The 2019 Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing and Access, and the statutory scheme for branded medicines pricing, work together to control the cost of branded medicines to the National Health Service and ensure it stays within affordable limits.

The 2019 Voluntary Scheme began on 1 January 2019 and will run for five years until the end of 2023. The Voluntary Scheme aims to provide stability and predictability for all parties in terms of the United Kingdom’s branded medicines expenditure and the medicines pricing and access environment for the period 2019 to 2023. It also aims to achieve a balance between patient access, affordability and supporting the development of innovative new medicines, including support for small companies.

A Supplier of Last Resort (SoLR) appointed through a competitive process may make a claim to recover some of the costs they incur via an industry-wide levy. None of the levy costs are met by the public purse. The recovery of any tax arrears in an insolvency is a matter for the administrators and HMRC.

The Department is not able to make estimates of the expected costs as a result of the SoLR process. The costs of an insolvency will depend on the circumstances of each case and variables such as the number of customers, the short term costs of ensuring they continue to be supplied with energy, the settlement of customer bills and the costs absorbed by the incoming supplier. It is for Ofgem, as the expert regulator, to scrutinise the costs in any levy claim and to consult with industry and interested parties before any decision is taken to use the levy.

In the event of an energy supplier insolvency, the Supplier of Last Resort (SoLR) process allows a quick transfer of customers to another supplier appointed by Ofgem and ensures credit balances are protected.

As a result of the competitive SoLR processes, successful suppliers have agreed to absorb a proportion of the costs of the process and claim some of the remaining costs via the industry-wide SoLR levy. The amount claimed through the levy will vary depending on the terms of the successful SoLR bid and other factors such as number of customers and how much credit they have built up. It takes time for the extent of some SoLR-related costs to become clear and Ofgem consult with industry and interested parties before any levy claim decision is taken.

The Government has vehicle grant funding schemes to assist with the upfront cost of purchasing electric cars, vans, taxis and motorcycles, as well as e-cargo bikes in due course. The development of the used market for electric vehicles will also make them more affordable for more people.

Owners of both new and used electric vehicles are able to take advantage of tax incentives which favour the least emitting vehicles. In addition, they can also benefit from local initiatives, such as free parking in some areas, as well as the Government’s infrastructure grant schemes, such as the Electric Vehicle Homecharge and Work Place Charging Schemes.

Further technology innovation should also bring the price of ultra low emission vehicles down in the long term. The Office for Low Emission Vehicles has awarded over £300m to support a range of industry led R&D projects that have driven forward ultra low emission technologies and strengthened UK industrial and supply chain capability.

I have regular discussions with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on matters of mutual departmental interest.

I appreciate that a new home is not just the largest monetary purchase most people ever make; it is also one of the largest emotional commitments as people look to provide a safe, good quality home for themselves and their families.

I acknowledge that a lack of housing supply is having a real effect on people’s ability to buy a home and that is why the Government is committed to delivering more of the right homes in the right places. 481,000 households have been helped to purchase a home since spring 2010 through Government backed schemes including Help to Buy and Right to Buy. Annual housing supply in England amounted to 217,350 net additional dwellings in 2016-17, up 15 per cent on 2015-16 and the highest level since 2007-08.

This Government is committed to transforming Mental Health support. The Prime Minister recently announced a campaign to train a million people in mental health awareness – Every Mind Matters – launched on 9 October with a pilot in the West Midlands ahead of a national rollout next Spring.

Our policies for delivering clean growth generated an average net saving on household energy bills of £14 in 2016[1].The Clean Growth Strategy sets out our ambition to secure the lowest electricity costs in Europe, particularly for domestic consumers, and also to deliver the Government’s carbon targets and ensure security of supply.

[1] PG 42 Clean Growth Strategy - https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/700496/clean-growth-strategy-correction-april-2018.pdf

Farmgate milk prices for the month of February for each of the years 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 and 2011 are set out below:

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Farmgate milk prices are published on a monthly basis at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-milk-prices-and-composition-of-milk/united-kingdom-milk-prices-and-composition-of-milk-statistics-notice-data-for-december-2017, with data going back to 1970.

