House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 26 May 2004 (pt 14)

26 May 2004 : Column 1673W—continued

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Mr. Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many chronic obstructive pulmonary disease claimants medically examined so far have also been diagnosed to be suffering with (a) pneumoconiosis, (b) asbestosis, (c) mesothelioma and (d) asthma, broken down by (i) age and (ii) coalfield area. [174768]

Nigel Griffiths: Nearly 184,000 medical assessments have been carried out with a resulting fit for purpose Medical Assessment Process (MAP) report. Of this number, over 64,000 MAP reports show a condition other than chronic obstructive pulmonary disease that is impacting on the claimant's respiratory function.

Under the respiratory disease Claims Handling Agreement, ERISC are not required to record these separate co morbid conditions.

26 May 2004 : Column 1674W

Clean Coal

Mr. Kevin Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much her Department spent on Clean Coal projects in each year since 2000 broken down by project; and what the estimated spending for 2004 is. [175587]

Mr. Timms: Spend on clean coal (R&D) programmes since 2000 is indicated as follows:

£000 (Accruals)

2000–01 1,889

2001–02 1,702

2002–03 1,979

2003–04 1,090

2004–05 estimated 1,168

	£000 (Accruals)
2000–01	1,889
2001–02	1,702
2002–03	1,979
2003–04	1,090
2004–05 estimated	1,168

The following table shows the breakdown by project.
Projects (R&D)

Cleaner coal R&D programme (cash flow) 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 Total

Pulverised fuel meters—split control — — 65,155 — — 65,155

Advanced materials, modelling and lifting technologies for gas turbine components 188,410 — 211,854 145,210 163,540 709,014

Development of a combustor strategy to cover a wide range of calorific values — — 219,365 — 94,140 313,505

Novel gas cleaning/heat recovery system — 28,560 24,762 — 47,900 101,222

Materials for gasifier heat exchangers — 9,390 25,275 — 15,290 49,955

Concurrent measurements of temperature and soot concentration of coal fired combustion flames 31,910 — 38,091 — 70,001

Coal mineral transformations—effects on boiler ash — 99,300 33,100 — 66,200 198,600

Advanced monitoring using imaging for combustion in power station boilers — — 68,546 — 45,910 114,456

Advanced coal modelling — 37,600 — 10,506 — 48,106

Improved materials for advanced PF boilers and steam turbines — 210,940 536,103 129,957 310,970 1,187,970

Optimisation of furnace design for in-furnace NOx reduction — 50,590 76,195 — 126,785

Combustion of low volatile coals in wall fired plant — 97,620 — — — 97,620

Optimisation of furnace mixing to enhance combustion efficiency in advanced low NOx systems — 97,500 — — — 97,500

Improvement in combustion efficiency in utility boilers — — 239,428 — 201,770 441,198

Advanced optimisation of coal fired power plant operations 3,100 7,347 — — 20,550 30,997

Techno-economic evaluation of cleaner coal fired plant operability — 17,280 — 15,030 17,690 50,000

Modelling of particulate and vapour deposition in gas turbines fired on coal derived gases — — 19,926 13,653 56,710 90,289

Fabricated turbine rotors for advanced steam turbines — 27,690 102,364 34,630 — 164,684

Metallic filters for hot gas cleaning — — 7,690 — 21,310 29,000

Advanced characterisation property database for Chinese and Indian (and other Asian) coals — — 34,722 — 64,670 99,392

Advanced near burner flame diagnostics for ignition and stability studies on full scale pulverised coal flames — — 26,584 — 22,000 48,584

UK collaboration with Netherlands and Australian NOx reduction research using overfire air staging — — 14,123 — 15,300 29,423

Improving the efficiency and environmental performance of small scale combustion plant for increased export opportunities — 5,840 23,247 — 20,910 49,997

Application of CFD modelling to mill classifier design — — 139,300 31,100 — 170,400

Predictive methods and remedial measures for particle impact erosion and abrasion wear in cleaner coal energy conversion techs — — 30,000 70,000 17,500 117,500

Once through the boiler with vertical tube furnace — 81,710 54,471 45,395 — 181,576

Advanced modelling and testing of thick section welded HCM2S — 25,810 — 39,650 39,830 105,290

"FOURCRACK" development of advanced coal fired plant steels to avoid premature failure by weld "Type IV" cracking — — 13,000 — 122,500 135,500

Carbon burnout—coal fitness effects — — 56,400 14,950 27,530 98,880

Development of nitrogen stable isotope ratio measurements to apportion fuel and thermal NOx in coal conversion — — 58,750 51,250 — 110,000

Enhanced Efficiency Steam Turbine Blading for Cleaner Coal Plant — — — 19,848 246,460 266,308

