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23 July 2007 : Column 899W—continued
Departments: Ministerial Red Boxes
John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many ministerial red boxes his Department and its predecessor bought in each of the last five years; what the cost of each was; who the suppliers were; and what tendering process was used in selecting them. [150439]
Mr. Thomas: The number of Ministers red boxes ordered by BERR and its predecessor over the previous five years were as follows:
| Number | Cost (£) | |
Banner Business Supplies are the sole supplier of Ministers boxes and are an Office of Government Commerce (OGC) approved supplier.
Electricity Generation: Renewable Energy
Dr. Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what proportion of electricity was generated by renewable sources in the UK in the last period for which figures are available. [150618]
Malcolm Wicks: In 2006, 4.6 per cent. of electricity was generated by renewable sources in the UK.
Source:
Quarterly Energy Trends (June 2007), page 18, Table 2.
Electronic Equipment: Waste Disposal
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what in-store facilities are being made available in Staffordshire for customers to return white goods under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive. [150305]
Malcolm Wicks: Detailed figures at a county level are not available, but all retailers of electrical and electronic equipment are obliged to offer in-store take-back if they are not members of the Distributor Takeback Scheme.
Within Staffordshire all 13 local authority civic amenity sites have been approved as designated collection facilities and are playing their part in the UK WEEE system.
Energy Supply
Mr. Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps his Department plans to take to increase and improve the energy security of the UK. [151544]
Malcolm Wicks: The Department remains committed to open, competitive markets as the means to deliver energy security through diversity of energy supply and fuels. The Energy White Paper published in May 2007 set out in detail the Government's strategy for energy security. Specific measures include reform of the planning and consents process, to help facilitate delivery of energy infrastructure projects, continuing to press for fully competitive and transparent international markets, and provision of more detailed, forward looking information to the market through the Energy Markets Outlook. We will also maximise the economic production of our domestic energy sources, which, together with energy saving measures, will help reduce our dependence on energy imports.
Energy Supply: Meters
Mr. Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what progress has been made with his Department's consultation with gas and energy suppliers on the introduction of display devices on meters for gas and electricity customers. [149850]
Malcolm Wicks:
The Government set out their proposals on display devices in the Energy White Paper. They stated that the Government would require the provision of displays with new and replacement meters, and that
consumers would be able to request for a display to be provided free of charge. They will shortly issue a consultation taking forward these proposals.
Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether the energy demand research project trials will have an impact on the timetable for the roll-out of smart meters. [149914]
Malcolm Wicks: Data from the Energy Demand Reduction Project, together with information from other work being undertaken by the Government, Ofgem and energy suppliers, will inform the Government's and the industry's approach to a roll-out of smart meters.
The trials will be important for number aspects of a roll-out programme, which the Government expect to be complete within 10 years. The Government will shortly issue a consultation on their approach to smart metering.
Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (1) if he will bring forward legislation for the introduction of domestic smart meters; [149916]
(2) when he expects the start of the roll-out of smart meters with visual displays of real-time information which allow communication between the meter, the energy supplier and the customer. [149915]
Malcolm Wicks: In the Energy White Paper, the Government made clear their expectation that domestic gas and electricity customers would have access to smart meters over the next 10 years. Its forthcoming consultation on the metering and billing proposals in the Energy White Paper will include a call for evidence on smart meters. This evidence, together with information from a range of other activities will inform the Government's decision on how best to roll out smart meters to the domestic market.
Energy Supply: Russia
Mr. Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will make representations to his European Union counterparts on the involvement of Russian energy companies and the purchase of energy sources from Russia within the European Union. [151545]
Malcolm Wicks: We are in regular contact with our European colleagues on energy issues; ensuring security of supply and the development of the internet market are key issues in these discussions.
Mr. Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will review the involvement of Russian energy companies in the UK market. [151546]
Malcolm Wicks: Russian energy companies play only a minor role in the UK energy market and the Government therefore do not plan a review.
Energy businesses operating in our market are subject to the applicable regulatory regimes, which are there to safeguard the interests of customers.
Energy Technologies Institute: Consultants
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform which external consultants have been appointed by his Department to assess private sector bids for involvement in the Energy Technologies Institute. [148910]
Ian Pearson: I have been asked to reply.
The Energy Technologies Institute is still being established as a 50:50 public/private partnership. The Department has not employed external consultants to assess potential private sector bids for involvement.
Energy Technologies Institute: Finance
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the cost has been of establishing the Energy Technologies Institute. [148911]
Ian Pearson: I have been asked to reply.
The then Secretary of State for Trade and Industry published the prospectus for the Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) on 14 September 2006. It envisaged that the Institute would be fully operational in 2008, with 50:50 public/private sector funding. The intention is that the institute will be legally established later in the autumn. Direct costs so far incurred in supporting the establishment of ETI amount to approximately £573,700.
Export Credit Guarantees
Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many applications for Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) cover were received in the periods (a) 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2006 and (b) 1 July 2006 to date, stating in each case how many applications were made on (i) the standard ECGD forms downloaded from its website and (ii) bespoke forms. [144886]
Malcolm Wicks: The information requested is as follows.
| (a) 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2006 | (b) 1 July 2006 - to date | |
The number of standard applications for the period of 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2006 is approximate, as it was not ECGD's practice at that time to maintain a central record of application forms received.
Industrial Disputes: Mediation
Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether his Department holds a record of all mediation services providing employment dispute resolution services; and if he will make a statement. [150860]
Mr. McFadden: The Department does not hold this information.
The consultation “Resolving Disputes in the Workplace” covered the area of mediation, and the Government will publish its plans for the way forward in resolving disputes in the workplace in due course.
Internet: Privacy
Mr. David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what discussions he has had with counterparts in other countries on the promotion of internet privacy practice. [150244]
Mr. Timms: I have had no such discussions since my recent appointment. These issues are an important aspect of the discussions within Europe and globally about policy issues arising from the internet.
The rapidly increasing use of the internet gives rise to a range of issues relating to privacy. These include the problem of spam, issues around identity and on-line authentication, how to make the internet a safe place for children, and the problem of identity theft when such mechanisms fail. Privacy concerns also emerge in relation to the adoption of new technologies such as radio frequency identification and law enforcement initiatives such as the retention of and access to communications data. We also expect the European Commission to come forward with proposals to enhance privacy of data in their review of the telecommunications framework.
Low Carbon Buildings Programme
Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much has been allocated under phase one of the Low Carbon Buildings Programme (a) in total and (b) in each region in each month since the scheme began; and if he will make a statement. [149421]
Malcolm Wicks: The following table provides the data for all Low Carbon Buildings Programme Phase 1 funding streams as at 12 July 2007.
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