Midata is a method of electronically transferring customers’ data (with their consent), from a company system to a third party or price comparison website (PCW) using an Application Programming Interface (API). For an energy consumer, this means that they can use an application (app) or website developed by a PCW to compare energy tariffs using the actual usage/account details held by their current supplier. Midata makes comparing tariffs quicker and easier and enables more accurate comparisons. Midata also allows energy suppliers to develop customer acquisition tools, including apps, so customers can switch to a supplier without a PCW or Third Party Intermediary (TPI).

The government took powers in the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 that would allow it to mandate third party electronic access to customers’ data in regulated sectors, including energy.

The government has developed a draft technical specification with the energy sector. There are, however, a number of practical implementation issues to consider in taking this forward. These include:

• how to derive maximise benefit for consumers
• how to ensure the quality of customer data suppliers provide
• who can access the data
• what safeguards should be in place to protect customers’ data from misuse

Responses to this call for evidence will be used to inform draft regulations.

The Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales are asking for your views on their environmental assessment of Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy Ltd’s UK Advanced Boiling Water Reactor (UK ABWR) nuclear power station design.

All the consultation documents are here on GOV.UK but we encourage you to respond on the e-consultation tool.

Read the assessment reports with the consultation documents.

If you need a different document format, email gda@environment-agency.gov.uk.

New applicants should see the main Countryside Stewardship (CS) page for current guidance.

Payments

Natural England splits payments for multi-year grants. You’ll get:

• 75% of your annual grant as an advance payment
• the remaining 25% as a final payment – subject to any penalties or reductions

2017 payments

Natural England is continuing to make CS payments for the 2017 agreement year. The majority of agreement holders have received at least 75% of their annual payment.

Digital maps

Changes the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) makes to digital maps may affect your agreement. When RPA make a change, you’ll receive a notification in the Rural Payments service. Check your digital map and land parcel information is correct.

Revenue claims

The deadline for Natural England to receive late revenue claims and amendments was 10 July 2018. Natural England will not accept any further revenue claims in 2018.

Forms

Find the form you need in the CS forms collection.

Contact

Contact Natural England if you have any queries about CS (including woodland options and grants):

We want to know what you think about our plans to introduce new business targets under the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations.

The regulations require producers of packaging to make sure that a proportion of the packaging they handle is recovered and recycled.

The proposed changes would set new targets for overall recovery and recycling between 2018 and 2020. It will also set new material specific targets for paper, steel, aluminium and wood.

These changes are being considered because the current targets expire in 2017.

We are in the process of applying to the EU to get Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status for this product.

The EU protected food name scheme covers regional and traditional foods whose authenticity and origin can be guaranteed.

The EU will only give a product the PGI mark if they decide it has a reputation, characteristics or qualities that are a result of the area it’s associated with.