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Redundant Mineworkers
28. Mr. Lofthouse : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what meetings he has planned to discuss the effect of the restart scheme upon redundant and early retired mineworkers.
Mr. Michael Spicer : I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) earlier today.
36. Mr. Allen McKay : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what representations have been made to him regarding the effect of the restart scheme upon redundant and early retired mineworkers.
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Mr. Michael Spicer : My right hon. Friend and I have received a number of representations from right hon. and hon. Members and others.
Nuclear Reactors (Radiation)
29. Mr. William Powell : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what proportion of exposure to radiation of the United Kingdom population is received from nuclear reactors.
Mr. Michael Spicer : I understand from the National Radiological Protection Board that the United Kingdom nuclear industry accounts for less than 0.1 per cent. of the average United Kingdom population exposure to ionising radiation. Natural radiation accounts for about 87 per cent. of the average exposure and medical diagnosis and treatment about 12 per cent.
Electricity (Hydrogeneration)
31. Mr. Kennedy : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the long-term prospects for hydrogeneration of electricity.
Mr. Michael Spicer : Most of the possible locations for hydro electricity in the United Kingdom are situated in Scotland. The Department has commissioned a study from Salford university on the potential of small scale hydro energy in the United Kingdom. A final report will be published in due course.
Electricity Privatisation
32. Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will estimate the total cost of publicity, advertising and public relations for the electricity industry and its privatisation up to the date of the sell-off.
Mr. Michael Spicer : Expenditure by the industry is a matter for the industry. Total costs will depend on many factors which have not yet been decided, such as marketing strategies in respect of the various successor companies, and cannot therefore be accurately forecast at this stage.
Mr. Speller : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he proposes to publish information on proposed tariff structures, reviews and methods of payment in advance of the proposed privatisation of the electricity supply industry.
Mr. Michael Spicer : We are taking provision in the Electricity Bill to allow existing tariffs to continue immediately after the vesting of the area boards in their successor companies. Subsequent decisions on tariff structures and reviews will be made by these successor companies, the public electricity suppliers (PESs) subject to the relevant legislative and regulatory requirements. Clause 17 of the Electricity Bill deals with how tariffs should be framed and published ; while the draft PES licence, published on 10 January 1989, contains provisions for price regulation and review.
Under condition 15 of the draft PES licence, suppliers will have to prepare, within three months of the licence coming into force, a code of practice on the payment of bills. These codes of practice will be prepared following consultation with the consumers' committee and will be submitted to the Director General of Electricity Supply for approval.
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Electricity Boards
33. Mr. Murphy : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he last met the chairmen of the area boards to discuss the future of the electricity supply industry.
54. Mr. Pike : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he last met the chairmen of the area electricity boards ; and what matters were discussed.
Mr. Michael Spicer : My right hon. Friend and I meet the area board chairmen regularly to discuss various matters of mutual interest.
Energy Management Systems
34. Mr. David Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many pilot energy management systems, supported by grants under the monitoring and targeting schemes, are now in operation ; and what are the estimated savings to date resulting from the operation of such systems.
Mr. Peter Morrison : At the end of 1988, and in line with programme targets, there were 600 sites operating monitoring and targeting (M&T) systems developed under the M&T programme. Current savings are put at £100 million per annum.
Electricity Generation (Ilfracombe and Lynton)
37. Mr. Speller : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will visit the wind generator at Ilfracombe and the hydro-electric plant at Lynton.
Mr. Michael Spicer : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no immediate plans to visit the installations. The wind generator at Ilfracombe was inaugurated by the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy in 1985. The current Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Baroness Hooper, visited an updated version of the machine last year when she opened the Central Electricity Generating Board's wind energy demonstration centre at Carmarthen bay. My Department is taking note of the performance of the hydro-electric plant at Lynton which is, we understand, functioning satisfactorily.
Alternative Energy
38. Mr. Bowis : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how much energy was produced by alternative energy sources in 1979 ; and what is the latest figure.
Mr. Michael Spicer : In 1979 and at present, most of the energy produced from alternative energy sources comes from the hydro-electric sources. In 1979 this was equivalent to around 1.8 per cent. of total electricity requirements in that year. In 1987 the percentage contribution from hydro-electric sources was just over 1 per cent. of total electricity requirements. Other alternative sources of energy such as the use of waste materials, wood, and wind power contributed only a very small proportion of our energy requirements in 1979. Today, wind produces around 3GW hours per annum of electricity, and biofuels (use of waste materials and wood), around 800,000 tonnes of coal equivalent per annum. The use of biofuels includes the generation of electricity from landfill gas and waste incineration.
If our renewables research and development programmes are successful and if they are proved economically
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viable and environmentally acceptable we might expect alternative sources of energy to be exploited on a more significant scale post 2000.43. Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how much has been expended by his Department on research and development in alternative energy sources in each of the last three years.
Mr. Michael Spicer : The table gives my Department's expenditure on alternative energy sources for the last three financial years. Provision for 1988-89 is £16.2 million and that for 1989-90 is £17.9 million.
|£ million|£ million|£ million
|1985-86 |1986-87 |1987-88
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wind |5.4 |3.7 |4.0
Wave |0.4 |0.1 |0.2
Geothermal Aquifers |0.3 |0.1 |0.0
Geothermal hot dry rocks |3.5 |3.5 |3.6
Solar |0.7 |0.9 |1.1
Biomass |0.8 |1.3 |2.2
Tide |0.1 |0.1 |1.4
Hydro/general studies |- |- |0.3
ETSU management |2.0 |2.3 |2.3
|-- |-- |--
|13.2 |12.0 |15.1
External contributions |2.1 |3.1 |3.9
Total cost of the Department's programme |15.3 |15.1 |19.0
Note:
(a) Expenditure under biofuels includes expenditure on {odq}waste as a fuel{cdq}
projects under the Energy Efficiency Office Demonstration Scheme.
(b) Up to 1986-87 total for R&D also included expenditure on low head hydro and
general studies. These are separately identified for 1987-88.
(c) Where available external contributions include industry, generating boards
and the European Commission.
Spending Plans
40. Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has received regarding his Department's future spending plans outlined in the Government's expenditure plans 1989-92, Cm 606.
Mr. Parkinson : I have received no representations about Cm 606 concerning the Department's future spending plans.
45. Mr. Malcolm Bruce : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement concerning his Department's future spending plans outlined in the Goverment's expenditure plans 1989-92, Cm 606.
Fast Reactors
41. Mr. Maclennan : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will place in the Library a copy of the agreements implementing the European integrated programme of research on fast reactors.
Mr. Michael Spicer : I am arranging for summaries of these agreements, which were signed on 16, February, to be placed in the Library of the House.
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British Coal National Engineering Workshops
44. Mr. Jack Thompson : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he last met, and if he has had any discussions with the chairman of British Coal about the future of British Coal national engineering workshops.
Mr Michael Spicer : My right hon. Friend and I meet the chairman of British Coal frequently to discuss a wide range of subjects affecting the coal industry.
British Nuclear Fuels plc
46. Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he last met the chairman of British Nuclear Fuels ; and what matters they discussed.
Mr Michael Spicer : My right hon. Friend last met Mr. Harding on 23 January when he discussed a range of matters concerning British Nuclear Fuels plc.
Non-fossil Fuel Obligation
50. Mr. Alan W. Williams : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects to announce the form and level of the non-fossil fuel obligation.
Mr. Michael Spicer : The order setting the obligation will not be made until shortly before vesting.
Electricity Generation (Coal)
51. Mr. Strang : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he last met the chairman of British Coal to discuss the likely market for coal for electricity generation in the next few years.
Mr. Michael Spicer : I meet the chairman of British Coal regularly to discuss all aspects of the coal industry.
