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I commend my hon. Friend and her local enterprise partnership for their work. We look forward to seeing that report and to having productive conversations. We do not want any barriers that impede economic growth in her constituency and region.
I commend my hon. Friend and her local enterprise partnership for their work. We look forward to seeing that report and to having productive conversations. We do not want any barriers that impede economic growth in her constituency and region.
I am working closely on investment in utilities with the Greater Lincolnshire local enterprise partnership,
which will shortly publish a report detailing areas of Lincolnshire in which infrastructure requires investment. One problem is that Western Power is prevented from making speculative investment by Ofgem. Can my hon. Friend the Minister tell me why there is apparently this regulatory barrier to investment and what she can do to help?
I am working closely on investment in utilities with the Greater Lincolnshire local enterprise partnership,
which will shortly publish a report detailing areas of Lincolnshire in which infrastructure requires investment. One problem is that Western Power is prevented from making speculative investment by Ofgem. Can my hon. Friend the Minister tell me why there is apparently this regulatory barrier to investment and what she can do to help?
I am working closely on investment in utilities with the Greater Lincolnshire local enterprise partnership,
which will shortly publish a report detailing areas of Lincolnshire in which infrastructure requires investment. One problem is that Western Power is prevented from making speculative investment by Ofgem. Can my hon. Friend the Minister tell me why there is apparently this regulatory barrier to investment and what she can do to help?
I commend my hon. Friend and her local enterprise partnership for their work. We look forward to seeing that report and to having productive conversations. We do not want any barriers that impede economic growth in her constituency and region.
What revenue has the privatisation programme raised and what would be the cost of nationalising the utilities?
What revenue has the privatisation programme raised and what would be the cost of nationalising the utilities?
I refer my right hon. Friend to the analysis of the Opposition party’s proposals, if we can call them that, done by the Conservative party at the time of the general election. The Government’s policy is to sell assets when there is no longer a policy reason to retain them and to reinvest the proceeds of such sales in policy priorities. Nationalising assets would increase public sector net debt, which would increase our debt interest bill and divert public spending away from more valuable areas. It would also mean that the future investment needs of any nationalised industries would have to compete for capital with our public services.
I refer my right hon. Friend to the analysis of the Opposition party’s proposals, if we can call them that, done by the Conservative party at the time of the general election. The Government’s policy is to sell assets when there is no longer a policy reason to retain them and to reinvest the proceeds of such sales in policy priorities. Nationalising assets would increase public sector net debt, which would increase our debt interest bill and divert public spending away from more valuable areas. It would also mean that the future investment needs of any nationalised industries would have to compete for capital with our public services.
I refer my right hon. Friend to the analysis of the Opposition party’s proposals, if we can call them that, done by the Conservative party at the time of the general election. The Government’s policy is to sell assets when there is no longer a policy reason to retain them and to reinvest the proceeds of such sales in policy priorities. Nationalising assets would increase public sector net debt, which would increase our debt interest bill and divert public spending away from more valuable areas. It would also mean that the future investment needs of any nationalised industries would have to compete for capital with our public services.
What revenue has the privatisation programme raised and what would be the cost of nationalising the utilities?
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to examine the rate of interest charged on loans from shareholders to UK utilities to establish (1) whether the terms, including rates of interest, are commercial, and (2) the tax deductibility of such interest is legitimate.
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to examine the rate of interest charged on loans from shareholders to UK utilities to establish (1) whether the terms, including rates of interest, are commercial, and (2) the tax deductibility of such interest is legitimate.
The capital structure of a business and the terms of any loan agreements is a commercial decision for the business and its investors or lenders.
Interest expense incurred by a business is generally deductible in calculating taxable profits, but a number of tax rules limit such deductions. These tax rules apply to utilities just as to other sectors. In particular, transfer pricing rules disallow interest deductions in excess of what would be paid to an independent lender. And an unallowable purpose rule prevents deductions for interest on a loan that does not have a commercial purpose. HMRC robustly enforces these rules to ensure they are applied correctly.
