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9 Mar 2007 : Column 2302W—continued
Trade and Industry
Arms Trade
John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on UK policy on re-exporting arms. [126386]
Malcolm Wicks: The Government do not differentiate between arms exported or re-exported from the UK. All arms exports from the UK are subject, principally, to rigorous assessment against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria.
John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of UK arms imports were subsequently re-exported in the most recent year for which figures are available. [126387]
Malcolm Wicks: The import of arms into the UK and export of arms from the UK are two separate Government functions. The Government do not keep a record of the serial numbers of arms that are imported into the UK, and it is therefore not possible to say how many of these imports were subsequently re-exported under an export licence.
Arms Trade: Balkans
John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many of the assault rifles imported from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia in 2005 were subsequently re-exported; and how many were destroyed. [126384]
Malcolm Wicks: The import of assault rifles into the UK and export of assault rifles from the UK are two separate Government functions. The Government do not keep a record of the serial numbers of the assault rifles that were imported into the UK, and it is therefore not possible to say how many of these weapons were subsequently re-exported under an export licence. With regard to how many imported assault rifles have been destroyed, this is a matter for the Home Office.
Energy: Conservation
Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consideration he is giving to electric heating as part of requirements to reduce the carbon footprint of new buildings. [124470]
Malcolm Wicks: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Member for the Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, my hon. Friend the Member for Basildon (Angela E. Smith), on 5 March 2007, Official Report, column 1799W.
Radioactive Wastes: Waste Management
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with the Scottish Executive on the implementation of the recommendations of the report of the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management on the disposal of nuclear waste. [126134]
Malcolm Wicks: The UK Government and the devolved Administrations have worked together closely on radioactive waste policy and in particular on the Managing Radioactive Waste Safely (MRWS) programme. The Scottish Executive and other devolved Administrations have been party to the arrangements that have been set in place and the decisions that have been taken. That was made clear when Scottish and Welsh Ministers made statements to the Scottish Parliament and the National Assembly for Wales on 25 October 2006, similar to that made on the same day in the House of Commons by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the Government response to recommendations of the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management. Scottish Executive and other devolved Administration officials continue to contribute strongly to the work now being done.
Renewable Energy
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recommendations of the Foresight Energy Panel on the development of low carbon communities have been (a) accepted, (b) rejected and (c) implemented; and if he will make a statement. [124640]
Malcolm Wicks: The Foresight Energy Panel ran from 1994-99, and was succeeded by the Energy and Natural Environment Panel (1999-2002). These panels reported in 1996 and 2000 respectively. None of their recommendations refer to the development of low-carbon communities.
The texts of the two Panels’ recommendations are given below for information.
Energy and Natural Environment Foresight Panel, 2000( 1) —Recommendations
The consultation document and responses to it have collectively begun to highlight key opportunities and challenges; and also to identify some of the main areas for the improved use of “know-how” through R and D. Our consultations suggest that there is a general consensus of view at the very broad-brush level.
Successful innovation and application will be focused and driven forward by the knowledge, enthusiasm and interests of those developing research and the entrepreneurial flair of those who wish to apply it either in public policy or through industrial or private sector activity and involvement.
Our recommendations are designed to provide a positive framework in which this can happen and to overcome some of the difficulties outlined above. In addition we welcome the commitment to continued support for fundamental science and training given in the Government’s White Paper “Excellence and Opportunity”.
We have mapped out our stepping stones for the way ahead. We recognise that there needs to be a strategic framework that should encompass:
Recognition of the role of the regulator in creating the appropriate balanced market to encourage developments and implementation.
Ensuring that energy and natural environment policies encourage this process in the UK and in wider international protocols and contexts.
Engagement with all stakeholders including the public at large in the understanding of the steps that need to be taken and their role within this process.
A process to sponsor the necessary developments to meet the needs to overcome the barriers that have been a problem in the past.
We see the way to begin to realise these aims is to establish a set of “sustainability R and D” programmes with the task of “championing” key areas to ensure a sustainable future, each working throughout the disciplines and sectors and funding high profile programmes that are interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral. These will then form themes around which other work and existing initiatives can be co-ordinated and brigaded so that a critical mass of UK work can be seen, identified with and form a context for dialogue and partnership.
This will create a continuing framework through which firms, universities and research institutes, government, investors, regulators and others can effectively collaborate in key market/development areas. Within this framework interests and “know how” (from all relevant disciplines and sectors) can be brought together on a limited number of major themes, around which others can cluster. It will also provide the framework within which the relevant, existing but rather separate programmes can communicate and more effectively develop a community of interest, common themes and corps of experience.
We see this being achieved by:
Establishment of a “UK Sustainable Technologies Development Programme” with participation from the Research Councils, the private sector and government.
An appropriate source of funding would be the climate change levy, building on the proposals of the Advisory Committee on Business and the Environment.
