| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
31 Oct 2005 : Column 710W—continued
Nuclear Power
Peter Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what meetings (a) he and (b) his departmental officials have had with (i) the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) and (ii) the nuclear industry trades unions in respect of the implications for the implementation of the NDA legacy management strategy of the potential sale of the British Nuclear Group. [20981]
Malcolm Wicks: Ministers have not specifically met the NDA or the trade unions to discuss the implications of a potential sale of British Nuclear Group for the implementation of the NDA's legacy management strategy. The possibility of a BNG sale has however arisen, in passing, during discussions that hon. Friend the Minister for Competitiveness has had with the trade unions on another matter. The views of both these stakeholders will be important when Ministers come to consider whether we should approve the proposed sale.
In preparing advice on the proposed sale of BNG, officials are holding discussions with the NDA, the trade unions and a range of other important stakeholders. Alongside safety and the likely effect on staff, the implications for the implementation of the NDA legacy management strategy will be a key consideration.
31 Oct 2005 : Column 711W
Oil
Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on purchasing strategies for oil for intensive users of energy. [20322]
Malcolm Wicks: The Government are concerned about the impact that high and volatile oil prices are having on UK companies and consumers and is working with the international community to promote greater stability in the global oil market. G7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors met on the 23 of September 2005 and agreed the key steps that needed to be taken to this effect.
Redundancies (Staffordshire)
Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what large-scale redundancies have occurred in North Staffordshire over the last four years. [21835]
Alun Michael: The Government Office for the West Midlands keeps a record of all redundancy announcements of which it becomes aware that involve the loss of at least 50 jobs within its region.
Since October 2001 the Government Office has recorded 37 such cases in North Staffordshire, which together were expected to involve the loss of almost 9,400 jobs. The largest of these were:
Renewable Energy
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to ensure continuity of support and funding for the UK's renewable energy industry. [20517]
Malcolm Wicks [holding answer 21 October 2005]: The Government's main mechanism for supporting the renewable industry is the Renewables Obligation. The RO places an obligation on electricity suppliers to source an increasing proportion of their electricity sales from eligible sources of renewable energy. The RO will run until at least 2027 ensuring continuity of support and funding for the UK's renewable industry.
The RO is supported by around £500 million of spending between 2002–08 to help develop renewable and low carbon technologies.
Mr. Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what grant funding for (a) solar thermal, (b) biomass, (c) solar photovolatics and (d) other renewable energy technologies his Department plans to put in place when the (i) Clear Skies and (ii) solar PV Major Demonstration programme comes to an end. [21395]
Malcolm Wicks: Grant funding support for solar thermal, biomass solar photovoltaics and other renewable technologies will continue after Clear Skies and the PV Demonstration programmes under the new Low Carbon Buildings programme. The micro generation strategy will also look to provide wider support by tackling some of the barriers currently hindering market development.
Mr. Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the installation level of solar photovoltaics in the UK was in 2004; and what assessment he has made of the levels on other countries which are signatories to the Kyoto Agreement. [21397]
Malcolm Wicks: The installed Photovoltaics generation capacity for the UK for 2004 was 2261 kW. Information on installed capacity in other countries including signatories to the Kyoto Agreement is available on the International Energy Agency (IEA) website www.iea-pvps.org—'Trends in Photovoltaic Applications/Survey Report of Selected DBA Countries'.
Mr. Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department is taking to encourage private sector investment in (a) solar thermal, (b) solar photovolatics and (c) other micro-renewable technologies. [21398]
Malcolm Wicks: In developing the micro generation strategy due to be published in April 2006, we are considering ways to encourage private sector investment in relation to micro-renewable technologies.
Norman Lamb:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment his Department made of the impact on (a) jobs and (b) investment in
31 Oct 2005 : Column 713W
micro-renewables of the decision to end the (i) Clear Skies and (ii) Solar PV Major Demonstration programmes prior to the commencement of the Low Carbon Programme. [21670]
Malcolm Wicks: The Clear Skies and Solar PV Major Demonstration programmes have contributed to the development of the microgeneration industry in the UK, including an installer base. The Low Carbon Buildings Programme will continue to fund the installation of microgeneration products in household, community and large-scale projects. The microgeneration strategy will look at removing some of the wider barriers currently hindering market development.
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when funding allocations under the solar PV Major Demonstration Programme will cease; when allocations under the proposed Low Carbon Buildings Programme will become available; what alternative funding is available in the period between the operation of the two programmes; what estimate he has made of the effects of a break in funding on the investment decisions of the solar PV industry; and if he will make a statement. [21781]
Malcolm Wicks: The Solar PV Major Demonstration Programme is due to end in March 2006 along with the Clear Skies programme (though spending to continue through to March 2007) and they will be replaced by the Low Carbon Buildings Programme which we aim to start in April 2006, subject to state aids clearance. This timing takes account of the need to minimize the break between programmes, which we well recognise.
Secondees
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether secondees to his Department are subject to Civil Service rules; and if he will make a statement. [21672]
Alan Johnson: Secondments are part of the Interchange Initiative that promotes the exchange of people and good practice between the Civil Service and other organisations.
All secondments into the Department follow the Civil Service Recruitment Code and have standard contractual terms and conditions in place, which are formally agreed with the secondee and their employer. These terms and conditions include clauses on duties and responsibilities during the secondment; the secondee is subject to the working arrangements, policies, procedures, rules and regulations applying to all staff of the Department.
All secondees into the Department are subject to the Official Secrets Act. They are also required to sign an undertaking that they will not disclose or make use of any information received in confidence during their secondment when they leave DTI.
Departmental Security Clearance is required for all secondees.
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what procedures are in place in his Department to manage conflicts of interests that may arise from secondments from industry to his Department; and if he will make a statement. [21673]
31 Oct 2005 : Column 714W
Alan Johnson: All secondments into DTI have standard contractual terms and conditions in place, which are formally agreed with the secondee and their employer. These terms and conditions include clauses on conflict of interests and guidance on how to avoid potential conflict of interests.
If either the secondee or the organisation have or have had an interest in the relevant areas relating to the secondment, the Department will determine whether or not it would be appropriate for the secondee to take on the relevant responsibility on behalf of the Department.
In the event of an actual conflict of interest, the secondment would be terminated. This is in accordance with the contractual terms and conditions for the secondment.
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what procedures are in place to ensure suitable supervision of secondees takes place by permanent members of staff with the Department; and if he will make a statement. [21674]
Alan Johnson: All secondees have a designated DTI line manager during their secondment; permanent members of the Departments' staff or its authorised representatives undertake line management responsibilities.
All secondments into the Department have standard contractual terms and conditions in place, which are formally agreed with the secondee and their employer. These terms and conditions include clauses on duties and responsibilities during the secondment; the secondee is required to be responsible to and act in accordance with the instructions only of the Department or its authorised representatives, reporting to the secondee's DTI line manager.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |