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To ask Her Majesty’s Government when and how they intend to respond to the September 2016 report of the Parliamentary Advisory Group on Carbon Capture and Storage.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when and how they intend to respond to the September 2016 report of the Parliamentary Advisory Group on Carbon Capture and Storage.
My Lords, I am grateful for the report of the Parliamentary Advisory Group on Carbon Capture and Storage, which the noble Lord led. Our response was set out in our Clean Growth Strategy, published in October, and I can only apologise to the noble Lord that we did not write to him to let him know. His report has been and will continue to be a key consideration in shaping our ongoing work.
My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for his apology. It was a little surprising not to have received a reply to a report commissioned at a time of some desperation in the former department of DECC, when the Chancellor pulled the rug from under the department’s energy strategy. The group was set up by Amber Rudd, the then Secretary of State, and the noble Lord, Lord Bourne, who was then the Energy Minister here.
Will the Minister write to me—I will transmit his reply to the rest of the committee—giving an answer to each of the six recommendations that the report contains? That we have not had, and it is not contained within the clean energy strategy. Furthermore, he will recall that the report contained a detailed and carefully worked-out time plan for decarbonisation of the country’s energy system. As things now stand, it looks as though the Government have lost about a year on that fairly prudent plan. Does he agree that this means that the fifth carbon budget will now be something of a stretch? It would be good if he could also place in the Library a copy of a new plan.
My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for his apology. It was a little surprising not to have received a reply to a report commissioned at a time of some desperation in the former department of DECC, when the Chancellor pulled the rug from under the department’s energy strategy. The group was set up by Amber Rudd, the then Secretary of State, and the noble Lord, Lord Bourne, who was then the Energy Minister here.
Will the Minister write to me—I will transmit his reply to the rest of the committee—giving an answer to each of the six recommendations that the report contains? That we have not had, and it is not contained within the clean energy strategy. Furthermore, he will recall that the report contained a detailed and carefully worked-out time plan for decarbonisation of the country’s energy system. As things now stand, it looks as though the Government have lost about a year on that fairly prudent plan. Does he agree that this means that the fifth carbon budget will now be something of a stretch? It would be good if he could also place in the Library a copy of a new plan.
My Lords, I repeat the apology I gave to the noble Lord. I will certainly write to him and place a copy of my reply in the Library, with a full
response to the six points that he makes in his recommendations—I have a copy of his report here and I have studied it. I also assure him that it remains a priority to work on both zero-growth and low-growth options. My honourable friend Claire Perry is committed to that and we will do all we can. As the noble Lord will be aware, in our industrial strategy we made it quite clear that we saw clean growth as one of the major challenges facing us. It is one of the grand challenges and very much a priority for the department.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many full time equivalent staff there are in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy working in the civil nuclear policy area and how many of them have qualifications in chemistry, physics or materials, and at what level.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many full time equivalent staff there are in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy working in the civil nuclear policy area and how many of them have qualifications in chemistry, physics or materials, and at what level.
As at March 2017, there are approximately 150 posts in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) whose work relates predominantly to civil nuclear policy.
BEIS holds details of qualifications only where that qualification was a requirement for the post when it was advertised. These records are held on individual staff files and the department would incur disproportionate costs in order to obtain the information. Staff are recruited against the Civil Service competency framework, demonstrating that they possess the required experience and skills.
When developing policy in this area, BEIS also works closely with the Chief Scientific Adviser, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, the National Nuclear Laboratory, and industry experts.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect to announce the result of the competition for small modular nuclear reactors.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect to announce the result of the competition for small modular nuclear reactors.
Phase one of the small modular reactor (SMR) competition remains underway. The focus of phase one is engagement with industry, with all eligible participants given the opportunity to engage with government to help inform policy development. Phase one does not involve the down-selection of a reactor design. We will provide further information on the next steps for the SMR competition in due course.
My Lords, as the Minister is undoubtedly aware, last Tuesday, 17 January, we received nothing through our interconnectors. Wind and other renewables generation in the country made up 2% of our supply and the remainder came from gas, coal and nuclear. Does he agree that to keep the lights on and to ensure security of supply in the country, we must have a minimum amount of dispatchable generation which can meet that demand and, furthermore, that that dispatchable supply is likely to be gas with carbon capture and storage? I declare many non-pecuniary interests in carbon capture and storage.
