As I said in my letter to my hon. Friend, the Government believe that all students should study a broad and balanced curriculum. Design and technology is an important and valued subject, which is why we are doing a huge amount to promote the importance of D and T, and why we have reformed and improved the curriculum,

working with the James Dyson Foundation and other experts to raise the quality and rigour of the design and technology GCSE. D and T is a very popular GCSE choice, with 185,000 entries this year.

The EBacc is about a small number of core academic subjects, focused on those subjects that keep options open. I am confident that the new, reformed design and technology GCSE will lead to even more young people wanting to take this qualification in future years, once the new curriculum is in place. However, our policy objective is for more students, particularly those taking design and technology, to study the traditional sciences.

Design and Technology is a subject that can inspire and equip young people for further study and careers in a range of design and engineering fields. Our reform ensures the Design and Technology curriculum and qualifications are aligned with industry practice. The new GCSE and A levels move the subject on from its craft-based roots into a high-tech qualification.

The EBacc has been designed to be limited in its size in order to provide a rigorous academic core whilst leaving space in the curriculum for pupils to study other subjects of their choice. On average, pupils in state-funded schools enter nine GCSEs and equivalent qualifications, rising to more than ten for some pupils. As the EBacc covers up to eight GCSEs, this leaves room for other choices, including Design and Technology.

On 3 November 2015, the Secretary of State for Education launched a public consultation seeking views on the government’s proposals for the implementation of the EBacc. The consultation closed on 29 January 2016 and the Government’s response will be published in due course.

In 2014/15 [1], there were 194,908 entries in England and 1,616 entries in Wiltshire for GCSE design and technology [2],[3].

[1] Information is based on final 2014/15 figures.

[2] GCSE design and technology includes D&T Electronic Products, D&T Food Technology, D&T Graphic Products, D&T Product Design, D&T Resistant Materials, D&T Systems & Control, D&T Textiles Technology, Graphics, Motor Vehicle Studies, D&T Engineering.

[3] Revised 2014/15 Information on the number of entries for GCSE technology and design is published in the “Revised GCSE and equivalent results in England: 2014 to 2015” statistical first release at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/493476/SFR01_2016_Subject_Tables.xlsx (Table S5)

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. The future for transport is indeed electric, and the Department for Transport has clear plans to develop and support the electric vehicles industry. I am proud to say that one in four of the electric cars that are currently being driven around Europe was made in the UK, and I hope that the UK will continue to be a leader in this developing industry.

The consultation on implementing the EBacc closed on 29 January. We have received responses from a wide range of stakeholders, including businesses. The Government response, including a list of responding organisations, will be published in due course.

Yes, we have made some significant reforms to the D and T GCSE and A-level, working closely with the Design and Technology Association and the James Dyson Foundation to ensure we have high-quality D and T qualifications that lead on to higher education, apprenticeships and high-quality employment in the sector. I hope the qualification itself will lead to more young people taking it.

Research has shown that the carbon footprint of shale gas extraction and use is likely to be comparable to conventional sources of gas and lower than the carbon footprint of imported Liquefied Natural Gas. [1]

In order to make sure emissions are minimised, the Environment Agency has made ‘Green Completions’ to capture emissions from operations a requirement for Environmental Permits for shale gas production.

Additionally, operators must develop a Waste Management Plan setting out how waste gases including fugitive methane emissions will be minimised, managed and monitored, which is submitted to the Environment Agency with permit applications. The Environment Agency will also consider an enclosed flare to provide the best environmental performance for treatment of waste gases from onshore oil and gas operations during exploration.

We have one of the most robust regulatory regimes in the world for shale gas and we insist on high standards of health safety and environmental protection.

[1] Mackay-Stone report (requested by DECC), Potential Greenhouse Gas Emissions Associated with Shale Gas Extraction and Use, Sept 2013 https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/237330/MacKay_Stone_shale_study_report_09092013.pdf