Wera Hobhouse MP: written questions
129 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Energy: North SeaScotland OfficeTabled 22 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 900914More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what steps his Department is taking to help support a just energy transition in the North Sea.
Answer: The UK Government is committed to making Britain a clean energy superpower by 2030.As we make the carefully phased transition to clean energy, we will build alternative opportunities for oil and gas workers - to which we’ve already committed £22bn of inve...
Answered 30 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordBiofuels: Sustainable DevelopmentDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 22 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10458More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make it his policy to strengthen the biomass sustainability auditing regime before any new Contracts for Difference are awarded.
Answer: The 2023 Biomass Strategy contained a commitment to consult on developing and implementing a cross-sector sustainability framework to enable greater consistency across sectors. Next steps on this will be announced in due course.
Answered 30 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordHeating: HousingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 16 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9524More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he plans to take steps to provide financial support to the homes that his Department considers to be too expensive or difficult to install a heat pump into.
Answer: The Government recognises that heat pumps may not be feasible in a small number of properties, and these homes will require alternative low-carbon heating solutions to help them decarbonise. The Government is committed to incentivising properties to trans...
Answered 24 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordHeat BatteriesTreasuryTabled 16 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9523More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if her Department will add heat batteries for a central heating system to the list of energy saving materials that are zero-rated.
Answer: The installation of qualifying energy-saving materials in residential accommodation and buildings used solely for a relevant charitable purpose benefits from a temporary VAT zero rate until March 2027. Last year, a Call for Evidence (CfE) seeking views on...
Answered 25 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSizewell C Power Station: FinanceDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 16 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9522More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 14 October 2024 to Question 6413 on Sizewell C Power Station: Finance, for what reason disclosure of the proportions of capital allocated by Sizewell C Ltd is consid
Answer: Sizewell C’s spending plans are agreed by shareholders, including Government. The public disclosure of detailed spending plans whilst the project is engaged in live commercial negotiations could have a negative impact on the project’s negotiating position...
Answered 25 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordEducational Institutions: Sexual OffencesDepartment for EducationTabled 16 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9521More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to Ofsted's report entitled Review of sexual abuse in schools and colleges, published on 10 June 2021, what discussions her Department has had with Ofsted on the extent to which it has implemente
Answer: The department has regular discussions with Ofsted on a wide range of aspects, including its approaches to inspection and the safeguarding of children and young people. On the specific matter of Ofsted’s implementation of the actions set out in its report...
Answered 23 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordGreat British Nuclear: Recruitment and SecondmentDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 15 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9196More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 2 September 2024 to Question 2122 and of 10 September 2024 to Question 5089 on Great British Nuclear: Recruitment, from what organisations how many personnel have be
Answer: GBN has grown rapidly as an organisation to deliver on its mission and now has over 100 personnel working for it, including 51 staff seconded from 16 organisations. GBN has permanent recruitment underway, and all roles are advertised, with applications we...
Answered 23 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordHousing: Carbon EmissionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8459More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of amending the Building Regulations Act 2010 to introduce mandatory reporting on embodied carbon emissions for
Answer: Reducing embodied carbon emissions from the built environment is a key part of meeting the country’s net zero targets. These emissions predominantly come from the supply chains leading to new buildings, and there is work across government to decarbonise t...
Answered 18 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordFossil Fuels: ProductionDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 8 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7834More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will take legislative steps to ban the routine (a) flaring and (b) venting of oil and gas by 2030.
Answer: The UK has committed to the World Bank’s ‘Zero Routine Flaring by 2030’ Initiative, and has additionally committed to end routine venting by 2030. In the North Sea Transition Deal the UK industry committed to accelerate compliance ahead of 2030. With supp...
Answered 16 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordRenewable Energy: LandfillDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 8 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7833More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he plans to extend support for landfill gas to energy operators beyond 2027.
Answer: Government is aware that support under the Renewables Obligation Scheme, including some that landfill gas generators hold, concludes from 2027 onwards. We are speaking with a variety of generators to understand the impact that the conclusion of support wi...
Answered 16 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordPlastic Packaging Tax: Public ConsultationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 7 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7520More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have had discussions with His Majesty's Treasury on the Government's response to the consultation on Plastic Packaging Tax - c
Answer: Yes. Officials in Defra work closely with HM Treasury colleagues. We are aware that the Treasury has committed to publishing a response to the consultation before the end of this year.
Answered 15 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordPlastic Packaging TaxTreasuryTabled 7 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7519More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will include in the forthcoming Budget proposals relating to the plastic packaging tax - chemical recycling and adoption of a mass balance approach consultation, published on 18 July 2023.
Answer: The government has confirmed its intent to publish a response to this consultation by the end of the year. Further details of the government’s response will be set out in due course.
