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18 Dec 2008 : Column 972W—continued
| Million tonnes CO 2 | ||||||||||
| 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | |
|
Percentage CO2 emissions reduction w/out EU ETS relative to base year of 1990 | ||||||||||
| Source: UEP 2008, DECC | ||||||||||
Carbon Reduction Commitment
Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to the answer of 24 November 2008, Official Report, column 1142W, on carbon emissions: local authorities, at what fixed price allowances under the Carbon Reduction Commitment will be sold in each year of the first phase. [242555]
Joan Ruddock: The Government consulted in June 2007 on the price of allowances for the fixed price sales during the introductory phase of the Carbon Reduction Commitment. The Government response to the consultation, published in March 2008, stated that the Government are minded to take forward a fixed price for allowances of £12 per tonne of CO2 for the three-year introductory phase. The fixed price for allowances will be confirmed in the consultation on the Carbon Reduction Commitment regulations which we plan to publish next spring.
Climate Change
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change for what reasons he did not place hard copies of the Climate Change Committee's report, Building a Low-Carbon Economy: The UK's Contribution to Climate Change, in the Vote Office; and how many copies of the report have been downloaded from the internet. [243847]
Joan Ruddock: The Committee on Climate Change was vested as an independent body on 1 December 2008, the same day that it was required by the Climate Change Act to give advice on carbon budgets to the Secretary of State for the Department of Energy and Climate Change and publish the advice (section 34). Consequently, it could only issue copies of the report on vesting.
The Committee on Climate Change has requested that a copy of the Executive Summary of Building a Low-Carbon Economy: the UK's Contribution to Climate Change be placed in the Vote Office. The Executive Summary includes a CD of the full report.
Copies of the report will also be placed in the Libraries of the House once they have been signed by the Secretary of State.
The Committee on Climate Change does not have figures for numbers of downloaded reports available. However, their reports page, available at:
was viewed 6,921 times between 1 December and 7 December.
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what role his Department will have in the promotion of UK climate change and energy objectives overseas; and if he will make a statement. [243946]
Joan Ruddock: The Department of Energy and Climate Change has the lead responsibility for the UK's objectives on both climate change and energy. In international negotiations on these issues, the Department works closely with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for International Development and other Government Departments.
The Department is leading the Government's work to achieve agreements at EU and international levels on multilateral action to tackle climate change and implementing these agreements.
One example of our current work on energy security is the major international meeting that my right hon. friend the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change is hosting in London on 19 December. This follows on from the meeting in Jeddah earlier this year, to further the dialogue between oil producing and consuming countries. Following the recent volatility of energy markets, the meeting will consider the impact of the global financial crisis on energy markets and investment, and how countries can work together to address the mutual long-term energy challenges we face.
Energy: Prices
Mr. Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the number of households in receipt of reduced domestic energy bills as a result of the measures announced as part of the Home Energy Saving programme. [243265]
Joan Ruddock [holding answer 16 December 2008 ] : From 1 October to 30 November the Warm Front scheme has spent approximately £20 million of the extra £50 million added to this financial year's budget. This has assisted more than 16,000 households by delivering energy efficiency advice together with a range of heating and insulation measures.
The Government will consult in the new year on proposed legislation regarding the increased carbon emission reduction target and new Community Energy Saving Programme obligations. In anticipation of this, energy suppliers have increased their insulation programmes for this winter. In fact, as part of their obligation to improve household energy efficiency, early in the autumn, energy companies estimated that they would insulate twice as many cavity walls and 50 per cent. more lofts than last winter.
Also as part of the 11 September package, the cold weather payments were increased from £8.50 to £25 a week. Over 500,000 payments have been made this winter.
Thousands of extra people have benefited from energy saving advice from the Act on CO2 helpline since the 11 September announcement. Run by the EST, it took 89,000 calls in September (against 27,000 in September 2007), 92,000 in October (against 33,000 in 2007) and 62,000 in November (against 37,000 in 2007).
Energy: Training
Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many individuals have accessed Government funded training through the energy efficiency employment initiative in each month since the inception of the initiative. [242498]
Joan Ruddock: The first phase of the Energy Efficiency Employment Initiative (EEEI) provides help for people wishing to move into loft and cavity wall insulation jobs. The EEEI became operational at the beginning of December 2008. Consequently no monthly figures are yet available.