Advanced (700C) PF Power Plant — — — — 81,360 81,360

Virtual Plant Demonstration — — 22,990 — — 22,990

Real time Efficiency Measurements for Utility Boilers — — — 81,632 28,370 1 10,002

Demonstration of Co-firing Biomass at an Existing Coal Fired Power Station — — — 140,000 — 140,000

Demonstration of Co-firing Biomass at an Existing Coal Fired Power Station — — — — 755,460 755,460

Assessment of Ash Refiring and Mineral Addition on Plant Performance and Ash Disposal — — — — 154,000 154,000

On-line Fuel Tracking by Advanced Flame Monitoring — — 13,500 10,500 75,000 99,000

Combustion of Low Volatile Coals in Wall Fired Plant—Phase 2 — — — 81,188 78,240 159,428

Minimising Particulate Emissions through the Application of Neural Network Technology and Monitoring Systems — — — — 118,000 118,000

Improved Methods for Coal and Waste Utilisation — — 15,181 — — 15,181

Former Cleaner Coal Programme

Development of Coal-over-Coal Reburn 62,680 0 0 0 0 62,680

The Fate of Trace Elements in PF Combustion Systems 9,063 0 0 0 0 9,063

Improvement of Combustion Efficiency in Low-NOx Combustion Systems 0 101 0 0 0 101

Advanced Gas Turbine Compressor Project—Phase 3 121,409 0 0 0 0 121,409

Model-based Plant Optimisation Utilising Trends from Operational Instrumentation 14,833 0 0 0 0 14,833

Fabrication of Steels for Advanced Power Plant 23,073 24,942 0 9,450 0 57,465

Gasifier Developments and the Air Blown Gasification Cycle 3,068 0 0 0 0 3,068

Total projects (R&D) 457,546 822,220 2,170,122 943,948 2,929,110 7,322,946

CC R&D Programme Accruals (£000) 1655 1677 1979 1081 1168 7560

Former CC Programme Accruals (£000) 234 25 0 9 0 269

Total Accruals R&D Projects 1889 1702 1979 1090 1168 7829

26 May 2004 : Column 1675W

Cleaner coal R&D programme (cash flow)	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04	2004–05	Total
Pulverised fuel meters—split control	—	—	65,155	—	—	65,155
Advanced materials, modelling and lifting technologies for gas turbine components	188,410	—	211,854	145,210	163,540	709,014
Development of a combustor strategy to cover a wide range of calorific values	—	—	219,365	—	94,140	313,505
Novel gas cleaning/heat recovery system	—	28,560	24,762	—	47,900	101,222
Materials for gasifier heat exchangers	—	9,390	25,275	—	15,290	49,955
Concurrent measurements of temperature and soot concentration of coal fired combustion flames	31,910	—	38,091	—		70,001
Coal mineral transformations—effects on boiler ash	—	99,300	33,100	—	66,200	198,600
Advanced monitoring using imaging for combustion in power station boilers	—	—	68,546	—	45,910	114,456
Advanced coal modelling	—	37,600	—	10,506	—	48,106
Improved materials for advanced PF boilers and steam turbines	—	210,940	536,103	129,957	310,970	1,187,970
Optimisation of furnace design for in-furnace NOx reduction	—	50,590	76,195	—		126,785
Combustion of low volatile coals in wall fired plant	—	97,620	—	—	—	97,620
Optimisation of furnace mixing to enhance combustion efficiency in advanced low NOx systems	—	97,500	—	—	—	97,500
Improvement in combustion efficiency in utility boilers	—	—	239,428	—	201,770	441,198
Advanced optimisation of coal fired power plant operations	3,100	7,347	—	—	20,550	30,997
Techno-economic evaluation of cleaner coal fired plant operability	—	17,280	—	15,030	17,690	50,000
Modelling of particulate and vapour deposition in gas turbines fired on coal derived gases	—	—	19,926	13,653	56,710	90,289
Fabricated turbine rotors for advanced steam turbines	—	27,690	102,364	34,630	—	164,684
Metallic filters for hot gas cleaning	—	—	7,690	—	21,310	29,000
Advanced characterisation property database for Chinese and Indian (and other Asian) coals	—	—	34,722	—	64,670	99,392
Advanced near burner flame diagnostics for ignition and stability studies on full scale pulverised coal flames	—	—	26,584	—	22,000	48,584
UK collaboration with Netherlands and Australian NOx reduction research using overfire air staging	—	—	14,123	—	15,300	29,423
Improving the efficiency and environmental performance of small scale combustion plant for increased export opportunities	—	5,840	23,247	—	20,910	49,997
Application of CFD modelling to mill classifier design	—	—	139,300	31,100	—	170,400
Predictive methods and remedial measures for particle impact erosion and abrasion wear in cleaner coal energy conversion techs	—	—	30,000	70,000	17,500	117,500
Once through the boiler with vertical tube furnace	—	81,710	54,471	45,395	—	181,576
Advanced modelling and testing of thick section welded HCM2S	—	25,810	—	39,650	39,830	105,290
"FOURCRACK" development of advanced coal fired plant steels to avoid premature failure by weld "Type IV" cracking	—	—	13,000	—	122,500	135,500
Carbon burnout—coal fitness effects	—	—	56,400	14,950	27,530	98,880
Development of nitrogen stable isotope ratio measurements to apportion fuel and thermal NOx in coal conversion	—	—	58,750	51,250	—	110,000
Enhanced Efficiency Steam Turbine Blading for Cleaner Coal Plant	—	—	—	19,848	246,460	266,308
Advanced (700C) PF Power Plant	—	—	—	—	81,360	81,360
Virtual Plant Demonstration	—	—	22,990	—	—	22,990
Real time Efficiency Measurements for Utility Boilers	—	—	—	81,632	28,370	1 10,002
Demonstration of Co-firing Biomass at an Existing Coal Fired Power Station	—	—	—	140,000	—	140,000
Demonstration of Co-firing Biomass at an Existing Coal Fired Power Station	—	—	—	—	755,460	755,460
Assessment of Ash Refiring and Mineral Addition on Plant Performance and Ash Disposal	—	—	—	—	154,000	154,000
On-line Fuel Tracking by Advanced Flame Monitoring	—	—	13,500	10,500	75,000	99,000
Combustion of Low Volatile Coals in Wall Fired Plant—Phase 2	—	—	—	81,188	78,240	159,428
Minimising Particulate Emissions through the Application of Neural Network Technology and Monitoring Systems	—	—	—	—	118,000	118,000
Improved Methods for Coal and Waste Utilisation	—	—	15,181	—	—	15,181

