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Solar Power

Mr. Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what research his Department has carried out into the contribution that the use of solar power in domestic dwellings can make to reducing energy consumption; and if he will make a statement. [108020]

Mrs. Liddell: I have been asked to reply.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has funded a considerable amount of research into the exploitation of solar energy in the UK. This research can be divided into three technology sectors: Passive Solar Design--the direct use of solar heat gain and daytime light in buildings to display conventional energy demand--Solar Thermal Hot Water Heating--to displace energy from other conventional heating sources--and Photovoltaics--which produce electricity from the action of daylight on photovoltaic cells.

To date most of the DTI funded PV research has focused on issues which are common to all applications of PV in buildings, and to research into aspects of PV integration into larger non-domestic buildings. The

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potential contribution that PV can make to UK conventional electricity demand has been estimated in "New and Renewable Energy Prospects for the 21st Century. Supporting Analysis. March 1999. ETSU R-122". This gave a theoretical estimate of around 270 TerraWatt hours a year (TWh/yr) if PV were installed on all available walls and roofs for the entire building stock. More realistically, if PV were to be installed on all south-facing roofs and facades this would yield an annual output of around 70 TWh, or a little over 22 per cent. of current electricity consumption, which stands at around 324 TWh/yr. Obviously, if we are looking only at the roofs of domestic properties, the theoretical potential would be proportionately less. Installing 2 kW systems on 50,000 homes would cost around £500 million at current prices, but would generate less than one half of one tenth of 1 per cent. of current UK electricity demand.

In the short to medium term, up to 2010, the installed cost for PV on dwellings is expected to remain a major barrier to faster deployment of the technology. However, costs are expected to continue to reduce, and a market for domestic PV should develop accordingly, so that in the longer term PV has the potential to make a significant contribution to reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions.

The DTI funded a demonstration project for a domestic PV roof in Oxford in the mid to late 90s. The 4 kW system cost in the region of £25,000, and showed that, over the year, output from the system could match demand from an energy-efficient home, with surplus electricity generated by PV during the day, particularly during the summer months, being exported to the grid, and being balanced by imports during the night and winter months.

The DTI is contributing £1 million towards a field trial looking at the implementation of PV on clusters of domestic dwellings. It is hoped this will result in total investment of £2 million and the installation of PV systems on two to three hundred dwellings. Other ongoing work within the DTI Solar Programme is investigating the development of PV systems for domestic roofing.

DEFENCE

Medical Records

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on keeping medical records of personnel working in sensitive defence research establishments. [108469]

Dr. Moonie: [holding answer 7 February 2000]: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Sir John Chisholm to Mr. Tam Dalyell, dated 8 February 2000:


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Smart Procurement

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the accountability to the taxpayer provided by Smart Procurement; and if he will make a statement. [108742]

Dr. Moonie: My Department's accountability to Parliament and the taxpayer has not been affected by Smart Procurement. By applying Smart Procurement principles to the way we conduct business, the taxpayer should see increased value for money from every pound spent on defence equipment. It enables us to equip, train and support the armed forces as cost-effectively as possible.

Gurkhas

Mr. Burnett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Government next intend to review with the Indian and Nepalese Governments the salaries and pensions payable to Gurkhas serving in the British Army; and what is the Government's policy on salaries and pensions payable to Gurkhas serving in the British Army. [108794]

Mr. Spellar: Under the terms of the Tri-Partite Agreement (TPA) between India, Nepal and the UK, rates of pay and pensions are linked to the Indian Army pay code. Major reviews of pay and pensions are carried out by Indian Government Pay Commissions which report every 10 years. The next Pay Commission will report in 2006. Interim changes continue to be implemented as they are notified to us by India.

British Gurkha pay is calculated in line with Indian Army rates although in 1997 a Universal Addition was introduced to take account of the cost of living outside Nepal; this is reviewed annually. These two elements combine to give salaries for British Gurkhas that are in line with comparable British servicemen.

The recent examination of Gurkha pensions and gratuities has substantially increased Gurkha pensions to allow for a welfare related cash uplift that will double the

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pension payments for all Gurkha pensioners with effect from 1 April 2000. There are no plans for any further reviews of this nature. Pensions will continue to be paid immediately after 15 years service and index linked in accordance with cost of living in Nepal. These increases remain within the context of the TPA.

Anti-ballistic Missile Treaty

Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department permits the use of MoD land by the United States for activities contrary to the terms of the anti-ballistic missile treaty. [108896]

Mr. Spellar: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 30 November 1999, Official Report, column 83W.

Departmental Secondments

Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff were seconded from the private sector to his Department from (a) May 1997 to April 1998, (b) May 1998 to April 1999 and (c) May 1999 to the latest date for which figures are available, stating in each case the companies from which staff have been seconded. [109074]

Dr. Moonie: Secondments and attachments are part of the Interchange Initiative which promotes the exchange of people and good practice between the civil service and other organisations. All sectors of the economy are involved: Voluntary, Eduction, Health, Public and Private. Interchange is a key component of the reform agenda. The Modernising Government White Paper committed us to increasing interchange, in particular by bringing in more people on secondment and sending more of our people out.

The information requested on personnel on secondment from the private sector to my Department, excluding Trading Fund Agencies, is as follows:


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