My Lords, as the Minister is undoubtedly aware, last Tuesday, 17 January, we received nothing through our interconnectors. Wind and other renewables generation in the country made up 2% of our supply and the remainder came from gas, coal and nuclear. Does he agree that to keep the lights on and to ensure security of supply in the country, we must have a minimum amount of dispatchable generation which can meet that demand and, furthermore, that that dispatchable supply is likely to be gas with carbon capture and storage? I declare many non-pecuniary interests in carbon capture and storage.
My Lords, I have an app on my phone through which I can tell exactly where all the electricity is coming from at any time. That 2% from renewables is very low; obviously, the wind was not blowing that day. The noble Lord is absolutely right that our baseload is provided by gas, coal and nuclear and I assure him that, in its Winter Outlook Report of October 2016, the National Grid said that we had an electricity margin of 6.6%, compared to 5.1% for the same period last year. There are no current concerns about security of supply.
My Lords, will the Minister tell the House what it costs the NHS each year to deal with alcohol-related conditions?
My Lords, will the Minister tell the House what it costs the NHS each year to deal with alcohol-related conditions?
I can tell the noble Lord that alcohol related-costs amount to about £3.5 billion a year for the NHS.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the risk of cross-subsidy issues in the deregulated water marketplace that would make the market unfair for new entrants.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the risk of cross-subsidy issues in the deregulated water marketplace that would make the market unfair for new entrants.
The Government is committed to ensuring that there is a level playing field in the new retail market in order to make it attractive for new entrants and deliver the best deals for customers. The Water Act 2014 included provisions prohibiting discrimination between a wholesale water appointee and its retail arm; cross-subsidy would normally be seen as a form of discrimination.
Parties within the Open Water programme (the cross-sector programme responsible for implementing the new market for non-household retail services) are using a number of tools to ensure a fair and level playing field for all market participants.
Ofwat has set separate price caps for household and non-household customers and for wholesale and retail services in the 2014 Price Review. This stops cross-subsidy between household and non-household customers and between the wholesale and retail parts of companies’ businesses.
Ofwat is also proposing licence conditions for new retail licensees that prohibit discrimination and cross-subsidy. These will mirror conditions that already exist in the licences of water and sewerage undertakers.
Open Water Markets Ltd (the body currently representing all market participants) has developed detailed rules or ‘codes’ that require all interactions within the market between wholesalers and retailers to follow a common approach. This is designed to ensure a level playing field, principally on non-price issues.
Underpinning these new arrangements there is also an existing framework of competition law at both a UK and European level which prohibits discrimination by an incumbent in favour of one retailer over another, for example by offering preferential terms or prices or engaging in other anti-competitive behaviour. Ofwat has powers to investigate and fine companies up to 10% of their revenues where it finds such activity has occurred.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the estimated number of new entrants expected in the deregulated water marketplace.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the estimated number of new entrants expected in the deregulated water marketplace.
We expect the number of new entrants in the expanded Anglo-Scottish market for non-household retail services to grow over time ahead of the extension of choice to all non-household customers in English in April 2017.
At this point it is not possible to give a definitive number of new entrants likely to be in the market in April 2017. However, there are currently 12 new entrant companies who are licensed to operate in the existing retail market in England and there are 18 licensed providers in the Scottish retail market. Eight of these companies are currently licensed in both jurisdictions.
There are 18 water and sewerage undertakers some of whom have already established separate retail companies and all of which will have the opportunity to exit from the non-household retail market at market opening which may also increase the number of entrants to the market.
The Open Water Programme, involving Government, Industry and Ofwat, is preparing for market opening and is in contact with a number of additional businesses that are considering entering the market. These prospective retailers are playing an important role in helping to shape delivery of the programme and ensure a level playing field for all participants in the market.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of whether Ofwat is adequately protecting customer data by ensuring that access to water meter data is compliant with regulations and best practice regarding access to personal data.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of whether Ofwat is adequately protecting customer data by ensuring that access to water meter data is compliant with regulations and best practice regarding access to personal data.
