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28 Mar 2006 : Column 861W—continued
Clearskies Programme
Mr. Davey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the reasons were for the decision to
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withdraw the Clearskies grant programme; and if he will make a statement on the low carbon building plan that is due to replace it. [59481]
Malcolm Wicks: The Clearskies programme was originally a 3-year programme and was extended with extra funding for a further year to finish in March 2006. It has been completed rather than being withdrawn.
The Renewables Innovation Review (Feb 2004) recommended that the best way to support the installation of micro generation technologies would be through a technology blind low carbon buildings programme. The new low carbon buildings programme, which will start in April this year, will thus supersede both the Clearskies and Photovoltaics demonstration programmes. It will continue to offer grants for the installation of renewable technologies to both householders and larger organisations.
The new programme will seek to take a more holistic approach to energy consumption in buildings and will focus on energy efficiency measures as well as the installation of renewable technologies.
Consumer Direct
Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much his Department allocated to Consumer Direct across all regions in each year from 2004–05 to 2006–07; and what estimate he has made of the figure for 2007–08. [61019]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The total funding allocation for Consumer Direct over the period 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2008 is as follows:
| £ million | |
|---|---|
| 2004–05 | (7)12.5 |
| 2005–06 | (8)18.3 |
| 2006–07 | (8)19.0 |
| 2007–09 | (8)19.0 |
(7)Actual
(8)Forecast
Energy Policy
Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much capital grant his Department spent on all micro renewables in (a) 2003, (b) 2004 and (c) 2005. [60844]
Malcolm Wicks: Under the grants support programmes Clear Skies and the Photovoltaics Demonstration Programmes the following has been spent.
| Financial year | £ |
|---|---|
| 2002–03 | 509,000 |
| 2003–04 | 3,101,771 |
| 2004–05 | 8,502,602 |
| 2005–06 | 9,448,551 |
Energy Suppliers (Disputes)
Jessica Morden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made
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towards the final establishment of an alternative disputes resolution body to enable consumers to pursue disputes with energy suppliers. [61899]
Malcolm Wicks: In July 2005, the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets, which is responsible for the regulation of gas and electricity supply, instructed gas and electricity suppliers to establish, within a year, an independent body to deal with billing disputes that had not been resolved by standard complaints processes. Gas and electricity suppliers continue to work towards the establishment of such a body in July 2006, and are in discussion with the Office of the Telecommunications Ombudsman (OTELO) with a view to its providing this service under contract.
Heat and Power Field Trials
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the November 2005 Carbon Trust preliminary report on the Trust's micro-combined heat and power field trials; and if he will make a statement. [60886]
Malcolm Wicks [holding answer 23 March 2006]: The Carbon Trust's preliminary report on micro-combined heat and power provides interim results on extensive field trials, which are yet to complete. We are awaiting the final conclusions which should help to develop understanding on the low carbon potential of micro-combined heat and power.
iTrips
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received on the use of iTrips and similar devices; and if he will make a statement. [61542]
Alun Michael: I have received no representations on the use of iTrips and similar devices.
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consideration he has given to the exemption of iTrips and similar devices from the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949; and if he will make a statement. [61543]
Alun Michael: None. Such regulations are the responsibility of the Office of Communications (Ofcom) which is accountable to Parliament rather than Ministers.
Low Carbon Buildings
Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Tradeand Industry how much low carbon buildings programme capital grant will be available in the first year of the programme. [60843]
Malcolm Wicks: Of the initial budget of £30 million, approximately £11 million will be available for grants across all streams of the programme during the first year of the programme. The scheme will be launched in April on this basis.
On 23 March the Budget 2006 announced an additional £50 million for the programme. The Department will be considering urgently with Treasury colleagues how this money should be allocated.
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Microgeneration
Peter Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Tradeand Industry what assessment he has made of the systems compatibility of large base-load power generation plants with small-scale micro-generation power systems. [60618]
Malcolm Wicks: Issues relating to the compatibility of large generating plant and micro-generation are primarily a matter for the UK System Operator, National Grid. However, in 2004, the DTI in conjunction with Ofgem and National Grid established the Electricity Systems Technical Issues Steering Group to investigate the performance of the electricity networks given likely longer term changes in the UK generation portfolio and to ensure that any technical issues that might arise were recognised in good time. The group published an interim report, which can be found at www.dti.gov.uk/renewables/publications_pdfs/estiginterimreportfinal.pdf and is currently working with National Grid to undertake more detailed studies that should be completed late summer 2006.
Package Holidays
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people have been refused insurance claim payments under regulation 15 of the Package Travel, Package Holidays, Package Tours Regulations Act 1992 since they were introduced. [61248]
Mr. Sutcliffe: Regulation 15 of the Package Travel, Package Holidays, Package Tours Regulations 1992 places responsibility on package holiday organisers for the satisfactory delivery of the package, including services provided by third party providers (hoteliers etc.), except in the circumstances set out, also in regulation 15. While this liability may not actually be set out in a contract, it is nevertheless implied in each contract for a package holiday. It is not an insurance policy. Consumers who remain dissatisfied having sought recompense from the organiser for failure to deliver the contracted services may have recourse to the civil courts.
The Government do not maintain statistics of requests to package holiday organisers for compensation, or of cases in the civil courts, relating to these provisions.
Pension Rights (Bankruptcy)
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in the case of (a) insolvency and (b) bankruptcy or liquidation, how workers' pensions rank in priority for payment against payments to (i)shareholders, (ii) tax collecting authorities, (iii) staff, (iv) secured creditors and (v) unsecured creditors; and if he will make a statement. [61769]
Mr. Sutcliffe:
The distribution of assets in insolvency proceedings follows an order of priority. There are threecategories of creditor—secured, preferential and unsecured. In insolvencies commencing on or after 15 September 2003 (when the Crown gave up its right to claim unpaid taxes preferentially) the only amounts
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which may be claimed preferentially are amounts due in respect of recent unpaid wages and holiday pay, sums owed in respect of recent unpaid contributions to occupational pension schemes or state scheme premiums, and levies on coal and steel production.
Any shortfall on the realisation of property subject to a charge and amounts due to employees or pension schemes that is not preferential is unsecured. Generally speaking, unsecured creditors rank equally.
A return of capital to a shareholder can only be made if all the costs of the insolvency and all of the creditors have been paid in full, including statutory interest on their debts.
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