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Renewable Energy

Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much in energy a producer will receive for 1 Megawatt-hour (MWh) of power under the trading of Renewable Energy Certificates (REC). [35263]

Malcolm Wicks: I assume the hon. Member is referring to Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs).

For each megawatt hour of eligible renewable energy generated, Ofgem issues a tradable certificate called a ROC to the accredited generating station. The generator can then sell their ROCs to suppliers with, or without, the electricity. This enables renewable generators to receive a premium price for their electricity. The market determines the price of a ROC.

Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the Renewable Energy Certificate programme is on target to meet the 2010 goals set for it. [35264]

Malcolm Wicks: I assume the hon. Member is referring to Renewable Obligation Certificates.

The Government have a target of 10 per cent. of electricity from Renewable Obligation eligible sources of renewable energy. In 2004, 3.1 per cent. of the UK's electricity supply came from Renewable Obligation eligible sources of renewable energy. This rises to 3.6 per cent. from all sources of renewable energy.

The Government recognise that the renewables target is ambitious, but we are doing all we can to get as close as we can to it.
 
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Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to encourage energy providers to take advantage of the Renewable Energy Certificates programme to help provide renewable energy. [35265]

Malcolm Wicks: I assume the hon. Member is referring to Renewable Obligation Certificates.

The Government recently consulted on the review of the Renewables Obligation, which considered a number of limited amendments to improve the effectiveness of the Obligation. The consultation period closed on 9 December, with most changes likely to come into force on 1 April 2006.

The large majority of respondents considered that the Obligation has provided a positive stimulus for investment in renewable technologies, particularly lower cost technologies, such as onshore wind and landfill gas. Most considered that the Obligation is largely working as anticipated and would deliver a significant expansion in renewable energy generation over the coming years.

Wheel Clamping

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State forTrade and Industry what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the conduct of private wheel clamping firms in England and Wales. [30659]

Paul Goggins: I have been asked to reply.

Since the legal requirement date of 3 May 2005 for vehicle immobiliser (wheel-clampers) operatives to obtain an SIA licence, the Home Office has not commissioned any research on the conduct of private wheel clamping firms in England and Wales.

In July 2002, the Home Office carried out a limited consultation exercise on the specific issue of the practice of towing away vehicles from private land and charging a release fee. The consultation asked three main questions: the scale of any problems currently posed by the towing away of vehicles; the extent to which the practice might grow as an alternative to wheel-clamping when SIA regulation came into force; and how the problem should be addressed.

The responses confirmed anecdotal evidence that there were problems arising out of the practice of towing away, giving rise to widespread public complaint. It was predicted that these problems would increase as operators sought to evade the licensing requirements attached to vehicle immobilising. It was recommended that the problem should be dealt with by extending the licensing remit of the SIA to include this form of activity. This was completed earlier this year.

TRANSPORT

Correspondence

Mr. Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Walsall North sent on 2 November 2005 to the Department for the Environment, Food and
 
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Rural Affairs and transferred to the Department for Trade and Industry on 11 November and to his Department on 6 December. [37861]

Dr. Ladyman: I wrote to the hon. Member on Tuesday 13 December.

Integrated Kent Franchise

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to change services on the Bexhill to London Victoria line following the award of the Integrated Kent Franchise. [36902]

Derek Twigg [holding answer 13 December 2005]: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of Tuesday 6 December 2005, Official Report, column 1119W.

Railways

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he plans to make of the performance of Arriva Trains Wales on the Wales and Borders network in advance of the performance review due in 2008. [36897]

Derek Twigg: The Arriva Trains Wales Franchise Agreement sets out targets for performance. The agreement includes annual milestones which are monitored to determine whether Arriva Trains Wales will achieve their targets. Both are discussed at monthly and quarterly meetings between the Department and the train operator, and are the subject of correspondence with them throughout the year.

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 6 December 2005, Official Report, column 1117W, on Buckshaw Village (railway station), when work will begin on the new railway station at Buckshaw Village; how long the project is estimated to take; and when the station will be ready to be opened. [37506]

Derek Twigg: This is a project that is being led by Lancashire county council with Network Rail. The Council has yet to finalise the detailed project plan which would provide dates for key milestones, but they have told the Department that the station is expected to be operational by 2008 providing the funding is in place.

Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation

Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the merits of a carbon and sustainability assurance scheme as part of the renewable transport fuel obligation; and if he will make a statement. [37699]

Dr. Ladyman: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport and I meet our ministerial colleagues, to discuss a range of departmental policies, regularly.

The renewable transport fuel obligation will be designed to encourage the production and use of biofuels with the best carbon savings and from the most sustainable sources.

This issue was explored at some length in the feasibility study which we published on 10 November. A copy of the study is available in the House Library and
 
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on the Department's website at http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_roads/documents/divisionhomepage/610328.hcsp.

We will be consulting stakeholders shortly on how we might best incorporate carbon and sustainability criteria into the obligation, as well as on other detailed design issues.

Speed Cameras

John Penrose: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many prosecutions for motor speeding offences caught by speed cameras have been discontinued due to a lack of sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction since 2003. [33685]

Paul Goggins: I have been asked to reply.

This information is not collected centrally.

Transport Commissioners

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the Transport Commissioners' ability to carry out their role within their existing regulatory powers; and what plans his Department has to amend these powers. [37868]

Dr. Ladyman: We are about to publish a consultation paper on proposals for modernising and streamlining the operator licensing system and I plan to make a statement shortly.

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