Water companies must comply with the Data Protection Act 1988 in all aspects of their businesses, including handling data from meters.
Water UK, through its Revenue Metering Network, provides the opportunity for companies to share best practice and expertise on different approaches to metering. Each water company is responsible for ensuring that its approach is compliant with all legal and regulatory requirements.
My Lords, the Minister will know that this country is now the largest external supplier of electricity to Germany through the interconnectors. At times of high pressure on electricity supplies in Europe, how and by whom is it decided in which direction the electricity flows down the interconnectors? Is that simply a matter of market forces and, if the prices are higher in Germany, do the lights go out in the UK?
My Lords, the Minister will know that this country is now the largest external supplier of electricity to Germany through the interconnectors. At times of high pressure on electricity supplies in Europe, how and by whom is it decided in which direction the electricity flows down the interconnectors? Is that simply a matter of market forces and, if the prices are higher in Germany, do the lights go out in the UK?
My Lords, let me reassure the noble Lord that the lights are not going out.
My Lords, can the Minister assure the House that any decision on the future of London’s airports will be taken in the light of a coherent and integrated transport policy for this country, involving both rail and road?
My Lords, can the Minister assure the House that any decision on the future of London’s airports will be taken in the light of a coherent and integrated transport policy for this country, involving both rail and road?
Absolutely, my Lords. The Airports Commission is charged with taking that into consideration, particularly as regards rail connectivity.
When they will fulfil the undertaking, made in their response to the report of the Science and Technology Committee, Renewable Energy: Practicalities (4th Report, Session 2003–04, HL Paper 126), to publish a summary of the assessors’ report on a proposed tidal lagoon in Swansea Bay.
When they will fulfil the undertaking, made in their response to the report of the Science and Technology Committee, Renewable Energy: Practicalities (4th Report, Session 2003–04, HL Paper 126), to publish a summary of the assessors’ report on a proposed tidal lagoon in Swansea Bay.
Lords debate on motion to take note of the report of the Science and Technology Committee on Renewable Energy: Practicalities (HL 126 2003/04). Agreed to on question. (Also debated with Lords motion to call attention to the Government's strategy and timetable for programmes of energy efficiency, use reduction and conservation and for the implementaion of renewable sources of energy).
Lords debate on motion to take note of the report of the Science and Technology Committee on Renewable Energy: Practicalities (HL 126 2003/04). Agreed to on question. (Also debated with Lords motion to call attention to the Government's strategy and timetable for programmes of energy efficiency, use reduction and conservation...
Lords debate on motion to call attention to the fifth report from the Select Committee on Science and Technology, "Radioactive Waste Management" (HL 200 2003/04) and to the timescale for establishing a long-term strategy for the management of the United Kingdom's radioactive waste. Motion withdrawn.
Lords debate on motion to call attention to the fifth report from the Select Committee on Science and Technology, "Radioactive Waste Management" (HL 200 2003/04) and to the timescale for establishing a long-term strategy for the management of the United Kingdom's radioactive waste. Motion withdrawn.
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 22 March 2004 (c84WA), whether they have made any calculation of the transportation cost, in forms of average carbon equivalent emissions per MWh of electricity generated, of importing biomass fuel for co-firing. [HL 2152].
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 22 March 2004 (c84WA), whether they have made any calculation of the transportation cost, in forms of average carbon equivalent emissions per MWh of electricity generated, of importing biomass fuel for co-firing. [HL 2152].
Whether electricity generators, in co-firing biomass fuel, face any restrictions on where they must source that fuel, in order for the electricity generated to qualify for renewables obligation certificates; and whether, under the terms of the renewables obligation, as proposed to be amended by the draft Renewables Obligation (Amendment) Order...
Whether electricity generators, in co-firing biomass fuel, face any restrictions on where they must source that fuel, in order for the electricity generated to qualify for renewables obligation certificates; and whether, under the terms of the renewables obligation, as proposed to be amended by the draft Renewables Obligation (Amendment) Order...