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4 May 2004 : Column 1403W—continued
Energywatch
Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what Energywatch's budget was in each year since it was created, how many calls it received from consumers in each year; and what assessment she has made of Energywatch's ability to help gas and electricity consumers. [168872]
Mr. Timms: The information is as follows:
| Expenditure (£ million) | Complaints | Non-complaint inquiries | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000–01 | (1)7.62 | (2)77,705 | n/a |
| 2001–02 | (3)18.99 | (4)72,362 | 106,015 |
| 2002–03 | (5)11.97 | 109,230 | 70,856 |
| 2003–04 | (6)12.39 | 72,079 | 90,000 |
| 2004–05 | (7)13.29 | — | — |
(1) Transitional funding
(2) Complaints to OFGEM, Gas Consumers' Council and Energywatch
(3) Includes £8.1 million transitional funding
(4) Excludes February and March 2002, for which no data are available
(5) Includes £0.29 million transitional funding
(6) Includes £0.29 million transitional funding
(7) Budget. Includes £0.29 million transitional funding
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Energywatch has significantly aided energy consumers by, among other things, assisting individuals in their dealings with energy companies; promoting the consumer interest as a whole, particularly in areas such as mis-selling, the transfer process and the billing and metering practices of energy companies; and representing the interests of disadvantaged consumers.
Fireworks
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people were (a) killed and (b) injured as a result of accidents and incidents involving fireworks in the last five years. [169795]
Mr. Timms: The firework injury statistics for 2003 are not yet available. The statistics for the previous four years are as follows:
| (a) Deaths | (b) Injuries | |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 0 | 1,017 |
| 2001 | 0 | 1,362 |
| 2000 | 2 | 972 |
| 1999 | 0 | 1,056 |
The figures in the table are based on the total number of people treated at hospital casualty departments in Great Britain during a 4 week period around bonfire night.
Ministerial Meetings/Visits
Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list (a) the official meetings she has had with the Mayor of London since July 2000 and (b) the dates and subject of each meeting. [170571]
Ms Hewitt: I met the Mayor of London on 8 November 2001, the subject of the meeting was regeneration.
Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Minister of State (Energy, e-Commerce and Postal Services) next plans to visit Japan. [170993]
Mr. Timms: I am due to visit Japan on 16–19 May.
Panel for Regulatory Accountability
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many members of the Panel for Regulatory Accountability have worked in the private sector; and in what capacity. [168447]
Mr. Alexander: I have been asked to reply.
Membership consists of myself as Chair, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (Ms Hewitt) and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Boateng). All current members of the Panel for Regulatory Accountability have worked in the private sector. Biographies are available at: http://www.parliament.uk/directories/hciolists/alms.cfm
4 May 2004 : Column 1405W
In addition, the Chair of the Better Regulation Task Force (David Arculus) and the Chair of the Small Business Council (William Sargent) are invited to attend the panel. Their biographies can be found at:
http://www.brtf.gov.uk/taskforce/members/DavidArculus.htm and
http://www.sbs.gov.uk/default.php?page=/sbc/members.php
Copies of the biographies have also been placed in the Library.
Renewable Energy
Mr. Neil Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the effect of recent trends in investment in renewable energy upon the residents of Wigan. [169365]
Mr. Timms: Recent trends in renewable energy investment have been very encouraging. More new capacity has been constructed in the last few years than in the previous decade, and a significant amount is currently in the pipeline. This covers a wide range of technologies including onshore and offshore wind, solar and biomass.
However, as far as I am aware this has not translated into new or proposed capacity in the Wigan area.
Mr. Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the recent trends in investment in renewable energy and the effect of those trends upon residents of Preston. [169686]
Mr. Timms: Recent trends in renewable energy investment have been very encouraging. More new capacity has been constructed in the last few years than in the previous decade, and a significant amount is currently in the pipeline. This covers a wide range of technologies including onshore and offshore wind, solar and biomass.
However, as far as I am aware this has not translated into new or proposed capacity in the Preston area.
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations she has received on renewable energy targets and their achievement; and if she will make a statement. [169753]
Mr. Timms: The Government's renewable energy target is that renewable energy sources will supply 10 per cent. of our electricity by 2010. The target is challenging as we are starting from a low base; provisional figures suggest that in 2003, 2 per cent. of electricity was generated from sources eligible for the Renewables Obligation. However, the target is achievable. As the SEPN annual report published earlier this week indicates, we have made an encouraging start.
We have received many representations from stakeholders regarding the targets, and we have listened to them. An example of this is our plan to increase the level of the Renewables Obligation (RO) in the period after 2010, so that it reaches 15.4 per cent. by 2015–16. By increasing the Obligation in these years, this will greatly assist investor confidence and in particular help with the financing of new projects needed to deliver output by 2010.
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Ultra-wideband Wireless Networks
Mr. Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to license ultra-wideband wireless networks. [169295]
Mr. Timms: The matter raised is the responsibility of the Office of Communications (Ofcom) as the independent regulator. Accordingly, my officials have asked the Chief Executive of Ofcom to respond directly to my hon. Friend. Copies of the Chief Executive's letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
Wind Turbines
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations she has received on the proposal for wind turbines in the Thames Estuary; and if she will make a statement. [169750]
Mr. Timms: On 16 March I met representatives from the Chamber of Shipping, Trinity House, the Port of London Authority and the British Marine Aggregate Producers Association for a general discussion on a number of navigation related issues in relation to the 15 proposed Round 2 offshore wind farms, 4 of which are planned in the Thames Estuary. To date my Department has not received any development consent applications for a Round 2 wind farm. Before developers can submit applications they must undertake a full environmental impact assessment including a navigational risk assessment in consultation with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and other shipping interests. To ensure that all views on consent applications are taken into account, at the time developers submit applications for consent to my department they must advertise the project in both national and local press so that any person can make representations to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. All representations are then taken into consideration before a decision is made on whether to give consent.
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