Home Energy Efficiency Scheme: Essex
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change by whom Warm Front contractors serving the Essex area are approved; and what the average amount charged to individual clients by each contractor as an additional payment for the work done under the scheme is. [243776]
Joan Ruddock [holding answer 15 December 2008]: The Warm Front contractors in the Essex area and the average amount charged to individual clients by each contractor is outlined in the following table:
| Installer | Average contribution (£) |
The quoted prices under the scheme are harmonised which means contractors in the area will be paid the same rate for the same type of work.
Insulation: Housing
Mr. Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will amend the Government's insulation scheme for disabled householders to cover households with disabled children. [242074]
Joan Ruddock: The Warm Front scheme is presently under review, which includes consideration as to whether the existing eligibility criteria are the most effective in targeting vulnerable households in danger of fuel poverty.
As part of this process we will be considering the recommendations of the National Audit Office's Value for Money report on Warm Front, which is due to be published early next year.
Any decisions will be announced in due course.
Members: Correspondence
Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he plans to reply to the letters dated 29 September and 29 October 2008 from the hon. Member for Billericay regarding a constituent, Mr C Jones. [240683]
Joan Ruddock [holding answer 8 December 2008]: I have recently responded to the hon. Member's letter of 29 September and he will receive a reply shortly.
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he will reply to the letter to him of 15 October from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. J. Lee. [241698]
Joan Ruddock: My Department does not have a record of receiving a letter from my right hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Gorton, dated 15 October in regard to Mr. J. Lee. My officials have contacted his office to request a copy.
Ministerial Policy Advisers: Pay
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether the special representatives on (a) international energy issues and (b) carbon trading receive remuneration in respect of those roles. [242260]
Joan Ruddock: No. DECC will meet reasonable expenses incurred by the special representatives on international energy issues and carbon trading in the course of their duties.
Mobile Homes: Energy
Mr. Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to support energy efficiency measures for mobile homes. [242221]
Joan Ruddock: The Government's Warm Front programme provides assistance to vulnerable households, including those living in mobile homes, with repairs of existing and installation of new heating systems.
Mobile homes often prove difficult to treat, with many of the most cost-effective measures, such as loft and cavity wall insulation and mains gas central heating being unsuitable. However, Warm Front has developed mechanisms for assessing new technologies that could be brought onto the scheme. We are currently reviewing alternative heating and insulation measures which potentially could provide future solutions for mobile home properties.
Warm Front Scheme
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many applications for Warm Front grants are under consideration. [242472]
Joan Ruddock: The current number of applications outstanding is 106,179. Each of these applications will be at very different stages and will be eligible for a range of measures. Some customers will be awaiting survey, others will be awaiting work to be installed and others will have an outstanding contribution to make to the cost of the work.
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many people with Warm Front grant applications under consideration are without heating. [242473]
Joan Ruddock: It is not possible to quantify the exact number of applicants who are currently without heating. Some households will have a heating system with an intermittent fault, others may have intermediate forms of secondary heating and others may be waiting for a heating measure to replace an unreliable and inefficient system. It is not therefore possible to quantify at any exact moment how many households with an outstanding application are without heating.
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assistance is available to individuals who apply for a Warm Front grant where the cost of the work exceeds the original quotation. [242474]
Joan Ruddock: Where an excess payment is required, Warm Front will always be willing to provide clients with advice about sourcing funding from external organisations to help them meet their contribution. Eaga plc, the present Scheme Manager, has well established relationships with such organisations throughout the country and can offer advice and assistance when it is requested.
DECC is aware that some customers have difficulties making a financial contribution. We are currently assessing ways in which we can help customers to make full use of the scheme. Part of this analysis will include considering whether the grants are set at the most suitable levels.
Funding to Warm Front was increased in the pre-Budget report by £100 million, with another £50 million in spending bought forward. We want to make sure as many households as possible get the help they need.
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many individuals have made an additional contribution to the cost of installing heating under the Warm Front scheme; and what the average amount of such a contribution has been. [242475]
Joan Ruddock: The information requested is as follows:
| Number/£ | |
|
Total number of customers who have made an additional contribution | |
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