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26 Mar 2009 : Column 702W—continued
“financial flows to support Reductions in Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) efforts must be adequate, predictable and sustainable, and results based, with developed countries contributing significantly.”
The UK is in the process of discussing options for financing mechanisms for forestry, although this must occur in the context of discussions on broader climate change finance. The UK as part of the European Union will take on its fair share of financing such actions in developing countries, and is examining credible and innovative options for raising significant volumes of finance. The European Council will discuss these issues in more detail at its June meeting, following further consultation with other developed and developing countries.
Pre-2012 support for capacity building will be necessary and funding for early demonstration projects will prepare the groundwork for later investment. We are undertaking a study to examine the options for frontloading finance for forestry and options for a financing mechanism that uses public funding to mobilise substantial private investment into sustainable forest management, leading to REDD+ (enhancement of forest carbon stocks) and co-benefits such as protecting biodiversity and eradicating poverty. We hope to be able to consult on the outcomes of this in April or May this year.
However, sustainable funding at the scale required to tackle deforestation effectively will be unlikely to be provided through public funding alone, particularly in the longer-term. Ultimately, we need to build a mechanism which is self-sustaining, and the carbon market seems to offer the best opportunity for this. Therefore, limited access to the carbon market from 2012 to 2020 could offer an important way of working towards full market access in the longer-term and would send a strong signal to investors. We welcome the European Commission’s leadership and the December Environment Council Conclusions which suggests that a new market mechanism for forest credits should be established on a trial basis and deforestation credits could be valid for Government compliance with post 2012 commitments.
Green Jobs
Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the Government’s definition of a green job is. [264690]
Joan Ruddock: There is no single definition of a ‘green job’ because we do not believe that some jobs should be green and others not. On 6 March we published our vision of a low carbon economy for the UK. Achieving that vision means that every job should be a green job. Every plumber should know how to fit a biomass boiler, and every welder should be equipped to work in construction of green technologies. This is not about creating a wholly separate part of our economy, but about allowing people from all sectors to benefit from the move to low carbon by developing and using the core skills for their job. A full Low Carbon Industrial Strategy will be published in the summer. By continuing efforts to build a low carbon economy we will create the jobs and growth we need now. Turnover in the low carbon and environmental goods and services sector, which already employs 880,000 people in the UK, could rise to over £150 billion and employment could rise to 1.3 million by 2015.
Low Carbon Buildings Programme
Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of (a) the finances and (b) the international competitiveness of the UK renewables sector of the withdrawal of the Low Carbon Buildings Programme Phase 2. [254406]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The Low Carbon Buildings Programme (LCBP) Phase 2 has been open since January 2007 and is due to close in June 2009. To date we have committed £33.1 million of the £50 million budget; however, a significant amount of work will be completed for the period through to mid 2010.
We have recently seen a significant increase in solar PV applications and the £24.5 million funding for this technology has been fully committed. In order to therefore manage LCBP Phase 2 through to June 2009 we have advised new solar PV applicants that applications will be put on hold while we consider potential options to extend solar PV funding. However, the programme is still open to solar thermal, biomass, micro wind and ground source heat pump projects. We would like to see eligible organisations wishing to install these technologies making maximum use of the grants programme for the three months remaining.
We are currently giving careful consideration to the transition from grant funding and other incentives to the proposed small scale electricity feed-in tariff and renewable heat support mechanism. A feed-in tariffs (FITs) mechanism for small-scale, low-carbon electricity generation is currently being developed. We will consult on the details of the scheme this summer and FITs will be in place in April 2010. A mechanism for a Renewable Heat Incentive is also being developed and the details of this scheme will also be consulted on. We intend to have the RHI in place in April 2011.
As part of its Manufacturing Strategy the Government has set up the Office of Renewable Energy Deployment. This Office will help deliver the necessary step-change in the deployment of renewable energy in the UK to meet the 2020 target.
These measures, among many others, should help the renewable sector to continue to develop in the UK and to take decisions on international developments.
Natural Gas: Imports
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the effect of the recent dispute between the Russian and Ukrainian Governments on UK gas supplies. [254268]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: Russia's decision to cut gas supplies to Ukraine had no direct impact on gas supply in the UK which is estimated to receive less than 2 per cent. of its gas directly from Russia.
Nuclear Power: Safety
Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change which independent organisations advise the Government on nuclear safety. [266787]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) advises the Government on nuclear safety. In addition to its own experts, the HSE is able to call on many external sources of advice on nuclear safety.
Oil: Reserves
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2009, Official Report, columns 1239-40W, on oil: reserves, what quantities of the 11.1 million tonnes of oil are stored in which countries. [266395]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: Under EU Council Directive 2006/67/EC, member states of the European Union (EU) can hold stocks of petroleum products on behalf of each other in order to meet their oil stocking obligation.
