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9 Dec 2002 : Column 68W—continued
Post Offices (Wycombe)
Mr. Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many post offices in the Wycombe constituency are open for less than full-time hours; and how many there were in 1997. [85661]
Mr. Timms: These are matters that fall within the day-to-day responsibility of Post Office Ltd. and I have therefore asked the Chief Executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.
Process Centre for Manufacturing Excellence
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what funding the Government has provided to the Process Industries Centre for Manufacturing Excellence; which organisations have (a) been involved with the Centre and (b) benefited from the Centre; and if she will make a statement on the effectiveness and financial benefits of the Centre. [85491]
Alan Johnson: The Government are providing funding support of #1.525 million over the period 2000–01 to 2003–04 to the Process Industries Centre for Manufacturing Excellence (PICME) to help UK
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chemical and other process-based companies improve their productivity and manufacturing performance. Since becoming operational in March 2001, PICME has delivered 60 benchmarking analyses and 25 Masterclass workshops to companies in these sectors. To date, this activity has resulted in substantial direct savings being achieved by each of these companies, collectively totalling over #14 million per year.
Quoted Companies Alliance Report
Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action she proposes to take in response to the report of the Quoted Companies Alliance, The Threat to Enterprise Britain. [85201]
Nigel Griffiths: The Department is committed to helping UK companies, including the important Smaller Quoted Companies sector, improve their productivity and increase value added. We have strong
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links with the Quoted Companies Alliance who have played a key role in identifying the challenges facing Smaller Quoted Companies. I welcome this report and I look forward to working with them in the future to ensure that companies within this important sector reach their full growth potential.
Renewable Energy
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much financial support has been given to (a) wind power, (b) solar power, (c) wave power, (d) geothermal power, (e) hydro power and (f) other renewable energy sources in each year since 1972. [80864]
Mr. Wilson [holding answer 20 November 2002]: The available information is shown in the table from 1978 onwards. Regrettably, information for 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975 is not available and the figures for 1976 and 1977 were not broken down into these subject areas.
| Wind | Solar | Wave and tidal | Geo | Hydro | Other | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975–76 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| 1976–77 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.30 | 0.30 |
| 1977–78 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 |
| 1978–79 | 0.30 | 0.20 | 1.80 | 0.20 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.50 |
| 1979–80 | 0.60 | 1.20 | 3.60 | 1.30 | 0.00 | 0.10 | 6.80 |
| 1980–81 | 0.80 | 0.90 | 4.70 | 2.30 | 0.00 | 0.22 | 8.92 |
| 1981–82 | 0.90 | 0.71 | 4.80 | 8.20 | 0.00 | 0.43 | 15.04 |
| 1982–83 | 2.50 | 1.40 | 3.13 | 4.50 | 0.00 | 0.53 | 12.06 |
| 1983–84 | 2.50 | 0.90 | 1.00 | 4.70 | 0.00 | 0.27 | 9.37 |
| 1984–85 | 4.80 | 0.50 | 0.70 | 5.70 | 0.00 | 0.20 | 11.90 |
| 1985–86 | 5.40 | 0.70 | 0.50 | 3.80 | 0.00 | 0.29 | 10.69 |
| 1986–87 | 3.70 | 0.90 | 0.20 | 3.60 | 0.10 | 0.91 | 9.41 |
| 1987–88 | 4.00 | 1.10 | 1.60 | 3.60 | 0.18 | 2.00 | 12.48 |
| 1988–89 | 3.90 | 1.40 | 1.30 | 3.60 | 0.10 | 2.20 | 12.50 |
| 1989–90 | 4.80 | 1.90 | 1.20 | 3.50 | 0.10 | 2.66 | 14.16 |
| 1990–91 | 4.50 | 2.10 | 2.30 | 2.60 | 0.03 | 3.70 | 15.23 |
| 1991–92 | 6.67 | 2.35 | 2.40 | 1.62 | 0.12 | 4.79 | 17.95 |
Notes:
1. Definition of each technology stream has varied over time.
2. Spend prior to 1978–79 was not recorded by programme area.
| 1992–93 | 1993–94 | 1994–95 | 1995–96 | 1996–97 | 1997–98 | 1998–99 | 1999–2000 | 2000–01 | 2001–02 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wind | 8.69 | 7.31 | 2.73 | 3.37 | 2.37 | 1.24 | 0.95 | 1.20 | 1.10 | 2.20 |
| Solar | 2.30 | 2.38 | 2.07 | 1.88 | 1.87 | 1.66 | 0.98 | 1.73 | 1.40 | 2.70 |
| Wave and tidal | 2.06 | 0.78 | 0.33 | 0.20 | 0.05 | 0.00 | 0.09 | 0.01 | 0.40 | 0.30 |
| Geo | 1.22 | 1.13 | 0.24 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Hydro | 0.07 | 0.17 | 0.15 | 0.08 | 0.14 | 0.06 | 0.08 | 0.30 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Other | 4.37 | 6.11 | 6.54 | 6.72 | 4.90 | 3.85 | 3.75 | 4.62 | 6.80 | 8.40 |
| Total | 18.71 | 17.88 | 12.06 | 12.25 | 9.33 | 6.81 | 5.85 | 7.86 | 9.7 | 13.6 |
Notes:
1. Definition of each technology stream has varied over time.
2. Spend prior to 1978–79 was not recorded by programme area.
Malcolm Bruce : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much of the funding made available to support renewable technologies in March 2001 has been allocated to (a) existing and (b) new onshore wind programmes. [85110]
Mr. Wilson: For several years funding of research and development into wind technology has concentrated on off shore wind developments as onshore wind is considered to be close to becoming commercially competitive.
There have been five projects commissioned since March 2001, with a total value of #356,898, that could be considered as onshore related. These have looked primarily at the impact of onshore wind farms on Radar and Aviation interests.
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Malcolm Bruce : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many of the most recent development plans of local authorities in England and Wales make specific mention of renewable energy plans; and how many of these include technology-specific policies. [85320]
Mr. Wilson [holding answer 3 December 2002]: That information is not held centrally.
Planning is a devolved matter. In England, local planning authorities are required, in formulating the policies in their development plans, to have regard to any regional and strategic planning guidance and to current national policies. Development Plans should therefore take account of Planning Policy Guidance Note 22, Renewable Energy, and formulate policies on renewable energy which are relevant to the local planning authority's area.
In Wales, local planning authorities submit Unitary Development Plans for scrutiny by the Assembly to ensure regard is paid to national planning policy outlined in Planning Policy Wales and Technical Advice Note 8, Renewable Energy.
Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what targets she has to increase the use of renewable energy supplies; and how she intends to achieve the targets. [86301]
Mr. Wilson: The Government have set a target that 10 per cent. of electricity will be generated from eligible renewable sources by 2010.
The Renewables Obligation Order, which came into force on 1 April 2002, is the primary instrument for the expansion of renewable energy in the UK. Licensed electricity suppliers are required to obtain specified proportions of their electricity from eligible renewable sources. The level of the Obligation will rise each year to reach 10.4 per cent. by 2010–11.
The Renewables Obligation is being backed by over #250 million of direct support measures to bring forward newer renewable energy technologies. This provides a substantial incentive to renewable energy generation in the UK.
Qualifying renewable energy sources are also exempt from the Climate Change Levy to further assist the expansion of renewable energy.
Royal Mail
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had regarding the appointment of the new Chief Executive of Royal Mail. [85407]
Mr. Timms: Although the recruitment of a new Chief Executive for Royal Mail is primarily a matter for the company the appointment will be made in accordance with public appointment procedures and requires the Secretary of State's consent. The Secretary of State has been kept informed of the recruitment process and in due course will be invited to consider a recommendation for appointment.
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Rural Post Office Network
Dr. Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures are being taken to improve security arrangements at rural post offices; and if she will make a statement. [85021]
Mr. Timms: Security arrangements at all post offices are an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. and I have asked the Chief Executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.
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