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28 Feb 2006 : Column 669W—continued
Fraud Trials (Juries)
Philip Davies: To ask the Solicitor-General what progress the Government has made in developing proposals in relation to the use of juries in fraud trials. [53930]
The Solicitor-General: Discussions remain ongoing with the opposition front bench about the use of juries in fraud trials.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Carbon Emissions
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what his Department's estimate is of the size of (a) solar photovoltaic, (b) solar hot water and (c) micro wind system needed to deliver a 10 per cent. carbon emissions reduction in a typical three bedroomed house built to 2006 Part L Building Regulations. [54056]
Malcolm Wicks: The information is as follows:
(a) A 3-bed semi developed to 2006 Part L regulations will use anywhere from 3,000–4,000kWh/electricity p.a. i.e. this is not dissimilar to the average across the whole stock. For the example below, we have assumed 3,000kWh electrical use. Since PV produces Electricity it can only displace the CO 2 from the electrical use in the building. 3,000kWh of electricity equates to 1,290kg/CO 2 p.a. (assuming 0.43kg CO 2 /kWh). A typical dwelling built to 2002 part L standards would have annual emissions of around 3040kg CO 2 (830kg Carbon). Assuming a 25 per cent. improvement on 2002 standards under 2006 part L standards, the annual emissions would be around 2,600kg CO 2 (710kg Carbon). Assuming a quality PV system delivers—800kWh/kWp/yr, the size required to meet a 10 per cent. carbon emission reduction would be around 0.75kWp, which would cost between £4,500 to £6,500 to install (assuming installed costs of £6,000 to £8,500/kWp depending on type of PV specified).
(b) A typical solar hot water heating system is designed to give up to 70 per cent. of water over the year ad for technical reasons it is not practical to go beyond this. 70 per cent. of the typical domestic requirement would not be sufficient to meet 10 per cent. carbon reduction of the building as a whole. This limit would equate to approximately 7 per cent. of the total carbon emissions of the building.
(c) Of the micro wind systems designed to be mounted on a house it is not possible to give an estimate at this early stage of technology development.
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Green Minister
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what work his Department's Green Minister has undertaken in the last three months. [53325]
Malcolm Wicks: In January I published a public consultation on the Energy Review. I have made a series of visits to meet businesses, environmental groups and stakeholders to publicise the review and encourage people to contribute to it. I have also published an introductory booklet "Our Challenge—Have your say" to inform the public of the issues in the review.
The review is considering a wide range of options to help the UK meet its medium and long-term energy policy goals as set out in the Energy White Paper in 2003; including our commitment to reduce carbon emissions.
For details of my activities as Green Minister in the previous two months, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 26 January 2006, Official Report, column 2348W.
Home Energy Efficiency
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what his Department's estimate is of the lowest marginal capital cost to a housing developer of integrating (a) a micro wind turbine and (b) a solar hot water system in a new build house. [54060]
Malcolm Wicks: The information is as follows.
(a) It is not possible to give a figure for micro wind turbine on a house at this early stage of technology development.
(b) Under the current Clear skies Programme installations across social housing developments have resulted in an installed cost of approx of £1,600 per system, larger developments could see greater reductions.
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department is taking to promote the uptake of building-integrated solar photovoltaics. [54061]
Malcolm Wicks: We have already funded PV installations to the tune of £29 million pounds through our major PV demonstration programme and £10 million through the large scale and domestic field trials. We have seen a number of successes from the programme such as a growing number of renewable installations at a variety of scales, the install base increasing significantly, costs reducing and recent investments in manufacturing capacity in solar power in the UK.
The Department plans to continue its support for photovoltaics and other building scale renewables through a new low carbon buildings programme (LCBP), which is due to start in April this year.
The DTI has also put effort into removing a number of barriers to the deployment of very small generators, such as PV. These include reduction of VAT to 5 percent. for professionally installed systems, a new PV annex to planning policy guidance note (PPG22), simplified connection agreements to the local network (G77 and G83/1) and installer training and accreditation schemes. In addition, the Government have amended the renewables obligation to enable very
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small generators like PV to accumulate their production over a year, rather than a month, so as to qualify for ROCs.
