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13 Mar 2008 : Column 612W—continued
Coal Fired Power Stations: Carbon Sequestration
Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment he has made of the (a) incentives and (b) legal framework necessary for companies to retrofit carbon capture and storage technology to coal-fired power stations; and if he will publish any such assessment. [189914]
Malcolm Wicks: Ongoing policy development work by my Department is aimed at promoting the widespread deployment of CCS on new-build and existing power stations and we are assessing a variety of options to achieve this, including possible incentives.
Companies wishing to retrofit the full chain of carbon capture and storage technology would have to obtain the usual planning and regulatory consents. The Energy Bill 2008 contains provisions that will enable the storage of carbon dioxide offshore.
Gregory Barker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what contingency plans he has for circumstances where
carbon capture and storage technologies proposed in relation to coal-fired power stations fail to work in (a) Kingsnorth, Kent and (b) the UK. [190104]
Malcolm Wicks: The separate processes involved in CCS—capture, transport and storage—have been proven on an individual basis over many years. The purpose of the commercial-scale CCS demonstration project supported by the UK Government is to test the viability of CCS on a commercial-scale coal power station.
In the unlikely event that CCS does not prove technologically viable for fossil fuel power stations, or other major sources of carbon dioxide emissions, the Government remain committed to taking actions required to achieve our domestic emissions reductions targets of at least a 60 per cent. reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2050, with at least a 26 per cent. reduction by 2020 (on 1990 baseline).
Coal Fired Power Stations: Kingsnorth
Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment he has made of the impact of the likely volume of carbon dioxide of a new coal fired power station at Kingsnorth on meeting the UK’s emissions target to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by (a) 2020 and (b) 2050. [189312]
Malcolm Wicks: The Secretary of State has made no such formal assessment. We remain committed to meeting the UK’s emissions targets for both 2020 and 2050.
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what consultation he plans to hold on the development of a mitigation strategy for the environmental and biodiversity impacts in relation to Medway estuary and marshes (a) special protection area, (b) Ramsar site and (c) site of special scientific interest of the proposed power station at Kingsnorth in Kent; and whom he plans to consult. [190108]
Malcolm Wicks: The Department is consulting Natural England, the Environment Agency, Medway council and E.ON on the terms of conditions to mitigate or remove any adverse impacts to protected areas and species, should the Secretary of State decide to grant consent.
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what representations he has received, and from whom, on the potential for combined heat and power technology to be included as part of the proposal for the power station at Kingsnorth in Kent; and what discussions he has had on the infrastructure required to (a) capture, (b) transport and (c) utilise the heat to be generated at the proposed Kingsnorth power station. [190186]
Malcolm Wicks:
Numerous representations have been received from individuals and others, including Greenpeace and the constituency MP, on the use of heat. The Department is discussing the terms of suggested conditions to ensure that the necessary infrastructure is in place to
cater for any heat demand that arises should the Secretary of State decide to grant consent.
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will make a statement on whether low carbon energy generation technologies were considered for construction at Kingsnorth in Kent prior to the existing proposal for a coal-fired power station there. [190227]
Malcolm Wicks: The Department has given no such consideration to other low carbon energy generation technologies at Kingsnorth. The choice of technology is a commercial matter for the applicant.
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (1) what assessment his Department has made of likely changes in on-site storage demand for ash at the supercritical units planned at the proposed coal-fired power station at Kingsnorth; [189713]
(2) what assessment he has made of the effect of the operation of the proposed new coal-fired power station at Kingsnorth on natural gas imports to the UK; [189716]
(3) what assessment he has made of the effect of potential changes in storage requirements for gypsum on the design and build process for the proposed coal-fired power station at Kingsnorth; [189754]
(4) what assessment he has made of the role that (a) wet and (b) dry electrostatic precipitation technologies will have in the reduction of particulate emissions at the proposed new coal-fired power station at Kingsnorth; and if he will make a statement; [189758]
(5) what assessment he has made of the effective transmission range of heat to be captured through combined heat and power technology at the proposed coal-fired power station at Kingsnorth; and what representations he has received from industry groups on this issue. [189762]
Malcolm Wicks: No such assessments have been made.
Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will require the implementation of heat capture mechanisms at the proposed Kingsnorth power station; and what consideration has been given to the alternative siting of the power station to improve heat capture options. [190446]
Malcolm Wicks: The Department is currently discussing draft planning conditions which include the installation of the necessary infrastructure to supply heat should such a demand arise should the Secretary of State decide to grant consent. Subject to the proper consideration under both planning and environmental regimes the siting of a power station is a matter for the applicant concerned.
