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Energy (Research)
Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much public funding has gone into scientific research into (a) renewable energy systems and (b) nuclear energy in each of the last five years. [13389]
Malcolm Wicks: The following table sets out the expenditure of the DTI and Research Councils on research and development for nuclear fission, fusion and renewables between 2000–01 and 2004–05.
| 2000–01 | 2001–02 | 2002–03 | 2003–04(1) | 2004–05(2) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nuclear fission | 0.13 | 2.32 | 2.41 | 2.31 | 2.32 |
| Nuclear fusion | 17.0 | 14.4 | 14.6 | 15.63 | 19.53 |
| Renewable energy(3) | 15.46 | 18.82 | 24.40 | 29.07 | 25.16 |
In addition further research relating to energy is included in the work of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research which has some £10 million funding from research councils over 2000–05, and in the work of the Carbon Trust. The UK also participates in international collaborative energy research via the EU and the International Energy Agency.
3 Includes full range of renewables and also Research Council spend on carbon capture, energy storage and networks.
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the Government plans to limit investment in research and development solely to systems analysis relating to hydrogen infrastructure and novel non-nuclear hydrogen production technology. [13410]
Malcolm Wicks: Hydrogen has significant potential over the next 20 to 30 years to contribute to cost competitive CO 2 reductions and enhanced security of supply for the UK. The Government are committed to supporting research, development, and demonstration projects for hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.
On the 14 June the Government announced a commitment of some £15 million over four years for a UK wide hydrogen and fuel cell demonstration programme. The precise nature of the scheme is still being developed and no money has yet been earmarked for specific projects. It follows that no particular technical application has been ruled out.
The money for the demonstration programme is in addition to the £4 million per year which is dedicated to hydrogen research and development across the public
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sector. Of this some £2.5 million is funded by the EPSRC, including the Sustainable Hydrogen Energy Consortium funded under the EPSRC's Supergen programme. Additional funding for some £2.5 million is funded by the EPSRC, including the Sustainable Hydrogen Energy Consortium funded under the EPSRC's Supergen programme. Additional funding for applied research and development comes from the collaborative research and development product under the Department's Technology Programme.
Export Control Organisation
Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) pursuant to the Answer of 13 June 2005, Official Report, column 78W, on the Export Control Organisation, through which mechanisms he will announce his decision on (a) the future of the Export Control Organisation and (b) whether to delegate authority to issue export licences to a private contractor; and if he will make a statement; [13723]
(2) whether he is required to inform (a) other Government departments, (b) hon. Members and (c) the public that a decision has been made on whether to delegate authority to issue export licences to a private contractor; and if he will make a statement. [13801]
Malcolm Wicks: We have now reviewed the options for outsourcing the work of the Export Control Organisation. On the basis of a thorough analysis we have concluded that in this particular case, there are doubts about whether outsourcing the licensing function would achieve sufficient additional benefits. We have therefore decided not to proceed with outsourcing these activities. Industry and other interested parties are being informed of this conclusion through various channels.
Export Credits Guarantee Department
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the Export Credits Guarantee Department has received notification from Biwater that its contract has been cancelled by the Tanzanian authorities for non-performance. [12596]
Ian Pearson: Biwater has advised the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) that the contract between the Tanzanian project company, City Water Services Ltd. (CWS), and the Dar Es Salaam Water Authority, was not formally terminated by the water authority, but instead, on 1 June 2005, Tanzanian Government entities took possession of CWS's assets and premises and simultaneously deported the three senior Biwater executives who were responsible for running CWS. Biwater and CWS took the view that those acts amounted to a repudiation of the contract and formally accepted that repudiation, thus bringing the contract to an end.