Answered 15 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordFurniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) RegulationsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 7 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7518More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the paragraph 52 of the Second Special Report of the Environmental Audit Committee of Session 2019 on Toxic Chemicals in Everyday Life: Government Response to the Committee’s Twentiet
Answer: Following the formation of the Government in July, the Department for Business and Trade is considering next steps for this important issue, including reviewing the evidence gathered from the 2023 consultation, Smarter Regulation: Fire safety of domestic ...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSizewell C Power Station: FinanceDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6413More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how much and what proportion of the funding that his Department has allocated to the proposed new nuclear plant at Sizewell C has been allocated for (a) land clearance, (b) other site prepara
Answer: Specific details of the project’s spending plans are commercially sensitive – and budget allocations for different elements of work are set by the company, Sizewell C Limited. As majority shareholders in the project, government has previously committed to...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordEnergy: ConsumersDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 12 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5820More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Net Zero, what assessment he has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of flexible energy systems on consumers.
Answer: The transition to a smarter energy system can bring benefits for many consumers. This was a key factor in a call for evidence carried out earlier this year on the future of default tariffs in a more flexible market https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-...
Answered 11 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordNational Energy System OperatorDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 11 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5350More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the National Energy System Operator (NESO) integrates demand side flexibility into its market design.
Answer: NESO's role is set out in legislation and licences and is regulated by Ofgem. It has a statutory duty to have regard to the Strategy and Policy Statement, which was issued earlier this year and sets out the government’s intention for NESO to consider ‘opp...
Answered 11 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordFood: WasteDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5095More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that food waste reporting requirements on businesses are (a) effective and (b) not overly burdensome.
Answer: The previous Government held a consultation wherein stakeholders were asked about their views on the scope of any reporting requirements. It can be found at Improved food waste reporting by large food businesses in England - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) The Waste ...
Answered 24 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordFood: WasteDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5094More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to take steps to ensure that mandatory food waste reporting will take into account companies who (a) are aligned with existing reporting requirements under
Answer: The previous Government held a consultation wherein stakeholders were asked about their views on the scope of any reporting requirements. It can be found at Improved food waste reporting by large food businesses in England - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) The Waste ...
Answered 24 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordFood: WasteDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5093More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to support the application of the food and drink waste hierarchy for surplus food.
Answer: The Department will hold discussion with the supply chain on a range of issues including how to prevent waste. We remain committed to the programme of work led by The Waste and Resources Programme (WRAP) to drive down surplus and waste across the supply c...
Answered 25 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordFood: WasteDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5092More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to reduce food waste; and what discussions he has had with industry representatives on the best way to tackle the issue.
Answer: The Department will hold discussion with the supply chain on a range of issues including how to prevent waste. We remain committed to the programme of work led by The Waste and Resources Programme (WRAP) to drive down surplus and waste across the supply c...
Answered 25 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordFood: WasteDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5091More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the merits of introducing mandatory food waste reporting.
Answer: The previous Government held a consultation wherein stakeholders were asked about their views on the scope of any reporting requirements. It can be found at Improved food waste reporting by large food businesses in England - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) The Waste ...
Answered 24 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordSizewell C Power StationDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 10 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5090More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for public expenditure of the provision of a further £5.5 billion for additional development support for the proposed new nuclear pow
Answer: While working towards a final investment decision on Sizewell C, we have established a new subsidy scheme of up to £5.5 billion to ensure the government can provide the project with the necessary financial support to remain on track. Decisions about provi...
Answered 18 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordGreat British Nuclear: RecruitmentDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 10 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5089More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to his Answer of 2 September 2024 to Question 2122 on Great British Nuclear: Recruitment, if he will list (a) the organisations from which personnel have been seconded to Great Briti
Answer: GBN has grown rapidly as an organisation to deliver on its mission and now has over 100 personnel working for it, including those seconded from a range of organisations. Permanent recruitment for the Executive Team is actively underway and this will be fo...
Answered 18 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordEnergy: Business Premises and Private Rented HousingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 2 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 3764More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department plans to respond to the consultation entitled Improving the energy performance of privately rented homes in England and Wales, which closed on 8 January 2021; and wheth
Answer: We will require private landlords to make improvements to their properties by 2030. Ensuring warmer, healthier private rented homes will lift many families out of fuel poverty and reduce energy bills. We will consider the evidence gathered as part of the ...
Answered 10 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordWales Office: Redundancy PayWales OfficeTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3048More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what the cost to her Department was of ministerial severance payments in each year from 19 December 2019 to 30 May 2024; which Ministers received a severance payment in that period; and how much each Minister recei
Answer: In accordance with the Ministerial and Other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991, paid Ministers below the age of 65 are entitled to a loss of office payment of one quarter of their claimed annual ministerial salary when they cease to hold office.Details of mi...
Answered 6 Sept 2024
Original Parliament record
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