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Gas Prices
16. Mr. Jack : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy by how much gas prices for industrial customers have increased during the last five years.
Mr. Peter Morrison : My hon. Friend will be delighted to hear that in the last five years gas prices to industrial consumers are estimated to have fallen by 41 per cent. in real terms.
Energy Efficiency
17. Mr. Beith : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what contribution increases in energy efficency are expected to make to reducing the greenhouse effect and reducing the rate of depletion of fossil fuels.
Mr. Peter Morrison : Improvements in energy efficiency make a substantial contribution to the containment of the world's emissions of greenhouse gases and to limiting the rate of depletion of fossil fuels.
31. Mr. Wallace : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what steps have been taken to maximise energy efficiency measures within his Department.
Mr. Peter Morrison : My Department's new headquarters, to which it moved in September 1989, has an up-to-date electronic building energy management system designed to optimise the operation of all the electrical and mechanical services. Staff in my Department, PSA building maintenance and their contractors have been trained to enable them to get the best out of the system and optimise energy efficiency within the building. In other buildings in which the Department is an occupant, energy managers have been appointed to identify cost-effective measures for improving energy efficiency.
Colliery Employment
18. Mr. Hood : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his most up-to-date estimate of United Kingdom colliery employment in the year 2003 ; and if he will make a statement.
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24. Mr. Meale : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his most up-to-date estimate of United Kingdom colliery employment in the year 1998 ; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Baldry : The Government do not make estimates of future manpower levels in the coal industry.
Energy Sources
19. Mr. Knox : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he next proposes to have discussions with the European Council of Ministers about alternative sources of energy.
Mr. Peter Morrison : My right hon. Friend expects to attend the Council of Energy Ministers on 21 May. That Council will consider the Commission's communication on energy and the environment and the proposed Thermie scheme for promoting energy technology which is substantially concerned with alternative energy sources.
Greenhouse Effect
20. Mrs. Gorman : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will obtain for his Department's library copies of the books, "The Greenhouse Trap" by John L. Daly and "Scientific Perspectives on the Greenhouse Problem", produced by the George C. Marshall Institute in Washington DC.
Mr. Peter Morrison : Primary United Kingdom responsibility for assessing the scientific basis of the greenhouse effect rests with the Department of the Environment, the Meteorological Office, and the Department of Education and Science. The main world forum for considering the implications of the enhanced greenhouse effect is the UN-based Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), whose science working group report is the most up-to-date assessment of the problem and is due to be finalised at the end of this month. The Department of the Environment and the Meteorological Office are aware of the Marshall Institute report, and have ensured that it was taken into account by the IPCC science working group. My right hon. Friend does not intend to obtain the books mentioned for his own Department's library.
British Gas
21. Mr. Riddick : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the principal regular subjects of discussion at meetings between himself and the chairman of British Gas on which he answers to Parliament.
Mr. Peter Morrison : My right hon. Friend and I meet the chairman of British Gas regularly to discuss a range of issues in relation to the gas industry.
Pollutant Gases
23. Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what plans he has to limit emissions of pollutant gases.
Mr. Peter Morrison : Emissions of acid gases by the electricity generators are governed by the requirement to comply with the European Community large combustion plant directive.
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Renewable Energy Sources
25. Mr. Livsey : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a further statement on the projections contained within Energy Paper 55.
Mr. Peter Morrison : As I told the Hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) on 19 February, Official Report, column 527, the projections for the long-term contributions to energy supply from different renewables contained in Energy Paper 55 are kept under review. As results from the Department's R and D programme become available and circumstances change estimates are revised.
41. Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what percentage of power generation he expects to come from renewable sources in 1995 and 1998.
Mr. Peter Morrison : Renewable energy technologies are at an early stage of development. No estimates are available for the 1990s. Estimates of the longer-term contribution that could be made by each renewable energy source in the year 2025 have been published in Energy Paper 55, copies of which are in the Library of the House.
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what resources are being provided by his Department for 1990-91 for research into developing alternative and renewable sources of energy.
Mr. Peter Morrison : I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Wyre (Mr. Mans) earlier today.