Mining Subsidence
52. Mr. O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has received on mining subsidence damage claims over the past two years ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Michael Spicer : My right hon. Friend and I have received a large number of representations from Members of Parliament, interested bodies and members of the public.
British Gas
53. Mrs. Fyfe : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he last met the chairman of British Gas ; and what matters were discussed.
Mr. Peter Morrison : I refer the hon. Member to the answer given earlier today to the hon. Member for Tooting (Mr. Cox).
Fuel Poverty
55. Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has received from groups concerned with fuel poverty regarding his Department's future spending plans as outlined in the Government's expenditure plans 1989-92, Cm. 606.
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Offshore Workers
Mr. David Porter : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has any plans to introduce a system of compulsory carrying by all categories of offshore workers of a logbook showing the bearer's qualifications, skill level, training achieved and medical record ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Morrison : No. It is for an employer to ensure that his employees are adequately qualified and trained for the duties they are required to undertake. The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 places a duty on an employer to provide the necessary instruction, training and supervision to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety at work of his employees.
Electricity Generation
Mr. Speller : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what grant aid is available from the European Community to private generators for the development, promotion and setting up of biomass plants for the production of electricity.
Mr. Michael Spicer : Financial support is available from the European Community for demonstration projects in many areas of energy technology including the generation of electricity from biomass. Support of up to 40 per cent. of total project costs may be given. Projects must be novel and economic and must show energy benefits over current technology. The Commission has recently issued a call for proposals and applications must be in the hands of the Commission by noon on 14 April 1989.
Research and development on certain aspects of biomass production, harvesting, conversion and marketing, including fuel production in integrated systems may be supported under Joule, the community's non- nuclear energy R and D programme. Support of up to 50 per cent. may be given. The Commission has also recently issued a call for proposals under this programme and proposals must be submitted before the end of April 1989.
My Department and the energy technology support unit at Harwell give advice and assistance to potential applicants for grants under these programmes. I am arranging for information packages relating to these two programmes to be sent to the hon. Member and to be deposited in the Library of the House.
Investment support for energy projects located in Northern Ireland may also be given under the Community's Valoren programme. Further information about this programme is available from the Department of Economic Development for Northern Ireland.
Electricity Companies (Land)
Mr. Speller : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what proposals he has to give privatised electricity supply and generation companies powers to acquire land and rights over land at other than existing use value.
Mr. Michael Spicer : None. Compensation for compulsory purchase by the privatised electricity companies will continue to be assessed under the existing code.
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Electricity Demand
Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what estimate he has made in the reduction in demand for electricity and its impact on future investment programmes in the light of the Eurisol report "Pollution Reduction Through Energy Conservation."
Mr. Michael Spicer : None. The Department does not make estimates of electricity demand. This is a matter for the industry.
Limestone/Gypsum Processes
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what were the principal factors for his decision to fit FGD plants which employ limestone/gypsum processes in preference to regenerative plants at coal- fire power stations ; if he will list the sites where the limestone/gypsum will be quarried and mined ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Michael Spicer : This is an operational matter for the Central Electricity Generating Board. I will ask the chairman to write to the hon. Member.
Gas Prices
Mr. Michael Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what controls he has over the price of gas charged to domestic consumers.
Mr. Peter Morrison : Gas tariff prices are a matter for British Gas plc within the limits set out in the price formula. The Director General of Gas Supply is responsible for monitoring compliance with the price formula.
Spent Magnox Fuel
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the total volume of spent commercial Magnox fuel awaiting reprocessing at Sellafield ; how long it will take to complete the full reprocessing of this spent fuel if it is carried out at the average present level of throughput ; and what proportion of the Magnox fuel awaiting reprocessing arises from spent fuel imported from Italy and Japan.
Mr. Michael Spicer : The stock of spent commercial Magnox fuel awaiting reprocessing at Sellafield amounts to just over a year's reprocessing throughput. About 10 per cent. of the fuel reprocessed in any year is from overseas.
