| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
5 Mar 2008 : Column 2513W—continued
Boilers: Standards
Miss McIntosh:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if the Government will consider the merits of 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; [189852]
(2) what assessment the Government has made of the effects of Lot 1 of the Energy-using Products Directive on the UK heating controls industry. [189904]
Joan Ruddock: Heating controls play an important role in reducing the energy used by heating systems and the Government published a consultation paper on 17 January 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.
Following receipt on 31 January of the Commission’s proposed implementing measure on boilers and water heaters under the Framework Directive on the Eco Design of Energy Using Products (EuP), the Market Transformation Programme sent a copy of the proposals to a distribution list of several hundred stakeholders, including any business or trade association that had previously expressed an interest in receiving information on developments on heating, asking for comments within three weeks to prepare a position for the Consultation Forum meeting on 29 February.
DEFRA officials held a large stakeholder meeting on 4 February to discuss both the proposals in the consultation paper on domestic heating and to receive feedback from industry on the Commission’s proposals on boilers and water heaters. In addition, officials have held a number of ad hoc meetings with key stakeholders from the boiler and water heater industry, including a site visit to better understand the boiler supply chain, in order to discuss the implications of the proposals on boilers and water heaters for the UK.
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions his Department has had with the European Commission on the implications of the proposed implementation of the Energy-using Products Directive of boilers outside the scope of the Directive. [189902]
Joan Ruddock: My officials regularly meet and discuss issues on an EU level and have held a number of meetings, informal and formal, with the Commission on the Energy Using Products Directive and its impact on the water heater and boiler heating industry.
The Commission is currently analysing responses from the boiler and water heater industry on its proposals for the Energy-using Products Directive. My officials also attended a Consultation Forum (comprising the Commission, European Trade associations and other member state representatives) on the Directive on 29 February where this issue was discussed.
Energy-using Products Directive
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what (a) research and (b) assessments he has evaluated on the impact of the Energy-using Products Directive on the boiler-making industry; and if he will make a statement; [191056]
(2) what assessment the Government have made of the impact of Lot 1 of the Energy-using Products Directive on the UK heating controls industry; [191057]
(3) what account was taken of electrical equipment waste arising from the requirement of the Energy-using Products Directive to supply system bundles after 2013. [191058]
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.
Heating controls play an important role in reducing the energy used by heating systems. DEFRA officials held a large stakeholder meeting on 4 February to discuss the proposals in the public consultation launched on 17 January, which set out indicative standards for better use of existing controls and advanced controls for domestic heating, and to receive feedback from industry on the Commission's proposals on boilers and water heaters.
Officials have also held a number of ad hoc meetings with key stakeholders from the boiler and water heater industry in order to discuss the implications of the proposals on boilers and water heaters for the UK.
Following receipt on 31 January of the Commission's proposed implementing measure on boilers and water heaters under the Framework Directive on the Eco Design of Energy Using Products (EuP), the Government's market transformation programme sent a copy of the Commission's proposals to a distribution list of several hundred stakeholders, including any business or trade association that had previously expressed an interest in receiving information on developments on heating, asking for comments within three weeks to prepare a position for the Consultation Forum meeting, which was held on 29 February.
Heating: Energy Conservation
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government is taking to ensure the Energy-using Products Directive does not negatively impact on the proposed UK strategy to develop the market for advanced heating controls in new and existing homes. [189256]
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 and ensure these do not negatively impact on the market for advanced heating controls in new and existing homes.
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.
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will meet representatives of the controls industry to discuss the creation of a separate standard for controls. [189903]
Joan Ruddock: Heating controls play an important role in reducing the energy used by heating systems. DEFRA officials held a large stakeholder meeting on 4 February to discuss the proposals in the public consultation launched on 17 January, which set out indicative standards for better use of existing controls and advanced controls for domestic heating, and to receive feedback from industry on the Commission’s proposals on boilers and water heaters.
Officials have also held a number of ad hoc meetings with key stakeholders from the boiler and water heater industry (including a site visit to better understand the boiler supply chain) in order to discuss the implications of the proposals on boilers and water heaters for the UK.
Following receipt on 31 January of the Commission’s proposed implementing measure on boilers and water heaters under the Framework Directive on the Eco Design of Energy Using Products (EuP), the Government’s Market Transformation Programme sent a copy of the Commission’s proposals to a distribution list of several hundred stakeholders, including any business or trade association that had previously expressed an interest in receiving information on developments on heating, asking for comments within three weeks to prepare a position for the Consultation Forum meeting held on 29 February.
I have no current plans to meet representatives of the controls industry.
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government is taking to ensure the Energy-using Products Directive complements the proposed UK strategy to develop the market for advanced heating controls in new and existing homes. [189905]
Joan Ruddock: The Government are committed to raising product efficiency and 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 and ensure these do not negatively impact on the market for advanced heating controls in new and existing homes.
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 is available on the DEFRA website.
