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30 Oct 2003 : Column 347W—continued
Energy Policy (Research and Development)
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much public money was spent in each year since 1997 on (a) research into and (b) development of the (i) fuel cell principle and (ii) geo-thermal principle of producing energy; and if she will make a statement. [134326]
Mr. Timms [holding answer 27 October 2003]: Since 1997, the DTI Fuel Cells Programme has spent the following amounts on industrial development and research up to the end of Financial Year 2002–03, rounded to the nearest thousand:
| £ | |
|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 900,000 |
| 1998–99 | 1,197,000 |
| 1999–2000 | 1,168,000 |
| 2000–01 | 1,410,000 |
| 2001–02 | 1,249,000 |
| 2002–03 | 1,200,000 |
| Total | 7,124,000 |
Scientific research funding is also given through the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
Fuel cell technologies are multi-disciplinary and receive funding through a number of EPSRC programmes and mechanisms. Much research effort is focused on the material and electrochemical aspects of the systems, but there is also a significant proportion of 'underpinning' research into fuels (including reformation and hydrogen) and integration issues.
| Fuel cell technologies | Hydrogenfuels | Geothermal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | 1,016 | 136 | 0 |
| 1999–2000 | 703 | 59 | 0 |
| 2000–01 | 899 | 83 | 0 |
| 2001–02 | 1,145 | 319 | 7 |
| 2002–03 | 1,487 | 536 | 4 |
Notes:
1. Above figures are expenditure on grants in the financial years shown.
2. During 2004, EPSRC will be funding a major new consortium of fuel cell research, worth approximately £2 million over four years through the SUPERGEN initiative.
3. Hydrogen figures do not include SUPERGEN hydrogen consortium grant, worth £3.4 million from Q4 02/03.
There has been no funding for geo-thermal research and development since the decision in 1993 to cease the HDR programme (Hot Dry Rock). This followed a review in 1990 which concluded that the technical difficulties and economics of exploiting the resource made the prospects for this technology insufficient to continue research. However, through the Clear Skies initiative, the DTI is currently funding Ground Source Heat Pump installations in households and communities, with a total value of £308,462 to date.
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Iraq
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of the reconstruction work being carried out in Iraq has been allocated to British businesses. [133407]
Ms Hewitt: We have no precise figures for the value of contracts awarded to British companies in Iraq. We are aware of a number of UK companies, which have been successful in winning business, but we have no means of calculating what proportion of the total work this represents.
Although there is no overall figure available, UK companies have won a number of contacts including:
- De la Rue
Crown Agents
Standard Chartered
Halcrow
European Land Solutions
Olive Security
Motor Transport Fuel
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what system for the measurement of motor transport fuel delivered by oil suppliers to retailers she has approved; and if she will make a statement. [134562]
Mr. Timms: The Weights and Measures (Liquid Fuel carried by Road Tanker) Order 1985 regulates the delivery of motor fuel by oil suppliers to retailers. There are no systems specifically prescribed for these measurement purposes in the UK. The suppliers' fuel distribution terminal meters, often known as 'gantry meters', are controlled by HM Customs and Excise. These are not subject to type examination or individual verification. They do however, remain subject to the general provisions of the Weights and Measures Act 1985 which requires under Section 17 all instruments to be fair and just, and so in principle could be subject to inspection and enforcement by local authority trading standards departments.
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recommendations of the International Organisation of Legal Metrology since 2001 relating to liquid motor fuels have (a) been and (b) not been implemented. [134564]
Mr. Timms: No OIML Recommendations relating to liquid motor fuels have been published since 2001.
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how liquefied petroleum gas dispensers are controlled to ensure accurate measuring of the quantity of fuel delivered by suppliers to motor fuel retailers. [134565]
Mr. Timms: Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) dispensers are not specifically prescribed for trade purposes in the UK. These instruments are therefore not currently subject to type examination or individual verification. They are however, subject to the general provisions of the Weights and Measures Act 1985 which requires under Section 17 all instruments to be fair and
30 Oct 2003 : Column 349W
just, and as such could be subject to inspection and enforcement by local-authority trading standards departments.
A review of regulatory provisions covering measuring instruments under the Act takes place on a regular basis, normally every three years, and with the ever increasing commercial use of LPG dispensers these will be an important issue for discussion and debate in the next review.
The National Weights and Measures Laboratory has the regulatory responsibility on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and operates under a three year work programme. One of the proposed projects in the next programme (2005–08) will be the regulatory review.
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what studies she has carried out since 2001 into the number of retail petrol sites required in the UK to ensure the maintenance of adequate supplies of fuels to (a) urban and (b) rural areas; and if she will make a statement. [134566]
Mr. Timms: Since 2001 my Department has not carried out any specific studies of the number of petrol sites required to maintain adequate supplies of transport fuels. However the Downstream Oil Industry Forum (DOIF), which consists of all sectors of the oil industry and relevant Government Department, is currently considering a related issue of the service to motorists in rural areas.
As part of this work the Countryside Agency is carrying out a mapping exercise of rural petrol sites using different thresholds for volumes of annual fuel throughput. This exercise will help inform the discussions of the Forum.
The Department also continues to work in close collaboration with the industry and other Government Departments to ensure that robust and effective emergency plans are in place in the event of any possible disruption to supplies of oil.
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the national suppliers of motor transport fuels in the UK in (a) 1997 and (b) 2003. [134567]
Mr. Timms: The Department does not maintain records of national suppliers of bulk motor transport fuels. However, the Department is aware of the following suppliers both in 1997 and 2003.
- 1997
- Refiners:
- BP
- Conoco
- Elf
- Esso
- Fina
- Murco
- Phillips
- Shell
- Texaco
- Total
30 Oct 2003 : Column 350W
- Importers:
- Futura
- Mabanaft
- Greenergy
- 2003
- Refiners:
- BP
- Chevron Texaco
- ConocoPhillips
- Esso
- Murco
- Petroplus
- Shell
- Total
- Importers:
- Futura
- Emir8
- Mabanaft
- Greenergy
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what road tanker meter measuring systems are required for the delivery of motor transport fuels to retailers. [134568]
Mr. Timms: There is no requirement in place for road tanker meters to measure fuel deliveries to retailers. The measurement takes place during the tanker filling operation. These instruments are not subject to type examination and verification but are under the control of HM Customs and Excise.
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many complaints have been received since June 2002 of oil companies delivering fuel to retailers at high temperatures. [134569]
Mr. Timms: The Department has received no complaints since June 2002. However, we are aware of oil industry concerns on the issue, and my officials held a meeting in March with all sectors of the industry to discuss these.
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what work has been carried out recently by the National Weights and Measures Laboratory and other government bodies into the delivery by oil supply companies of fuels to retailers at high temperatures. [134571]
Mr. Timms: NWML commissioned a report by NEL (National Engineering Laboratory) on 'Temperature Compensation of Liquid Fuels' in 1999. In response to the report NWML included five separate projects in its current work programme (2000–05). These projects comprise an investigation into possible legislative changes based on standard temperature accounting, the inclusion of sight gauges on road tankers, accuracy of service station stock records, sources and quantities of delivery losses including vapour recovery, and accuracy and legal tolerances of the meters in the supply chain.
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