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18 July 2006 : Column 300W—continued
In the short term, we expect the Russian gas export laws to have very little real effect on European security of supply, as Gazprom's already holds a defacto monopoly on exports by virtue of their network ownership. Longer-term effects are unclear; however, should gas transit through Russia become too commercially unattractive, Caspian and Central Asian
producers will begin to seek alternative supply routes for their products to European and global markets.
The proposed legislative changes surrounding Russia's subsoil law continue to be subject to discussion in the Russian government. The DTI and FCO are in contact with UK businesses involved in the Russian Energy market, in order to remain updated on the impact that any final series of laws may have.
The UK, with other EU member states, will continue to encourage Russia to liberalise its domestic markets and provide fair and open access to its resources and pipelines in order to foster further competition in energy supplies into Europe and to ensure best use is made of its finite resources.
The UK, with other G7 members, has encouraged Russia to move forward during its G8 presidency and ratify the Energy Charter Treaty, of which it is already a signatory and applies on a provisional basis. We would envisage that these Global Energy Security discussions will continue during the Russian presidency of the G8.
Russia has called for the negotiations on the Transit Protocol to be completed before it can ratify the full Treaty. Through the EU, we continue to work with Russia towards an agreed text for the Transit Protocol while at the same time emphasising to Russia the importance of open, transparent, efficient and competitive markets at all stages of the energy supply chain as the key to global energy security..
Whilst the absence of ratification may bring some uncertainty to the rights of both foreign and domestic investors, it is important to note that the UK has a separate bi- lateral investment Treaty with Russia that protects the investment of UK firms.
Sir Alistair Graham
Mr. Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when Sir Alistair Graham was appointed to the Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of the Telephone Information Services; when he took up his position; and what his rate of remuneration is. [85541]
Margaret Hodge: Sir Alistair Graham was appointed as Chairman of ICSTIS on 2 February 2006. Sir Alistair took up his appointment on 1 June 2006 and he receives an annual salary of £45,000.
Small Change Big Difference
Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department and its agencies have taken following the launch of the Government's Small Change Big Difference Campaign. [72015]
Jim Fitzpatrick: None specifically. The Department already promotes healthier lifestyles by providing its employees with gym facilities; healthier eating choices and fresh fruit are always available in the staff canteen.
Staff Development
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total cost was of (a) staff away days and (b) staff team building exercises in his Department in each of the last three years. [69005]
Jim Fitzpatrick: This information is not readily available and can be obtained only at disproportionate costs.
Uranium
Mr. Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what analysis his Department has undertaken of the security and sustainability of the UK's supply of uranium for civil use. [85462]
Malcolm Wicks: In addition to responses to the Energy Consultation the Department analysed the following:
OECD Nuclear Energy Agency and the International Atomic Energy Agency, “Uranium 2005—Resources, Production and Demand”. OECD Publications, Paris, June 2006.
OECD Nuclear Energy Agency and the International Atomic Energy Agency, “Uranium 2003—Resources, Production and Demand”. OECD Publications, Paris, July 2004.
Sustainable Development Commission, “The role of nuclear power in a low carbon economy—Paper 8: Uranium Resource Availability”. March 2006.
Morgan Stanley, Supply/Demand Outlook: Uranium Oxide—Inventory Cycle Coming to an End, “Basic Materials: Global Insights”. December 15, 2004, pp 47-52
Morgan Stanley, Uranium Oxide—Gaining Momentum on a Forecast Supply Deficit, “Metals & Mining: Global Insights”—April 6, 2005 pp 16-19
TradeTech, LLC's Uranium Information web site: http://www.uranium.info/ind.ex.html
World Nuclear Association, Resources and Uranium Market: http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/info.htm#resourcesumarket
Welsh Energy Policy
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which aspects of energy policy in Wales are (a) devolved to the Welsh Assembly Government and (b) reserved matters for the United Kingdom Government. [86423]
Malcolm Wicks: In energy policy the Welsh Assembly Government are responsible for the areas of fuel poverty, energy efficiency and some aspects of planning.
The Energy Review document, “The Energy Challenge” provides detail about which areas of planning are devolved, and which are reserved.
This information can be found on pages 138-141 of the above document, which can be accessed on the DTI website: www.dti.gov.uk/energy/review.
FIFA World Cup
Mr. Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many complimentary tickets his Department has received for games taking place at the FIFA World Cup 2006 in Germany. [63907]
Jim Fitzpatrick: We have not been notified of any employees receiving complimentary tickets for World Cup matches that took place in Germany this summer.
Communities and Local Government
Local Government Projects
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much funding her Department provided to 4ps in each of the last five years; and how much funding has been allocated for 2006-07. [86252]
Angela E. Smith: The Government paid the following amounts of Revenue Support Grant to the Public Private Partnerships Programme:
| £ | |
In addition, the Department's predecessors paid the 4ps the sum of £80,250 for the development of a procurement pack for Joint Service Centre PFI projects, of which £35,250 was paid in 2002-03 and £55,000 in 2003-04.
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what role 4ps has in the decision-making process during procurement; and if she will make a statement. [86253]
Angela E. Smith: Subject to their legal duties, including the duty of best value and public procurement law, local authorities are responsible for taking their own decisions on procurement. In conjunction with other change agents, such as the regional centres of excellence, 4ps offers support to local authorities, including through the national efficiency and strategic procurement skills programme.
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance her Department has issued to 4ps about its responsibilities under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to make available, on request, its reports on projects which it has considered. [86254]
Angela E. Smith:
4ps is an independent company owned by the Local Government Association. The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), alongside other bodies, provides 4ps with funding to meet the capacity building needs of local
authorities. DCLG has not issued guidance to 4ps on its responsibilities under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
Consultation Papers
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to what extent her Department stores responses to consultation papers (a) electronically and (b) solely in hard copy. [85707]
Angela E. Smith: Where responses to consultation papers are received electronically, they are stored in that format, but they are made available in hardcopy where requested. Where responses are received as hardcopy we do not normally convert to electronic format, although the need to do so may be considered on a case by case basis.
The Department for Communities and Local Government welcomes consultation responses in any format as consultation is a key part of the policy making process. All public consultations are subject to the Consultation Code of Practice.
Council Tax
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate the Government has made of the proportion of an average Band D council tax bill in England that funds (a) domestic waste collections and (b) domestic waste disposal. [85714]
Mr. Woolas: It is not possible to say how much of council tax income can be attributed to pay for any particular service. This is because it is not possible to say whether any item of revenue expenditure is funded from council tax or from the government grants and business rates that also finance revenue expenditure.
Domestic waste collection and disposal costs for local authorities in England in 2004-05 are estimated at £1.3 billion and £1.4 billion respectively. This is 1.4 per cent. and 1.5 per cent. respectively of net current expenditure by local authorities in England.
Source:
2004-05 Revenue Outturn (RO) forms
Departmental Website
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what internet domain names her Department owns; and for what purpose they were purchased. [83102]
Angela E. Smith: The following domain names are owned by DCLG:
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