical resource from elsewhere in the organisation. The workload fluctuates and these specialists are not solely dedicated to regulating and permitting unconventional activities. It is therefore not possible to give an exact answer, but the Environment Agency estimate that approximately a further 40 staff are currently involved in this work across England.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Greatrex on 2014-03-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many personal independence payment applications have been processed in each month since April 2013.

Mike Penning

Personal Independence Payment started from April 2013 and although limited data has started to feed through, we need to wait until the Department has quality assured, meaningful figures for publication. The Department is working to guidelines set by the UK Statistics Authority to ensure we are able to publish statistics that meet high quality standards at the earliest opportunity. We intend to publish official statistics on personal independence payment from spring 2014.

An ad-hoc release of PIP information was published on Tuesday 11 February 2014. www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/277986/adHoc-pip-statistics-feb14.pdf

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Greatrex on 2014-04-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how much has been disbursed in compensation for the carbon price floor in each month since April 2013.

Michael Fallon

The Government is waiting for state aid approval from the European Commission for the carbon price floor compensation scheme. We expect to get a final decision later this month and we are hopeful that we will be able to commence the scheme shortly thereafter.