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what his Department's estimate is of the marginal capital cost to a commercial developer of installing a solar photovoltaic facade in place of conventional prestige facade materials. [54062]
Malcolm Wicks: The cost to a developer of using PV as a fac"ade material instead of conventional fac"ade materials will depend on what the PV is being used to replace. The following table gives a comparison of costs/m 2 of different fac"ade/building envelope materials.
So where it is being used to replace prestige fac"ade materials like granite or marble, PV facades can be cheaper, though there will be some learning required to understand the fixing details which will impact on cost. Generally, however it is more costly to use PV when compared to most fac"ade materials used today.
PV will deliver the following electrical outputs/m 2 :
| Annual electrical output/demand (Wh/m(28)) | |
|---|---|
| Quality PV array ideally situated | 100,000 |
| Office use | 40,000–80,000 |
| Dwelling | 25,000–50,000 |
The value of the electrical output is not sufficient to make PV cost-effective when used as a material to replace most facades. NB displaced electrical costs will vary according to electrical use and client type. Offices are like to pay anywhere from £0.02-£0.05/kWh, where as dwellings pay around £0.09/kWh for imported grid electricity. The value of the exported electricity is typically £0.02/kWh. Offices will utilise all PV generation on site. Dwellings may export to percent.
The marginal extra cost to a developer where installing PV is therefore anywhere from £0/m 2 to £600/m 2 .
Shareholder Executive
Mr. Duncan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the status is of the contract of employment of the Chief Executive of the Shareholder
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Executive; what recent discussions he has had with the Chief Executive on the contract running its full course; and if he will make a statement. [53998]
Barry Gardiner: Contrary to some press reports particularly in the Daily Mail and The Daily Telegraph Richard Gillingwater is still in his job. There is no truth in the rumours that he has resigned; he looks forward to continuing in the post of Chief Executive of the Shareholder Executive and continues to be highly rated by his employers—Cabinet Office and DTI. Richard's contract runs until September and it is simply too early to start considering its renewal.
Mr. Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the Chief Executive of the Shareholder Executive was asked to appoint Lord Birt to the board of Urenco. [53999]
Barry Gardiner: No. The Chairmanship of Urenco is not a Government appointment.
Mr. Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the Government's policy is for appointing directors to (a) the board of Urenco and (b) boards of companies for which the shareholder executive has responsibility; and if he will make a statement. [54000]
Barry Gardiner: The Government only have a one-third stake in Urenco which is held through BNFL. Decisions about appointments to the board of the company are taken by BNFL jointly with their fellow shareholders (the Dutch Finance Ministry and E.On/RWE).
The policy on appointments to the boards of other companies for which the shareholder executive has responsibility will vary according to the size of the shareholding. Where the Government have a majority shareholding, appointments are made strictly in line with the procedures laid down by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA). Where the Government do not have a controlling shareholding and the appointments are not subject to OCPA, we nevertheless insist that the fundamental principle of UK public appointments should still apply and appointments be made purely on merit. BNFL advise that the appointment of the Urenco chairman was consistent with this approach.
Mr. Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the arrangements are for his Department to review decisions made by the Shareholder Executive about appointments to boards related to its shareholding responsibilities; and if he will make a statement. [54007]
Barry Gardiner:
Appointments made by the Shareholder Executive to the boards of businesses or non-departmental public bodies within its portfolio are subject to scrutiny under the procedures laid down by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (the OCPA code).
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Mr. Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on Government plans for Urenco over the next five years. [54005]
Barry Gardiner: Consistent with the 2003 Strategy Review of BNFL, the results of which were announced to the House on 11 December 2003, Official Report, columns 92–93WS, BNFL's investment in Urenco is being managed for value.
Mr. Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions the Government has had with the (a) Dutch and (b) German Governments on appointments to the board of Urenco. [54008]
Barry Gardiner: The Shareholder Executive has had no discussions, other than confirming to the Dutch Government that it regarded the appointment of the Chairman of the board of Urenco as a matter for the board of Urenco.
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