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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.
 
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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)
2000–011,889
2001–021,702
2002–031,979
2003–041,090
2004–05 estimated1,168

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

Cleaner coal R&D programme (cash flow)2000–012001–022002–032003–042004–05Total
Pulverised fuel meters—split control65,15565,155
Advanced materials, modelling and lifting technologies for gas turbine components188,410211,854145,210163,540709,014
Development of a combustor strategy to cover a wide range of calorific values219,36594,140313,505
Novel gas cleaning/heat recovery system28,56024,76247,900101,222
Materials for gasifier heat exchangers9,39025,27515,29049,955
Concurrent measurements of temperature and soot concentration of coal fired combustion flames31,91038,09170,001
Coal mineral transformations—effects on boiler ash99,30033,10066,200198,600
Advanced monitoring using imaging for combustion in power station boilers68,54645,910114,456
Advanced coal modelling37,60010,50648,106
Improved materials for advanced PF boilers and steam turbines210,940536,103129,957310,9701,187,970
Optimisation of furnace design for in-furnace NOx reduction50,59076,195126,785
Combustion of low volatile coals in wall fired plant97,62097,620
Optimisation of furnace mixing to enhance combustion efficiency in advanced low NOx systems97,50097,500
Improvement in combustion efficiency in utility boilers239,428201,770441,198
Advanced optimisation of coal fired power plant operations3,1007,34720,55030,997
Techno-economic evaluation of cleaner coal fired plant operability17,28015,03017,69050,000
Modelling of particulate and vapour deposition in gas turbines fired on coal derived gases19,92613,65356,71090,289
Fabricated turbine rotors for advanced steam turbines27,690102,36434,630164,684
Metallic filters for hot gas cleaning7,69021,31029,000
Advanced characterisation property database for Chinese and Indian (and other Asian) coals34,72264,67099,392
Advanced near burner flame diagnostics for ignition and stability studies on full scale pulverised coal flames26,58422,00048,584
UK collaboration with Netherlands and Australian NOx reduction research using overfire air staging14,12315,30029,423
Improving the efficiency and environmental performance of small scale combustion plant for increased export opportunities5,84023,24720,91049,997
Application of CFD modelling to mill classifier design139,30031,100170,400
Predictive methods and remedial measures for particle impact erosion and abrasion wear in cleaner coal energy conversion techs30,00070,00017,500117,500
Once through the boiler with vertical tube furnace81,71054,47145,395181,576
Advanced modelling and testing of thick section welded HCM2S25,81039,65039,830105,290
"FOURCRACK" development of advanced coal fired plant steels to avoid premature failure by weld "Type IV" cracking13,000122,500135,500
Carbon burnout—coal fitness effects56,40014,95027,53098,880
Development of nitrogen stable isotope ratio measurements to apportion fuel and thermal NOx in coal conversion58,75051,250110,000
Enhanced Efficiency Steam Turbine Blading for Cleaner Coal Plant19,848246,460266,308
Advanced (700C) PF Power Plant81,36081,360
Virtual Plant Demonstration22,99022,990
Real time Efficiency Measurements for Utility Boilers81,63228,3701 10,002
Demonstration of Co-firing Biomass at an Existing Coal Fired Power Station140,000140,000
Demonstration of Co-firing Biomass at an Existing Coal Fired Power Station755,460755,460
Assessment of Ash Refiring and Mineral Addition on Plant Performance and Ash Disposal154,000154,000
On-line Fuel Tracking by Advanced Flame Monitoring13,50010,50075,00099,000
Combustion of Low Volatile Coals in Wall Fired Plant—Phase 281,18878,240159,428
Minimising Particulate Emissions through the Application of Neural Network Technology and Monitoring Systems118,000118,000
Improved Methods for Coal and Waste Utilisation15,18115,181
Former Cleaner Coal Programme
Development of Coal-over-Coal Reburn62,680000062,680
The Fate of Trace Elements in PF Combustion Systems9,06300009,063
Improvement of Combustion Efficiency in Low-NOx Combustion Systems0101000101
Advanced Gas Turbine Compressor Project—Phase 3121,4090000121,409
Model-based Plant Optimisation Utilising Trends from Operational Instrumentation14,833000014,833
Fabrication of Steels for Advanced Power Plant23,07324,94209,450057,465
Gasifier Developments and the Air Blown Gasification Cycle3,06800003,068
Total projects (R&D)457,546822,2202,170,122943,9482,929,1107,322,946
CC R&D Programme Accruals (£000)165516771979108111687560
Former CC Programme Accruals (£000)23425090269
Total Accruals R&D Projects188917021979109011687829

 
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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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