The UK has bilateral agreements with Belgium, Denmark, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Sweden where they can hold stocks on behalf of UK companies and UK companies can hold stocks on their behalf. The UK also has an agreement with New Zealand under which UK companies may hold stocks on behalf of the New Zealand Government.
Bilateral agreements are negotiated in advance for each calendar quarter. The following table shows the net stocks held under bilateral agreements between January to March 2009; This shows that of the 11.1 million tonnes of oil, 2.5 million are held overseas.
| Net stocks held under bilateral agreements in QI 2009 | |
| Country | Volume (million tonnes) |
Renewables Advisory Board
Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what funding the Government expects to provide to the Renewables Advisory Board in each of the next five financial years. [266667]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The Department does not set budgets on a five-yearly basis.
The Renewables Advisory Board budget for 2009-10 is currently subject to the business planning round process in the Department.
Warm Front Scheme
Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will make it his policy to extend the Warm Front Scheme to vulnerable households not in receipt of state benefits. [258923]
Joan Ruddock: The Department is currently looking closely at all aspects of the scheme including eligibility. Any alterations in the existing criteria will be announced in due course.
Written Questions: Government Responses
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he plans to answer Question 252857, tabled on 26 January 2009, on the letters of 19 November and 30 December 2008 from the hon. Member for Forest of Dean, on the Oakenhill opencast coal site. [258765]
Mr. Mike O'Brien [holding answer 25 February 2009]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 18 March 2009, Official Report, column 1260W.
Duchy of Lancaster
Central Office of Information: Complaints
Mr. Hurd: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many complaints against Central Office of Information advertising have been upheld by the Advertising Standards Authority since 1997. [257524]
Mr. Byrne: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Central Office of Information. I have asked the chief executive to reply.
Letter from Peter Buchanan, dated 16 March 2009:
As Acting Chief Executive of the Central Office of Information (COI), I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question [257524] on complaints made to the ASA on COI advertising.
The Central Office of Information (COI) has had no complaint made or upheld against to date.
The COI work on advertising campaigns on behalf of other Government Departments.
Central Office of Information: Film
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many public information films have been produced by the Central Office of Information in each year since 1997; and how much was spent on such films in each year. [258822]
Mr. Byrne: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Central Office of Information. I have asked the chief executive to reply.
Letter from Peter Buchanan, dated 16 March 2009:
As Chief Executive of the Central Office of Information (COI), I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question [258822] on how many public information films have been produced by the Central Office of Information in each year since 1997; and how much was spent on such films in each year.
The information requested is given in the table below.
| Year | Number | Budget (£) |
Departmental Energy
Greg Clark: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what steps have been taken by (a) his Department, (b) its agency and (c) the Prime Minister’s Office to improve the thermal efficiency of their buildings in the last 12 months; [266746]
(2) what recent progress his Department has made towards the Government’s target of increasing its energy efficiency per square metre of the Government Estate by 15 per cent. by 2010, relative to 1999-2000 levels; and if he will make a statement. [266868]
Kevin Brennan: The Prime Minister’s Office forms an integral part of the Cabinet Office.
The Cabinet Office is undertaking a number of measures to contribute to the Government’s target of increasing its energy efficiency per square metre of the estate by 15 per cent. by 2010, relative to 1999-2000. There are also currently a number of projects underway to improve the thermal efficiency of the Department’s buildings. These include the installation of secondary glazing and additional insulation into the roofs, attic spaces and the interior faces of external walls in a number of the Cabinet Office’s principal buildings. These projects are currently ongoing and subject to future funding.
Departmental Public Expenditure
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much capital spending the Cabinet Office plans to bring forward to (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10. [266338]
Kevin Brennan: The Cabinet Office has no present plans to change any existing capital expenditure plans for 2008-09 and 2009-10.
Departmental Publications
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many copies of the document Working together—Public services on your side have been printed; in which public service delivery outlets it will be available; which non-governmental organisations were consulted in preparation of the document; and what the printing costs for the document were. [264018]
Mr. Byrne: “Working Together: public services on your side” builds on engagement with non-governmental organisations since the publication of a Cabinet Office paper published last summer, “Excellence and Fairness: receiving world class public services”. This engagement included discussions with representatives from trade unions, businesses, the third sector and professional associations.
1,800 copies of the paper have been printed. In addition, a dedicated website has been established that was visited by around 3,500 on the first day alone. A dedicated page has been established on Directgov setting
out a summary of proposals for the public. Printed or electronic copies are being sent to leaders of major services. Copies can also be obtained from the Cabinet Office. The cost of printing was £7,609.
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