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29 Mar 2007 : Column 1763W—continued
Since March 2003, Water Service has reduced leakage from 291 Megalitres per day (Ml/d) to 178 Megalitres per day in March 2006 and is on target to achieve 169 Ml/d by 31 March this year. We are currently undertaking a review of the “economic level of leakage”, however, it is expected that the existing level of 165 Ml/d will be achieved by March 2008. The economic level of leakage is defined as the point at which it would cost more to make further reductions than to produce the water from another source.
The targets from 2007/08 are provisional and subject to ratification by the Board of Northern Ireland Water.
Trade and Industry
Broadband: EC Action
Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps the EU is taking (a) to advance broadband coverage in member states and (b) to promote the take up of mobile phone technology. [121066]
Margaret Hodge: With our strong support the EU is working hard to create a more dynamic and internationally competitive single market for broadband and mobile services accessible to all across Europe. Its current work is largely through the i2010 programme for the information society which was developed and agreed during the UK's presidency, came into effect on 1 January 2006 and lasts until 2010 with a mid-term review in 2008. The i2010 programme includes measures to improve the regulatory framework for electronic communications services like broadband and mobile as well as measures to promote innovation and inclusion including take-up in the less developed regions of Europe. On broadband coverage the Commission is working with a wide range of regional and other interests on the proposals in its Communication last year, "Bridging the Broadband Gap", and has been working with member states and regional authorities to enable public funding of broadband in rural and other areas in accordance with state aid rules. On mobile the EU is also taking action to reduce charges for roaming between national mobile networks.
The proportion of mobile phone subscriptions relative to population in the EU is 93 per cent. one of the highest in the world. In several member states, including the UK, there are more mobile phones than people. A comparable figure for broadband is not available for the whole of the EU. In the 15 older member states it averaged 16 per cent. last year compared with 19 per cent. in Japan, 19.2 per cent. in the USA and 19.4 per cent. in the UK.
Companies: Environmental Protection
Mr. Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether his Department plans to monitor the (a) effects and (b) costs of the duties upon directors in the Companies Act 2006 in relation to social and environmental issues. [127274]
Margaret Hodge [holding answer 14 March 2007]: The Government will review the impacts of the Companies Act 2006 on duties of directors, including the references to social and environmental issues, as part of its review of the overall benefits and costs of the Companies Act 2006. This review will form part of the normal regulatory assessment process, consistent with better regulation principles. The review will involve close engagement with stakeholders who have an interest in the effects of the Act.
Departmental Gifts
Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the gifts received by special advisers in his Department and declared to his Department in 2005-06; on what date each gift was given; what the estimated cost was of each gift; what was given; and what the name of the donor was. [117950]
Jim Fitzpatrick [holding answer 1 February 2007]: Any gifts received are handled in accordance with the requirements of the Civil Service Code and the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.
Departmental Policy Advisers
Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what notices of external employment were given by special advisers in his Department in each of the last two years. [117953]
Jim Fitzpatrick [holding answer 1 February 2007]: The rules for civil servants, including special advisers, who wish to take up other employment in addition to their civil service duties are set out in section 4.3 of the civil service management code. Such information is not normally made public.
Departments: Advertising
Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much his Department spent on (a) sponsoring newspaper and publication supplements and (b) funding advertorials in newspapers and publications in the last year for which figures are available; and what the topic was of each. [130009]
Jim Fitzpatrick: Details of such expenditure are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Digital Switchover
Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of relative energy use of (a) digital and (b) analogue broadcast receiving devices. [129485]
Margaret Hodge: The Government through their Market Transformation Programme (MTP) have analysed the performances of over 630 televisions sold in 2004, 2005, and 2006 and have concluded that the difference in energy consumption between analogue and integrated digital televisions (IDTVs) is negligible.
The annual energy consumption of a television varies significantly with screen size and television type, and defining what constitutes a ‘typical’ television is difficult. However, for a 32in. widescreen cathode-ray television, MTP estimates that the annual energy consumption will be 292 kWh, and 310 kWh for a LCD screen of the same size. A 42in. (a typical size for this technology) Plasma TV will consume 746 kWh per year.
The total energy consumption of all UK televisions has risen in recent years, but this is not as a result of the presence of integrated digital tuners but a function of increased TV ownership, the trend towards larger screen sizes, and the migration away from cathode-ray televisions to other technologies.
MTP does not currently have sufficient information to provide a comparison between the performance of analogue and digital (DAB) radios. However, MTP has identified that many portable DAB radios are supplied with external power supply units which are less efficient—and therefore consume more energy—than those sold with comparable analogue products. MTP will be working with retailers and manufacturers to seek to address this issue.
As these are relatively new products, there are likely to be efficiency gains as the products mature.
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many postdoctoral fellowships were awarded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council in financial year (a) 2004-05, (b) 2005-06 and (c) 2006-07; and how many are budgeted for the financial year 2007-08. [130613]
Malcolm Wicks: The information is as follows.
| Fellowships | |
|
Advanced research fellowships (3-10 years postdoc experience) | |
EPSRC also support the following fellowships in conjunction with other organisations:
Two one-year fellowships a year with and through the Institut des Hautes Etudes Scientifiques.
| Royal Academy of Engineering (postdoctoral research fellowships) | |
| Number | |
| Royal Society industry fellowships | |
| £ | |
The number of awards funded vary each year.
EPSRC are currently reviewing its support of fellowships. The outcome of this review will be known by the end of May 2007. Therefore, the total number of awards is not available for 2007-08.
Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what funding was allocated to the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council to fund postdoctoral fellowships in financial years (a) 2004-05, (b) 2005-06 and (c) 2006-07; and what the budget is for the financial year 2007-08. [130614]
Malcolm Wicks: The information is as follows.
| £ | |
|
Advanced research fellowships (3-10 years postdoc . experience) | |
EPSRC also support the following fellowships in conjunction with other organisations:
| £ | |
The number of awards funded vary each year.
Two one-year fellowships a year with and through the Institut des Hautes Etudes Scientifiques.
EPSRC are currently reviewing its support of fellowships. The outcome of this review will be known by the end of May 2007. Therefore, the total budget is not available for EPSRC fellowship schemes for 2007-08.
Programme Making and Special Events Sector
John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate his Department has made of the value of the programme making and special events sector to the UK economy; and if he will make a statement. [126311]
Margaret Hodge: We have not made an estimate of the value of the programme making and special events sector to the UK economy, but we are conscious of its importance.
The Office of Communications (Ofcom), the independent regulator of communications, is responsible for managing civil radio spectrum in the UK, including the allocation and licensing of frequency bands used by the programme making and special events (PMSE) sector. As part of its digital dividend review, Ofcom published a consultation paper on the Ofcom website (www.ofcom.org.uk) in December 2006. The consultation period is open until 20 March, during which time all interested parties, including those with a specific interest in PMSE requirements, are encouraged to make their views known.
They have received significant interest in their consultation from the programme making and special events (PMSE) sector and are planning a farther consultation on this matter in the near future.
I do understand that the PMSE sector is one of the current users of the DDR spectrum which is being required to change its use and that this has cost implications. As such, a period of transition may be necessary, and fully understanding the impact of any changes on the sector is vital. Officials have, and will continue to engage with stakeholders and Ofcom following the consultation. By exploring the issues, and working together, we hope that a solution can be found which meets the public interest and ensures that the PMSE sector can access appropriate spectrum fit for purpose.
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