The setting of standing charges is a commercial matter for suppliers, and suppliers have the flexibility in how they structure their tariffs. Ofgem regulates standing charges, as they do with other elements of billing.

The Government is pleased that Ofgem is considering the issue of standing charges through their recent Call for Input and looks forward to hearing its findings and future proposals. The Government expects bills to be fair and affordable for all consumers (including for electric vehicle charging), that standing charges are kept as low as possible, and that the right costs are recovered.

On 6 March 2024, the Government confirmed over £1 billion of budget will be available in the Contracts for Difference Allocation Round 6 auction, including £800 million allocated to offshore wind. This followed the announcement in November that the administrative strike

prices for fixed and floating offshore wind had been increased by 66% and over 50% respectively, since the previous allocation round. This budget announcement makes this the largest round yet, with four times more budget available to offshore wind than in the previous round.

The UK boasts a strong and highly competitive bus manufacturing industry. Manufacturers have benefited significantly from Government funding as we work with industry to decarbonise the bus fleet. More than 5,200 buses have been funded across the UK since February 2020, with UK bus manufacturers supporting many of them. UK manufacturers have grown substantially in recent years as a result of their success in securing orders, supported by £460 million of dedicated ZEBRA—zero-emission bus regional areas—funding.

The Department engages regularly with the Cabinet Office on the different options for reshaping the current welfare system set out in the health and disability Green Paper, including on the potential impact on claimants with different health conditions.

The employment tribunal panel composition arrangements are now a responsibility of the Senior President of Tribunals, and I understand that he intends to publish the responses to the consultation on proposed reforms shortly. He has a statutory duty to consult my right hon. and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor before making these arrangements, and my noble and learned Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice will be meeting the Senior President of Tribunals—I think tomorrow—to discuss his proposals as part of that duty.

Ongoing engagement continues with a range of charities and clinical experts specialising in disability and health conditions as well as representatives from national organisations to understand the experiences of people with Parkinson’s going through the Work Capability Assessment.

Details of ministerial meetings are published quarterly on gov.uk in line with transparency data releases and can be found here.

The F gas regulation in Great Britain Assessment report included HFC demand forecast, modelled for Great Britain, for four forecast scenarios. The assumptions behind these scenarios were informed by stakeholder engagement. We have continued to discuss the feasibility of the scenarios with stakeholders following publication of the report.

We are aware that further research and development, as well as investment, will be needed as the transition to lower GWP alternatives continues. We remain engaged with stakeholders to understand the barriers and challenges faced by industry.

We intend to consult in due course on proposals for legislative reform to the GB F-gas Regulation. This will provide all stakeholders with an opportunity to respond to the proposals and highlight any concerns with resourcing for research and development.

The F gas regulation in Great Britain Assessment report included HFC demand forecast, modelled for Great Britain, for four forecast scenarios. The assumptions behind these scenarios were informed by stakeholder engagement. We have continued to discuss the feasibility of the scenarios with stakeholders following publication of the report.

We are aware that further research and development, as well as investment, will be needed as the transition to lower GWP alternatives continues. We remain engaged with stakeholders to understand the barriers and challenges faced by industry.

We intend to consult in due course on proposals for legislative reform to the GB F-gas Regulation. This will provide all stakeholders with an opportunity to respond to the proposals and highlight any concerns with resourcing for research and development.

I have recently met with individuals diagnosed with Parkinson’s, and we continue to engage with a range of clinical experts and charities specialising in disability and health conditions as well as representatives from national organisations to understand the experiences of people with Parkinson’s going through the Work Capability Assessment.

Government energy efficiency schemes prioritise measures that have beneficial long-term effects on lowering bills and making homes more comfortable and affordable to live in, within the scope of the Standard Assessment Procedure model. The Government is currently developing the Home Energy Model which will replace the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP).

The current Energy Company Obligation schemes require eligible measures to result in a reduction in the cost of heating a consumer’s home. There are mechanisms for new measures to be eligible where they meet this and other scheme requirements. The potential impact of new measures on energy bill savings for low-income households would have to be assessed in relation to the specific new measures selected.

The Department has been working with energy suppliers and industry stakeholders to determine the best course of action on this matter, which includes ensuring that we retain the necessary protections to protect public funds.

We are appalled by allegations that UNRWA staff were involved in the 7 October attack against Israel, a heinous act of terrorism that the UK Government has repeatedly condemned.

We are aware that the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services and Catherine Colonna have now provided their interim reports to the UN Secretary-General

We want UNRWA to give detailed undertakings about changes in personnel, policy and precedents to ensure this can never happen again.

We are working with allies to try to bring this situation to a rapid conclusion - not least because UNRWA have a vital role to play in providing aid and services in Gaza. We continue to urge Israel and all parties with relevant information to cooperate fully with the independent investigations.

We are appalled by allegations that UNRWA staff were involved in the 7 October attack against Israel, a heinous act of terrorism that the UK Government has repeatedly condemned.

We are aware that the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services and Catherine Colonna have now provided their interim reports to the UN Secretary-General

We want UNRWA to give detailed undertakings about changes in personnel, policy and precedents to ensure this can never happen again.

We are working with allies to try to bring this situation to a rapid conclusion - not least because UNRWA have a vital role to play in providing aid and services in Gaza. We continue to urge Israel and all parties with relevant information to cooperate fully with the independent investigations.

We are appalled by allegations that UNRWA staff were involved in the 7 October attack against Israel, a heinous act of terrorism that the UK Government has repeatedly condemned.

We are aware that the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services and Catherine Colonna have now provided their interim reports to the UN Secretary-General

We want UNRWA to give detailed undertakings about changes in personnel, policy and precedents to ensure this can never happen again.

We are working with allies to try to bring this situation to a rapid conclusion - not least because UNRWA have a vital role to play in providing aid and services in Gaza. We continue to urge Israel and all parties with relevant information to cooperate fully with the independent investigations.

We are appalled by allegations that UNRWA staff were involved in the 7 October attack against Israel, a heinous act of terrorism that the UK Government has repeatedly condemned.

We are aware that the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services and Catherine Colonna have now provided their interim reports to the UN Secretary-General

We want UNRWA to give detailed undertakings about changes in personnel, policy and precedents to ensure this can never happen again.

We are working with allies to try to bring this situation to a rapid conclusion - not least because UNRWA have a vital role to play in providing aid and services in Gaza. We continue to urge Israel and all parties with relevant information to cooperate fully with the independent investigations.

We are appalled by allegations that UNRWA staff were involved in the 7 October attack against Israel, a heinous act of terrorism that the UK Government has repeatedly condemned.

We are aware that the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services and Catherine Colonna have now provided their interim reports to the UN Secretary-General

We want UNRWA to give detailed undertakings about changes in personnel, policy and precedents to ensure this can never happen again.

We are working with allies to try to bring this situation to a rapid conclusion - not least because UNRWA have a vital role to play in providing aid and services in Gaza. We continue to urge Israel and all parties with relevant information to cooperate fully with the independent investigations.