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Fuel Poverty

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the most recent available information is on the extent of fuel poverty in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland; what sources have been used to calculate latest statistics; and what progress has been made in reaching a common agreed definition of fuel poverty that can be used on a UK-wide basis. [38212]

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Mr. Meacher: The UK Fuel Poverty Strategy was published in November last year. Copies have been placed in the Library.

It is estimated that in 2000 there were 2.8 million households in fuel poverty in England, when fuel poverty is defined as occurring when a household needs to spend more than 10 per cent. of its income on all fuel use to achieve a satisfactory heating regime (where income includes housing benefit and income support for mortgage interest). Using the alternative definition of income (excluding housing benefit and income support for mortgage interest) it is estimated that there were 3.9 million households in fuel poverty. These estimates are based on the 1998 Energy Follow Up Survey taking account of changes in income and energy prices between 1998 and 2000. The method and data sources used to produce these figures are set out in "Fuel Poverty in England in 1999 and 2000" available at www.dti.gov.uk/energy/fuelpoverty/index.htm which can be accessed via www.defra.gov.uk/environment/energy/ fuelpov/index.htm.

Fuel poverty is a devolved issue and it is for the Devolved Administrations to comment on their most recent available information. an agreed single definition of fuel poverty is not possible until Wales and Scotland have completed a consultation exercise. However, it is the Government's intention to move to a UK-wide definition in the medium term.

Agriculture Council

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether a Scottish Executive Minister will be a Member of the UK delegation to the Agriculture European Union Council of Ministers meeting on 18 February; and what information is being provided by her Department to permit pre-council scrutiny by the European Committee of the Scottish Parliament. [38037]

Mr. Morley [holding answer 27 February 2002]: Scottish Executive Ministers did not attend the February Agriculture Council as there was nothing on the agenda of specific interest to Scotland. On the second point, the Department does not provide pre-council briefing direct to the European Committee of the Scottish Parliament.

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Composting

Andrew Bennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects a national composting standard to be put in place. [38402]

Mr. Meacher: Comprehensive standards for compost are a top priority for developing markets for organic waste derived products. They will be vital in achieving both local authority statutory targets for recycling and composting and our obligations under the landfill directive to reduce the landfill of biodegradable municipal waste.

The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) are currently working with the Composting Association to develop the existing industry standard for compost, launched in 2000, to achieve British Standards Institute (BSI) accreditation. The first stage is the development of a BSI Publicly Available Specification (PAS) which WRAP anticipates will be available in autumn 2002.

Traffic Emissions

Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what predicted levels of emissions from traffic the Government are using over (a) five (b) 10 and (c) 20 years periods to meet the Kyoto and successor protocols. [39840]

Mr. Meacher: The latest set of projections was published in the UK's Third National Communication on Climate Change in October 2001. The table provides details of end user emissions from the transport sector. The end user classification re-allocates emissions from the energy supply sector so that a more complete picture is given of transport's contribution to the UK's greenhouse gas emissions. Road transport accounts for over 90 per cent. of the total level of carbon dioxide emissions from the transport sector.

The projections include the effect of the fuel duty escalator to 1999, but they do not include the estimated carbon savings from the EU-level voluntary agreements with car manufacturers to reduce CO ₂ emissions from new cars by 2008–09 or from the 10-Year Plan for Transport. We estimate that the voluntary agreements will save 4 MtC and that the 10-Year Plan will save 1.6 MtC in 2010.

End user emissions from transport by gas, MtC

Gases	Base year	2000	2005	2010	2015	2020
Carbon dioxide	39.1	40.0	42.9	45.4	47.7	50.1
Methane	0.2	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1
Nitrous oxide	0.4	1.3	1.8	2.0	2.1	2.3
HFCs	0.0	0.1	0.2	0.4	0.4	0.5
Total GHGs	39.7	41.6	44.9	47.8	50.4	53.0
Change from 1990 levels (percentage)	—	5	13	20	27	33

Energy Efficiency

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will investigate the use of the enhanced capital allowance scheme to encourage greater take-up of energy efficiency equipment and methods for (a) retail/commercial, (b) individual and (c) domestic applications. [39379]

Mr. Meacher: The Carbon Trust will soon take over the management and promotion of the Government's enhanced capital allowance scheme for energy saving technologies. As part of its responsibilities, the Carbon Trust plan to carry out surveys and stakeholder investigations to assess the impact of the scheme. The retail and commercial sector will be among those which will be invited to participate.

Enhanced capital allowances relieve business expenditure against profits for tax and do not apply to private and domestic expenditure.

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Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what incentives exist for installation of energy efficiency equipment to enable the introduction of measures to control plant more efficiently and effectively. [39380]

Mr. Meacher: The Government are committed to encouraging the installation of energy efficiency equipment through the enhanced capital allowance scheme. The scheme was set up in April last year and provides a fiscal incentive for business to purchase and install energy saving technologies. The Carbon Trust will soon take over the management of the enhanced capital allowance scheme and the Government's energy efficiency best practice programme—that offers businesses advice regarding energy efficient and low carbon technologies.

In addition the Energy Saving Trust provides advice and information to the domestic sector.

Flooding

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if the Government plan to increase the amount of flood defence funds for coastal communities this year; and if she will make a statement. [39401]

Mr. Morley: The Government are committed to sustaining flood and coastal defences and have increased spending plans in both of their spending reviews and again following the severe flooding in autumn 2000. Recognising the severity of the 2000 floods the Government announced a further £51 million over the period to 2003–04.

DEFRA's funding is set to increase from an outturn of £66 million in 2000–01 to £106 million in 2002–03 and £114 million in 2003–04. The amounts allocated to coastal and tidal river defences within these totals will depend on decisions by the operating authorities (Environment Agency and local authorities) on priorities for reduction of risk from flooding and coastal erosion and timing of works.

EU Vessels

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs further to his answer

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of 4 December 2001, Official Report, column 271W, on EU vessels, how many vessels, operating under non-EU flags of convenience but owned by Community companies, receive Community financial support for activity other than modernisation grants. [39754]

Mr. Morley: This information is not available.

Aquatic Pursuits

Mr. Gareth R. Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what date each Regional Fisheries, Ecology and Recreation Advisory Committee of the Environment Agency last discussed improving access to water for non-powered craft. [39477]

Alun Michael: The dates that each of the Regional Fisheries, Ecology and Recreation Advisory Committees of the Environment Agency last discussed improving access to water for non-powered craft are as listed.

North East—23 January 2002


Anglian—12 January 2000


Thames—28 January 2000


Southern—27 January 2000


South West—21 January 2000


Midlands—18 January 2000


North West—21 January 2000


Wales—27 January 2000.

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