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Ministerial Corrections

Friday 1 November 2013

Energy and Climate Change

Topical Questions

The following is the answer given by the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey), to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Steve McCabe) during Energy and Climate Change Question Time on 17 October 2013.

T1. [900538] Steve McCabe (Birmingham, Selly Oak) (Lab): If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.

The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (Mr Edward Davey): Since the last Energy and Climate Change questions we have been busy. The Energy Bill is continuing its progress through Parliament and we hope that it will achieve Royal Assent by the end of the year. That will help deliver the modernised infrastructure and cleaner energy that the country needs to meet our energy security requirements and climate change obligations. The House might be interested to know the latest figures we have on investment: we have seen at least £35 billion invested in increased electricity infrastructure alone since 2010, a 56% year-on-year increase in renewable energy investment and a doubling of renewable electricity generation under this Government. Also, our policies to help the fuel poor are in place for the winter.

[Official Report, 17 October 2013, Vol. 568, c. 880.]

Letter of correction from Edward Davey:

An error has been identified in the oral answer given on 17 October 2013 to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Steve McCabe).

The correct answer should have been:

The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (Mr Edward Davey): Since the last Energy and Climate Change questions we have been busy. The Energy Bill is continuing its progress through Parliament and we hope that it will achieve Royal Assent by the end of the year. That will help deliver the modernised infrastructure and cleaner energy that the country needs to meet our energy security requirements and climate change obligations. The House might be interested to know the latest figures we have on investment: we have seen at least £35 billion invested in increased electricity infrastructure alone since 2010, a 56% year-on-year increase in renewable electricity generation between quarter 2 2012 and quarter 2 2013

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and a doubling of renewable electricity generation under this Government. Also, our policies to help the fuel poor are in place for the winter.

Education

Pupils: Disadvantaged

Mr Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 14 October 2013, Official Report, columns 602-3W, on free school meals, what plans his Department has to facilitate the availability of pupil premium to Key Stage 1 children and the schools they attend in subsequent years. [172097]

[Official Report, 25 October 2013, Vol. 569, c. 303-4W.]

Letter of correction from David Laws:

An error has been identified in the written answer given to the right hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough (Mr Blunkett) on 25 October 2013.

The full answer given was as follows:

Mr Laws: We are providing significant funding through the pupil premium to help raise the attainment of disadvantaged children and are committed to its continuation. As stated in my previous answer, our methodology for allocating the pupil premium in 2014-15 will not be affected by our policy to provide free school meals for all infant pupils.

We are considering the possible implications for how the pupil premium is allocated longer term. A number of local authorities such as Southwark, Newham, Durham and Islington are currently offering free school meals to their primary pupils whilst still submitting data used in the allocation of pupil premium. We will consider their experience and set out our proposals in due course.

The correct answer should have been:

Mr Laws: We are providing significant funding through the pupil premium to help raise the attainment of disadvantaged children and are committed to its continuation. As stated in my previous answer, our methodology for allocating the pupil premium in 2014-15 will not be affected by our policy to provide free school meals for all infant pupils.

We are considering the possible implications for how the pupil premium is allocated longer term. A number of local authorities such as Southwark, Newham, Durham and Islington have offered free school meals to their primary pupils whilst still submitting data used in the allocation of pupil premium. We will consider their experience and set out our proposals in due course.