Coal Fired Power Stations: Limestone
Gregory Barker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (1) what estimate his Department has made of future on-site
storage demand for gypsum at the new supercritical units planned at the coal-fired power station at Kingsnorth; [189711]
(2) what estimate his Department has made of on-site storage demand for limestone at the new supercritical units planned at the coal-fired power station at Kingsnorth. [189761]
Malcolm Wicks: The storage capacity at Kingsnorth for gypsum and limestone would be the subject of planning conditions which would be agreed with Medway council.
Coal Fired Power Stations: Pollution Control
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps he plans to take to avoid release of slipped ammonia from the selective catalytic reduction process at the proposed coal-fired power station at Kingsnorth. [189683]
Malcolm Wicks: The avoidance of releases of pollutants to the environment are a matter for the Environment Agency.
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform which catalytic reductant is proposed as part of the selective catalytic reduction process at the proposed new coal-fired power station at Kingsnorth. [189760]
Malcolm Wicks: Ammonia (anhydrous) would be the proposed selective catalytic reduction reagent.
Departmental Official Cars
Mr. Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what make and model of car (a) he and (b) each Minister in his Department selected as their official ministerial car; and what criteria were applied when making the decision in each case. [192376]
Mr. Thomas: The Prime Minister sets the criteria for cars for use by Ministers. Currently, Cabinet Ministers may choose either a diesel-powered Jaguar XJ or a Toyota Prius hybrid. Other Ministers may also choose from a Toyota Prius, a Honda Civic hybrid or any other suitable car with a CO2 emission of 185g/km or less.
Energy: Meters
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (1) what the Government's strategy is on increasing take-up of smart meters; and what discussions has he had with the Energy Retail Association on this matter; [192495]
(2) what assessment he has made of the take-up of smart meters; and what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues in the Department for Communities and Local Government on the use of smart meters in (a) new and (b) existing stock. [192496]
Malcolm Wicks:
My Department has consulted on a range of metering and billing proposals, and has held discussions with a range of interested parties, including
other Government Departments and gas and electricity suppliers. We will shortly respond to the consultation. In doing so, we will set out our views on the next steps on smart metering.
Global Energy Partnership
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform which meetings of the Global Energy Partnership have been attended by United Kingdom representatives in the last 12 months; and in what capacity such representatives attended. [192822]
Malcolm Wicks: UK representatives attended the following Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) meetings as observers:
GNEP Ministerial Meeting on 21 May 2007 in Washington, D.C.;
GNEP Ministerial Meeting on 16 September 2007 in Vienna; and
GNEP Steering Group Meeting on 11-13 December 2007 in Vienna.
Government Departments: Renewable Energy
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what progress the Government has made in meeting its share of the 2020 EU renewable energy target. [193667]
Malcolm Wicks: At present, just under 2 per cent. of our energy comes from renewable sources, and on current policies, we expect that to rise to about 5 per cent. by 2020. Agreement has not been reached on the contribution that each member state (including the UK) will make toward the EU 2020 renewable energy target, but we are fully committed to meeting our fair share. We will consult in the summer on what more we should do to increase renewable energy use to meet our contribution and publish our full renewable energy strategy in spring 2009 once the EU directive has been agreed.
Industrial Diseases: Compensation
Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many claimants under the coal compensation scheme have waited 10 years or more for compensation. [192731]
Malcolm Wicks: The Department received 592,000 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) claims. Of these, 669 claims were registered 10 years or more before being settled by payment. There are 1,916 COPD claims still outstanding that were registered 10 years or more ago.
The Department also received 170,000 vibration white finger (VWF) claims. Of these, 2,070 were registered 10 years or more before being settled by payment. There are 496 VWF claims still outstanding that were registered 10 years or more ago.
In each case, claims will have been registered before agreement was reached as to how claims should be handled and could not have been settled during these periods. In addition, many of the claims that remain outstanding involve co-defendant or other issues which are not within the Department’s control to resolve.
Ipsos MORI
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what payments each of the regional development agencies have made to Ipsos MORI in the last 24 months; and for what purposes. [193822]
Mr. McFadden: The following table shows payments made by each of the RDAs to Ipsos MORI in the last 24 months; and for what purposes.
| RDAs | Payments to Ipsos (£000) | Purpose |
|
Analysis of impact of inward investment activities and strategy development | ||
|
Stakeholder engagement survey on rural renaissance proposals |
Kent
Dr. Ladyman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what funds in the form of (a) revenue payments, (b) capital grants and (c) supported borrowing for which his Department is responsible have been made available to (i) Kent County Council, (ii) Thanet District Council and (iii) Dover District Council in 2007-08. [183058]
Mr. McFadden: The central Government revenue funding to Kent county council, Thanet district council and Dover district council in each year since 1993 is tabled as follows.
| £000 | |||
| Kent county council | Dover district council | Thanet district council | |
| Source: Communities and Local Government Revenue Outturn (RO) returns | |||
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