Government departments, agencies and the Research Councils taking the initiative within this framework by setting up a limited number of major sub-programmes which would:
Have major funding derived from the climate change levy or elsewhere. Fund R and D through research initiatives and joint programmes with private sector participation.
Where relevant, develop and fund joint programmes with universities and firms in other countries where major opportunities for application exist. Engage the regulatory framework in this process to ensure it is aligned with the programmes. (Both UK and, where possible international arrangements).
Co-ordinate existing initiatives to support these major programmes. Provide co-ordination and exchange of results across the funding bodies and programmes through dedicated web sites, newsletters and other networking.
We highlight a number of areas where we consider R and D to be priorities in Annexe A, but we particularly recommend sub-programmes with the following themes:
Strategies and technologies for the water stressed world.
Low and close-to-zero emission power generation.
Achieving step changes in resource efficiency in products, their production and use.
(1)http://www.foresight.gov.uk/Previous_Rounds/Foresight_1999_2002/Energy_and_Natural_Environment/Reports/Stepping%20Stones%20to%20Sustainability/SteppingStones.
Energy Foresight Panel, 1996( 2) —Recommendations
The nine high priority opportunities for energy products and services are:
High hit-rate exploration techniques for oil and gas, to increase accuracy of field identification through improved acquisition, integration, analysis and interpretation of geophysical data.
Increased oil and gas yields from hydrocarbon reservoirs, by more accurate characterisation and improved simulation, better drive and production technologies.
Decommissioning of redundant nuclear facilities, involving the safe and economic disposal of redundant facilities, minimising non-recyclable waste.
Photovoltaic power generation at competitive cost, via development of thin film materials suitable for low cost production and installation.
“Clean Coal” power generation, involving demonstration of new technologies in three main areas—stack-gas cleaning, coal combustion and gasification.
Combined cycle units for gas power generation, requiring improvements in components to increase the combined-cycle efficiency to 60 per cent. with natural gas.
Low emission power units for transport, encompassing a range of technologies based on engine design but including fuel handling and fuel quality sensors.
Greater efficiency, energy-intensive industrial processes.
Greater energy-efficient buildings from both build and retrofit, including better adaptation to human behaviour as well as a range of new technologies.
These are underpinned by eight key technologies and eight key sciences:
Reservoir Engineering
Photovoltaic Materials and Manufacture
Gasification
Low Emission Combustion Systems
Gas Turbo-Machinery
Batteries
Process Design
Building Services and Design
Geosciences
Single- and Multi-Phase Flow
Heat and Mass Transfer
Combustion Science
Catalysis and Kinetics
Mathematical Modelling
Materials
Electrochemistry and Surface Science
(2 )http://www.foresight.gov.uk/Previous_Rounds/Foresight_1994_1999/Energy/chap5.html
Venture Capital
Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to monitor the activities of private equity companies and to assess their impact on the economy. [121830]
Ed Balls: I have been asked to reply.
Private equity companies in the UK are subject to regulation by the Financial Services Authority. This includes a close and continuous supervisory relationship with 14 of the biggest private equity and venture capital managers; risk mitigation programmes; frequent dialogue with market participants on private equity sector issues; and including private equity firms in thematic reviews on market issues.
In addition the Government welcomes the announcement last week that Sir David Walker will chair an independent working party to develop a voluntary comply-or-explain code to improve the private equity industry’s transparency and level of disclosures for large companies in these areas. This initiative has received wide support across the industry, demonstrating a commitment to make this happen, and also a desire to meet the legitimate concerns of interested parties.
By increasing the quality and timeliness of disclosures, the code has the potential both to improve the engagement of the private equity industry with stakeholders, and improve its performance. The Government will watch developments very closely.
Wind Power: Berwickshire
Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been provided in subsidies under the (a) renewables obligation and (b) Clearskies scheme to support the establishment of (i) onshore and (ii) offshore wind farms in each of the last two years; and how much has been provided for wind farm developments within Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk constituency. [121090]
Malcolm Wicks: The renewables obligation is a market based mechanism. It provided the following levels of support to onshore and offshore wind generation in 2004-05 and 2005-06:
| £ million | |||
| England and Wales | Scotland | Total | |
Figures are taken from Office for Gas and Electricity Markets’ Annual reports on the renewables obligation and are reported on a regional basis. Figures are not held for the Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk constituency.
There have been no subsidies to support the establishment of wind farms under the Clear Skies scheme.
Northern Ireland
Regional Planning and Development
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how expenditure through the National Development plan of the Republic of Ireland on public sector projects in Northern Ireland will be accounted for in the business plans and published accounts of Northern Ireland Departments and agencies; and if he will make a statement. [125660]
Mr. Hanson: Expenditure by Northern Ireland Departments and agencies financed by any funding received from the Republic of Ireland will be accounted for in the relevant published accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Government's financial reporting manual (FReM). Consideration will also be given to any potential impact on relevant departmental business plans and/or public service agreements.
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