Wera Hobhouse MP: written questions 2024
71 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Trade Agreements: IndiaDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 11 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19378More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will take steps ensure that the intellectual property chapter in a free trade agreement with India includes commitments to the (a) UN Sustainable Development Goals, (b) International Treaty on Pl
Answer: Following a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister on 18 November, the Prime Minister announced that UK-India trade talks will relaunch in the new year. While we do not comment on the details of negotiations, work is underway across government to prepare f...
Answered 17 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordHeating: FinanceDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 25 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15802More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what plans he has for increased (a) funding for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and (b) support for additional low-carbon heating technologies.
Answer: On 21 November the Government announced £30 million of additional budget for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme for this financial year in response to increased uptake to the scheme. It was also confirmed that the scheme budget for the next financial year will be ...
Answered 3 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordCarbon Capture, Usage and StorageDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 25 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15801More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of adding carbon capture, utilisation and storage costs onto household bills.
Answer: We have created several business models to fund CCUS projects, designed to ensure value for money whilst providing long term sight of revenue streams for investors. CCUS will be funded by a mixture of exchequer and levy sources, the exact split to be dete...
Answered 3 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Energy Security and Net Zero: StaffDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 21 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15480More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many civil servants in his Department are working on (a) demand flexibility, (b) Great British Energy, (c) hydrogen, (d) carbon capture and storage, (e) nuclear energy, (f) the review of
Answer: The Department has around 4500 full time equivalents (FTE) working across multiple policy areas and programmes. These include demand flexibility, Great British Energy, Carbon capture, utilisation and storage, hydrogen, nuclear, the review of electricity m...
Answered 28 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordSolar Power: Development Consent OrdersDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 21 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15474More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department plans to allow large-scale development consent order solar projects to bid for future Contracts for Difference auctions.
Answer: Solar projects over 5MW were eligible to apply for Allocation Round 6. The Government is committed to accelerating solar deployment to meet clean power 2030 and reviews the Contracts for Difference scheme before every round to ensure it continues to deliv...
Answered 27 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordSolar PowerDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 21 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15473More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of (a) restoring a three-year window for solar photovoltaics and (b) allowing solar Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects to bid
Answer: Solar projects over 5MW were eligible to apply for Allocation Round 6. The Government is committed to accelerating solar deployment to meet clean power 2030 and reviews the Contracts for Difference scheme before every round to ensure it continues to deliv...
Answered 27 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordEmployers' Contributions: CharitiesTreasuryTabled 18 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14689More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes made to National Insurance contributions at the Autumn Budget 2024 on not-for-profit social care providers.
Answer: The Budget will provide support for government departments and other public sector employers for additional Employer NICs costs. Private sector firms or charities, including social care providers, that are contracted by central or local government will no...
Answered 26 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordSocial Services and Health Services: Employers' ContributionsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 18 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14688More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes to National Insurance contributions in the Autumn Budget 2024 on (a) social care and (b) NHS services.
Answer: We have taken tough decisions to fix the foundations in the public finances at the Autumn Budget. This enabled the Spending Review settlement of a £22.6 billion increase in resource spending for the Department from 2023/24 outturn to 2025/26. The employer...
Answered 3 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordSizewell C Power Station: FinanceDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 18 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14687More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what proportion of funding from the public purse for Sizewell C has been (a) spent on and (b) committed to companies with headquarters in (i) the UK and (ii) what foreign countries.
Answer: The details of contracts agreed by Sizewell C with its suppliers are commercially sensitive. The project has made a commitment to spend 70 per cent of the construction value in the UK.
Answered 25 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordRespiratory DiseasesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 13 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 901293More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether respiratory health conditions will be prioritised in the new NHS 10-year plan.
Answer: Respiratory health conditions make up some of the biggest killers in our country and are a clinical priority, and I look forward to meeting with the Respiratory Health APPG soon. This government is committed to fixing our broken NHS in order to deliver be...
Answered 25 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordBiofuels: Carbon Capture and StorageDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 13 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14102More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the (a) potential implications for his policies and (b) the Government's net zero strategy of discussions by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change on
Answer: An assessment is made on the potential implications of any policy by the civil service and is provided to ministers to allow an informed decision to be made. The 2006 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Guidelines for National Greenhouse Ga...
Answered 22 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordBiofuels: Carbon Capture and StorageDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 13 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14101More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what his Department's timetable is for making a decision on how much funding the Government will make available for bioenergy carbon capture and storage technology.
Answer: Following the announcement in October 2024 of funding for the initial Track 1 cluster configurations, further funding decisions for continued CCUS deployment will be taken as part of the Spending Review concluding in late Spring 2025.
Answered 22 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordPlastics: WasteDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11916More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help ensure the enforcement of the single-use plastics ban.
Answer: The Government recognises farmers’ concerns about imports produced using methods not permitted in the UK. We have been clear that we will use our Trade Strategy to promote the highest food production standards.
Answered 8 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordGreat British Nuclear: RecruitmentDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 28 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11298More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 18 September 2024 to Question 5089 on Great British Nuclear: Recruitment, for what reason his Department is unable to provide a list of (a) the 16 organisations from
Answer: The Department is unable to share information potentially sensitive to individuals working within GBN. GBN has grown rapidly as an organisation with permanent recruitment underway.
Answered 5 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordCarbon EmissionsDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 24 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11027More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of recognising book and claim as a form of corporate emissions reporting.
Answer: Large or listed UK companies are required to disclose specified emissions under the regulations which underpin Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting. Currently, Government is considering the International Sustainability Standards Board reporting require...
Answered 1 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordWines: Excise DutiesTreasuryTabled 24 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11026More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the withdrawal of the temporary easement for wine on SMEs in the wine industry.
Answer: In August 2023 the Government introduced reforms to alcohol duty so that products are taxed in proportion to their alcoholic strength, not volume.To help the wine industry adapt to the new duty system, the current, temporary duty easement was introduced a...
Answered 31 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordWines: Excise DutiesTreasuryTabled 24 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11025More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the withdrawal of the temporary easement for wine on the supply chain for UK-based importers.
Answer: In August 2023 the Government introduced reforms to alcohol duty so that products are taxed in proportion to their alcoholic strength, not volume.To help the wine industry adapt to the new duty system, the current, temporary duty easement was introduced a...
Answered 31 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordEnergy: 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 record
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