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29 Oct 2008 : Column 1099W—continued
(v) Shoeburyness Computer Complex
(A) 31 March 2006—2 female, 4 male
(B) 31 March 2008—1 female, 2 male
| (A) 31 March 2006 | |
| Grade | Headcount |
| (B) 31 March 2008 | |
| Grade | Headcount |
(vi) and (vii) Kelting House, Basildon
(A) 31 March 2006—29 female, 3 male
(B) 31 March 2008—23 female, 2 male
| (A) 31 March 2006 | |
| Grade | Headcount |
| (B) 31 March 2008 | |
| Grade | Headcount |
(A) 31 March 2006—10 female, 11 male
(B) 31 March 2008—8 female, 10 male
| (A) 31 March 2006 | |
| Grade | Headcount |
| (B) 31 March 2008 | |
| Grade | Headcount |
Rural Areas
Mr. Paice: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in respect of which of his Department’s public service agreements rural proofing of departmental policies is stipulated. [230745]
Ian Pearson: HM Treasury leads on one cross- Government Public Service Agreement (PSA) for the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR2007) period:
PSA9—Halve the number of children in poverty by 2010-11 on the way to eradicating child poverty.
HM Treasury has signed up as a formal delivery partner for the following PSAs:
PSA 1—Raise the productivity of the UK economy (led by BERR);
PSA 6—Deliver the conditions for business success in the UK (led by BERR);
PSA 7—Improve the economic performance of all English regions and reduce the gap in economic growth rates between regions (led by BERR);
PSA 8—Maximise employment opportunity for all (led by DWP);
PSA 27—Lead the global effort to avoid dangerous climate change (led by DEFRA); and
PSA29—Reduce poverty in poorer countries through quicker progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (led by DFID).
It is a requirement for all new policies and programmes to be subject to an impact assessment which includes rural proofing.
Energy and Climate Change
Coal: Prices
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the average price of coal for domestic heating use in each of the last five years. [228124]
Mr. Mike O'Brien [holding answer 17 October 2008]: DECC does not hold data on coal prices paid by domestic consumers. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes the Retail Price Index (RPI) which has a coal price index. RPI data for the last five years is shown in the following table.
| Index number 1990=100 current prices | Percentage change on previous year | |
Mr. David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will provide assistance to (a) consumers and (b) local distributors of coal for domestic use to manage recent cost increases. [228810]
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
I have no plans to provide specific assistance to these groups. In terms of consumers, however, the Government already have a range of measures in place to help the most vulnerable with their energy costs, and we recently launched further initiatives. The new Home Energy Saving Programme announced on 11 September includes a £74 million increase to the budget for Warm Front over the next two years (the Government scheme in England, offering insulation, heating and energy efficiency measures to low income and pensioner households on eligible benefits); an increase in cold weather payments this winter from £8.50 to £25 a week; more help with energy efficiency measures and
a one-off payment for this winter of £50 to over-60s and £100 to over-80s as part of Government’s winter fuel payment.
Departmental Manpower
Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many staff work in his Department’s strategy team on a (a) full-time equivalent and (b) headcount basis; and what the annual average salary of such staff is. [231255]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: DECC does not have a central strategy team yet. As part of the process of setting up the Department, we will be looking at what strategy support for the Department is necessary and will take a decision on the size of the team on that basis.
Natural Gas: Storage
Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what gas storage facilities he expects to be constructed to provide the extra 13.8 billion cubic metres of storage, referred to in the Government’s response to the Eleventh Report of the Business and Enterprise Committee on Energy prices, fuel poverty and Ofgem, HC293-1; and what the (a) size and (b) location of each facility will be. [228022]
Mr. Mike O'Brien [holding answer 17 October 2008]: The figures to which the hon. Member refers were based on information in National Grid’s “Gas Transportation Ten Year Statement 2007”, Table 4.5D (“TYS”), available at the following website:
That document includes details of project sizes and locations. The small changes in the Government’s reply to the BERR Committee’s Q.12, by comparison with the TYS, reflect my Department’s assessment of the impact of developments since the TYS was finalised last year.
River Severn: Tidal Power
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he expects to be able to publish the findings of the Severn Tidal Power Feasibility Study. [231153]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: Subject to internal review, we plan to publish interim findings early in the new year and a final report in the first half of 2010, both for public consultation.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he expects to publish a short-list of options for a Severn tidal power scheme; how many options he expects to shortlist; and what factors he will take into account in drawing up that short-list. [231154]
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
Subject to internal review we expect to publish for public consultation in the new year a recommended shortlist of options, together with the interim findings of the feasibility study and the proposed
scope of the Strategic Environmental Assessment of tidal power development in the Severn Estuary. An assessment framework has been prepared which will also be published. This sets assessment criteria of: feasibility, technical risk; cost and amount of energy produced; affordability and value for money; impact on the energy market and security of energy supply; and environmental and regional impact.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what representations he has received from local businesses and employers in (a) the South West and (b) South Wales on the impact of a Severn Barrage on the local economy. [231155]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: As part of Government’s study looking at the feasibility of a tidal power scheme in the Severn estuary DTZ in collaboration with MDS Transmodal and Arthur D. Little have been commissioned to undertake an initial assessment of the potential economic impact of a tidal power scheme on the Welsh and South West of England economies.
Information has separately been sought from all those ports in the South West and Wales likely to be directly impacted by a tidal power scheme in the estuary. Replies have been received from; Bristol Port Co., Milford Haven Port Authority, Gloucester Harbour Trustees, Environment Agency (Lydney Harbour), Neath Harbour Commissioners, Associated British Ports, Sharpness Dock and British Waterways (Sharpness).
In addition, as an early part of the strategic environmental assessment process, a Call for Information was issued in May 2008. This invited interested parties to submit comments or information that could contribute to the assessment. This yielded responses from the Ports Industry, Shooting and Angling bodies, and Marine Aggregates Producers.
Business representatives also participate in our various feasibility study stakeholder groups. The feasibility study regional forum meetings are for representatives from local government and representatives of the local environmental and business community. Membership includes representatives from the South West Chambers of Commerce, the Federation of Small Businesses and Confederation of British Industry in the South West and Wales.The Bristol Port Company, the Association of British Ports, West of England Strategic Economic Partnership, the Crown Estate, the Institute of Directors and GWE Business West are also members. The Steering Group for the Strategic Environmental Assessment—a major part of the feasibility study—includes a business representative and also representatives of the ports. Regional business issues are also raised through MPs attending the feasibility study parliamentary forum.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change who the members are of (a) the Project Board overseeing the Severn Tidal Power Feasibility Study and (b) the Ministerial Group to which the Project Board reports. [231157]
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