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25 May 2004 : Column 1566W—continued
Productivity
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her policy is for (a) increasing the productivity and (b) cutting the costs of (i) her Department and (ii) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies. [172189]
Ms Hewitt: I refer to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on 10 May 2004, Official Report, columns 148–49W.
Remote Wind Generation
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how the Government's energy policy takes account of the cost estimated by Ofgem of reinforcing the transmission grid in order to cope with the scale of wind farm development envisaged. [174804]
Mr. Timms: The Government have already undertaken a significant amount of analysis both prior to and after the 2003 Energy White Paper on the costs associated with incorporating increasing amounts of renewable generation into the electricity network.
We believe the right framework is in place to deliver the reinforcement of the transmission grid needed to support the Government's energy policy objectives. The transmission operators are responding to the increased level of demand for connections to the system from renewable energy generators. The market is regulated by Ofgem to ensure that investment in new transmission
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infrastructure is cost efficient and the consumer is protected from the consequences of unnecessary transmission expenditure. In addition, the industry is working to ensure that wind and other renewable generation connection to the system in future will have the characteristics necessary to maintain the integrity of the electricity networks.
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how the Government's energy policy for large-scale intermittent wind power generation addresses the diseconomy of part-time operation thereby forced upon the necessary conventional back-up; and how this deterrent to back-up generation will affect the risks to security and stability. [174807]
Mr. Timms: Although wind generation is undoubtedly less predictable and more intermittent than conventional generation, when aggregated nationally, the implications for the operation of the electricity system are significantly mitigated. Work by the National Grid Company indicates that it will be some years before the growth in wind generation has a noticeable impact on overall reserve plant requirements, although there will come a time when additional reserve will be required.
The impact of this in reduced overall efficiency of generation and associated increase in emissions will be negligible compared with the savings in emissions realised by the operation of the wind generation itself. Nevertheless, the Government in conjunction with the electricity industry, is exploring possible means of further mitigating the effects of intermittency and unpredictability.
Renewable Energy (Oldham, West and Royton)
Mr. Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the effect of recent trends in investment in renewable energy on residents of Oldham West and Royton. [170879]
Mr. Timms: As I far as I am aware recent trends in investment have not led directly to new renewables capacity in Oldham West and Royton itself.
However, there are a number of proposals for developments in the surrounding area. United Utilities have already submitted a section 36 application for a 26 turbine development at Scout Moor, and an application for a two turbine development at Uglow Moor has also been submitted. There are also a number of solar PV developments (both constructed and under assessment) in nearby Rochdale and Bury.
Software Patents
Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Council of Ministers will next discuss the proposed European Directive on the patentability of computer-implemented inventions; and if she will oppose any proposals during the discussions for the extension of software patents. [174744]
Ms Hewitt
[holding answer 20 May 2004]: The competitiveness council discussed the proposed Directive on the patentability of computer-implemented inventions at its meeting on 17 and 18 May 2004, which
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my right hon. Friend the Minister for Industry and the Regions attended for the UK. The position of the UK Government has always been to clarify the law on the patentability of computer-implemented inventions, not to change the extent of patentability. Political agreement was reached on a revised text. The UK supported the Directive in the Council and we would oppose any proposal for the extension of software patents.
Trade Shows
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the benefits provided by Government-selected sponsors to UK firms that receive grants to help co-ordinate trade shows abroad. [174706]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: Accredited Trade Organisations (formerly known as Sponsors) add value to Government grants by providing support services to exhibitors before, during and after the event. The performance of each ATO is assessed by customer satisfaction scores, compliance with the terms and conditions of the support scheme and contribution to UK Trade and Investment targets on developing new and new-to-market exporters. All ATOs must maintain a basic level of performance to remain accredited, and future budget allocations to ATOs are linked to performance.
Surveys carried out by the University of Reading estimate that 70 per cent. of companies receiving exhibition grants through ATOs register a sustainable improvement in their business performance.
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much money her Department has paid to small firms for help in co-ordinating trade fairs abroad in each of the last five years; and of that money, how much has then been paid to Government-selected sponsors. [174707]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: Figures for grants to small and medium sized enterprises are available only for 2003–04, when 81 per cent. of company grants were given to firms in that category. The following table extrapolates that percentage to cover earlier years, showing total company grants and (in brackets) grants to SMEs. We do not routinely collect information on the total amounts SMEs pay to Accredited Trade Organisations (formerly known as Sponsors) for the services they provide and this could only be established at disproportionate cost.
| Total company grants | Grants to SMEs | |
|---|---|---|
| 1999–2000 | 14.2 | (11.5) |
| 2000–01 | 16.8 | (13.6) |
| 2001–02 | 16.6 | (13.4) |
| 2002–03 | 18.2 | (14.7) |
| 2003–04 | 16 | (14.6) |
Mr. Stephen O'Brien:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the
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role of sponsors in helping UK firms co-ordinate trade shows abroad and their cost to (a) UK businesses and (b) UK public funds. [174858]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: Accredited Trade Organisations (formerly known as Sponsors) provide a range of services, including assessing companies' suitability for specific events, negotiating deals with exhibition organisers on stand space and construction, promoting the UK group at the event, troubleshooting on exhibitors' behalf and processing grant claims. On the costs of this to UK businesses I refer the hon. Member to the PQ No. 174707 answered today. In 2003–04 UK Trade & Investment gave grants totalling £2 million to Accredited Trade Organisations for organising UK groups at 438 exhibitions.
Wind Turbines
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many wind turbines in Wales have (a) been erected and (b) not been erected despite being given planning permission. [169755]
Mr. Timms: As far as we are aware, the total number of wind turbines within Wales and with UK grid connection is 394, 30 of these are offshore at North Hoyle.
The total number of wind turbines to be erected for new projects within 2004, within Wales and with UK grid connection is 75.
We have no records of the number of "off-grid" turbines, nor of wind turbines granted permission but not built.
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