| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
19 Jan 2009 : Column 1004W—continued
Housing: Insulation
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the (a) energy savings and (b) emissions reductions which would arise if (i) 60 per cent., (ii) 80 per cent. and (iii) 100 per cent. of UK households were thermally insulated. [242464]
Joan Ruddock: As of April 2008, the remaining potential for insulation measures in Great Britain totalled 7.75 million wall cavities; 6.33 million lofts (where less than 100 mm of insulation is already present); and 6.3 million homes in need of solid wall insulation (excluding homes in conservation areas).
We project that, if all remaining measures were installed (with solid-wall insulation achieving a ‘U’ value of 0.45 W/m2K), this would save 20.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (MtCO2) per year. In terms of energy savings (comprising gas, electricity and oil), this would represent 230.89 TWh per year.
The savings delivered from treating 80 per cent. and 60 per cent. of homes would depend on the combination of measures installed. The following table therefore provides the figures for savings from insulating cavities, lofts and solid walls separately for each of these percentage scenarios.
Hydroelectric Power
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what research his Department has commissioned on the use of small-scale hydro-power generation; and what his most recent assessment is of its potential contribution to power generation by 2020. [248770]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The 2008 "Growth Potential for Microgeneration in England, Wales and Scotland" report completed by Element Energy was part funded by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) and included research as to the number of micro-hydro installations currently in operation. Their follow up report, "Numbers of microgeneration units installed in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland", looked in more detail at the number of installations across the UK and estimated that there were 73 micro hydro installations in the UK generating over 4GWh per annum. Both reports are available from the BERR website at:
In Scotland a study has been undertaken by the Forum for Renewable Energy in Scotland (FREDS), looking at the potential for hydropower in Scotland. This study shows this potential to be in the region of 657MW. The FREDS report can be found on the Scottish Executive website at:
This Department, along with the Welsh Assembly Government and in partnership with the British Hydropower Association are currently undertaking a study into the potential for micro and small scale deployment hydropower in England and Wales. This is due to be published later this year.
Natural Gas
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what alternative gas supplies to those previously obtained from Russia are being considered by the Government. [248374]
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
The UK imports less than 2 per cent. of its gas from Russia. UK gas demand is met from a diverse range of sources including indigenous UK continental shelf production, imports from Norway and from continental Europe including from the
Netherlands and LNG imports. In addition, the UK has gas storage. The market can respond to changes in the availability of imports from particular sources, including gas sourced from Russia, to ensure that overall demand is met.
Nuclear Power: France
John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions have taken place with the government of France on UK-French co-operation on nuclear power following the President of France’s visit to the UK in 2008. [248542]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: Discussions on nuclear co-operation have continued to take place since the President’s visit to the UK: a meeting will take place between officials across a range of issues on 3 February 2009; the exchange programme between the safety regulators continues; and the safety regulators have been in regular contact with relation to Generic Design Assessment.
Nuclear Power: Insurance
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 12 January, Official Report, column 124W, on nuclear power: insurance, for what reasons the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority has located its wholly-owned subsidiary, Rutherford Indemnity Ltd, in Guernsey. [249359]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) did not make a decision to locate Rutherford Indemnity Ltd. in Guernsey. It was located there when it was owned by BNFL before it was transferred to the NDA, when the NDA became the owners of the plant and facilities of BNFL with effect from 1 April 2005.
Sellafield: Management
Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of management at the Sellafield nuclear facility before the transfer of responsibility for the site to Nuclear Management Partners. [247140]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority is responsible for the management of sites in its ownership.
The new Parent Body Organisation for Sellafield Ltd., Nuclear Management Partners Ltd., was awarded the contract after a competitive procurement process.
The outgoing Parent Body Organisation, BNFL, did not tender for the contract. However, the effectiveness of the previous management arrangements, including cost and efficiency, was used by the NDA as a benchmark to assess value for money in the tenders received during the competition.
Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the value is of contracts relating to the handover of responsibility for the Sellafield site to a new private body organisation. [247141]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: Under the terms of the Parent Body Agreement signed with the NDA, Nuclear Management Partners (NMP) and Sellafield Ltd., NMP was appointed as the Parent Body Organisation and owner of the shareholding in Sellafield Ltd. on 24 November 2008. The Parent Body Agreement, which has no direct monetary value, is for an initial term of five years. The agreement contains extension options for two further five-year terms and one two-year term, totalling a potential 17 years, which the NDA is entitled to exercise in any order. During this contract period, NMP are entitled to receive dividends based on the fee earned by the Site Licence Company (SLC), Sellafield Ltd. This fee is dependent on the quality and effectiveness of the SLC's performance. The fee is currently anticipated to be worth around £50 million a year.
Severn Barrage: Finance
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the costs to the public purse of building the Severn Barrage in the event of all funding being provided from that source. [248168]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The Severn tidal power feasibility study has produced cost estimates of a number of different tidal power projects in the Severn Estuary, and considered how these could be funded and delivered. We expect this work to be published shortly as part of a three-month public consultation.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Environment Protection: Day Care
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what environmental protection legislation governs daycare centres which offer educational training for people with learning disabilities; and if he will make a statement. [246321]
Huw Irranca-Davies: The types of centres described are subject to the same environmental protection legislation that applies to businesses generally. The activities carried out by a business will determine which legislation applies in particular to the business and its activities.
Examples of legislation which could particularly affect these types of centres are the waste management legislation set out in Part 2 of the Environmental Protection Act and the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2007. A further example is the statutory nuisance legislation set out in Part 3 of the Environmental Protection Act which addresses any activities prejudicial to health or a nuisance: for example, emissions of smoke, fumes, light and noise. A full list of the environmental protection legislation that applies to businesses can be found on the Environment Agency's NetRegs website:
Flood Control
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he plans to introduce an independently verified kitemark for the flood resilience of properties. [247488]
Huw Irranca-Davies: We have no plans to set up an alternative Quality Mark scheme to that run by the British Standards Institute. In principle, we have no objection to the development of alternative Quality Marks, supported by appropriate independent verification, provided that they deliver good quality products appropriate to the intended use and are easily understood by the public.
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations he has received on his Draft River Basin Management Plans consultation. [247490]
Huw Irranca-Davies: The consultation on draft River Basin Management Plans is being conducted by the Environment Agency which is the Competent Authority and has responsibility for producing the plans under the Water Framework Directive regulations. The consultation which started on 22 December 2008 will close on 22 June 2009.
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the financial impact on each (a) individual water company, (b) farmer and landowner, (c) local authority, (d) highway authority and (e) other interested party affected by the proposals in the Draft River Basin Management Plans consultation if brought into effect; and if he will make a statement. [247491]
Huw Irranca-Davies: An updated national impact assessment for the water framework directive was published in February 2008 and is available at:
Each of the draft River Basin Management Plans is accompanied by a draft impact assessment which includes an analysis which estimates the likely impact of different options on different sectors. All the major sectors are included that are expected to be impacted by the water framework directive measures, such as the water sector and agriculture and land management. It also includes an assessment of the impact on small and medium sized businesses within each River Basin District.
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what economic impact assessment he has made of each individual river management system set out in the Draft River Basin Management Plans consultation if brought into effect; and if he will make a statement. [247492]
Huw Irranca-Davies: Each of the draft River Basin Management Plans impact assessments includes a sector analysis which estimates the likely impact of different options on different groups. An analysis by individual river management system has not been undertaken but could be achieved by aggregating measures for each water body in each river catchment. It is not possible to undertake this work at this level of detail at present as many water bodies still require further work to determine the reasons for not achieving good status.
Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Environment Agency on flood protection policy. [248590]
Huw Irranca-Davies: DEFRA officials and I work closely with the Environment Agency and meet regularly to discuss a range of issues, including flood protection policy. Most recently, I met Paul Leinster (chief executive) and Lord Smith (chairman) for a bilateral on 11 December.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |