Every parliamentary written question tabled by Nick Timothy this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 821–840 of 956 · this parliament
If she will have discussions with representatives from the banking sector on the adequacy of property valuations for mortgage applications.
The Government is regularly in contact with mortgage lenders on all aspects of their business, including the mortgage application process. The specific details of how property valuations are carried out for mortgage applications is a commercial decision for lenders in which the Government does not intervene.
Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of UK carbon emissions from imports from (a) China and (b) the rest of the world in each year since 2010.
Information about the Carbon footprint for the UK is published here : Carbon footprint for the UK and England to 2021 - GOV.UK Data is available up to 2021. The total carbon footprint now includes the seven main Greenhouse Gases comprising: CO2, Methane (CH4), Nitrous oxide (N2O), Hydro-flourocarbons (HFC), Perflurocarbons (PFC), Nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) and Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6). We do not hold information on total UK emissions but can provide those associated with consumption. UK consumption emission figures are provided in the table below. Table 1: Breakdown of UK consumption emissions by region of import 2010 to 2021, million tonnes CO2 equivalent, UK YearImports from EuropeImports from ChinaImports from USAImports from RoW2010875425170201187562617720129154261902013935424188201496632618120151035924176201610249211482017112411615320181194118163201911841191582020104411714920211285021182
Whether his Department is taking steps to mitigate against the risk of potential price increases in (a) offshore wind, (b) onshore wind, and (c) solar energy.
To protect against rising costs for clean energy supply chains the Government is working across the economy on specific clean power policy actions. These include exploring where international collaboration can support supply chains, including via trade agreements and international co-operation. The Government is further determined to work with other countries to diversify supply chains. To match the scale of the deployment challenge the Government will be driving an increase in capacity of our domestic clean energy workforce. As set out in the Clean Power Action Plan, the Government is also minded to implement a package of targeted reforms to the Contracts for Difference scheme, designed to secure the volumes of clean electricity we need at a competitive price.
Which solar PV farm battery energy storage systems are deemed to be within an unsafe distance from a residential dwelling.
The Government has updated Planning Practice Guidance to encourage battery storage developers and local planning authorities to engage with local fire and rescue services, and for local planning authorities to refer to guidance published by the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC). The NFCC’s current guidance proposes a minimum distance of 25 metres between grid-scale batteries and occupied buildings. The Department only considers consenting for solar projects over 50MW, and under this regime no solar PV farm battery has been consented which has been deemed an unsafe distance from a residential dwelling. Projects below 50MW are considered under the local planning regime.
Whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of (a) police, (b) ambulance and (c) fire rescue services located near solar photovoltaic farm battery energy storage systems.
The Government has updated Planning Practice Guidance to encourage battery storage developers and local planning authorities to engage with local fire and rescue services, and for local planning authorities to refer to guidance published by the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC). The NFCC’s current guidance proposes a minimum distance of 25 metres between grid-scale batteries and occupied buildings. The Department only considers consenting for solar projects over 50MW, and under this regime no solar PV farm battery has been consented which has been deemed an unsafe distance from a residential dwelling. Projects below 50MW are considered under the local planning regime.
What steps his Department has taken to identify the (a) location and (b) severity of capacity constraints in the energy transmission network.
National Energy System Operator (NESO) is responsible for strategic network planning of transmission infrastructure. NESO considers the network design objectives of economic efficiency, deliverability and operability, environmental impacts, and community impacts when making recommendations for infrastructure. Recommendations were previously based on NESO’s Network Options Assessment which considered network constraints in its analysis. In future recommendations will be based on NESO’s Future Energy Pathways, which includes modelling of energy supply and demand considering network capacity constraints, and the forthcoming Strategic Spatial Energy Plan.
If her Department will publish an impact assessment for a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism on UK exporters.
The aim of the UK CBAM is to ensure imported products are subject to a carbon price comparable to that incurred by UK production, mitigating the risk of carbon leakage. By its very nature, a CBAM can only apply to imported goods, so it cannot mitigate any risk of carbon leakage in export markets. The government will continue to consider whether there is a role for existing or future carbon leakage policies to address the risk associated with exports. Any policies applied to exported products would need to be compliant with the UK’s WTO obligations and our commitment to free and open trade. A more detailed assessment of CBAM impacts on the economy and carbon leakage will be provided before legislation is introduced.
Whether his Department has made a determination of the recommended safe distance between residential dwellings and solar PV farm battery energy storage systems.
The Government has updated Planning Practice Guidance to encourage battery storage developers and local planning authorities to engage with local fire and rescue services, and for local planning authorities to refer to guidance published by the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC). The NFCC’s current guidance proposes a minimum distance of 25 metres between grid-scale batteries and occupied buildings. The Department only considers consenting for solar projects over 50MW, and under this regime no solar PV farm battery has been consented which has been deemed an unsafe distance from a residential dwelling. Projects below 50MW are considered under the local planning regime.
Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of UK carbon emissions by consumption in each year since 2010.
Information about the Carbon footprint for the UK is published here : Carbon footprint for the UK and England to 2021 - GOV.UK Data are available up to 2021. The total carbon footprint now includes the seven main Greenhouse Gases comprising: CO2, Methane (CH4), Nitrous oxide (N2O), Hydro-flourocarbons (HFC), Perflurocarbons (PFC), Nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) and Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6). Figures up to 2021 for the UK can be found in the table below. Table 1: Greenhouse gas emissions associated with UK consumption, million tonnes CO2 equivalent, UK, 2010-2021 YearGHG from UK produced goods and services consumed by UK residentsGHG embedded in imported goods and services to UKUK Households heating emissions arising from the use of fossil fuelsUK Transport emissions generated directly by UK households201031033691662011292347746620123053608066201329535882672014283366696720152753627268201623632073692017211321717020182133427470201920833671702020176311715420211893817659
How many Sri Lankan nationals on Diego Garcia were excluded from transfer to the UK due to them having (a) criminal convictions and (b) allegations of criminal behaviour.
All migrants temporarily relocated to the UK from Diego Garcia have undergone the required security checks in line with the appropriate immigration rules.Migrants with criminal convictions, charges, or subject to ongoing investigations were not in scope for that relocation. We do not comment on individual cases.
On what statutory basis the Special Escort Group is able to disapply (a) highways and (b) speeding restrictions; and whether she has a statutory role in this process.
The Special Escort Group have the same road traffic exemptions and powers to stop and direct traffic as any other uniformed police officers, where necessary in the execution of their duty.
Whether she plans to authorise the transfer of any remaining Sri Lankan nationals on Diego Garcia to the UK before the eventual handover to Mauritius.
All migrants temporarily relocated to the UK from Diego Garcia have undergone the required security checks in line with the appropriate immigration rules.Migrants with criminal convictions, charges, or subject to ongoing investigations were not in scope for that relocation. We do not comment on individual cases.
If she will publish Public Sector Equality Duty implementation guidance for each (a) Government Department and (b) arms-length body.
Decisions about the development of guidance regarding internal processes to meet the Public Sector Equality Duty are for individual departments to make. Publicly available guidance on the Public Sector Equality Duty includes the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s technical guidance that covers complying with the duty in practice.
What discussions she has had with (a) Stagecoach and (b) Stephensons on the frequency of buses in (i) England, (ii) the East of England and (iii) Suffolk.
The Department for Transport meets regularly with stakeholders, including bus operators, to discuss policy relating to local bus services.
What information she obtained from the Sri Lankan government on the (a) criminal records of and (b) allegations of criminal behaviour made about the Sri Lankan nationals on Diego Garcia.
All migrants temporarily relocated to the UK from Diego Garcia have undergone the required security checks in line with the appropriate immigration rules.Migrants with criminal convictions, charges, or subject to ongoing investigations were not in scope for that relocation. We do not comment on individual cases.
Food and Rural Affairs, whether he is taking steps to consult (a) angling clubs and (b) fishery owners on reforms to the Bathing Water Regulations 2013.
Defra and the Welsh Government are currently running a six-week consultation on proposed reforms to the Bathing Water Regulations 2013, which closes on 23 December. We encourage all interested parties to respond to the consultation. Both Defra Minsters and officials have engaged with stakeholders before and following the launch of the public consultation. We have engaged with fishery stakeholders including the angling community and fishery conservation organisations in public forums and correspondence. We will continue to work closely with stakeholders as we progress with any proposed changes.
Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to consult on the proposal in Wider Reform 1 to redefine multiple watercrafts and others as ‘bathers’.
Defra and the Welsh Government are currently running a six-week consultation on proposed reforms to the Bathing Water Regulations 2013, which closes on 23 December. In this consultation, we are calling for evidence on a wider reform for potential future development, regarding the clarification and expansion of the definition of ‘bathers’. We are seeking views on whether a wider range of water users should be considered, and if so, what other types of users should be included and how their needs can be balanced against current users. We encourage all parties to respond to the consultation.
Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has carried out an impact assessment for proposed changes to the Bathing Water Regulations 2013 on (a) fisheries, (b) fish spawning grounds, and (c) riparian rights.
Defra and the Welsh Government are currently running a six-week consultation on proposed reforms to the Bathing Water Regulations 2013, which closes on 23 December. We have engaged with fishery stakeholders and encourage all interested parties to respond to the consultation. The Government will consider all responses to the consultation before publishing a government response to the consultation. Following this response, an assessment of impacts will be considered if appropriate.
How many officials at each civil service grade have been allocated to the EU Directorate within his Department.
The EU Relations Secretariat was established in the Cabinet Office to give effect to the Government's manifesto commitments to reset the relationship with the EU, implement the Windsor Framework in good faith and protect the UK's internal market, as well as responsibility for the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement and Trade and Cooperation Agreement. The EU Relations Secretariat brings together civil servants who were already working on EU relations from across the government. The data on this headcount will be published in 2025.
How many civil servants have been suspended due to allegations of misconduct since in each year since 2020.
Decisions to suspend an employee are delegated to individual departments. Data on the number of civil servants who have been suspended due to allegations of misconduct are therefore not held centrally. Civil Service statistics on the composition of the Civil Service workforce, including data on those leaving the Civil Service due to dismissals, are available on GOV.UK.