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23 July 2007 : Column 907W—continued
Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much funding was allocated to be spent under (a) stream 1, (b) stream 2A and (c) stream 2B of the Low Carbon Buildings Programme; and if he will make a statement. [149459]
Malcolm Wicks [holding answer 16 July 2007]: The Low Carbon Buildings Programme Phase 1 was launched in April 2006 with a £30 million budget. £1.5 million was allocated to the Clear Skies and Solar PV Major Demonstration programmes to smooth the transition between these programmes and the Low Carbon Buildings Programme. The allocations by funding stream for the remainder were as follows:
| Funding stream | Allocation( 1) (£ million) |
| (1 )Including management fees | |
A further £6.2 million of the total budget was re-allocated to the household stream in October 2006 given the higher than anticipated demand from householders. The revised allocations by funding stream were as follows:
| Funding stream | Alloca tion( 1 ) (£ million) |
| (1 )Including management fees | |
In the Budget 2007, the Chancellor announced that an additional £6 million would be made available to the household stream. The current allocations by funding stream are therefore as follows:
| Funding stream | Allocation( 1) (£ million) |
| (1 )Including management fees | |
National Institute for Medical Research
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate was made of the (a) value and (b) area of the Temperance Hospital site in Camden when his Department sought approval from HM Treasury for its purchase for the National Institute for Medical Research; and if he will make a statement. [143111]
Ian Pearson: I have been asked to reply.
The National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) is a wholly owned institute of the Medical Research Council (MRC). The MRC sought professional advice on the valuation of the National Temperance Hospital (NTH) site. This advised that the valuation of the site was in the range £12 million to £42 million, with a figure between the two extremes being more realistic. The area of the NTH site is 0.9 acres.
Overseas Companies: Chile
Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many UK-registered companies currently operate or have a base in the regions of (a) Araucania and (b) Los Lagos in Chile. [150495]
Mr. Thomas: UK Trade and Investment's team in Chile is aware of two UK companies with operations in Los Lagos. They are not aware of any UK-registered companies operating in the Araucania region.
Paternity Leave
Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment his Department has made of the merits of increasing statutory paternity leave. [150095]
Mr. McFadden: The Government believe in the importance of increasing opportunities for individuals to achieve a balance between work and caring responsibilities. This is why they introduced two weeks’ paid paternity leave in 2003.
Small Businesses: Floods
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether the businesses affected in the North Yorkshire area by the recent flooding will be eligible for the small-scale small business recovery scheme which is being offered to small businesses in South Yorkshire. [150615]
Mr. Timms: The Yorkshire Forward Small Business Recovery Fund is a regional scheme and companies in North Yorkshire affected by the recent flooding are eligible to apply. The scheme provides up to £2,500 per company for immediate recovery needs.
Tidal Power: Severn Estuary
Mr. Paul Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment he has made of the (a) advantages and (b) disadvantages of tidal power generation in the Severn estuary; and if he will make a statement. [150217]
Malcolm Wicks: Between 1978 and 1994 the Government supported a comprehensive programme of research and development on tidal energy. These studies considered tidal energy schemes at a number of potential sites, including within the Severn estuary. The results of the Severn studies were reported in Energy Paper 57 (ISBN 0 11 412952 5) and an overall assessment of the tidal programme was published in 1994 (ETSU R-82).
A study is currently under way that is looking in some detail at the issues arising on tidal power. The study is being led by the Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) working together with my Department, Welsh Assembly Government, the devolved administrations and the South West Regional Development Agency. The study will provide a strategic, independent and evidence-based consideration of all the environmental, social and economic aspects of options for tidal power in the Severn estuary from a sustainable development perspective.
The final report is expected to be published in September. Further details of the study can be seen at:
Trade: China
Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment he has made of whether the number of Mandarin speakers in the UK will be enough to cope with the expected level of trade growth between the UK and China in the next 20 years. [149998]
Mr. Thomas: The Government place great importance on developing the skills base of the United Kingdom and recognises the value of foreign languages.
The Department for Children, Schools and Families is leading on a number of initiatives to promote the Chinese language and culture in the UK educational system.
The recent Qualifications and Curriculum Authority review announced plans to free up requirements in languages so that schools can offer major world languages such as Mandarin, at Key Stage 3.
In addition, the Government are actively encouraging better understanding of Chinese business practices and culture. UK Trade and Investment, along with our partners at the China-Britain Business Council provide a wide range of practical services to support British companies to trade with, and invest in China. This includes support on the ground from Mandarin speakers. The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform however does not make assessments on foreign language capacity of the workforce.
Unsolicited Goods and Services: Telephone Services
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment he has made of the merits of requiring companies to display their telephone number when making unsolicited calls. [150783]
Mr. Timms [holding answer 19 July 2007]: This matter is the responsibility of the independent regulator, the Office of Communications (Ofcom), which is accountable to Parliament rather than Ministers. Accordingly, I have asked the Chief Executive of Ofcom to reply directly to my hon. Friend. Copies of the Chief Executive’s letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
Wind Power
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will make a statement on the future use of wind power. [150266]
Malcolm Wicks [holding answer 19 July 2007]: As stated in the Energy White Paper “Meeting the Energy Challenge”, published earlier this year “renewable energy has a key role to play in reducing carbon emissions and achieving security of supply”.
In February this year the UK became one of only eight countries to surpass two gigawatts of wind generation. It took 14 years to reach the first gigawatt of electricity from wind and only a further 20 months to reach the second gigawatt.
The UK has one of the best wind profiles in Europe and as such wind technologies both onshore and offshore have the potential to supply a significant percentage of our energy needs.
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many windfarms there are in the UK; and where they are located. [150267]
Malcolm Wicks [holding answer 19 July 2007]: According to the British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) there are currently a total of 148 wind farms in the UK, 143 onshore and five offshore.
The locations of these wind farms are:
| Wind farm | Location | Latitude | Longitude |
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