Wave Energy
Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish the correspondence of January 1984 between the manager of his Department's wave programme, Mr. Peter Davies and Professor Stephen Salter, relating to the circulation of papers to the wave energy steering committee.
Mr. Michael Spicer : No. The results of the wave programme from that period have already been published and are available in the Library of the House.
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AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
Miss Emma Nicholson : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the Government have implemented Sir Richard Southwood's recommendation about research and development into bovine spongiform encephalopathy.
Mr. MacGregor : A research consultative committee has been established under the chairmanship of Dr. David Tyrrell of the Medical Research Council. It will advise my Department and the Department of Health on research work in progress or proposed in relation to bovine spongiform encephalopathy and the other transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, on any additional work required and the priorities for future relevant research. The other members are Dr. W. A. Watson, director of the central veterinary laboratory MAFF, Professor J. Bourne, director of the Institute of Animal Health, Dr. R. J. Will consultant neurologist at the Western general hospital, Edinburgh, Dr. R. Kimberlin ex-director of the neuro- pathogenesis unit, Edinburgh. Dr. Katherine Levy of the Medical Research Council will act as observer.
Sir Hal Miller : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the report of the Southwood working party on bovine spongiform encephalopathy will be published ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. MacGregor : The Secretary of State for Health and I are very grateful to Sir Richard Southwood and his colleagues for all their work and for their report on BSE which was presented to us on 9 February and is published today. We appointed the working party in April last year to examine and advise on the implications of BSE in relation to both animal health and any possible human health risks. Before receiving any recommendations from the working party, I had already banned from 18 July last year the feeding to ruminants of ruminant-derived protein feed immediately this was identified as being the probable source of the problem ; and other important parts of the report have already been acted upon.
The report concludes that the risk of transmission of BSE to humans appears remote and it is therefore most unlikely that BSE will have any implications for human health. It points out that the related disease scrapie in sheep has been present in the United Kingdom for over 200 years and there has been no evidence of transmission to man. The report also concludes that, from present evidence, it is likely that cattle will prove to be a "dead end host" for the disease agent.
However the working party points out that, if its assessment proves incorrect, the implications would be serious. The working party believes that the disease has developed because of feeding practices associated with modern agriculture. It suggests that, in the context of the adjustment of the agricultural policy of the EC in coming years, consideration should be given to changes in present methods. I have discussed this point with Sir Richard Southwood who has said that his working party is not recommending a ban on all use of meat and bone meal in animal feeds, but is concerned that if they continue to be used they should be effectively sterilised.
The working party has greatly welcomed the speed with which the Government acted to ban the use of the animal
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feed rations in question and also to implement its interim recommendations. These measures include the compulsory slaughter of cattle suspected of having BSE and the removal from the food chain of their milk and carcases. The working party believes that the risks as at present perceived would not justify special labelling requirements for products containing either bovine brains or spleen. The report suggests, however, that manufacturers of baby foods should avoid the use of bovine thymus and offal.Sir Richard Southwood has confirmed that the term "offal" as it is used in the report (as defined in the regulations quoted) refers to brain, spinal cord, spleen and intestines (tripe). The chief medical officer is satisfied that none of these, nor thymus, are used in the manufacture of baby food and advises that mothers ought not to feed these materials to infants of, say, under 18 months. As a precautionary measure, I am however taking steps to ensure through secondary legislation that it will be illegal for anyone to sell baby food containing such products in future. With regard to other meats which people sometimes refer to as offal--such as kidney, liver and heart--the chief medical officer advises that there is no need for concern. These are extremely nutritious foods which are beneficial. The Government also accepted an earlier recommendation to establish a consultative committee on research. This will be under the chairmanship of Dr. David Tyrrell of the Medical Research Council. This committee will advise my Department and the Department of Health on research work in progress or proposed in relation to BSE and the other transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, on any additional work required, and on the priorities for future research. Terms of reference and full membership are now agreed as reported also today to Parliament.