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what consideration his Department has given to the establishment of progressive minimum standards for heating controls under the energy-using products framework directive; [190105]
(2) what steps the Government are taking to ensure the energy-using products directive complements the proposed UK strategy to develop the market for advanced heating controls; [190123]
(3) what steps the Government are taking to ensure that the energy-using products directive maximises carbon savings of heating controls. [190167]
Joan Ruddock: The Government are committed to raising product efficiency and 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, without negatively impacting on the market for heating controls.
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. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with the European Commission about application of provisions matching those in the proposed energy-using products directive to boilers beyond the scope of the proposed directive. [190125]
Joan Ruddock: DEFRA officials regularly meet and discuss issues on an EU level and have held formal and informal meetings with the Commission on how its proposals for implementing the energy using products directive may impact on the boiler and water heater industry.
The Commission is currently analysing responses from the boiler and water heater industry on the Commission’s proposals and DEFRA officials attended a consultation forum (comprising the Commission, European Trade Associations and other member state representatives) on the directive on 29 February where concerns raised by this industry were discussed.
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) which bodies his Department has consulted on the development of the energy-using products framework directive; [190109]
(2) if he will meet heating controls industry representatives to discuss the creation of a standard for heating controls; [190124]
(3) what meetings with stakeholders during the three week consultation on the energy-using framework directive period his Department has planned other than the consultation forum on 29 February; [190162]
(3) what consideration the Government have given to involving industry expertise in the development of a standard for heating controls distinct from that contained in the energy-using products directive. [190166]
Joan Ruddock: Heating controls play an important role in reducing the energy used by heating systems and the Government published a consultation paper on 17 January 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.
Following receipt on 31 January of the Commission's proposed implementing measure on boilers and water heaters under the framework directive on the eco design of energy using products (EuP), the Market Transformation
programme sent a copy of the proposals to a distribution list of several hundred stakeholders, including any business or trade association that had previously expressed an interest in receiving information on developments on heating, asking for comments within three weeks to prepare a position for the Consultation Forum meeting on 29 February.
DEFRA officials held a large stakeholder meeting on 4 February to discuss both the proposals in the consultation paper on domestic heating and to receive feedback from industry on the Commission's proposals on boilers and water heaters. In addition, officials have held a number of ad hoc meetings with key stakeholders from the boiler and water heater industry, (including a site visit to better understand the boiler supply chain) to discuss the implications of the proposals on boilers and water heaters for the UK.
I have no current proposals to meet with the heating controls industry.
Nature Conservation
Mr. Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what methods his Department uses to assess the validity of captive breeding claims of species in Annex A of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species before issuing sales certificates. [191015]
Joan Ruddock: Captive breeding claims are assessed by the UK CITES management authority in consultation with our scientific authority, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee. The evidence provided by the applicant is assessed against the criteria set out in Article 54 of EU Regulation 865/2006, that is:
that the specimen is, or is derived from, the offspring born or otherwise produced in a controlled environment;
the breeding stock was established in accordance with the legislative provisions applicable at their time of their acquisition and in a manner not detrimental to the survival of the species in the wild;
the breeding stock has not been supplemented by specimens taken from the wild (except in certain restricted circumstances);
the breeding stock has itself produced second or subsequent generation offspring in a controlled environment, or is managed in a manner that has been demonstrated to be capable of producing second generation offspring in a controlled environment.
A specimen is assessed as captive bred if both the Management and scientific authorities are satisfied that all of these criteria are met. If there are any doubts about the evidence supplied by the applicant, an inspection may be carried out to verify these claims. This inspection may include DMA testing of parents and their claimed offspring.
If the authorities are not able to satisfy themselves that a specimen meets the criteria above, they may still decide to issue a certificate, but with conditions attached to it to restrict how the specimen can be used commercially. Certificates issued under CITE are issued by Animal health.
Nature Conservation: Canvey Island
Bob Spink:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations he has received from (a) English Nature, (b) Buglife and (c) the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds on the
impact of the development of wetlands and sites of special scientific interest on the west of Canvey Island; and if he will make a statement. [190499]
Joan Ruddock: No representations have been received from Natural England (English Nature's successor), Buglife, or the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds on the impact of the development of wetlands and Sites of Special Scientific Interest on the west of Canvey Island.
Nature Conservation: Thames Estuary
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations he has received from environmental non-governmental organisations on the impact on wildlife on and around (a) Two Tree Island, (b) Canvey Island wetlands and (c) mainland wetlands in Castle Point constituency of dredging the Thames estuary for the (i) Thames gate port shipping channel and (ii) the Thames gateway port development; and if he will make a statement. [190501]
Joan Ruddock: No representations have been received from environmental non-governmental organisations on the impact on wildlife on and around the inter-tidal wetlands within Castle Point district
Prime Minister
Constitutional Reform
Mr. Allen: To ask the Prime Minister with reference to his statement of 3 July 2007, Official Report, columns 815-6, on constitutional reform, what steps he plans to take to raise the level of public interest and engagement in the issues to which he referred; and if he will make a statement. [191550]
The Prime Minister: Empowering the citizens of this country so they have a more direct say over the decisions that affect their lives, and greater influence over the work of the Government between elections, is central to the work of each Department in Whitehall.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Hazel Blears) has announced she will publish a White Paper focused on empowering citizens and involving people in improving local services and promoting active citizenship.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |