Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what is the total value of awards by central Government for local authorities to deliver net zero projects in the last twelve months.

Answered by Graham Stuart

The Government provides a wide range of funding to support local authorities in reaching net zero. Through their core settlement, grant funding schemes, and UK growth funding, the Government is enabling local authorities to tackle net zero goals.

The Government has established the UK Infrastructure Bank with an initial £12billion of capital for the twin goals of tackling climate change and levelling-up. This includes a loan facility for local government to deliver net zero.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many grants central Government has awarded to local authorities to deliver net zero projects in the last twelve months.

Answered by Graham Stuart

The Government provides a wide range of funding to support local authorities in reaching net zero. Through their core settlement, grant funding schemes, and UK growth funding, the Government is enabling local authorities to tackle net zero goals.

The Government has established the UK Infrastructure Bank with an initial £12billion of capital for the twin goals of tackling climate change and levelling-up. This includes a loan facility for local government to deliver net zero.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the availability of labour in the insulation and retrofit sector.

Answered by Graham Stuart

For work carried out under Government schemes installers are required to be TrustMark registered, as well as PAS certified for energy efficiency measures and MCS certified for low carbon heating measures. In November 2022, there were 1782 TrustMark businesses across the UK which were certified to PAS or MCS standards.

The Mace market intelligence report commissioned by BEIS last year found that in 2021 there were 154,748 individuals installing energy efficiency measures in England. Research undertaken last year by Eunomia shows there are between 36,000 and 87,000 non-domestic retrofit businesses in the UK.

The Government is working with key industry bodies to consider what other actions are necessary both from industry and government to continue to grow this industry.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department is taking steps to help ensure a coordinated approach to the delivery of local area energy plans.

Answered by Graham Stuart

The Government is considering the role of local-level energy planning in delivering Net Zero. We need to be clear on the value of local-level energy planning before taking decisions on how to coordinate delivery. This includes considering local-level energy planning in the context of potential future changes to the energy system, such as Ofgem's regional energy system planning proposals.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what (a) financial and (b) other support his Department is providing to local authorities to develop local area energy plans.

Answered by Graham Stuart

The Government is considering the role of local-level energy planning in delivering Net Zero. We have supported the development of local area energy planning through the Prospering from the Energy Revolution (PFER) programme, to which we committed £104 million in funding.

The PFER programme included co-funding for the development of local area energy planning guidance, and the production of plans for Peterborough, Pembrokeshire, Stafford, Cannock Chase and Lichfield.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the implications for his policies of the arrest of UK national Shahid Hussain in Pakistan.

Answered by Leo Docherty

Mr Hussain was released on 27 March. We are aware of reports of arrests and continue to monitor the situation on the ground. Where there are credible allegations of human rights violations, we expect these to be investigated in line with due process.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to accept the recommendations made by Alexander Downer in his review of Border Force, published in July 2022.

Answered by Robert Jenrick - Shadow Secretary of State for Justice

The Home Secretary welcomed the report and recommendations of Alexander Downer’s review of Border Force when published in July 2022. A broad programme of activity is now underway to ensure Border Force continues to fulfil its role effectively, and Ministers are being kept informed of progress.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to broaden eligibility of ePassport gates to include (a) children aged 10 and 11, (b) travellers with Electronic Travel Authorisation and (c) visa holders.

Answered by Robert Jenrick - Shadow Secretary of State for Justice

The government has set out its ambitious vision for the future border, in which the majority of passengers will experience an e-gate style arrival.

We are encouraged by the success of the recent trial involving 10- and 11-year-old children at three major airports and will shortly make a decision on whether to adopt the younger age limit more widely.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of active travel measures on levels of air pollution.

Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons

Active travel supports the delivery of the Government’s air quality and net zero ambitions for transport. Walking and cycling can reduce the need for car journeys, so people and goods to move in an emission-free way. The Department has not made a detailed assessment of the effect of specific active travel measures on air quality, but expects that they will generally be positive.

Found: Q303 Dr Matthew Offord: Are they applications or have they been processed?

Found: Q303 Dr Matthew Offord: Are they applications or have they been processed?