Although the risk of transmission to humans is very remote, there are several further actions the Government propose to take as a matter of extreme prudence in response to the other recommendations in the report. These add up to a comprehensive response to all the working party recommendations. The measures are as follows : We accept the importance the report attaches to the success of the study to determine whether cattle-to- cattle transmission can take place ; and we are taking expert advice on the most effective way of continuing this study.
The Committee on the Safety of Medicines and the Veterinary Products Committee have considered the comments of the working party on the implications of BSE for the manufacture of pharmaceutical products from bovine material ; and agree that any risks of transmission of BSE through medicinal products to man appear remote ; as a precautionary measure, however, they have advised that additional guidance should be issued to medicine manufacturers on good manufacturing practice.
The Health and Safety Executive will be considering what further action is necessary to ensure that the existing guidance to occupational groups involved with cattle is followed : this guidance outlines hygiene procedures which are considered to be appropriate for BSE.
Although the report makes it clear that there is no evidence of any link between Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans and BSE in cattle (or with scrapie in sheep, which has been present in the United Kingdom for over 200 years), the chief medical officer is ensuring mechanisms are in place to detect any change in the pattern of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
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A thorough research programme is under way into theepidemiological background to the disease, and into transmissibility and genetic and microbiological aspects ; research expenditure in 1988-89 is likely to amount to almost £1 million ; we shall continue encouraging and funding further research in this area, taking into account recommendations made by the Tyrrell committee.
As far as the working party's recommendations on animal feed are concerned we have already acted to ban the feeding of
ruminant-derived material to ruminants ; further action will be taken as necessary in the light of research work already under way on the heat- resistance of the agent and of any further research which may be recommended by the Tyrrell committee.
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) whether his Department has made any forecast of the likely eradication of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in British cattle ; (2) what estimates his Department has made about the future incidence of bovine spongiform encephalopathy.
Mr. Donald Thompson [holding answer 24 February 1989] : There is no evidence that BSE is spreading from animal to animal but that all cases are attributable to a common source. Although our knowledge of the epidemiology of this newly identified disease is still developing any estimates must be tentative, the future incidence in Great Britain seems likely to remain at current levels until 1993. Thereafter, if cattle-to- cattle transmission does not occur, the incidence is expected to decline to a low level by 1996 and subsequently to disappear.
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) when he first received a draft or interim report from the Southwood working party ;
(2) if he has requested any amendment or modification to any draft or interim report submitted to him by the Southwood working party ; (3) how many interim reports he has received from Sir Richard Southwood's working party on bovine spongiform encephalopathy ; and if he will place them in the Library ;
(4) pursuant to his answer of 16 February, Official Report, column 359, if he will publish immediately the report of the Southwood working party.
Mr. Donald Thompson [holding answer 24 February 1989] : No modification or amendment was requested in relation to the interim recommendations which were contained in two letters. The first, received on 22 June last year, recommended the slaughter and disposal of cattle suspected of having BSE. The compulsory slaughter policy was introduced on 8 August with carcasses being burned or buried. It also recommended the setting up of a consultative committee on research, details of which I announced today.
The second letter was received on 15 November recommending an indefinite extension to the feed ban and the prohibition on the use of milk from suspect cattle for human or animal consumption. Legislative measures came into force on 30 December to prohibit the use of milk and extend the feed ban. Full details are contained in the Southwood report, which is the committee's own, and which is published, unamended, in full today. Copies are available in the Library of the House.
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will introduce a scheme to
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either reward or ban the sale for purposes other than for slaughter of animals from cattle herds in which bovine spongiform encephalopathy infection has been confirmed ;(2) if he will introduce a scheme for the randomtesting for bovine spongiform encephalopathy of cattle slaughtered for human consumption.
Mr. Donald Thompson (holding reply 24 February 1989) : There are no plans to introduce such schemes.
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the number of cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy confirmed in each of his Department's veterinary investigation centres.
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