Examination of Witnesses (Questions 80-93)
24 MARCH 2004
MR PAUL
EVERITT, MS
KATHERINE BENNETT
AND MR
MIKE HAWES
Q80 Joan Walley: Would you say there
is some kind of inconsistency as to how this is being applied?
Ms Bennett: I would say on low
carbon that is very much more central. We do have the door knocked
regularly by people with regional hats on talking about innovation
and R&D.
Q81 Joan Walley: Are there any particular
regions you suggest we should go and talk to?
Ms Bennett: I am generally impressed
with the RDAs I have dealt with. Talking about our Luton closure
we were very impressed with the work of the RDA, they were very
helpful to us with the new training programmes. There is a diversity
and maybe for some of the smaller businesses, the technological
driven ones who have small staff they do not quite know where
to go, let us hope the Partnership can help with that.
Q82 Joan Walley: Could you explain to
us about how the Ultra Low Carbon Car Challenge fits in with the
New Vehicle Technology Fund? Are they working together and reinforcing
each other?
Mr Everitt: Yes.
Q83 Joan Walley: Good.
Mr Everitt: Yes is the answer
to that question. I think the Ultra Low Carbon Car Challenge is
a specific project designed to address some of the issues that
we have raised here in terms of looking to create the opportunities
for a real vehicle rather than a niche product. It was looking
to draw in the best technologies and create some interest and
excitement in a car that people could recognise as a car which
had a utility value that people associated with that car but that
was providing environmental excellence. That is an interesting
and an exciting thing to try to do.
Q84 David Wright: It would be good if
some of the mainstream stands in the Motor Show could exhibit
them because what tends to happen is we go round a corner and
we will look at a strange looking vehicle that is particularly
good and environmentally sensitive and we will go back into the
main hall and have a look at the Ferrari. There is a bit of that
about it, is there not? It is about mainstreaming that into your
whole approach, so if are you doing the United Kingdom Motor Show
you are mainstreaming some of this stuff rather than leaving it
to one side.
Mr Hawes: Absolutely. I think
all of the major manufacturers are looking to launch vehicles
and introduce vehicles into the market place which have to be
mainstream. That means at the Motor Show having them on the stand,
not off in the corner. I can assure you if you attend this year's
Motor Show, the dates are . . .
Mr Everitt: 26 May to 6 June.
Mr Hawes: If you visit a range
of stands you will see those vehicles on the stand.
David Wright: I do not own a Ferrari!
Q85 Joan Walley: In terms of support
there could be from the Government, is the Government doing enough
to give support? If you look at Japan and you look at the larger
number, percentage wise, they will have by 2010, is that because
the Japanese Government is doing more to make that possible?
Mr Hawes: Obviously it is the
home base for a number of auto motor manufacturing companies who
are investing significant amounts of money in to fuel cell technology.
For that reason one would always look at one's home market first.
I am sure American companies would say the same about the American
domestic market. The United Kingdom Government is keen to attract
much of that development into the United Kingdom and to foster
those companies which are involved in research and development
round fuel cell in the United Kingdom, that lies behind some of
the initiatives Paul mentioned earlier.
Q86 Joan Walley: The Low Carbon Vehicle
Partnership is that doing enough or is it a waste of space? How
well is it doing?
Mr Everitt: It has been in operation
for just over a year, given that a significant proportion of that
time was taken up with adjusting the nuts and bolts and finding
staff and finding accommodation I think it has made some reasonable
progress. The big benefit of the Partnership is that it does bring
people together and, if you like, builds trust and confidence
within sectors of the market which would not normally discuss
some of the key issues, certainly not in a non-commercial environment.
I think the hope is that as the Partnership rolls on more and
more initiatives which are essentially commercial initiatives
run by individuals and companies within the Partnership take off
and begin to roll forward the agenda rather than the Partnership
being someone who tries to dictate.
Q87 Joan Walley: Going back to my earlier
question about fuel cells, is the United Kingdom Government giving
enough financial support? The second question is about 2008, including
transport within the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, is that realistic?
Ms Bennett: On fuel cells I am
just speaking purely on behalf of General Motors. General Motors
have said they believe that Europe is behind, considerably behind.
Q88 Joan Walley: Behind where?
Ms Bennett: The US, Japan and
Canada.
Q89 Joan Walley: What about the United
Kingdom?
Ms Bennett: They have not specifically
commented on the United Kingdom. They are very interested in the
market because we are quite environmentally focused having talked
through what we talked about, we are a very cosmopolitan and intellectual
type of purchasing public. Fuel cells we think will have take-up
in this country and we think the Government could be doing more.
Q90 Joan Walley: Have you made that clear
to the Government?
Ms Bennett: Yes, we have.
Q91 Joan Walley: Is that information
available?
Ms Bennett: Yes, I can certainly
write to you with that.[6]
Q92 Joan Walley: Finally 2008, is transport
going to be part of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme?
Mr Everitt: We have significant
problems with the EU Emissions Trading Scheme related to our plants'
facilities.
Q93 Joan Walley: Are you going to stop
it?
Mr Everitt: I do not think we
have the opportunity to do that. Given we have a voluntary agreement
we think there is not the necessity for the transport sector to
be within the Emissions Trading Scheme.
Chairman: We may have further questions
about that point and about a number of others.[7]
I am sorry we have been cut short. We are very grateful to you
for the frank way you answered our questions. Thank you very much.
6 Please see below, Ev. 22 Back
7
Please see below.
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