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12 Jun 2008 : Column 417W—continued
we have put in place a network of shore-based stations around the UK coastline to monitor vessel traffic, using automatic identification system technology;
we ensure that powerful tug boats (commonly referred to as “emergency towing vessels”) are available, so that they can assist ships which lose motive power;
we have established arrangements whereby a ship requiring assistance, and whose condition needs to be stabilised, can be brought to a place of refuge;
we have a highly effective structure for command and control of an incident, in which the Secretary of State's representative for maritime salvage and intervention (SOSREP) plays a major role;
we have a fully developed national contingency plan, consistent with the international convention on oil pollution preparedness, response and co-operation 1990 (the “OPRC Convention”); and
we participate actively in international assistance and co-operation arrangements of a bipartite, multipartite or regional nature, again consistent with the OPRC convention.
Renewable Energy: Seas and Oceans
Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether he has commissioned research into the potential siting of generators which capture energy from very large ocean swell; and if he will make a statement. [201938]
Malcolm Wicks: The Department has published detailed information on the UK’s wave energy resource in the “Atlas of UK Marine Renewable Energy Resources: A Strategic Environmental Assessment Report, March 2008”. This can be accessed on the Department’s Strategic Environmental Assessment website at:
http://www.offshore-sea.org.uk/site/scripts/documents_info .php?categoryID=21&documentedID=25
Retail Trade: Competition
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when he expects the Competition Commission’s final report into the UK grocery market to be published; and if he will make a statement. [210659]
Mr. Thomas: The Competition Commission’s final report into the UK grocery market was published on 30 April. The full report and annexes can be found at
The Government expect to publish their response before the summer recess.
Solar Power: Boilers
Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will bring forward proposals to prohibit the sale of domestic boilers that are incompatible with solar water-heating panels; and if he will make a statement. [209568]
Mr. Woolas: I have been asked to reply.
It is not necessary to prohibit the sale of any domestic boiler as they all have the potential to be compatible with solar water-heating panels. However, there are criteria that have to be observed when incorporating a solar water-heating panel within a boiler-based heating system to ensure its safe operation.
Tidal Power
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what progress has been made with Pulse Tidal’s Humber tidal stream energy test project; and if he will make a statement. [208501]
Malcolm Wicks: On 7 April 2008, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State granted consent under the Transport and Works Act 1992 to Pulse Tidal Ltd. for their prototype tidal stream generator at Upper Burcom on the River Humber. Although construction and operation of the device is now a matter for Pulse Tidal to take forward, I understand that construction of the device has begun.
Wind Power
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the costs are estimated to be of connecting to the National Grid proposed windfarms estimated to be necessary to meet Government targets; what estimate he has made of the lengths of overhead pylons required to connect such windfarms to the Grid; and if he will make a statement. [207905]
Malcolm Wicks: Investment in electricity networks is made by the Transmission Owners and Distribution Network Operators under the regulatory supervision of Ofgem.
In terms of investment over the next few years, Ofgem have agreed £560 million of investment in the transmission network specifically to connect new renewable generation in Scotland and the North of England. In the Transmission Price Control, which covers the five year period from 1 April 2007, a further £3.8 billion of investment in the transmission network was agreed. This figure includes both refurbishment and the costs of connecting new generators of all types and may increase if warranted by generator demand.
The Department is currently preparing a document that will be published as part of the Government’s consultation on developing a strategy for achieving the UK’s contribution towards the European Union renewable energy target of 20 per cent. by 2020. Delivering our contribution is likely to require a significant increase in renewable electricity that goes beyond our current target of 10 per cent. by 2010 and the aspiration to increase it to 20 per cent. by 2020.
An independent study commissioned in support of this work is considering electricity network related issues including the estimated costs and scale of any additional network infrastructure that will be needed to meet the EU target. The study considers a range of scenarios and the final report will be published together with the consultation document.
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what factors are taken into account when his Department assesses applications for new offshore wind farms. [208504]
Malcolm Wicks: In considering applications for offshore wind farms, Ministers will consider all relevant factors that are drawn to their attention by members of the public, the Government’s statutory advisers and others with an interest in the proposed development and set these against the need for electricity generation from renewable energy sources.
Defence
Armed Forces: Sports
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what sports facilities are available to service personnel and their families on each base, broken down by (a) base, (b) facilities and (c) cost to users. [209580]
Derek Twigg: Records held by Defence Estates indicate the following numbers of sports facilities exist in the UK and overseas (figures are approximate):
| Number | |
To provide more comprehensive or detailed information or to break facilities down on a site by site basis would entail disproportionate cost.
Colombia: Armed Forces
Colin Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence from which units Colombian state security forces came who received training at UK military establishments in each year since 2002; and how many Colombian state security services personnel received training at UK military establishments in each year since 2002. [210389]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The Ministry of Defence does not record the units of foreign personnel receiving training at UK military establishments. 21 Colombian personnel, in total, have commenced training in the UK since 2002. The numbers attending by year, and their year of attendance, are given in the following table. The courses provided are educational courses for staff officers, or bomb disposal experts.
| Fiscal year | Number of Colombian students |
Defence: Secondary Education
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) who has (a) contributed resources to, (b) offered to develop and (c) taken part in online polls relating to the Defence Dynamics e-learning tool; [208881]
(2) what the results were of (a) the online polls and (b) the rating of lessons in relation to the Defence Dynamics e-learning tool website; [208882]
(3) what (a) representations he has received on and (b) audit he has conducted of the e-learning product Defence Dynamics; and if he will place in the Library copies of the representations received; [209037]
(4) how many students have used the e-learning product Defence Dynamics; [209038]
(5) how many people have registered on the Defence Dynamics website; [209039]
(6) who have registered on the Defence Dynamics website have (a) used interactive exercises, (b) registered a class, (c) used teaching materials, (d) accessed the multimedia library, (e) downloaded multimedia resources, (f) used forums, (g) filed a complaint and (h) reported technical problems; [209040]
(7) how many schools have (a) acquired and (b) used the multi-media tool Defence Dynamics cited at page 25 of the Report of the Inquiry into National Recognition of our Armed Forces. [209812]
Derek Twigg: I will write to the hon. Member.
Departmental Official Residences
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what official residences are owned by his Department; and what the (a) office held by each resident, (b) address and (c) value is of each such residence. [208889]
Derek Twigg [holding answer 5 June 2008]: There are currently 32 Official Service Residences (OSR) which are listed in the following table. While the area in which the residence is located is given, the address has been withheld in the interests of security.
OSRs are properties either owned or leased by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and designated as a residence for a post which carries representational hosting responsibility for the entertainment and/or accommodation of senior or influential guests. It is the post and not the residence that carries OSR status.
Of the 22 OSR properties in Great Britain, 13 are MOD owned, eight are owned by Annington Homes Ltd. and one is part of a Royal Palace. Of the 10 OSR overseas, four are MOD owned, with the remainder provided by the host nation.
Market values of MOD-owned properties are not obtained unless disposal is proposed.
| MOD Post Title | OSR location |
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