Furthermore, in line with OECD recommendations and following extensive consultation, the government is introducing new corporate interest restriction rules in the current Finance Bill to limit the deductions that a business can obtain for financing costs based on the amount of its earnings taxable in the UK.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans he has to regulate third-party intermediaries for business customers in the (a) water, (b) energy and (c) telecommunications industries.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans he has to regulate third-party intermediaries for business customers in the (a) water, (b) energy and (c) telecommunications industries.
The marketing activities of third party intermediaries in all sectors are subject to regulation, with the Competition and Markets Authority and trading standards having roles in ensuring business customers are not misled, under the Business Protection from Misleading Marketing Regulations 2008.
We have no current plans to further regulate third party intermediaries for business customers in the water, energy and telecommunications industries.
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are satisfied with the regulatory arrangements relating to the conduct of roadworks on public highways undertaken by public utility companies.
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are satisfied with the regulatory arrangements relating to the conduct of roadworks on public highways undertaken by public utility companies.
The Government wants to deliver better journeys for drivers. Utility works are essential, but they should not be in place any longer than is absolutely necessary.
Whilst we are satisfied that the regulatory arrangements are working well, we continue to keep them under review to modernise and update legislation and statutory guidance where necessary, and where it will lead to improvements in the way that these works are managed.
Recent examples include a consultation on lane rental powers published on 2nd September. Lane rental allows local authorities to charge utility companies for works on the busiest roads at the busiest times. We will shortly be publishing updated statutory guidance relating to inspections. In 2015, we updated regulations and guidance on permit schemes that are now in place in almost 60% of local authority areas and which are resulting in more effective management of street works and reductions in their duration. We continue to work with stakeholders to encourage more local authorities take up and adopt permit schemes.
I am saddened that the Secretary of State is non-committal, because at the same time as we have rising prices, power distributors recently made an average yearly post-tax profit of 32%, paying out share dividends of £5.1 billion. For water, the situation is even worse, as over the past decade companies have made £18.8 billion in profits, paying out £18.1 billion of that as dividends, with Macquarie paying £1.6 billion in dividends alone, while Thames Water incurred £10.6 billion of debt, ran up a £260 million pensions deficit and paid no UK corporation tax. So I ask him: what are the Government’s plans to reform our broken utilities markets?
I am saddened that the Secretary of State is non-committal, because at the same time as we have rising prices, power distributors recently made an average yearly post-tax profit of 32%, paying out share dividends of £5.1 billion. For water, the situation is even worse, as over the past decade companies have made £18.8 billion in profits, paying out £18.1 billion of that as dividends, with Macquarie paying £1.6 billion in dividends alone, while Thames Water incurred £10.6 billion of debt, ran up a £260 million pensions deficit and paid no UK corporation tax. So I ask him: what are the Government’s plans to reform our broken utilities markets?
On the specific point of retail energy markets, a two-year investigation has been carried out by the CMA, and it is now for Ofgem to respond. I hope it will respond and eradicate that deficit; that is the test that Ofgem faces. We have made it clear that we will rule nothing out if it falls short, but I do not want to remove the obligation on it to respond in that way. I hope that the hon. Lady will welcome our intention to publish a consumer Green Paper and that she will contribute to
it. This will look across the board—across other utilities as well—to see whether the existing regulatory arrangements are sufficient.
On the specific point of retail energy markets, a two-year investigation has been carried out by the CMA, and it is now for Ofgem to respond. I hope it will respond and eradicate that deficit; that is the test that Ofgem faces. We have made it clear that we will rule nothing out if it falls short, but I do not want to remove the obligation on it to respond in that way. I hope that the hon. Lady will welcome our intention to publish a consumer Green Paper and that she will contribute to
it. This will look across the board—across other utilities as well—to see whether the existing regulatory arrangements are sufficient.
On the specific point of retail energy markets, a two-year investigation has been carried out by the CMA, and it is now for Ofgem to respond. I hope it will respond and eradicate that deficit; that is the test that Ofgem faces. We have made it clear that we will rule nothing out if it falls short, but I do not want to remove the obligation on it to respond in that way. I hope that the hon. Lady will welcome our intention to publish a consumer Green Paper and that she will contribute to
it. This will look across the board—across other utilities as well—to see whether the existing regulatory arrangements are sufficient.
