---

Veterinary Medicines

Mr. Wallace: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to receive the report from the Independent Review of Dispensing of Prescription Only Medicines for veterinary use; and if he will make a statement. [148155]

Ms Quin: The Independent Review of Dispensing, which is being led by Professor Sir John Marsh CBE, is due to report to my right hon. Friend the Minister by 31 March 2001.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Comitology

Mr. Denzil Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many comitology committees of the EU were in existence on the most recent date for which figures are available. [147319]

Mr. Vaz: The Commission's latest list was printed in the Official Journal of the European Communities last year (C225 Volume 43, 8 August 2000). This is available in the Library of the House.

IRA (Sweden)

Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Swedish Government to ensure that IRA fund-raising activities do not take place in Sweden through IRA-linked business operations; and if he will make a statement. [149118]

Mr. Vaz: The Government are aware of recent Swedish newspaper allegations concerning IRA fund-raising in Sweden, but has no evidence to support them. Any allegations of fund-raising for the purposes of terrorism are examined carefully, and if necessary the UK authorities take action in co-operation with their counterparts in other countries.

8 Feb 2001 : Column: 627W

Departmental Policies

(Morecambe and Lunesdale)

Miss Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out, including statistical information, the effect on the Morecambe and Lunesdale constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [149126]

Mr. Vaz: We hold no information of the kind sought by my hon. Friend. The mission of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is to promote the national interests of the United Kingdom and to contribute to a strong world community. For details of the Government's achievements in meeting their foreign policy targets, the following page of the FCO website may be helpful: http://www/fco.gov.uk/directory/dynpage.asp?page=108

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Retail Petrol Industry

Jackie Ballard: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his policy towards the independent retail petrol industry. [147047]

Mr. Hain: The Government are committed to ensuring that a free and open market operates within the UK petrol retail sector to the benefit of consumers, not least those who use small independent retailers.

Alternative Energy Sources

Mrs. Brinton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for what reasons he intends to exclude energy from waste from renewables obligations; what measures he intends to introduce to promote energy from waste; and what assessment he has made of the environmental benefits of energy from waste. [149325]

Mr. Hain: No final decisions have been made as to which renewables will be included within the renewables obligation.

The Government's consultation document on the obligation proposed that large-scale hydro and energy from waste should be excluded on the grounds that they are already commercially viable, well established in the market, and able to compete with electricity from fossil fuels. This view took into account the indirect support provided to energy from waste by the landfill tax. The many responses received to this and other proposals in the consultation document are under consideration.

DTI does not have a promotional campaign on energy from waste. We do, however, support research and development on energy from waste and other forms of renewable energy under the Department's new and renewable energy programme.

The Government's policy is first to minimise waste, then to maximise re-use, recycling and composting where this is the most appropriate action. However, where the creation of waste is unavoidable, burning it to generate energy saves fossil fuels, reduces emissions, contributes towards our Kyoto targets and avoids having to landfill such waste.

8 Feb 2001 : Column: 628W

The Government set out their aims and objectives for waste management in "Waste Strategy 2000". The choice of waste facilities is a matter for local councils to take in consultation with local communities, and councils should consider the best practical environmental option for each waste stream. The Government recognise that the recovery of energy from waste, through using it as fuel, may have a role to play, alongside recycling and composting, in a system of sustainable waste management.

An assessment of the environmental and other advantages and disadvantages of various household waste management options including energy from waste is included in the publication "An Introduction to Household Waste Management" published in March 1998 which was sponsored by my Department. Copies are being placed in the Library of the House.

Sir Sydney Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the environmental impact of the process of removing redundant offshore wind platforms. [149483]

Mr. Hain: A report was produced last year under DTI's new and renewable energy programme by Metoc plc, "An assessment of the environmental effects of offshore wind farms", which included wind farm decommissioning. Copies of the report are being placed in the Library of the House.

Sir Sydney Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what his most recent estimate is of the cost per kilowatt hour of electricity generated from (a) offshore wind and (b) onshore wind, using a standard 6 per cent. discount rate. [149482]

Mr. Hain: The cost of generation from offshore and onshore wind will vary considerably depending on the location of the project. Costs can also be expected to fall over time as experience with the technology grows, and as economies of scale in plant manufacture and project development are exploited.

Cost estimates were published by DTI in the March 1999 document "New and Renewable Energy: Prospects in the UK for the 21st Century--Supporting Analysis". These showed that by year 2010, and with an 8 per cent. discount rate, the bulk of the UK's onshore wind potential could be developed at costs ranging from 2½-3½p per kilowatt hour. With a 15 per cent. discount rate, the cost range rises to 3½-5p per kilowatt hour. The cost ranges for offshore wind were very similar, although the potential resource is much greater.

Commercial developers of wind projects can be expected to seek returns in excess of 6 per cent., with the scale of required returns depending on the technical and commercial risks associated with the projects. At present, these risks are greater for offshore wind whose development is at a very early stage and the prices required by generators for the first generation of offshore wind projects in the UK could well be in excess of the cost ranges quoted.

Ultra-low Sulphur Fuel

Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many and what percentage of garages sell low sulphur fuel (a) nationally, (b) in the North West and (c) in Wales. [149565]

8 Feb 2001 : Column: 629W

Mr. Hain: Ultra-low sulphur diesel is available at virtually every petrol retail outlet in the UK.

Regarding ultra-low sulphur petrol (ULSP), according to HM Customs and Excise's "Hydrocarbons Oils Bulletin", in mid-January 2001 (latest available data), ULSP constituted around half of petrol released for consumption in the UK. The equivalent figure for November 2000 was around one third. HM Customs and Excise collects data on a company by company, rather than a regional, basis. There are no separate figures for the North West of England or Wales.

Mr. Maclennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many outlets sell ultra-low sulphur petrol in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland and (c) the Highlands; and how many outlets have begun to sell ultra-low sulphur petrol since 8 November 2000. [149336]

Mr. Byers [holding answer 7 February 2001]: According to HM Customs and Excise's "Hydrocarbons Oils Bulletin", in mid-January 2001 (latest available data), ULSP constituted around half of petrol released for consumption in the UK. The equivalent figure for November 2000 was around one third. HM Customs and Excise collects data on a company by company, rather than a regional, basis. There are no separate figures for Scotland or the Highlands.

Energy Research and Development

Mrs. Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment his Department has made of the report 'The Future of Research and Development in the Gas Industry' by Professor Gordon Mackennon and Steve Thomas; and if he will make a statement. [149303]

Mr. Hain: My officials are studying the report and are meeting the Institution of Gas Engineers next week (12 February) to discuss its content.

Mrs. Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what evaluation his Department has made of the appropriateness to the UK of the US levy model for funding future research and development in the gas industry. [149304]

Mr. Hain: None, but I thank my hon. Friend for bringing it to my attention. The gas industry is firmly in the private sector and investment in R&D is a matter for industry participants. However, safety is a key concern of Government. The Health and Safety Executive, who are responsible for the regulatory regime for the safe conveyance and use of gas are, with DETR, considering the introduction of levy raising powers to ensure that appropriate funding is secured for safety related research. This follows the completion of HSE's Fundamental Review of Gas Safety.

Mrs. Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what timetable has been agreed for progressing the review of research and development in the energy industry announced in the latest UK Energy report. [149302]

Mr. Hain: As indicated in the Energy Report, the DTI has recently undertaken a review of both business and public energy-related R&D funding. The outcome of this review will be a revised strategy for the funding of future energy-related R&D activities. It is expected that a draft will be circulated for consultation during February,

8 Feb 2001 : Column: 630W

leading to an updated strategy being included in the overall DTI Science and Innovation Strategy, to be published spring 2001.

---