House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 04 Mar 2009 (pt 0018)

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Natural Gas: Russia

Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the effects of Russia's decision to stop European gas supply on such supplies in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [249518]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: Russia's decision to stem European gas supply had no direct impact on gas supply in the UK as the UK is estimated to receive less than 2 per cent. of its gas from Russia. However, the shortage of gas supplies to the continent was likely to have been the reason for the exports of gas from the UK to Europe through the Interconnector of, on average, 35 million cubic metres per day, in response to price signals. This was at a time of year when the UK would normally be importing through the Interconnector. The UK's diverse sources of gas supplies helped to ensure that gas supply in the UK continued to meet demand, which was high due to cold weather conditions prevailing at the time.

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he plans to review the viability of the Nord Stream pipeline project. [255199]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: No.

Natural Gas: Ukraine

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what percentage of gas consumed in the UK is sourced from the Ukraine. [259545]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: UK consumption of any gas sourced via the Ukraine (be it Russian or Ukrainian in origin) is negligible. Ukraine consumes its own domestic gas production with minute exports, but does act as a transit country for Russian gas entering the EU. There are only two routes to the UK for gas via the Ukraine. These are the Balgzand-Bacton pipeline from the Netherlands and the Bacton-Zeebrugge pipeline with Belgium. The physical origins of the gas through these pipelines are not available. It is possible that a very small amount of gas via the Ukraine finds its way across continental Europe to the UK, but given the gas pipeline infrastructure it is believed that most of the gas from the Netherlands is sourced from the Dutch sector of the North sea, and that most of the gas from Belgium is sourced from Norway via Zeepipe (which terminates at Zeebrugge).

Monthly imports and exports of natural gas by country are published in Energy Trends Table 4.3 on the DECC/BERR website at the following address:

http://stats.berr.gov.uk/energvstats/et4_3.xls

Nuclear Power Stations

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) whether he proposes to provide further opportunities for the nomination of potential nuclear new build sites after the current period closes on 31 March 2009; [256855]

(2) what consideration he gave to providing for a period of evaluation of other than two months for the nomination of potential nuclear new build sites; and for what reasons two months was the preferred period. [256888]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The strategic siting assessment is a process for identifying and assessing sites which are strategically suitable for the deployment of new nuclear power stations by the end of 2025. The Government believes that it is important to focus on sites which can come on stream in good time to contribute to our goals on climate change and energy security. 2025 provides sufficient focus to facilitate the achievement of these goals whilst avoiding an unnecessarily long list of potential sites which may not come on stream for some years. Should the need arise the Government will issue a second call for nominations for credible sites which might be deployed after 2025.

The Government Response to Consultation on the SSA process and siting criteria, published in January this year set out the next steps, including nomination forms, guidance to nominators and the timetable of assessment. The deadline for nominations is 31 March 2009. The nominations will be published on the DECC website and there will be a month long period for public comment prior, and in addition, to public consultation later in the year.

In the consultation on the SSA process and siting criteria Government set out the proposal that the nomination window would be eight weeks. Having considered the responses to the consultation, the Government believes that an eight week window for nominations gives nominators sufficient time to absorb the changes to the criteria resulting from the consultation, to complete nominations and to perform their engagement activities. The Government did consider leaving time between the publication of the criteria in the Response and subsequently calling
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for nominations, but felt that this would introduce complexity into the nomination period. The Government's conclusions in relation to the nomination window are set out more fully in the Government Response to the SSA Consultation.

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many nuclear power stations he expects to begin being constructed in each of the next five years. [259509]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: It will be for energy companies to determine how much capacity is built and when.

There should be no cap on the amount of new nuclear build that industry can propose. We are taking active steps to facilitate rapid early deployment of new nuclear build in the UK.

Interest in building new nuclear power stations in the UK is strong. This is demonstrated by events such as EDF’s recent purchase of BE, and by the development of Joint ventures by RWE and E.ON, and Iberdrola, GDF Suez and SSE to participate in the development of new nuclear power stations.