I am saddened that the Secretary of State is non-committal, because at the same time as we have rising prices, power distributors recently made an average yearly post-tax profit of 32%, paying out share dividends of £5.1 billion. For water, the situation is even worse, as over the past decade companies have made £18.8 billion in profits, paying out £18.1 billion of that as dividends, with Macquarie paying £1.6 billion in dividends alone, while Thames Water incurred £10.6 billion of debt, ran up a £260 million pensions deficit and paid no UK corporation tax. So I ask him: what are the Government’s plans to reform our broken utilities markets?
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent on utility bills for sites owned by his Department that have been officially closed in each of the last five years.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent on utility bills for sites owned by his Department that have been officially closed in each of the last five years.
This information is not held. The Department holds utilities bills by geographical area and not by site.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average reduction in an individual claimant's personal outgoings he expects to arise from social tariffs for which a claimant of employment and support allowance in the work-related activity group is eligible.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average reduction in an individual claimant's personal outgoings he expects to arise from social tariffs for which a claimant of employment and support allowance in the work-related activity group is eligible.
There has not been any analysis of average savings from social tariffs for claimants of employment and support allowance in the work-related activity group.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much her Department has spent on utility bills in prisons which have been officially closed in each of the last five years.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much her Department has spent on utility bills in prisons which have been officially closed in each of the last five years.
Where the Ministry of Justice has closed prisons, the level of services, such as heating, water and electricity, is reduced to that necessary to maintain the fabric of the buildings and ensure the sites remain safe and secure until final disposal.
The expenditure on utility bills in prisons which have been officially closed in each of the last five years is set out in the table below:
Utilities costs of prisons officially closed in the past five years | |
|
|
Financial year | £ |
2012-13 | 4,410,825 |
2013-14 | 2,754,572 |
2014-15 | 1,699,752 |
2015-16 | 1,867,753 |
2016-17 (to December 2016) | 508,359 |
Footnotes
1. Utilities includes: fuel; electricity; gas; and water & sewage.
2. The costs shown reflect invoices which have been submitted and paid. There is a time lag between services which have been supplied and the submission of invoices by suppliers. The figures may not, therefore, reflect the extent of the services received during the period.
3. The figures provided are drawn from our central accounting system and although care is taken when processing data, this may be subject to the inaccuracies and inputting errors inherent in any large scale recording system.
4. Expenditure includes that at local (establishment) level and central (MoJ Estates Directorate) level.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the level of co-operation between local authorities and utility companies to minimise disruption to the public when undertaking work.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the level of co-operation between local authorities and utility companies to minimise disruption to the public when undertaking work.
Under sections 59 and 60 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, highway authorities have a general duty to co-ordinate all street and road works on their networks and undertakers have a general duty to use their best endeavours to co-operate with such actions. The Traffic Management Act 2004 also places a Network Management Duty on local highway authorities to manage roads effectively to keep traffic moving.
We have not carried out a formal assessment, but although we consider that existing legislation is sufficient to enable effective co-operation to take place, it is clear that there is scope for reducing the impact on road users of works needed to deliver infrastructure and local services.
To this end we are engaged in a project that is looking to improve the way that data is collected and shared, how we can use this data to co-ordinate activities on the highway more effectively, and how the data can be used to inform the public about planned and live works.
To enable more proactive management of the local road network, the majority of highway authorities have introduced Permit Schemes, which enable the authority to stipulate conditions under which works can take place on the highway. We are currently undertaking an evaluation of permit schemes which concludes in November, and we expect the outcome to demonstrate that such schemes provide a clear reduction in works duration. We are keen for the remaining authorities to develop such schemes.
We have also published statutory guidance entitled ‘Code of Practice for the Co-ordination of Street Works and Works for Road Purposes and Related Matters’. This can be found at:
www.gov.uk/government/publications/street-works-co-ordination