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21 Jan 2008 : Column 1638W—continued
Renewable Energy
Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate he has made of the percentage of UK electricity which will be supplied from renewable sources in each year until 2015. [180282]
Malcolm Wicks:
Based on the Energy White Paper projections, the percentage of electricity supplied by renewables was assessed at between 8 and 10 per cent. in 2010, between 12 and 16 per cent. in 2015 and
between 12 and 19 per cent. in 2020(1). Assessments for other years are not available.
Following the consultation on our proposed reforms of the renewables obligation (RO) we have revised our modelling of the likely deployment attributable to the RO. Our revised proposals were published on 10 January, and these new estimates have not yet been included in our formal energy projections.
(1) The figures represent the share of renewables, including waste streams, in electricity supply. The coverage of the industry is defined at footnote 21 of the document: http://www.berr.gov.uk//files/file39580.pdf
Renewable Energy: Contracts
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether he was (a) consulted on and (b) asked to approve the tendering process conditions imposed by the Welsh Assembly Government on renewable energy company investors in schemes that will exceed 50 megawatts; and if he will make a statement. [179933]
Malcolm Wicks [holding answer 17 January 2008]: The tendering process for the Welsh National Forest Estate Wind Farm programme was a matter purely for the devolved administration and my Department had no role in it.
Renewable Energy: Planning
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what proportion of the renewable energy projects built in the last 15 years would (a) have been large enough to qualify for decision making by the Infrastructure Planning Commission proposed in the Planning Bill and (b) would have been dealt with by local authorities. [179040]
Malcolm Wicks: The Planning Bill provides that renewable energy projects generating electricity over 50 megawatts onshore and those generating over 100 megawatts offshore in England and Wales will in future be dealt with by the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC). Approximately 3 per cent. (58.5 MW) of the 1,890 MW of constructed renewable generating capacity in England and Wales would have been consented via the IPC had it been in existence (Source: 2010 Planning Database). Another 390 MW of offshore wind generation has been constructed comprising of projects generating between 50 MW and 100 MW. The remainder of the constructed wind farms would have been decided by local authorities.
In addition, BERR has consented to more than 3,500 MW (around 3,000 MW offshore and 550 MW
onshore) of renewable energy projects which have not yet been built but are above the threshold to be dealt with by the IPC in future.
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what effect he expects the Planning Bill, if enacted, to have on the process for building new renewable generators. [179050]
Malcolm Wicks: The reforms will have no impact on the processes for building new energy infrastructure but are intended to improve the efficiency and transparency of the planning system and the speed with which applications are considered.
Renewable Energy: Standards
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what representations he has received from the renewables industry on the Government's commitment to a EU 20 per cent. renewables target since that contract was made. [179043]
Malcolm Wicks: The Department has had representations from various industry and other stakeholders since the Government's commitment to the EU 20 per cent. target. The Department is planning further engagement with stakeholders this year to inform the development of the UK Renewable Energy Strategy which will set out how the UK intends to meet its share of the EU target.
Solar Power
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assumptions were made about the cost of solar electricity generation in the UK MARKAL-macro model. [179335]
Malcolm Wicks: The full results of the MARKAL-macro modelling for the Energy White Paper and are available at: http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file38979.pdf. The assumptions used for solar photovoltaic power in the MARKAL-macro modelling were provided by AEA Technology and are shown in the following table. The capacity value factors vary according to the season so figures for summer and winter days have been provided. The figures in the final column show the estimated final production cost after taking account of capital cost, capacity factor, operation and maintenance costs and equipment lifetime. The capital costs are assumed to decline over time as a result of technological learning.
| Technology description | First year available | Capacity factor (percentage) | Cap cost (£/kW) | O and M (fix) (£/kW) | Life (years) | Costs (p/kWh) |
Trade Unions
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what meetings he has had with trade unions officials since 1 July 2007; on what dates; and with which trade unions. [179871]
Mr. Thomas: Ministers meet many people as part of the process of policy development. It is not normal practice to disclose details of such meetings.
Trading Schemes (Exclusion) Regulations 1997
John Penrose: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when the draft regulations referred to in the memorandum and letter dated 15 July 1997 to Mr. Bigmore concerning the Trading Schemes (Exclusion) Regulations 1997 entered into force. [179827]
Mr. Thomas [holding answer 17 January 2008]: These regulations came into force on 21 August 1997.
Utilities: Disadvantaged
Martin Salter: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent discussions he has had with energy companies on support for vulnerable consumers. [180129]
Malcolm Wicks: Since the publication of the Energy White Paper, I have met the chief executives of all the energy supply companies with a view to improving support to those at risk of fuel poverty. The level of support has increased from £40 million to £56 million for this winter.
I will meet with all the chief executives again shortly to discuss the best way to ensure continued support for their most vulnerable consumers.
Utilities: Low Incomes
Mr. Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps the Government plan to take to assist people on low incomes to meet the cost of electricity and gas, with particular reference to recent price increases. [179689]
Malcolm Wicks: The Government have a package of measures in place to support vulnerable households to keep their homes warm. We have announced that spend on energy efficiency measures for those on low incomes for the period 2008-11 will be in excess of £2.3 billion. This is in addition to the winter fuel payments, payable to all pensioners, which will continue for the lifetime of this Parliament.