Margam New Mine
26. Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects to see progress on developing the Margam new mine.
Mr. Baldry : The timing and priority of major coal industry projects such as the Margam new mine is a matter for British Coal in the light of the overall capital allocation available to it and the commercial objectives agreed with the Government.
Sizewell B
27. Dr. Kim Howells : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his most up-to-date estimate of the cost of completing Sizewell B nuclear power station and the cost of electricity from it per kilowatt hour.
Mr. Baldry : The most recent estimate for the capital cost of Sizewell B, derived from evidence given to the Hinkley Point C inquiry in September 1989 by the CEGB, is £1,870 million at 1987 prices. The cost of electricity from the station is a matter for Nuclear Electric plc, which operates the station.
Mr. Malcolm Bruce : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how much public money to date has been spent on the Sizewell B project.
Mr. Baldry : A total of £841 million has been spent on the construction of Sizewell B to date and £1,496 million has been committed. Both figures are at April 1987 prices.
Cornwall Hot Rocks Project
28. Mr. Matthew Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what progress has been made with the Cornwall hot rocks project.
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Mr. Peter Morrison : The research on geothermal hot dry rocks being carried out by the Camborne school of mines in Cornwall is progressing to schedule. The current programme is conducting experimental work on the existing reservoir at 2.5km depth and undertaking a conceptual design study for a 6km deep system which will be required to give the necessary temperatures for electricity generation.A review of progress of the programme and future possibilities is currently in train.
National Power
29. Mr. Allen McKay : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects to announce the name of the new chairman of National Power ; and what remuneration he will have.
Mr. Baldry : I hope to make an announcement shortly. Remuneration will need to be appropriate for the post.
34. Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects to announce the appointment of a chairman of National Power ; and what are his criteria for making the appointment.
Mr. Baldry : I hope to make an announcement shortly. Appropriate experience, leadership qualities and management skills are the main criteria for appointment.
Homes Insulation
30. Mr. David Martin : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many houses have been insulated since 1982 as a result of Government grants.
Mr. Peter Morrison : Some 3.5 million homes have benefited from grants to loft, tank and pipe insulation under the homes insulation scheme since 1982. Over the same period, community insulation projects, which provide a low-cost insulation--mainly
draughtproofing--service for low-income households, have insulated over three quarters of a million homes.
Nuclear Electric
32. Mr. Cunliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects to announce the conclusion of his review into the accounts of Nuclear Electric plc.
Mr. Baldry : This review is the responsibility of the company and its auditors, although the Department is, of course, involved in the discussions. The company's accounting policies will be explained in the annual report and accounts, which will be published in the summer.
Lead-free Petrol
35. Mr. Burns : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what figures he has for sales of lead-free petrol (a) in the United Kingdom and (b) in other European countries.
Mr. Peter Morrison : The latest figures available for the United Kingdom are for March 1990 and these show that about 31 per cent. of petrol sold was unleaded. The Department does not collect information on sales of unleaded petrol in other European countries. However, the July 1990 issue of Petroleum Review is expected to publish figures on the market share of unleaded petrol in member states of the European Communities in 1989.
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Sulphur Emissions
36. Mr. Patchett : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has received on his proposals to meet the EEC regulations for the reduction of sulphur emissions from large combustion plants.
Mr. Baldry : I have received a number of representations on the manner in which the electricity industry should meet its share of the reductions required by the directive.
Oil Yard Platform Construction, Kishorn
37. Mr. Kennedy : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will assess the potential for the oil yard platform construction site at Kishorn, Wester Ross ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Morrison : It is not possible for me to assess the potential for individual yards as contracts will be won by those who meet the technical and commercial criteria of the operators. However, the prospects for the United Kingdom supplies industry, including the fabrication yards, look very good for the foreseeable future with new investment for 1990 alone estimated at £3.7 billion.
Electricity Privatisation
38. Mr. Mullin : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his most up-to-date assessment of the gross Exchequer cost of privatising the electricity supply industry.
Mr. Baldry : I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Rutherglen (Mr. McAvoy) on 26 March 1990 at column 85.