Renewable Energy: International Co-operation

Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Morley and Rothwell of 16 June 2008, Official Report, columns 641-2W, on renewable energy: international co-operation, what recent assessment he has made of the merits of the establishment of an international renewable energy agency in the light of other existing organisations and initiatives in the field of renewable energy. [253724]

Mr. Mike O'Brien [holding answer 10 February 2009]: We have fully supported the proposal for an International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). During 2008, we were engaged in the process for establishing IRENA and more recently we participated in the founding conference on 26 January and the first session of the Preparatory Commission of IRENA on 27 January 2009.

We continue to be keen on joining IRENA and have been in close contact with the German Government on the details of the new organisation. For example, we have been talking to Germany about how IRENA can contribute to the roll-out and deployment of renewables and how we can help to get other countries such as Canada, China, Japan, India and the US to join. We also want to make sure that IRENA works closely with, and avoids overlap and duplication with, other international bodies and organisations, such as the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the renewable energy and energy efficiency partnership (REEEP). The IEA has a good understanding of the potential for renewable energy and its technology roadmaps published in its Energy Technologies Perspectives 2008 set out what needs to be done. The policy and analytical expertise of the IEA needs to be used by IRENA to accelerate deployment of renewable sources of energy.

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United Nations Environment Programme

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent meetings Ministers and officials from his Department have had with representatives of the United Nations Environment Programme on energy and climate change related matters. [255165]

Joan Ruddock: DECC Ministers have not had any recent meetings with representatives from the United Nations Environment Programme. However, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, attended a climate change meeting on 18 February 2009 as part of the United Nations Environment Programme Conference in Nairobi.

Windfall Tax: Energy

Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on levying a windfall tax on the profits of energy companies; what representations he has received from (a) trades unions and (b) consumer groups on an energy windfall tax; what the reasons were for deciding against such a tax; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the transcript of his comments to Radio Five Live on 23 September on energy windfall taxes. [246222]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has regular discussions with the Chancellor on various economic issues relating to the energy markets, and receives representations on issues relating to the energy markets from a broad range of organisations. All taxes are kept under review by the Chancellor as part of the Budget and pre-Budget report process. Any decision to levy a tax on the profits of energy companies would need to consider the impact on UK competitiveness and the long term investment required to move to a low-carbon economy.

My officials have tried on a number of occasions to obtain from the BBC the transcript the hon. Gentleman requested without success so far.

Innovation, Universities and Skills

Vocational Training

Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many learner places funded by the Learning and Skills Council have been taken up by people with (a) learning difficulties, (b) disabilities and (c) mental ill health in each year since 2003-04. [258579]

Mr. Simon: Table 1 shows the number of learner enrolments/starts which were funded by the Learning and Skills Council, from 2004/05 to 2007/08 academic year.

Information is shown by: learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities; disability (including mental ill health) and learning difficulty. Data cannot be provided on a comparable basis for 2003/04.

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Table 1: Number of learner enrolments/starts funded by the Learning and Skills Council, learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities; disability, including mental health; and learning difficult
Dimension	Category	ACL enrolments	FE college enrolments	Ufl enrolments	WBL starts	TtG starts
2004/05
Learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities	Yes	113,300	934,900	95,300	38,500	⁽¹⁾—
	No	917,100	6,197,200	834,500	206,900	⁽¹⁾—
	Not Known	271,500	879,900	80,700	4,400	⁽¹⁾—
	Total	1,301,900	8,012,000	1,010,500	249,800	⁽¹⁾—
Disability	Yes	⁽¹⁾—	488,400	64,900	17,600	⁽¹⁾—
	Of which have: Mental Ill Health	⁽¹⁾—	40,700	6,600	400	⁽¹⁾—
	No	⁽¹⁾—	6,490,600	862,300	226,800	⁽¹⁾—
	Not Known	⁽¹⁾—	1,033,000	83,300	5,400	⁽¹⁾—
	Total	⁽¹⁾—	8,012,000	1,010,500	249,800	⁽¹⁾—
Learning difficulty	Yes	⁽¹⁾—	519,100	41,000	27,400	⁽¹⁾—
	No	⁽¹⁾—	6,468,900	885,100	217,300	⁽¹⁾—
	Not Known	⁽¹⁾—	1,023,900	84,400	5,100	⁽¹⁾—
	Total	⁽¹⁾—	8,012,000	1,010,500	249,800	⁽¹⁾—

