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TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Textphones
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the current number of public textphones; and what plans Her Majesty's Government have to increase the level of provision. [88411]
Mr. Wills: There are currently 84 public textphones in the country, provided by BT. The Government are planning to consult on the provision of public textphones in a consultation later this year on improving access to telecommunications for the disabled. This is part of its further implementation of the Revised Voice Telephony Directive (98/10/EC). This should result in an increase in the provision of public textphones, especially in places such as railway stations and shopping centres.
Nuclear Reactors
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the Chernobyl-type nuclear reactors, indicating those which are in operation. [88398]
Mr. Battle: The RBMK (Chernobyl-type) nuclear reactors of which we are aware are Chernobyl 1-2, Chernobyl 3*, Ignalina 1, Ignalina 2*, Kursk 1-4*, Kursk 5 (under construction), Leningrad (Sosnovy Bor) 1-4* and Smolensk 1-3*. Those marked with an asterix are in operation.
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the safety of remaining Chernobyl-type nuclear reactors; and if he will make a statement on programmes of remedial action to which Her Majesty's Government have contributed. [88397]
Mr. Battle: The UK continues to work with our G7 and European partners to improve nuclear safety in the countries concerned. This is undertaken through a number of multilateral assistance programmes funded through the G7 Nuclear Safety Account (NSA), International Atomic Energy Authority (IAEA) Technical Co-operation Programme and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development managed Chernobyl Shelter Fund. The UK also funds a bilateral programme of activities through its Nuclear Safety and Health Budget which is administered by the DTI.
The most recent assessment of the safety of Chernobyl-type nuclear reactors was undertaken in June at the IAEA in Vienna where there was a meeting of strengthening nuclear safety in Eastern Europe. All nuclear countries who operate Chernobyl-type nuclear reactors (RBMK) attended along with leading international organisations that provide nuclear safety assistance to them. The meeting concluded that there is no question that considerable progress on nuclear safety has been made in
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Eastern Europe and in their operation of nuclear power plants where they have demonstrated clear progress in operational safety improvements.
Papers distributed at the meeting and copies of the presentations can be accessed through the IAEA website.
Dr. Kumar:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in what way the climate change levy will promote the efficient generation of electricity; and if he will make a statement. [88200]
Mr. Battle:
The proposed climate change levy will be levied downstream on energy supplied to industrial and commercial users. This will ensure that domestic consumption of energy is excluded. Since it is a downstream tax there will be relatively little impact on the mix of fuels used, and efficiency, in generation.
However, the Government are looking closely at the possibility of exempting new forms of renewable energy, like wind power, from the levy. The consultation document issued by Customs and Excise sought views on whether, and if so, how this could be done. The treatment of Combined Heat and Power plants is also being considered. In addition, the Government have announced that there will be an extra £50 million a year for schemes aimed at promoting energy efficiency and additional support for renewables.
Finally, the White Paper, "Conclusions of the Review of Energy Sources for Power Generation", sets out the Government's broad energy policy, including radical reforms to the electricity market. These reforms will bring greater competition to electricity generation and lower prices for consumers.
Dr. Kumar:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish a breakdown of (a) the current emission levels and (b) the estimated emission levels following the introduction of the climate change levy by industrial sector; and if he will make a statement. [88300]
Mr. Battle:
The following table showing 1997 emissions of greenhouse gases by source was published by the Department of the Environment Transport and the Regions on 13 May 1999. Emission levels by industry following the introduction of the climate change levy will depend upon the structure and rate of the levy. However, in total the levy is expected to save around 1.5 million tonnes of carbon a year by 2010 thereby making a significant contribution to meeting both the legally binding target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions set under the Kyoto protocol and the Government's domestic goal of a 20 per cent. reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2010.
(9) Removals of CO 2 reported as negative.
(10) To express in terms of weight of carbon emitted the figures for emissions and removals of CO 2 should be multiplied by 12-44.
(11) Includes emissions from own-energy gas use on offshore installations.
(12) Combustion emissions of CO 2 from iron and steel are included in "manufacturing industries and construction". Process emissions from the iron and steel industry are included in "metal production". Limestone use in the iron and steel industry is classified under "mineral products".
(13) Emissions from off-road vehicles are reported under "manufacturing industries and construction" and "other sectors".
(14) The emissions of CO 2 from ammonia manufacture are reported under "chemical industry".
(15) Small combustion sources including residential, commercial and institutional sectors.
(16) Emissions from stationary combustion at military installations are reported under "other sectors".
(17) Naval vessels and military aircraft.
(18) Fugitive emissions of CO 2 from coke ovens and patent fuel production are calculated according to a carbon balance on the coal consumed and the coke, patent fuel, blast furnace gas and coke oven gas produced. Emissions from flaring of coke oven gas are also included.
(19) Emissions arise from refrigeration, electronics applications, electrical insulation, foams, aerosols and training shoes.
(20) Emissions from cattle, swine, sheep, goats, horses, farmed deer and poultry.
(21) Removals include removals to forest soil and litter (-2,151 Gg CO 2 ) and to forest products (-1,111 Gg CO 2 ).
(22) Emissions include removals to soils from set aside of arable land and emissions from soils from liming. CO 2 emissions arise from limestone and dolomite use.
(23) Emissions include emissions from soils as a result of upland drainage (1,467 Gg CO 2 ), lowland drainage (1,467 Gg CO 2 ) and peat extraction (733 Gg CO 2 ). Removals are increases in crop biomass. CO 2 removal from salt marshes is no longer reported because it is considered anthropogenic.
(24) Sewage sludge disposed of by landfill is included under "solid waste disposal on land".
(25) Emissions arise from wood, straw, biogases and poultry litter combustion for energy production.
(26) CO 2 emissions are given for information only and are not included in totals.
(27) Emissions are given for information only and are not included in totals.
Source:
NETCEN
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