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3 Mar 2008 : Column 2062W—continued
Pensions: Taxation
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate his Department has made of the additional costs in (a) benefit payments and (b) administration that would be incurred as a result of HM Revenue and Custom’s proposals to tax small pensions retrospectively for the year 2007-08. [190850]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The information requested is not available.
Social Security Benefits: Polygamy
Mr. Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his policy is on the payment of benefit to families in polygamous marriages; and if he will make a statement. [188967]
Mr. Plaskitt: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave the hon. Member for Hertsmere (Mr. Clappison) on 20 February 2008, Official Report, column 756W.
Social Security Benefits: Prisoners Release
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many ex-prisoners of working age were claiming (a) income support, (b) incapacity benefit, (c) jobseeker’s allowance and (d) another working age benefit (i) three, (ii) six and (iii) 12 months after being released from prison in each year since 1997. [191209]
Mr. Plaskitt: The information is not available.
State Retirement Pensions: Anniversaries
Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what consideration his Department has given to the erection of a memorial to celebrate the centenary of pensions; and if he will make a statement. [188957]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: We have no plans to erect a memorial.
We plan to mark the centenary of the introduction of the state pension as a key element of the celebrations around the second UK Older People’s Day in October 2008.
Winter Fuel Payments: West Midlands
Mr. Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people received a winter fuel payment in (a) Warley constituency and (b) Sandwell Metropolitan borough council area in the most recent period for which figures are available. [189626]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: In winter 2006-07, 14,080 people in the Warley constituency and 54,360 people in Sandwell metropolitan borough council received a winter fuel payment. We expect the numbers to be similar for this winter.
Notes:
1. Figures rounded to the nearest 10.
2. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.
Source:
Information directorate 100 per cent. data.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Bovine Tuberculosis: Devon
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information his Department has received from Milk Link on cases of suspected bovine tuberculosis in Devon; how many such cases were reported by Milk Link in each of the last three years; and what steps his Department has taken as a result. [190575]
Jonathan Shaw [holding answer 29 February 2008]: Responsibility for reporting suspected cases of bovine tuberculosis rests with veterinary surgeons (on farms) and meat hygiene service inspectors (at slaughterhouses).
Therefore, no suspected cases of bovine tuberculosis have been reported to my Department by Milk Link, which I understand, is a milk wholesaler business.
Energy: Conservation
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions his Department has had with the European Commission on the proposed implementation of the Energy-using Products Directive for boilers being outside the scope of the Directive. [189251]
Joan Ruddock: DEFRA officials regularly meet and have discussions at EU level, including on energy efficient products, and have held formal and informal meetings with the Commission on the Energy Using Products Directive.
The Commission is currently analysing responses from the boiler and water heater industry on its proposals for implementation of the Energy Using Products Directive. DEFRA officials are due to attend a Consultation Forum (comprising the Commission, European Trade Associations and other member state representatives) on the directive on 29 February 2008.
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if he will meet representatives of the controls industry to discuss their proposal for the creation of a separate standard for controls rather than the bundled approach proposed in the energy-using products directive; [189253]
(2) what assessment the Government have made of the consequences Lot 1 of the energy-using products directive will have on the UK heating controls industry; [189255]
(3) whether the Government have considered using industry expertise to work with the European Commission to produce a separate standard for heating controls rather than including them with boilers as outlined in the energy using products directive. [189258]
Joan Ruddock:
DEFRA officials have invited key stakeholders, including members of the boiler and water heater industry, to discuss implementation of the energy using products directive and raise any concerns
on implications for the UK. The Commission is currently analysing responses from the industry and the alternative proposals it has put forward.
The Government's market transformation programme is currently assessing the full range of possible impacts of implementation of the energy using products directive, based on the Commission's current proposals.
DEFRA officials will also shortly be attending meetings with the European trade associations in order to learn more about the issues the boiler and heating industry face across Europe.
Heating controls play an important role in improving the efficiency of heating systems and the Government have recently published a consultation paper setting out indicative standards for better use of existing controls and advanced controls for domestic heating. A copy of the consultation document is available on DEFRA's website.
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what position his officials will be taking on the Energy-using Products Directive at the Implementing Measure Consulting Forum on 29 February. [189254]
Joan Ruddock: The Government generally see Consultation Forum meetings as an opportunity for industry to let the Commission know of their concerns directly. The Government are aware that the industry has raised significant concerns about these proposals and DEFRA officials are assessing the feedback we have received, with a view to relaying these concerns to the Commission at the Consultation Forum meeting on 29 February 2008.
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consideration his Department has given to the report produced by the consultancy commissioned by the European Commission to write a preparatory study for the Energy-using Products Directive. [189257]
Joan Ruddock: DEFRA officials are aware of the report, produced by the consultancy VHK on behalf of the Commission, on implementation of the Energy Using Products Directive.
The Government’s Market Transformation Programme is currently assessing its recommendations and assumptions.
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government are taking to ensure that the Energy Using Products Directive ensures the maximum potential carbon savings of heating controls are realised. [189259]
Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what steps the Government are taking to maximise the carbon reduction impact of the energy-using products directive, with reference to heating controls; [189464]
(2) what steps he plans to take to take account of the potential effects of the energy-using products directive
in developing the proposed strategy for developing the market for advanced heating controls in new and existing homes. [189476]
Joan Ruddock: The Government are committed to raising product efficiency. We are working with key stakeholders from the boiler and water heater industry and the European Commission to develop proposals which will maximise the standards and efficiency of products covered by the energy using products directive.
