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17 Mar 2006 : Column 2547W—continued
Pandemic Influenza
Sir John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he will be taking to ensure continuity of satisfactory fuel supplies in the event of an outbreak of pandemic influenza; and if he will make a statement. [58260]
Malcolm Wicks
[holding answer 16 March 2006]: Individual oil companies continue to review and update their business continuity plans, based on advice provided by the Department of Health, in order to protect the health of their staff and maintain the supply
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of fuel. The representative trade associations are working closely with the industry in order to share best practice in this area. The Department is continuing to monitor the situation closely.
In the event of a significant disruption to the supply of fuel the Government has contingency plans to control the production, supply, distribution and use of fuel. A description of the Downstream Oil Emergency Response Plan was made public in July 2005.
Professional Institutes
Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which learned institutes are recognised by his Department as professional bodies. [57350]
Alan Johnson: The Department works with a number of organisations, many of which might be termed learned institutes or professional bodies. Whilst no register exists that defines what might be termed a learned institute or a professional body, many bodies have sought a Royal Charter and are regulated through the Privy Council. Other highly respected learned and professional bodies have chosen to stay independent.
Renewable Electricity
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the Government's target is forrenewable electricity generation in each region by 2020; what steps he expects to be taken to achieve this; and whether offshore facilities are included in this target. [57361]
Malcolm Wicks: The Government set out in the 2003 Energy White Paper its national aspiration that renewables should provide 20 per cent. of UK electricity supply in 2020.
In support of this objective, planning policy statement (PPS) 22 states that regional spatial strategies (RSS) in England should include renewables targets for 2010 and 2020, based on an assessment of the renewable resource potential in the region. These targets
should be regularly reviewed and revised upward (if they are met) subject to the region's renewable energy resource potential and the capacity of the environment in the region for further renewable energy developments".
While the Government will have a view on the suitability of individual targets, the targets themselves are developed by the region, based upon the normal process of consultation and public inquiry. Regional planning bodies lead the preparation of RSSs—though a variety of bodies may be involved in developing the targets.
Renewable Energy
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many households installed wind turbines in each year between 2000 and 2005. [58732]
Malcolm Wicks:
Under the Clear Skies Programme, which started in 2003 and provides grant support for the installation of wind turbines, the following numbers were installed.
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| Number | |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 36 |
| 2004 | 48 |
| 2005 | (6)129 |
(6)Accepted for a grant, of which 36 have been installed and had the grant paid.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much grant funding was directed towards household micro-renewable energy projects in 2005 under the Clearskies and Solar Photovoltaics Major Demonstration programmes. [59089]
Malcolm Wicks [holding answer 16 March 2006]: Under Clear Skies £398,110 of grants have been offered to householders in 2005.
Under the Solar Photovoltaics Major Demonstration Programme £2,232,574 of grants have been offered to householders in 2005.
Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit
Mr. Tom Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans the Government have to extend funding of the Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit after 31 March 2007. [58973]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The pilots set up in Glasgow and Birmingham to tackle illegal money lending were set up as a time limited project. However I fully support the work of the pilots to date and we recently extended the funding by seven months to run until 31 March 2007. Decisions on further funding have to be taken in the context of the evaluation of the project, which is currently under way, and the department's wider responsibilities and commitments. I am not yet able to commit to further funding of the project but can assure you that I am giving the matter full consideration.
South West Regional Development Agency
Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been invested in the (a) Objective 1 area and (b) Objective 2 area by the South West Regional Development Agency since it was set up. [55268]
Alun Michael: I am advised by the South West of England Regional Development Agency that it approved expenditure in Objective 1 areas of £116.4 million since 1999–2000 and £137 million since 1999–2000 in Objective 2 areas. These figures do not capture the total percentage of SWRDA's project and programme expenditure that benefits these areas as they are also assisted substantially from a range of regional projects and programmes funded by SWRDA, where expenditure is not directly attributable to individual areas.
Sustainable Building
Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of the Department's building programme budget was allocated to (a) energy self-generation and (b) water recycling measures in the last financial year. [58752]
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Alan Johnson: The 2005–06 building programme for the DTI HQ estate did not contain any provision for water recycling or energy self generation. However the Department continues to reduce its water consumption through other water saving measures and is now close to the government target of 7.7 cu m per capita. The DTI is also actively looking at the potential for micro generation in its main buildings and this is currently the subject of a detailed feasibility study through the Carbon Trust.
Vanity Publishing Industry
Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to regulate the vanity publishing industry. [58991]
Alun Michael [holding answer 16 March 2006]: While the Government have no plans to introduce legislation specific to vanity publishing, existing legislation offers protection in respect of abuses which may be associated with such publishing.
The Trade Descriptions Act 1968 makes it an offence for traders knowingly or recklessly to make a false or misleading statement about the services they provide.
Under the Misrepresentation Act 1967 a contract may be cancelled and damages claimed if an author enters into a contract as a result of misrepresentation.
The Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982 requires traders to provide services with reasonable care and skill. Failure to do so would be a breach of contract which would allow damages to be sought in a civil court.
Wind Farms
Mr. Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the processes are by which his Department will assess local opinion on the wind farm proposals in Northumberland which are to be determined by the Department. [56482]
Malcolm Wicks [holding answer 13 March 2006]: There is a statutory requirement for notice of an application to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 to be advertised both locally and in the London Gazette. Developers are also asked to advertise in a national newspaper of their choice and to post notices in prominent positions in the locality of a proposed development. A period of not less than 28 days from the latest date of publication is given for local people to make their representations to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.
The local planning authority in whose area the application is sited are also consulted. Their views, and those of individuals and local communities, will be taken into account by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. He will also seek advice from statutory bodies such as the Environment Agency and the relevant countryside, nature conservation and heritage bodies before making a decision.
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