The table below outlines the network cost component of the average dual fuel bill from 2013 to 2016. This is the longest period for which there is comparable data for a dual fuel (gas and electricity) bill.

These data are published by Ofgem and based on realised costs as reported by the six largest energy companies in their annual Consolidated Segmental Statements, which can be found - https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/system/files/docs/2018/02/february-bills-prices-profits.pdf

Based on estimated average annual consumption figures of 3,800kWh for standard electricity and 15,000kWh for gas, BEIS has published the following figures. Note that 2017 figures are provisional, with actual figures being published in March.

In real terms, average (standard) electricity and gas bills (in 2010 prices) are:

Notes:

Figures in the table can be found in Table 221 and Table 231 of Quarterly Energy Prices:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/quarterly-energy-prices-december-2017

The Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Select Committee are scrutinising the Government’s Draft Domestic Gas and Electricity (Tariff Cap) Bill. The draft bill would require Ofgem to impose a cap on all standard variable and default tariffs, and defines a default tariff as a rate or amount charged for if the customer fails to choose an alternative rate.

The cost of attending live sport for all ages is something that must be kept under constant review, and we support a fair deal for fans, but respect that ticket-pricing policies should remain a matter for event hosts.

The Government's sport strategy, Sporting Future, recognises how attending live sporting events can benefit individuals, communities and the wider sporting economy. Ten major sporting events supported by UK Sport saw over 1.1 million people attend in 2017, including the IAAF World Championships in London, where over 100,000 children under 16 attended at a ticket price of £9.58, signifying Usain Bolt's 100m world record. The World Para Athletics Championships similarly saw over 100,000 schoolchildren attend, with 30,000 children being transported free of charge by Transport for London as part of a two session ring-fenced school project. The men's and women's World Series Triathlons held in Leeds in June also attracted over 50,000 spectators who were able to enjoy the events for free.

Football clubs are also offering concessions on ticket prices and associated costs for all fans, including younger supporters, which the recent BBC Price of Football 2017 study highlighted. Overall, English Football League (EFL) figures show that junior season ticket sales have increased by 37% over the past 10 years with 20% of all EFL club match attendees now under 16 years old. Premier League clubs agreed last season to cap the cost of away tickets to £30 up until 2019, and clubs are helping more with concessions on travel.

Four and half million households on pre-payment meters are already protected by a price cap that came into effect in April. Ofgem is consulting on extending this to a further one million vulnerable households this winter.

The Government also provides £140 a year for over 2 million low income households through the Warm Home Discount, between £100-£300 a year for pensioners through Winter Fuel Payments, and £25 a week for low income and vulnerable households during a cold snap through Cold Weather Payments.

In April 2017 the Government reformed the Energy Company Obligation so that it has a greater focus on low income and vulnerable households. The current scheme, which is worth £640m per year and runs to October 2018 is expected to deliver over 300,000 measures, helping to make homes warmer now and for years to come.

The Department’s latest assessment of the cost of households’ energy requirements, split by their EPC rating, is contained within the Clean Growth Strategy:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/651916/BEIS_The_Clean_Growth_online_12.10.17.pdf (see page 73).

To derive these costs, these estimates make standardised assumptions about the temperature a home is heated to, its hot water use and lighting patterns (these assumptions are consistent with those contained within EPCs). Households’ actual energy use may differ - for example where households heat their home to different levels, or use more or less hot water than assumed.

Leaving the EU presents a major opportunity for UK agricultural and fisheries sectors. There will be opportunities to build on our world-leading reputation of quality and standards. We are focused on making sure all of our policies deliver for the UK, grow our world-leading food and farming industry, and improve our environment. In 2016, 60 per cent of UK food, feed and drink exports were to countries in the EU, whilst 70 per cent of UK imports of food, feed and drink during the same period were from the EU. This underlines the UK’s and EU’s mutual interest in continuing high levels of market access in future.

The Department for Exiting the European Union, working with officials across Government, is in the process of carrying out a programme of rigorous and extensive analytical work that will contribute to our exit negotiations with the EU, to define our future partnership with the EU, and to inform our understanding of how EU exit will affect the UK’s domestic policies and frameworks.

We want our future relationship with the EU to be a deep and special partnership, taking in both economic and security cooperation. We are confident that a future partnership between the UK and EU is in the interests of both sides, so we approach these negotiations anticipating success. We think that is by far and away the highest probability. We do not want or expect a no deal outcome, but we have a duty to plan for an alternative to the unlikely scenario in which no mutually satisfactory agreement can be reached. That is exactly what we are doing across the whole of Government.

Leaving the EU presents a major opportunity for UK agricultural and fisheries sectors. There will be opportunities to build on our world-leading reputation of quality and standards. We are focused on making sure all of our policies deliver for the UK, grow our world-leading food and farming industry, and improve our environment. In 2016, 60 per cent of UK food, feed and drink exports were to countries in the EU, whilst 70 per cent of UK imports of food, feed and drink during the same period were from the EU. This underlines the UK’s and EU’s mutual interest in continuing high levels of market access in future.

The Department for Exiting the European Union, working with officials across Government, is in the process of carrying out a programme of rigorous and extensive analytical work that will contribute to our exit negotiations with the EU, to define our future partnership with the EU, and to inform our understanding of how EU exit will affect the UK’s domestic policies and frameworks.

We want our future relationship with the EU to be a deep and special partnership, taking in both economic and security cooperation. We are confident that a future partnership between the UK and EU is in the interests of both sides, so we approach these negotiations anticipating success. We think that is by far and away the highest probability. We do not want or expect a no deal outcome, but we have a duty to plan for an alternative to the unlikely scenario in which no mutually satisfactory agreement can be reached. That is exactly what we are doing across the whole of Government.

The Department collects data from energy companies by public electricity supplier (PES) regions; data is not available by parliamentary constituency. In the West Midlands, 61% of gas and electricity customers are estimated to be on variable tariffs.

Commodity prices, exchange rates and oil prices have been observed to be the key drivers of retail food price changes. These factors will continue to apply whether we are an EU member or not.

The Government is committed to negotiating a deep and special partnership with the European Union and is conducting analysis to help inform our negotiations, including consideration of numerous trade options.

The Department does not hold data on the tariffs paid by those in receipt of winter fuel payments. The Department estimates the proportions of all customers who are on variable tariffs, in the table below; data prior to 2013 is not available.

Data are published in Quarterly Energy Prices in tables, 2.4.2 and 2.5.2 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/quarterly-domestic-energy-price-stastics

Since 2010, the number of domestic energy suppliers in the UK has increased from 13 to over 60 and independent suppliers now have over 20% share of the dual fuel market. In addition, almost 3 million electricity and gas switches took place between January and July this year.

However, the Competition and Markets Authority has found that millions of domestic energy customers were paying around £1.4 billion annually more than they would if the market were functioning effectively. On 12 October the Government published a draft Bill for pre-legislative scrutiny that would require Ofgem to put in place a temporary price cap on standard variable and default tariffs.

After an increase in 2013, average household dual fuel bills declined in real terms between 2013 and 2016. Actions taken to tackle emissions have helped to reduce average energy bills for households as efficiency savings have more than offset the increased cost of supporting low carbon technologies.

The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) estimate that the cost of policies delivering cleaner energy, support for vulnerable households, and investing in upgrading our buildings account for around 12 per cent (around £140) of an average household dual fuel bill in 2016. However, these costs are on average more than offset by savings from improvements to the energy efficiency of people’s homes. The CCC estimate that household energy efficiency improvements made since 2008 are delivering average bill savings of around £290 per year, driven in large part by government policy.