In addition, energy companies have recently increased the level of support they provide to vulnerable customers as a result of Government pressure. The level of support available this winter is now close to £60 million.
Utilities: Meters
Mr. Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (1) what the regulatory framework will be for the introduction of smart meters for electricity and gas; and if he will make a statement; [179722]
(2) what plans he has to implement the aim in the 2007 Energy White Paper that every home should have a smart meter for electricity and gas; and if he will make a statement. [179723]
Malcolm Wicks: The Government are assessing responses to their recent consultation on metering and billing, and will shortly set out their next steps, including their approach to the delivery of smart meters.
Utilities: Standards
Mr. Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps he has taken to ensure that consumers have access to information on the performance of energy suppliers in handling complaints; and if he will make a statement. [180190]
Malcolm Wicks: The statutory consumer body, Energywatch, currently provides consumers with a range of information about the performance of gas and electricity suppliers, although this focuses on areas of operation, rather than internal complaint-handling. Following the passage of the Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Act 2007, Ofgem will set minimum standards for complaint-handling for suppliers, which will take effect from October 2008. The arrangements surrounding these standards are currently being developed.
Wind Power: Planning Permission
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate he has made of the number of wind power generation applications which are not being implemented as a result of network capacity constraints which prohibit their connection. [179044]
Malcolm Wicks [holding answer 14 January 2008]: National Grid is responsible for managing connection agreements for larger generation projects. Figures from National Grid indicate that developers of approximately 500MW of wind generation projects with planning permission have requested earlier connection dates than set out in their current connection agreements. Available network capacity is a key consideration in whether National Grid can agree to these requests.
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the estimated (a) cost and (b) capacity is of those wind power projects that have been given planning permission which are waiting for connection permits. [179046]
Malcolm Wicks [holding answer 14 January 2008]: There are approximately 4.3GW of onshore and offshore wind power projects with planning permission under development. All these projects have signed connection agreements with National Grid. The Government are working with Ofgem and National Grid to seek to ensure that these projects are offered a connection date in line with the developer's preferred programme wherever possible.
The cost of developing these projects are met by the private sector within the regulatory framework set by Government.
Justice
Bail
Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the Prime Minister’s oral answer to the hon. Member for South West Bedfordshire on 16 January 2008, Official Report, column 925 on bail, what steps he plans to take to review the issue raised and decide whether any changes in the law are necessary. [180868]
Mr. Straw: In determining applications for bail, the courts have to make difficult decisions within the statutory framework laid down by Parliament in the Bail Act 1976 as amended by the 1994 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act. The law and procedure governing bail is kept under constant review. We are currently considering whether any wider implications flow from relevant and high-profile cases.
British Nationality: Armed Forces
Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many applications have been made for UK citizenship on behalf of children of members of UK armed forces who do not have UK citizenship over the last 10 years, broken down by country of origin; [179775]
(2) how many children of members of the armed forces who are citizens of other Commonwealth countries have been born in the UK and granted UK citizenship. [179776]
Mr. Byrne: I have been asked to reply.
The information requested could be obtained by the detailed examination of individual case records only at disproportionate cost.
Children: Protection
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what data protection obligations there are on (a) police authorities, (b) NHS trusts and (c) social services departments to (i) amend and (ii) delete data collected through child protection investigations undertaken on the basis of incorrect clinical diagnosis. [179555]
Mr. Wills: The obligations on data controllers processing personal data are set out in the Data Protection Act. It contains eight principles which govern the processing of personal data. They apply to all processing of data by all data controllers, including police authorities, NHS trusts and social services.
The fourth principle requires that personal data should be accurate and, where necessary, up to date. Correcting inaccuracies in data held could be achieved by deleting or amending, depending on the circumstances.
The Data Protection Act is administered and enforced by the Information Commissioner, Richard Thomas, independently of the Government. His office is able to provide advice on specific cases and situations relating to data protection.
ClearSprings Management: Offenders
Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what the criteria are for selecting offenders to be accommodated in bail and home detention facilities managed by Clear Springs; [179904]
(2) how many offences have been committed by offenders housed in bail and home detention accommodation managed by Clearsprings, broken down by (a) number of offences, (b) category of offence and (c) location of the accommodation; [179905]
(3) what categories of offences were committed by offenders prior to their transfer to bail and home detention accommodation managed by Clearsprings; [179906]
(4) how many offenders housed in bail and home detention accommodation managed by Clearsprings have been returned to custody since the inception of the scheme; and for what reason in each case; [179907]
(5) what procedures are in place for notifying local residents that bail and home detention accommodation managed by Clearsprings is opening in their area; [179908]
(6) what procedures are in place for consulting local authorities on proposals to open bail and home detention accommodation managed by Clearsprings in their area. [179909]
Mr. Straw: The Bail Accommodation and Support Service provided by ClearSprings is for defendants on bail and offenders on Home Detention Curfew. The following are excluded from the scheme: (i) those convicted of or charged with sex offences, (ii) those convicted of arson in the last 10 years or charged with arson, (iii) those who are considered to pose a significant risk to the public or to ClearSprings staff or to others in a shared house and (iv) those sentenced prisoners who are excluded from HDC. The main exclusions from HDC are:
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