Former Cleaner Coal Programme
Development of Coal-over-Coal Reburn	62,680	0	0	0	0	62,680
The Fate of Trace Elements in PF Combustion Systems	9,063	0	0	0	0	9,063
Improvement of Combustion Efficiency in Low-NOx Combustion Systems	0	101	0	0	0	101
Advanced Gas Turbine Compressor Project—Phase 3	121,409	0	0	0	0	121,409
Model-based Plant Optimisation Utilising Trends from Operational Instrumentation	14,833	0	0	0	0	14,833
Fabrication of Steels for Advanced Power Plant	23,073	24,942	0	9,450	0	57,465
Gasifier Developments and the Air Blown Gasification Cycle	3,068	0	0	0	0	3,068
Total projects (R&D)	457,546	822,220	2,170,122	943,948	2,929,110	7,322,946

CC R&D Programme Accruals (£000)	1655	1677	1979	1081	1168	7560
Former CC Programme Accruals (£000)	234	25	0	9	0	269
Total Accruals R&D Projects	1889	1702	1979	1090	1168	7829

Commission for Equality and Human Rights

Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights' budget will be spent on financial grants to supporting organisations; and what framework is in place to choose these organisations. [175152]

Ms Hewitt: Funding for the proposed Commission for Equality and Human Rights is still under discussion and is subject to the Government process for financial planning for the next three years.

However, our White Paper, "Fairness for All" has given a commitment to maintain levels of grant funding for local equality work for the foreseeable future.

The Commission will be subject to the same government accounting framework as other non-departmental public bodies, including those processes for making grants.

Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures will be taken to ensure effective liaison between existing advisers to small businesses and the Commission for Equality and Human Rights. [175154]

Ms Hewitt: The Commission for Equality and Human Rights will provide the opportunity to achieve the more joined-up approach to equality and human rights that business, and especially small business, has called for strongly.

The White Paper, "Fairness for All", makes clear that it will be essential for the CEHR to respond to the specific needs of small businesses and liaise effectively with small business advisers. In developing these effective measures, the CEHR will consult and work closely with small business on all key areas of its work to recognise and address their specific needs.

Evidence shows that small businesses' information needs are often different from those of large organisations, which centre on basic information on

26 May 2004 : Column 1676W

compliance and legal obligations. Many small businesses prefer to seek this advice from their existing advisers.

The CEHR's services will need to support these advisers and intermediaries and enable the provision of joined-up information that small business wants.

The CEHR will respond to the preferred ways of working of small business. It will be expected to work with and through other existing bodies such as regional development agencies, the Small Business Service, business representative organisations and sector-based professional bodies.

The Government will continue to express their strong commitment to ensuring liaison between existing small business advisers and the CEHR throughout the White Paper consultation period and beyond.

We are especially grateful to Lorraine Gradwell of the Small Business Council for her work as a member of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights Task Force and her support for promoting the interests of small business.

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