Heating controls play an important role in improving the efficiency of heating systems and the Government have recently published a consultation paper setting out indicative standards for better use of existing controls and advanced controls for domestic heating. A copy of the consultation document is available on the DEFRA website.
Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consideration the Government have given to the development of a discrete standard for heating controls under the Energy-using Products Directive; and if he will establish a working group including industry experts to examine this matter. [189465]
Joan Ruddock: DEFRA officials have held a range of meetings with key stakeholders, including members of the boiler and water heater industry, to present the Commission proposals and discuss concerns on implementing the energy using products directive in the UK. The Commission and DEFRA officials are currently analysing responses from the industry and the alternative proposals it has put forward.
Heating controls play an important role in improving the efficiency of heating systems and the Government have recently published a consultation paper setting out indicative standards for better use of existing controls and advanced controls for domestic heating. A copy of the consultation document is available on the DEFRA website.
Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what account the Government has taken of the potential electrical and electronic waste arising after 2013 in its consideration of the implementation of the Energy-using Products Directive in relation to supply system bundles; [189470]
(2) what estimates he has (a) made and (b) evaluated on the potential effect of the Energy-using Products Directive on the UK boiler industry; and if he will make a statement. [189472]
Joan Ruddock: The Government’s Market Transformation Programme is currently assessing the full range of possible impacts of the implementation of the energy-using products directive, based on the Commission’s current proposals.
Officials are due to attend a meeting of the Consultation Forum (comprising the Commission, European Trade Associations and other member state representatives) to discuss the Commission’s proposals on boilers and water heaters on 29 February.
Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will meet representatives of the heating controls industry to discuss the creation of a separate standard for controls, with reference to the implementation of the Energy-using Products Directive. [189479]
Joan Ruddock: DEFRA officials have held a number of meetings with key members of the boiler and water heater industry to present the Commission proposals under the energy-using products framework directive and to discuss the implications of these for UK industry. DEFRA officials are currently analysing responses from the industry and the alternative proposals it has put forward.
DEFRA officials will shortly be attending meetings with the European Trade Associations in order to learn more about the issues this industry faces across Europe.
Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions his Department has had with the European Commission on the scope of the Energy-using Products Directive as it relates to boilers. [189481]
Joan Ruddock: DEFRA officials regularly meet and have discussions at EU level, including on energy efficient products, and have held a number of meetings with the Commission on the energy-using products directive, including an informal meeting on the Commission’s proposed implementing measure on boilers and water heaters.
The Commission is currently analysing responses from the boiler and water heater industry on its proposals for boilers and water heaters. DEFRA officials are due to attend a Consultation Forum (comprising the Commission, European Trade Associations and other member state representatives) on these proposals on 29 February.
Energy: Fees and Charges
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to cap transmission charges if Ofgem implements a new payment system based on generator distance from population centres. [189446]
Malcolm Wicks: I have been asked to reply.
In the GB electricity market, Transmission Network Use of System Charges (TNUOS) are already charged on a cost-reflective locational basis, such that generators furthest from centres of demand pay a higher charge to reflect the additional transmission network costs. Ofgem are considering whether such arrangements should also apply to transmission loss charges, which currently do not vary by location.
The Government has no intention of capping these charges for the generality of users. However, section 185 of the Electricity Act 2004 gives the Secretary of State the power to adjust such charges in an area which has high potential for the development of renewable generation and where the charges would otherwise be a material hindrance to that development. The Government has
said that it intends to exercise this power for the Scottish islands, subject to the statutory tests set out in section 185 being met. In particular, the Government would need to be satisfied that the level of transmission charges in the absence of a scheme constitutes a material hindrance to the development of renewable generation in those locations.
Incinerators: Hazardous Substances
Mr. Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) when consultations have taken place with incinerator operators on an eco-toxity test for incinerator bottom ash; [189838]
(2) what testing his Department has commissioned of the toxicity of incinerator bottom ash; [189939]
(3) what consultation he plans on the testing regime for incinerator bottom ash; [189940]
(4) what the timetable is for the introduction of the new test of toxicity for incinerator bottom ash. [189941]
Joan Ruddock: I understand that the waste industry is taking forward an initiative to identify a protocol for the ecotoxicity testing of Incineration Bottom Ash (IBA). The initiative will use a direct testing method on IBA, where the validity of classification results from the desktop method remains uncertain. This uncertainty arises because of the potential for ecotoxic metal substances in IBA to exist as the metal or other non-ecotoxic form; something that the desktop analytical method cannot determine.
DEFRA and the Environment Agency support this initiative, considering that the classification of IBA will remain “non-hazardous” pending the results of the direct testing.
The Environment Agency will review this decision when results from direct testing have been provided. No consultation is planned by my Department on this issue.
Lymington River: Repairs and Maintenance
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what the timetable is within which the Marine and Fisheries Agency plans to determine the application by Wightlink for shore works on the Lymington river; and if he will make a statement; [190276]
(2) whether the Marine and Fisheries Agency plans to consult when making an appropriate assessment on shore works to accommodate larger ferries in the Lymington river under the provisions of the Habitat Directive. [190277]
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