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Student Accommodation

Grant Shapps: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will estimate the number of students living in private rented accommodation in 2005–06 as defined by the form returned by local authorities on 21 October 2005. [39606]

Yvette Cooper: The information is not available from the form mentioned.

Valuation Office Agency

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of the Valuation Office Agency's (a) document dwelling house coding-an illustrated guide and (b) standard letters V07746, V07747 and V07748. [30834]

Mr. Woolas: The standard letters can de accessed online via the Valuation Office Agency's website, www.voa.gov.uk
 
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Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the (a) dwelling house codes and (b) value significant codes in use by the Valuation Office Agency for council tax valuation purposes. [30836]

Mr. Woolas: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 26 October 2005, Official Report, column 477W. The instructions and advice documents, placed in the Library of the House, following this answer, list the dwelling house codes and value significant codes used by the Valuation Office Agency.

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the Valuation Office Agency (a) has, (b) does and (c) will make use of (i) aerial and (ii) satellite photography for the purposes of (A) business rates and (B) council tax valuations. [39485]

Mr. Woolas: The Valuation Office Agency has no contractual arrangements to use aerial or satellite photography for valuation purposes. Any decision to enter into contractual arrangements for the use of aerial photographs in the future would only be taken if this represented a sensible and cost-effective way of confirming property characteristics and the photographs were already in the public domain.

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of the Valuation Office Agency's Council Tax Charter. [39486]

Mr. Woolas: The Valuation Office Agency's Council Tax Charter can be accessed on-line via the Valuation Office Agency's website, www.voa.gov.uk.

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1)pursuant to the answer of 8 December 2005, Official Report, column 1523W, on the Valuation Office Agency, whether the Agency's (a) value significant codes and (b) dwelling house codes include indicators for (i)patios, (ii) greenhouses and (iii) scenic codes; [39640]

(2) pursuant to the answer of 13 December 2005, Official Report, column 1944W, on the Valuation Office Agency, what the names are of the (a) 17 dwelling house codes and (b) value significant codes. [40024]

Mr. Woolas: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 26 October 2005, Official Report, column 477W. The instructions and advice documents, placed in the Library of the House, following this answer, is the dwelling house codes and value significant codes used by the Valuation Office Agency.

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 13 December 2005, Official Report, column 1944W, on the Valuation Office Agency,when electronic value significant codes were introduced. [40023]

Mr. Woolas: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 13 December 2005, Official Report, column 1994W.

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 14 December 2005, Official Report, column 1972W, on the Valuation Office Agency, whether the agency has published guidance for its staff on race relations legislation. [40025]

 
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Mr. Woolas: The Valuation Office Agency's Race Equality Scheme and Action Plan can be accessed on-line via the Valuation Office Agency's website, www.voa.gov.uk.

Widescreen Televisions

Norman Lamb: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many widescreen televisions have been purchased by his Department for use in London Headquarters in each of the last five years; and what the cost was in each year. [39142]

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has only purchased one widescreen television for use in its HQ buildings in the last five years. This is installed in the reception area in Eland House and displays a 24 hour news channel with subtitles. This was purchased as part of a refurbishment programme in 2003–04 and the cost of the equipment could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Batteries

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received regarding European Union directives on batteries; and if he will make a statement. [39723]

Malcolm Wicks: The Government have received representations from a wide range of stakeholders, including battery and appliance manufacturers, local authorities, consumer groups, trade associations and environmental groups, both as part of the Department's 2004 public consultation on the European Commission proposal for a Directive on Batteries and Accumulators, and subsequently, as negotiations on the Directive have proceeded.

The European Parliament completed its Second Reading of the proposed Directive on 13 December, and the measure is expected to move to the conciliation process during the first half of 2006.

Burma

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the value of exports from the UK to Burma was in each year since 1997 for which records are available. [39760]

Ian Pearson: According to figures published by HM Revenue and Customs, the UK's exports of goods to Burma were as follows:
UK exports of goods to Burma 1997–2004 £ million

	Current prices
1997	15.4
1998	12.6
1999	7.4
2000	8.6
2001	9.5
2002	7.3
2003	5.0
2004	2.2

Source:
HM Revenue and Customs, Overseas Trade Statistics (OTS A)




 
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Carbon Emissions

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which unit in his Department is responsible for reducing carbon emissions. [39904]

Malcolm Wicks: The Department of Trade and Industry has a joint public sector agreement target with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Department for Transport, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 12.5 per cent. from 1990 levels by 2008–2012 in line with our Kyoto commitment and to move towards a 20 per cent. reduction in carbon dioxide emissions below 1990 levels by 2010.

The Energy Strategy Unit within DTI is responsible for co-ordinating DTI's interest in climate change in consultation with other parts of the Department. DTI's interests primarily relate to the policies and measures designed to reduce emissions from the energy supply and business sectors while maintaining the competitiveness of UK industry and taking account of other energy policy objectives. This includes the DTI's responsibility for renewable energy and lower carbon technologies.

Christmas Lights

Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate his Department has made of the change in energy consumption in the UK over the Christmas period as a result of the electricity requirements of Christmas lights in each of the last three years. [39436]

Malcolm Wicks: National Grid have estimated that peak electricity demand increases by about 200–300 MW as a result of Christmas lights. Assuming a demand of 250 MW and that lights are operational for 12 hours a day for a period of 25 days, this equates to 75GWh, or 0.02 per cent. of total annual UK electricity consumption.

Citygate Public Affairs Ltd

David T.C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what meetings the Department has held with Citygate Public Affairs Ltd. since July. [36751]

Alan Johnson: The Department does not maintain a central list of such contacts. Ministers and civil servants, including special advisers meet many people as part of the process of policy development and business delivery. All such contacts are conducted in accordance with the requirements of the ministerial code, civil service code, code of conduct for special advisers and guidance for civil servants on contacts with lobbyists and people outside Government.
 
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