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13 May 2008 : Column 1466W—continued
Renewable Energy: Standards
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether targets for renewable energy usage for the United Kingdom take account of regional variations. [203812]
Malcolm Wicks [holding answer 7 May 2008]: The European Commission’s proposed target of 15 per cent. renewable energy in the UK by 2020 does not specify where in the UK renewables should be located. The Government will consult over the summer on what more we should do to increase renewable energy use to meet the UK’s share of the target.
Sales Methods: Unfair Practices
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps the Government plans to take to tackle unfair sales practices. [203735]
Mr. Thomas [holding answer 7 May 2008]: The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, which come into force on 26 May, prohibit traders in all sectors from engaging in unfair marketing and selling practices with consumers. In particular, the regulations prohibit misleading and aggressive practices and ban 31 specific practices outright. The regulations will put in place a more comprehensive framework for tackling sharp practices and rogue traders harming consumers’ economic interests.
Seychelles
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many officials in his Department and its predecessor visited the Seychelles on official business in 2007, broken down by grade; and what the equivalent number was in (a) 1983, (b) 1987 and (c) each year between 1998 and 2005. [205075]
Mr. Thomas: No official in BERR or its predecessor Department has visited Seychelles on official business for many years. No records are available for 1983 and 1987.
Smoking
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many smoking shelters were built at each of his Department’s London buildings in each of the last five years. [205052]
Mr. Thomas: The Department has not built any smoking shelters at its London buildings over the last five years.
Stichling Hahn Hilbrich
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the (a) purpose and (b) value was of each (i) contract and (ii) transaction between his Department and Stichling Hahn Hilbrich in each of the last five years; and on what date each such (A) contract was signed and (B) transaction took place. [204926]
Mr. Thomas: Central records indicate that no payments have been made to Stichling Hahn Hilbrich in any of the last five years.
Sustainability Live
Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what (a) ministerial and (b) official representation his Department plans to have at the environmental trade show Sustainability Live on 20 to 22 May. [203970]
Malcolm Wicks: The Department recognises the opportunities for business presented by the environmental trade show Sustainability Live. UK Trade and Investment's Meet the Buyer event at the show will bring 33 overseas buyers from 10 markets.
Although no Ministers will be available on this occasion, both BERR and UK Trade and Investment officials, including overseas commercial officers, will be promoting environmental opportunities and solutions to climate change.
Trade Competitiveness: Heathrow Airport
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on the impact of the performance of Heathrow airport on UK competitiveness. [204294]
Mr. Thomas: My officials have regular discussions with officials in Department for Transport about the operation and future development of UK airports, including Heathrow airport.
Venture Capital: Females
Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what funding his Department is providing to support women’s venture capital initiatives in 2008-09; and what steps he is taking to increase access to venture capital for women's enterprise. [203667]
Mr. Thomas: Enterprise Capital Funds (ECFs) are the Government’s principal equity fund intervention and are available to a diverse range of businesses, including women-owned and women-led businesses. In addition, the Government made a commitment in their recent Enterprise Strategy to provide £12.5 million of capital to set up a fund to invest equity finance primarily in women-led businesses, with the aim of securing up to a total of £25 million of investment by working in partnership with the private sector. Capital for Enterprise Limited, which manages the Department’s venture capital and loan activity, has been tasked with designing the fund and will invite proposals in the summer.
The fund is an integral part of a strong package of measures on women’s enterprise announced recently in the Government’s Enterprise Strategy. Those measures include provision for women’s business centre pilots; enhanced mentoring support; a new national enterprise centre of expertise; a media campaign and activity aimed at opening up procurement opportunities to women-owned businesses. More information on the Strategy is available at:
Wind Power: Thames Estuary
Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when he was informed that Shell would be withdrawing from the London Array wind farm project. [204094]
Malcolm Wicks [holding answer 8 May 2008]: The composition of the London Array Consortium is a commercial matter for the parties involved. A number of successful offshore wind projects have changed ownership in the past, and we would therefore anticipate that the London Array project should be able to proceed. The Secretary of State was informed in confidence that Shell were re-considering their involvement in the London Array project a short time before their public statement. As Shell made clear in their announcement, the decision was a commercial matter and not related to the availability of Government support.
Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what representations he has received from participants in the London Array wind farm project on (a) the operation of the renewable obligation certificates system and (b) the Government’s proposed changes to the system. [204095]
Malcolm Wicks [holding answer 8 May 2008]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and his officials meet regularly with representatives from the offshore wind industry including members of the London Array consortium. These meetings are to discuss a range of issues surrounding the increased deployment of renewable generation in the UK, including planning, grid connection and changes to the Renewables Obligation (RO).
In addition the Government received 174 responses to the consultation on the reform of the RO which closed on 6 September 2007. This includes responses from members of the London Array consortium. Copies of all responses, except those who have requested confidentiality, can be found at:
International Development
Africa: Malaria
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his most recent estimate is of the incidence of malaria in Africa; and what steps (a) the UK and (b) international organisations plan to take to combat the disease. [204661]
Gillian Merron [holding answer 9( th) May 2008]: According to the latest estimates there are up to 500 million cases of malaria globally, and at least one million deaths annually. Around 90 per cent. of these deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa, mostly in young children. The UK Government's support for malaria control is provided through international organisations and partnerships, bilateral programmes and research.
In April the Prime Minister announced that the UK will provide 20 million insecticide treated bed nets which are vital for preventing malaria. This is one of the first pledges made to "Cover The Bed Net Gap" launched by the Roll Back Malaria Partnership (RBMP) to rally donor countries, multilateral institutions, the private sector, and the general public to achieve the goal of universal bed net coverage by 2010. This new RBMP initiative is a direct response to the UN Secretary-General's call for universal coverage of malaria control in Africa by the end of 2010 to mark World Malaria Day on 25 April 2008.
The UK Government, through the Department for International Development (DFID) have committed £1 billion by 2015 to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria. To date the fund has disbursed US$ 5.5 billion; 25 per cent. of which goes to malaria programmes. DFID also provides funding contributions to the WHO, UNICEF and the World Bank's International Development Association as well as the RBMP which plays a central role in helping countries develop and secure finance for national malaria plans. DFID supported UNITAID, the international drug purchase facility, with €20 million in 2007 to purchase drugs for anti-malarial treatments as well as for TB and HIV/AIDS. Our contribution will rise to €60 million by 2010. DFID has also contributed over £16 million for new drug development to the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDI) and the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV).
Burma: Storms
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid and assistance the Government have made available to Burma following the recent cyclone. [204989]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: The UK made an initial pledge of £5 million for the immediate relief effort following Cyclone Nargis and stands ready to contribute much more. These funds will be used to help meet urgent humanitarian needs and will be channelled through UN agencies, the Red Cross and NGOs delivering assistance on the ground. This contribution will be in addition to the UK's long-term humanitarian programme inside Burma.
We have readied our stockpile of emergency supplies including tents, water containers, blankets, and plastics
sheets. And we have sourced additional logistic equipment and other relief items. The first airlift of these materials has departed.
A DFID team of emergency response experts arrived in Burma on weekend of 10/11 May, to support the DFID Burma Office and help to maximise the impact of DFID emergency funding.
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether he plans to give additional aid to Burma following the recent cyclones. [205095]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: The UK made an initial pledge of £5 million for the immediate relief effort following Cyclone Nargis and stands ready to contribute much more. These funds will be used to help meet urgent humanitarian needs and will be channelled through UN agencies, the Red Cross and NGOs delivering assistance on the ground. This contribution will be in addition to the UK's long-term humanitarian programme inside Burma.
We have readied our stockpile of emergency supplies including tents, water containers, blankets, and plastics sheets. And we have sourced additional logistic equipment and other relief items. The first airlift of these materials has departed.
A Department for International Development (DFID) team of emergency response experts arrived in Burma on weekend of 10/11 May, to support the DFID Burma Office and help to maximise the impact of DFID emergency funding.
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