| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Railtrack
Mr. Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what inquiries she has made into the competition practices of National Rail Supplies, Railtrack and Railtrack's contractors. [18540]
Miss Melanie Johnson [holding answer 27 November 2001]: Under UK competition legislation it is for the Director General of Fair Trading to investigate allegations of anti-competitive behaviour. These powers are exercised concurrently with the Rail Regulator with respect to railway services.
Renewable Energy
Mr. David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to develop renewable energy. [17392]
Mr. Wilson [holding answer 23 November 2001]: The Government have ambitious plans to develop renewable energy.
The new Renewables Obligation, to come into effect next year, together with exemption of renewables from the climate change levy, will create a long-term market incentive for renewables which will be worth over £1 billion per year by 2010.
The introduction of the Obligation will be underpinned by direct Government funding for renewables worth over £260 million between 2001 and 2004. This will include an extensive capital grants programme for the early development of offshore wind and energy crops, the initial stage of a major photovoltaics demonstration programme and a boost for research and development.
Other components of the Government's strategy to develop renewable energy include:
- honouring of contracts awarded under the earlier arrangements to support renewables, the Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation (NFFO) Orders. In addition, we have consulted on a proposal to introduce a NFFO locational flexibility Order and we are now considering the responses made to this consultation.
Initiation of studies of each UK region's capacity to generate electricity from renewable sources. Once all these assessments are completed, it is expected that specific regional targets for renewable energy will be adopted across the UK.
28 Nov 2001 : Column: 1002W
Overseas Commercial Activities
(Accountability Legislation)
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to discuss with her European counterparts the introduction of legislation to hold companies accountable for their activities overseas. [17918]
Nigel Griffiths [holding answer 27 November 2001]: My ministerial colleagues and I regularly discuss a wide range of issues with our European counterparts.
Post Office Card Accounts
Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of how many post office card accounts there will be on the basis of existing plans. [18043]
Mr. Alexander: This matter is being considered within the context of an overall migration and marketing strategy for the payment of benefits by automated credit transfer on which detailed work is in progress.
Postal Deliveries
Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of first class letters from (a) Eastbourne and (b) Wealden postcode areas were delivered by (a) first and (b) second post the next day in each of the last 20 quarters for which figures are available. [17139]
Mr. Alexander: This is an operational issue for Consignia.
I have been informed by the company that this information is not held for individual postcode areas.
Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions she has had with Consignia about changes to the second daily Royal Mail delivery. [17142]
Mr. Alexander: The Department has regular discussions with Consignia about a range of strategic issues facing the company. However, changes to the second daily Royal Mail delivery are operational issues for the company, subject to the regulatory powers and duties of the Postal Services Commission in respect of service standards.
Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of (a) first and (b) second class mail was delivered as part of a second daily delivery in the last 12 months. [17140]
Mr. Alexander: This is an operational issue for Consignia.
I have been informed by the company that this information is not available for the precise split between first and second class mail delivered on second delivery but it is predominantly first class, while only 4 per cent. of mail nationally is delivered on a second delivery.
Public Service Orders
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which air routes in Britain benefit from a public service order. [18730]
Mr. Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
28 Nov 2001 : Column: 1003W
The following routes currently have a public service obligation imposed on them:
- Glasgow-Campbelltown-Tiree
Glasgow-Barra
Orkney (Mainland)-Papa Westray
Orkney (Mainland)-North Ronaldsay
Shetland (Mainland)-Foula
Shetland (Mainland)-Papa Stour
Shetland (Mainland)-Out Skerries
Shetland (Mainland)-Fair Isle
Stornoway-Benbecula
Benbecula-Barra.
Climate Change Levy
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the effect of climate change levy after rebates on the manufacturing sector in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) Wiltshire; and if she will make a statement. [18422]
Mr. Andrew Smith: I have been asked to reply.
The climate change levy became operational only in April this year and the first payments are still being received by Customs and Excise. It is too early to assess its impact.
However, the impact on any specific sector, whether nationally or in any particular region, will depend on a number of factors including:
- The future energy consumption of firms in the sector and the use they make of levy funded energy efficiency support.
Employment levels in those sectors and the benefits received from the levy funded national insurance contribution cuts.
The number of energy intensive firms in that sector that are eligible to receive a discount on the main rates of the levy by signing up to an energy efficiency agreement.
The use that firms in that sector make of electricity generated from levy exempt 'new' renewable sources of energy and combined heat and power.
PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL
Grand Committees
Mr. Beggs: To ask the President of the Council on how many occasions the Northern Ireland Grand Committee has met in Northern Ireland (a) in the five years prior to devolution and (b) since devolution. [17927]
Mr. Robin Cook: Until March 1997 the Committee had no power to meet away from Westminster and it has never done so.
Mr. Beggs: To ask the President of the Council on how many occasions the Scottish Grand Committee has met in Scotland (a) in the five years prior to devolution and (b) since devolution. [17926]
Mr. Robin Cook: Before the first meeting of the Scottish Parliament on 12 May 1999, the Scottish Grand Committee met away from Westminster as follows.
28 Nov 2001 : Column: 1004W
| Year | Number of occasions |
|---|---|
| 1994 | 2 |
| 1995 | 4 |
| 1996 | 13 |
| 1997 | 3 |
| 1998 | 2 |
| 1999 | 4 |
The Scottish Grand Committee has only met once since the first meeting of the Scottish Parliament (on 10 July 2000).
Mr. Beggs: To ask the President of the Council on how many occasions the Welsh Grand Committee has met in Wales (a) in the five years prior to devolution and (b) since devolution. [17902]
Mr. Robin Cook: Until March 1996 the Grand Committee had no power to meet away from Westminster; since then the Committee has met in Wales as follows:
| Year | Number of occasions |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 1 |
| 1998 | 2 |
| 1999(19) | 1 |
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2001 | 1 |
(19) Before 12 May 1999
The National Assembly for Wales first met on 12 May 1999.
House of Lords Appointments Commission
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the President of the Council what the cost is to date of the House of Lords Appointments Commission. [17362]
Mr. Robin Cook: I understand that the latest available figures show that the House of Lords Appointments Commission spent £248,000 in 2000–01 and to the end of October, £73,000 has been spent in 2001–02.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |