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Wind Generation
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the number of new wind turbines which will be installed by 2002. [83319]
Mr. Battle [holding answer 4 May 1999]: The number of new wind turbines likely to be installed in 2002 depends largely on the size of machines which generators choose to employ. For example, a growth in generation of 300 GWh would require about 220 machines if their average size was 0.6 MW or about 130 machines if their average size was 1 MW.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the total subsidy provided by the Government to the wind generation industry to date. [83323]
Mr. Battle [holding answer 5 May 1999]: I expect the average premium price paid to fall as wind energy capacity contracted, under the Order which I made last September for the fifth Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation at an average price of 2.88 p/kWh, is commissioned. The charge to the Fossil Fuel Levy of providing premium prices for electricity from wind turbines was £200 million to February 1999.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will estimate the average costs per kilowatt hours of wind-generated energy. [83324]
Mr. Battle [holding answer 5 May 1999]: In England and Wales the average premium price of electricity generated in February 1999 by wind turbines contracted under the Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation arrangements was 5.2 p/kWh compared to the average price for generation from conventional sources of 3.0 p/kWh over the same period.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what reports he has received of instances of wind turbines having thrown broken blades to the ground. [83318]
Mr. Battle
[holding answer 5 May 1999]: I have received no reports of instances of these machines' broken blades falling to the ground.
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Mr. Paterson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many new wind turbines will be required to meet the Government's targets on renewable energy. [83327]
Mr. Battle
[holding answer 5 May 1999]: The number of new wind turbines required to contribute towards this target depends on the range and mix of renewable technologies employed, such as biomass, offshore wind, wave, landfill gas and energy from waste, and the contribution that each one makes.
Mr. Paterson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the cost to date to public funds of failed applications to establish wind farms. [83321]
Mr. Battle
[holding answer 5 May 1999]: There is no cost to public funds of failed applications to develop wind farms; the premium price is paid only when the wind turbines generate electricity.
Mr. Paterson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received opposing the establishment of new wind farms. [83322]
Mr. Battle
[holding answer 5 May 1999]: I have recently published "New and Renewable Energy: Prospects for the 21st Century" and have invited views on a wide range of issues concerning the greater deployment of a range of renewable sources of energy, including wind energy, by 28 May. The representations made so far have been positive, constructive and encouraging.
Mr. Reed:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to increase support for small and medium-sized enterprises in the East Midlands. [83163]
Mr. Wills:
There are many initiatives, arising from the December 1998 Competitiveness White Paper, which are intended to increase support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). These initiatives will benefit SMEs in all regions, including the East Midlands.
On 10 March 1999, Official Report, columns 367-79, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State set out a detailed implementation plan for each of the commitments in the Competitiveness White Paper. A copy of the Competitiveness White Paper implementation plan has been placed in the House of Commons Library.
My right hon. Friend's announcement also included details of the Small Business Service. This service will directly address the needs of small businesses by making improvements in the quality and coherence of the delivery of services to small businesses both at local level and, where appropriate, nationally. The department will be publishing a consultation document in the near future on the specific role and functions of the Small Business Service. I will be welcoming views from all interested parties.
On 12 March 1999, Official Report, columns 399-400, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, announced the creation of British Trade International, a unified DTI/FCO operation which will lead the Government's activities on international trade promotion. This new organisation will
6 May 1999 : Column: 443
improve the level of service which is provided to those SMEs currently exporting and those who wish to export. Sir David Wright took up post as Chief Executive of British Trade International on Tuesday 4 May.
Mr. Chope:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what date the Government's proposed e-Envoy will (a) be appointed and (b) commence work; and what his salary will be. [83313]
Mr. Wills
[holding answer 5 May 1999]: No final decisions have yet been taken. The Government plan to make an announcement on the e-Envoy shortly.
Mr. Chope:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library details of the common position which was recorded at the EU Telecoms Council in Luxembourg on 22 April on the European Directive on electronic signatures. [83312]
Mr. Wills
[holding answer 5 May 1999]: The formal common position text of the European Directive on electronic signatures will be placed in the Library of the House as soon as it has been to Jurists/Linguists.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the material recovered from reprocessing of German spent nuclear fuel has a commercial value in the United Kingdom. [82893]
Mr. Battle
[holding answer 5 May 1999]: The uranium and plutonium contained in spent nuclear fuel can be used in the manufacture of fresh fuel and therefore, once separated through reprocessing, have a commercial value. The separated waste recovered from the reprocessed spent fuel has no commercial value. All the materials recovered from reprocessing German spent fuel in the UK remain the property of the German utility concerned and must be returned to Germany.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the prospects for onward sale outside the UK of the material recovered from the processing of German spent nuclear fuel. [82892]
Mr. Battle
[holding answer 5 May 1999]: None. Spent nuclear fuel imported into the UK for reprocessing and the products which are recovered from that fuel (uranium, plutonium and waste) remain, at all times, the property of the overseas customer. It remains the firm policy of the UK Government that these materials be returned to the country of origin.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has held with his German counterpart on the amount of storage space for spent nuclear fuel (a) currently available and (b) under construction in Germany. [82944]
6 May 1999 : Column: 444
Mr. Battle
[holding answer 5 May 1999]: None. Requirements for spent fuel storage facilities in Germany are a matter for the owners of the spent fuel and the relevant German regulatory authorities.
Mr. Chaytor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the companies of which the directors of British Nuclear Fuels Limited are directors. [82508]
Mr. Battle:
The information is provided in BNFL's annual return to the Registrar of Companies. I have, however, asked BNFL's Company Secretary to write to my hon. Friend direct, and will place a copy of that letter in the Library of the House.
Ann Clwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the current ECGD exposure on exports to Indonesia. [82390]
Mr. Byers:
ECGD's exposure on Indonesia is £1,541 million, of which £48 million is in respect of unrecovered claims.
Mrs. Organ:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the competitiveness of the manufacturing sector. [82374]
Mr. Byers:
The decisive action we have taken to promote economic stability, coupled with the measures announced in our Competitiveness White Paper, will help improve the long-term competitiveness of the manufacturing sector.
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