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24 May 2007 : Column 1448W—continued
| £ | |||||
| 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | |
| Research Councils energy R and D expenditure | |||||||||
| £000 | |||||||||
| 1997-98 | 1998-99 | 1999-2000 | 2000-01 | 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | |
In addition the Research Councils have supported further research relating to energy in the work of the Tyndall Centre for climate change research, which has some £15.6 million funding from Research Councils over 2000-09, and in the work of the UK Energy Research Centre which commenced operation in 2004, with a budget of £13.9 million for 2004-09.
Telephone Services: Utilities
David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions he has had with regulatory bodies on the cost to customers of utility companies’ customer helplines. [138306]
Malcolm Wicks: The Secretary of State and the Minister for Energy have had no discussions with regulatory bodies about this issue.
Utilities: Fees and Charges
Mrs. James: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what complaints his Department has received about utility companies that charge a payment processing fee to customers who do not use direct debit facilities. [135486]
Margaret Hodge: I have received a number of representations from hon. Members about this matter. I have therefore raised the issue with the chief executive officer of the independent regulator, the Office of Communications (Ofcom). Ofcom is considering whether the level of the charges across the communications sector raises regulatory issues.
Mrs. James: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate has been made of the income generated by utility companies as a result of payment processing charges for customers who do not use direct debit facilities. [135487]
Margaret Hodge: No estimate has been made as this is a commercial matter for the companies concerned.
My understanding is that organisations do apply a price differential between customers who pay their accounts by direct debit and those who pay by other means on the basis of increased processing and debt management costs associated with payments not made by direct debit. Such differentials are common practice among both communications providers and utility service providers.
Mrs. James: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions he has had with utility companies on the payment processing charges for customers who do not use direct debit facilities. [135488]
Margaret Hodge: I have raised this issue with BT and the chief executive officer of the independent regulator, the Office of Communications (Ofcom). BT operates schemes to ensure that vulnerable groups have access to affordable telephone services. BT reassured me that their special tariff schemes are not affected by the increased charges. Ofcom is considering whether the level of the charges across the communications sector raises regulatory issues.
Telecoms providers and utility providers do mostly apply a price differential between customers who pay by direct debit and those who pay by other means on the basis of increased processing and debt management costs associated with payments not made by direct debit.
I have not held discussions with other utility suppliers on this issue.
Transport
A303: Stonehenge
Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will announce his decision on the A303(T) improvement scheme at Stonehenge. [138405]
Dr. Ladyman: We are considering the findings of the inter-departmental review of the Stonehenge Improvement Scheme and alternative options. In order to understand more fully the effects of some of the options on the operation of the A303 and the local road network, it has been necessary to undertake further detailed analysis based on up-to-date traffic surveys which were undertaken last autumn. The results from this work will be considered alongside the findings of the review group to inform our decision on the way forward for this scheme which we expect to announce later in 2007.
Air Routes: Shropshire
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has held with local authorities in Shropshire on air routes over the Shropshire Hills and the Wrekin. [138630]
Gillian Merron: None. The CAA’s Directorate of Airspace Policy has lead responsibility for the regulation of UK airspace, including consideration of the environmental impact of any airspace changes.
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