2005/06
Learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities	Yes	119,600	938,600	95,600	34,400	1,400
	No	861,700	5,683,000	768,300	190,300	30,400
	Not Known	201,200	649,100	73,200	3,500	700
	Total	1,182,600	7,270,700	937,100	228,200	32,400
Disability	Yes	⁽¹⁾—	466,700	64,400	16,700	900
	Of which have: Mental Ill Health	⁽¹⁾—	38,700	7,900	400	⁽²⁾—
	No	⁽¹⁾—	6,021,800	797,300	207,400	30,900
	Not Known	⁽¹⁾—	782,200	75,300	4,100	700
	Total	⁽¹⁾—	7,270,700	937,100	228,200	32,400
Learning difficulty	Yes	⁽¹⁾—	533,800	42,400	23,700	1,000
	No	⁽¹⁾—	5,948,600	817,700	200,500	30,800
	Not Known	⁽¹⁾—	788,400	77,000	4,000	700
	Total	⁽¹⁾—	7,270,700	937,100	228,200	32,400

2006/07
Learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities	Yes	116,600	879,100	64,300	35,500	14,000
	No	831,600	4,698,500	537,200	197,500	182,100
	Not Known	162,100	468,200	24,400	2,800	10,200
	Total	1,110,200	6,045,800	625,900	235,900	206,300
Disability	Yes	⁽¹⁾—	420,600	42,700	18,500	7,200
	Of which have: Mental Ill Health	⁽¹⁾—	33,100	6,200	400	200
	No	⁽¹⁾—	5,043,700	558,000	213,800	188,500
	Not Known	⁽¹⁾—	581,500	25,200	3,500	10,600
	Total	⁽¹⁾—	6,045,800	625,900	235,900	206,300
Learning difficulty	Yes	⁽¹⁾—	512,600	28,100	23,300	7,700
	No	⁽¹⁾—	4,941,300	571,600	209,200	188,000
	Not Known	⁽¹⁾—	591,900	26,200	3,400	10,700
	Total	⁽¹⁾—	6,045,800	625,900	235,900	206,300

2007/08
Learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities	Yes	119,600	866,200	89,400	42,200	21,000
	No	776,000	4,444,100	632,000	235,400	298,500
	Not Known	142,600	409,900	9,800	2,900	12,300
	Total	1,038,200	5,720,200	731,200	280,600	331,800
Disability	Yes	⁽¹⁾—	429,900	57,700	23,200	9,400
	Of which have: Mental Ill Health	⁽¹⁾—	34,000	9,100	700	300
	No	⁽¹⁾—	4,775,900	660,700	253,600	309,500
	Not Known	⁽¹⁾—	514,500	12,800	3,800	12,800
	Total	⁽¹⁾—	5,720,200	731,200	280,600	331,800
Learning difficulty	Yes	⁽¹⁾—	506,100	38,100	25,700	10,500
	No	⁽¹⁾—	4,687,400	681,000	251,300	308,300
	Not Known	⁽¹⁾—	526,700	12,100	3,500	13,000
	Total	⁽¹⁾—	5,720,200	731,200	280,600	331,800
⁽¹⁾ Data is not available. ⁽²⁾ A value of less than 50. Notes: 1. Volumes are rounded to the nearest hundred, and therefore may not sum to totals. 2. Disability and learning difficulty is not shown separately for ACL as they are not mandatory ILR fields for this return. 3. Data for ACL, FE colleges and Ufl are based on learner enrolments. One learner may enrol on more than one course, e.g. two A-levels, and will be counted for each learning aim they are recorded on. 4. Data for WBL and TtG are based on learner starts, by year in which the programme of learning was started. Learners starting more than one course will appear more than once. 5. Data for WBL includes apprenticeships (all levels) and entry to employment. 6. Based on learner’s self-assessment. It is recognised that many learners for whom information is recorded in this field will not be able to identify themselves as having learning difficulties. This information will be recorded as a result of interview. 7. Train to Gain was launched in April 2006, so comparable data does not exist for 2004/05. Source: Individualised Learner Record.

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