British Coal
39. Mr. Buckley : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he last met the chairman of British Coal to discuss the coal industry.
Mr. Baldry : My right hon. Friend meets the chairman of British Coal regularly to discuss all aspects of the coal industry.
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the members of the board of British Coal, giving in each case the date of their appointment and its duration.
Mr. Wakeham : The original dates of appointment of each of the members of the British Coal Corporation and the duration of their appointments are as follows :
Sir Robert Haslam Chairman , 1 November 1985 to 31 December 1990 (five years).
Mr. J. H. Northard CBE Deputy Chairman , 1 April 1986 to 31 March 1991 (five years).
Mr. D. Kendall Deputy Chairman , 1 April 1989 to 31 December 1990 (one year, nine months).
Mr. M. J. Edwards (full-time), 1 April 1986 to 31 March 1991 (five years).
Mr. M. H. Butler (full-time), 1 April 1986 to 31 March 1991 (five years).
Mr. K. Moses (full-time), 1 April 1986 to 31 March 1991 (five years).
Mr. C. Barker (part-time), 13 February 1984 to 12 February 1991 (seven years).
Sir Ronald Dearing (part-time), 1 June 1988 to 31 May 1991 (three years).
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Dr. T. J. Parker (part-time), 1 September 1986 to 31 August 1992 (six years).Dr. D. Atterton (part-time), 1 September 1986 to 31 August 1992 (six years).
Mr. D. Walker (part-time), 1 July 1988 to 30 June 1991 (three years).
Mr. J. P. Erbe (part-time), 1 June 1989 to 31 May 1992 (three years).
United Kingdom Continental Shelf
Mr. John Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the forecast level of drilling activity on the United Kingdom continental shelf during the coming year.
Mr. Peter Morrison : I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friends the Members for Battersea (Mr. Bowis) and for Wanstead and Woodford (Mr. Arbuthnot) on 26 March 1990, at columns 89-90.
Mr. Boswell : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of how much gas has been produced on the United Kingdom continental shelf since the first significant discoveries.
Mr. Peter Morrison : The cumulative total production of gas from the United Kingdom continental shelf up to the end of 1989 was 735, 724 million cu m, of which 170 million cu m have been produced onshore.
Electrical Appliances
Mr. McAvoy : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what assessment he has carried out of the progress being made towards more efficient home electrical appliances.
Mr. Peter Morrison : My Energy Efficiency Office recently received the report of the study of the electrical appliances which it commissioned last year. The report is now being considered.
Landfill Gas
Mr. Stern : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how large a United Kingdom market he now envisages for the use of landfill gas.
Mr. Peter Morrison : At the present time, 35 landfill gas schemes are operational and a further 30 are at the planning stage. Of the existing schemes, 13 are generating electricity with a capacity of 16 MW. The additional schemes planned will increase such capacity to about60 MW.
Leukaemia, Sellafield
Mr. McFall : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what consultations he has carried out on the Gardner report on the cause and effect of leukaemia at and around Sellafield and its implications for the electricity generation industry.
Mr. Baldry : I have discussed the results of the case control study by Professor Gardner with a number of representatives from the nuclear industry including British Nuclear Fuels plc and associated trade unions.
In view of the importance of this complex matter the Government referred Professor Gardner's study to the Committee on the Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMARE). Its preliminary advice was
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given on 2 April and I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health on that day to the question from the hon. Member for Copeland (Dr. Cunningham), at columns 430-34.Further studies following on from the Black report and from recommendations made by COMARE and accepted by Government are, I understand, currently under way or are being planned. The Health and Safety Executive and the nuclear industries, British Nuclear Fuels in particular, have also commissioned a series of other complementary studies.
Mr. Frank Cook : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he intends to introduce measures to amend the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 to extend the 30-year statute of limitation on claims for compensation for injury and for death caused by breach of duty by any site licensee under that Act, in the light of the Gardner report's indication that there may be a causal relationship between radiation doses received by workers at Sellafield and the excess of leukaemias among their children.
Mr. Baldry : The Government have no plans to do so.
Power Stations
Mr. Teddy Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what progress has been made in reducing the level of those emissions from power stations which are regarded as being damaging to the environment ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Baldry : Latest available published information shows that for the period 1980 to 1988 SO emissions from coal-fired power stations in the United Kingdom fell from 3,007,000 tonnes to 2,618,000 tonnes. Similarly, NO emissions fell from 880,000 tonnes to 792,000 tonnes. In compliance with the European Community large combustion plants directive, further reductions in SO and NO levels can be expected. [ Source : Digest of Environmental Statistics.]
Electricity Supply Industry
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has yet appointed the advertising agency for the electricity supply industry flotation.
Mr. Wakeham : In conjunction with the regional electricity companies, I jointly appointed WCRS Mathews Marcantonio on 10 May 1990 to handle the advertising campaign to publicise the forthcoming flotations of the regional electricity companies, planned for November 1990.
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list those electricity supply industry companies which have current Treasury guarantees, giving the amount guaranteed and the dates the guarantee was given in each case.
Mr. Wakeham : Guarantees, given under section 79(1) of the Electricity Act 1989, are as follows :
Company |Amount |Date
|£ million
------------------------------------------------------------------------
PowerGen |25 |30 March 1990
|50 |4 April 1990
Southern Electric plc |5 |30 March 1990
|10 |30 March 1990
South Western Electricity plc |5 |18 April 1990
|5 |18 April 1990
Eastern Electricity plc |5 |18 April 1990
South Wales Electricity plc |10 |18 April 1990
|15 |18 April 1990
|3 |18 April 1990
Manweb plc |40 |30 March 1990
|10 |30 March 1990
Norweb plc |25 |25 April 1990
|25 |25 April 1990
Nuclear Electric plc |10 |4 April 1990
Similar arrangements applied prior to vesting day and continue to apply to nationalised industries. The provision of a Government guarantee enables the borrower to negotiate finer terms and reduces the cost to the public sector as a whole. A list of public sector bodies whose borrowings are guaranteed by the Treasury is published each year in the supplementary statement to the Consolidated Fund and National Loan Fund accounts.
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether the appointment of the advertising agency for the electricity supply industry flotation is the subject of competitive tender.
Cash Limits
Mr. Andy Stewart : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether any changes will be made to his Department's cash limit or running cost limit for 1990-91.
Mr. Peter Morrison : Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary revised estimate, the cash limit for class V, vote 3 and the running costs limit for the Department of Energy will be reduced by £200,000 from £39,517,000 to £39,317,000 and from £42,170,000 to £41,970,000 respectively. The reduction follows recent agreement that the Department of Energy should no longer take financial provision for that part of the United Kingdom mission in Vienna which deals with the affairs of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Responsibility for these costs will in future rest with the FCO.
SCOTLAND
Supply Index
Mr. Devlin : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about his Department's decision not to participate in the Government supply index.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The Scottish Office has monitored the development of this commercially produced information system, which is based on the exchange of information on prices paid by Government Departments and others for a range of specified products. Having regard to the range of items covered and the particular nature of
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Scottish Office purchasing, it concluded that subscription to the index was not a priority. The Scottish Office is however currently exploring the introduction of improved management information and operating systems for purchasing. As part of this, consideration will be given to the use of price indices, of which the Government supply index is one option.Local Enterprise Companies
Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the implications of the establishment of LECs for the opportunities for hon. and right hon. Members to refer matters relating to training provision to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration.
Mr. Lang : As private companies under the Companies Acts, local enterprise companies are outwith the jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration. Complaints about matters relating to training provision made by local enterprise companies should therefore be referred to the companies themselves, which will be obliged by the terms of their contracts to operate a complaints procedure, under which an individual with a complaint can be assured that his or her case will be duly considered by the chief executive of the local enterprise company, and if necessary by the chairman.
Social Work Departments
Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what reports he has received about the adverse performance of any regional social work departments ; and whether they are publicly available.
Mr. Lang : The only reports received on the performance of regional social work departments are those of investigations carried out by staff and requested by authorities themselves. They are confidential to the local authority concerned.
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