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Renewable Energy
Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made when benchmarking UK performance of the proportion of (a) energy and (b) electricity in other EU countries which is supplied from renewable sources. [84956]
Malcolm Wicks: According to data published by Eurostat in 2004 the United Kingdom ranked 17(th) of the 25 member states of the EU in terms of the share of electricity from renewable energy to gross electricity consumption. In 1995 the UK ranked 19(th) and if all countries meet their 2010 targets the UK will move up to 15(th). It should be noted that the countries that rank highest (Austria, Latvia and Sweden) have significant and well developed hydro resources and plentiful supplies of biomass (mainly wood).
The International Energy Agency (IEA) produces statistics that exclude hydro generation from the renewables share of electricity production, but this is available for only 19 of the 25 EU member states that are also IEA members. On this basis the UK ranked 13(th) out of 19 in the latest available year (2003) with Denmark the highest ranking because of its well-developed wind power sector.
The IEA also produces statistics on the contribution of renewable sources to total primary energy supply for the 19 EU member states. Here the UK ranked 17(th) out of 19 in 2003.
In the spring 2006 edition of the “Ernst and Young Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Indices”, which provide scores for national renewable energy markets, support mechanisms, renewable energy infrastructures and their suitability for individual technologies, placed the UK fifth most attractive in the world (third in Europe) of all countries http://www.ey.com/global/content.nsif/International/ECU_Library
The UK has a target that by 2010, 10 per cent. of all UK electricity produced will come from renewable sources. It was recently announced in the Energy Review (2006) that, in order to further boost investors’ confidence, the Renewables Obligation would be extended to 20 per cent.
Restriction of Hazardous Substances
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received on the Restriction of Hazardous Substances regulations from small business and sole traders; and if he will make a statement. [85583]
Malcolm
Wicks: The DTI consulted on the Restriction of Hazardous
Substances Directive on
three separate occasions before the regulations were laid before
Parliament. On each occasion we received representations from a wide
range of stakeholders including small businesses, sole traders and
trade bodies representing these interests.
Russia
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how much gas his Department estimates the UK will import from Russia in (a) 2006, (b) 2010 and (c) 2020, (i) as a percentage of total consumption and (ii) in cubic metres; and what percentage of that gas his Department estimates will be (A) produced by Gazprom and (B) transported through Gazprom's pipeline network; [85082]
(2) what assessment his Department has made of the impact on the security of gas supply to the UK of the law passed by the Russian State Duma on Gazprom's control of gas exports from Russia; [85083]
(3) what his assessment is of the impact on UK businesses of the proposed amendments to Russia's Subsoil Law on foreign participation in Russian oil and gas projects; [85084]
(4) what his assessment is of the impact on security of energy supplies to the UK of the Russian Federation's (a) level of compliance with the provisions of the Energy Charter Treaty and (b) policy on the Transit Protocol to the Energy Charter Treaty; [85085]
(5) what assessment his Department has made of the impact on UK investments in Russia of the Russian Federation's level of compliance with the Energy Charter Treaty; [85086]
(6) what plans he has to make representations to his Russian counterpart about the proposed amendments to Russia's subsoil Law on foreign participation in Russian oil and gas projects. [85088]
Malcolm Wicks: The UK's gas import dependence is set to rise to 80-90 per cent. by 2020, of which a significant proportion is expected to be imported from the European mainland through existing and planned interconnection capacity. The International Energy Agency forecast that the EU will import 25 per cent. of its gas needs from Russia by 2030. It is, therefore, possible that some Russian gas will be imported into the UK, albeit indirectly and commingled with gas from other sources (such as Norway, the Netherlands and LNG from outside Europe) as part of the European gas system.
The contractual origin of imports into the UK is a decision for companies operating in the UK's liberalised gas market, taking into account elements such as cost, reliability, availability and the need for a diverse range of sources to provide security of supply. Given that there is no direct physical interconnection capacity with Russia and contractual flows do not necessarily follow physical flows, estimates of the type requested are not made.
Given that the
UK does not import directly from Russia, any impact on the UK from
Russia's legislation or compliance with international agreements such
as the Energy Charter Treaty will be felt most directly through its
effect on European markets. As such, the
UK will continue to press for open, competitive and liberalised European
energy markets.
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; access to 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:
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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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