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State forTrade and Industry what procedures the Export Credits Guarantee Department follows where the contractor defaults due to cancellation of a contract by the purchasing country on the grounds of non-performance. [12597]
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Ian Pearson: Non-performance is not an insured risk under an ECGD insurance policy. Termination of a contract only becomes relevant when an exporter makes a claim under the policy for amounts unpaid under the contract. ECGD would consider the terms of the policy and the terms of the contract in order to determine whether the exporter had a valid claim under the policy.
The same procedures apply to overseas investments that are covered under an ECGD Overseas Investment Insurance policy.
Where ECGD provides a guarantee to a bank, it may be entitled to recoup from the exporter the amount of any guarantee payments which it might make to the bank up to a pre-agreed limit (usually 10 per cent. of ECGD's maximum liability).
ECGD would attempt to minimise loss or make recoveries by, among other things, directing the exporter to pursue any available remedies including arbitration or other proceedings.
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in how many instances the Export Credits Guarantee Department has sought recourse from companies in receipt of ECGD guarantees or insurance in the last five years. [12598]
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on how many occasions in the last five years contracts underwritten by the Export Credits Guarantee Department have been terminated by the buyer; and if he will list the (a) countries, (b) dates and (c) projects in relation to contracts which have been terminated. [12599]
Ian Pearson: The Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) would only keep a record of a contract that has been terminated if a claim has been paid on that contract. ECGD have not paid a claim on a contract that has been terminated in the past five years.
However, I refer the hon. Member for North Norfolk to the answer given today to PQ No. 12596.
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what physical assets the Export Credits Guarantee Department has as collateral on loans guaranteed by the Department. [12601]
Ian Pearson: The Export Credits Guarantee Department do not hold any physical assets, but does have registered charges as security on certain assets which are financed with the assistance of ECGD guarantees.
Group 4 Securicor
Mr. Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much was spent by his Department and public bodies and agencies for which he is responsible on security contracts with Group 4 Securicor in 2004–05; and if he will list (a) the nature and location of services provided and (b) the start and end dates of such contracts. [13522]
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Alan Johnson: The Department had a contract with Group 4 Securicor for the provision of manned guarding and reception at Atholl House, Aberdeen between August 1993 and April 2005 at a cost in 2004–05 of £105,526.
Public bodies sponsored by the Department are responsible for their own security arrangements and such information is not held centrally.
Letter from Ron Marchant to Mr. Henderson, dated 21 July 2005:
I am responding to this parliamentary question, tabled on 15 July 2005, regarding amounts spent on security contracts with Group 4 Securicor in the past year, including details of the nature and location of services provided, and the start and end dates of any such current contracts.
Letter from Tim Moss to Mr. Henderson, dated 21 July 2005:
I am responding to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on behalf of Companies House, which is an Executive Agency of the DTI.
Letter from Desmond Flynn to Mr. Henderson, dated 21 July 2005:
The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has asked me to reply to you directly on behalf of The Insolvency Service in respect of your question (833/2005) asking how much was spent on security contracts with Group 4 Securicor in the past year; the nature and location of services provided and the start and end dates of any current such contracts.
Between April 2004 and March 2005 The Insolvency Service spent £131,686.77 with Group 4 Securicor, for security guarding of our Birmingham HQ building. This contract commenced on 5 June 2000 and came to an end on 4 June 2005 after the contract was re-tendered.
Letter from Jeanne Spinks to Mr. Henderson, dated 21 July 2005:
You asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much was spent by his Department, and any public body or agency for which he is responsible, on security contracts with Group 4 Securicor in the past year; the nature and location of services provided and the start and end dates of any current such contracts. I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Employment Tribunals Service (ETS).
The Employment Tribunals Service has not held any contracts with Group 4 Securicor in the past year.
Letter from Iain MacGregor to Mr. Henderson, dated 21 July 2005:
The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has asked me to reply on behalf of the National Weights and Measures Laboratory (NWML) to your question regarding the amount spent on Security contracts with Group 4 Securicor, in the past year.
NWML has not spent any money on security contracts with Group 4 Securicor in the past year, thus we submit a nil return.
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