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Fuel Poverty

Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent assessment he has made of progress in eradicating fuel poverty in vulnerable households by 2010. [279106]

Joan Ruddock [holding answer 11 June 2009]: The aim of the UK Government and the devolved Administrations, remains the eradication of fuel poverty in vulnerable households, in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, as far as reasonably practicable by 2010, with the overall aim that as far as reasonably practicable no household in the UK should live in fuel poverty by 2016 (2018 in Wales).

There is a wide range of policies and programmes in place which contribute to tackling fuel poverty. This includes Warm Front, CERT and the Decent Homes programme primarily addressing the energy efficiency of households, Winter fuel and cold weather payments to increase household incomes. However, rising energy prices have made achieving our fuel poverty targets more difficult and the current mix of fuel poverty measures is unlikely to eradicate fuel poverty among the vulnerable by 2010.

Against this background, a review of our fuel poverty policies is under way which will be examining whether existing measures to tackle fuel poverty could be made more effective. It will also consider whether new policies should be introduced to help us make further progress towards our goals. The review is looking across all three drivers of fuel poverty, and particularly the key issue of how we can more effectively identify and target assistance at vulnerable households.


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Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assistance is being provided by his Department for people who, due to age or illness, require fuel assistance for heating other than during winter months. [279107]

Joan Ruddock [holding answer 11 June 2009]: The Government have a wide range of policies and programmes in place which can help households to reduce their energy bills throughout the year. These include Warm Front, CERT and the Decent Homes programme primarily addressing the energy efficiency of households through provision of a range of insulation and heating measures.

The Government are also working with Ofgem and the energy suppliers to help the most vulnerable customers find the best tariff available for them.

Information to help households save energy is available through the Government's Act on CO2 advice line run by the Energy Saving Trust.

Street Lighting: Carbon Emissions

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will discuss with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government the potential effects of a reduction in levels of street lighting on progress against carbon emission reduction targets. [264158]

Joan Ruddock [holding answer 17 March 2009]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no plans for such discussions. Decisions on street lighting levels are a matter for local authorities. They are required to report on their progress in reducing carbon emissions in the local authority performance framework. Local authorities have a broad range of means for reducing emissions from their own estates and from their communities.

Salix Finance, funded by DECC through the Carbon Trust, helps with street lighting projects. So far Salix Finance has made approximately £900,000 available in the form of match-funded interest free loans for street lighting projects, which are estimated to deliver annual carbon savings of 1,875 tCO2.

DECC is working to include street lighting in the Carbon Reduction Commitment. This will provide an incentive for local authorities to improve the energy efficiency of street lights. DECC is working closely with Communities and Local Government to develop the policy, in so far as it relates to local authorities.

The Government have also negotiated an implementing measure on street lighting under the Framework Directive for the Eco-design of Energy-using Products. This is expected to significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions and bring cost savings.

Warm Front Scheme

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the average time has been between the payment of a top-up fee and the completion of installation work in cases where Warm Front installations have required a householder top-up to be paid in each year since the introduction of top-ups to the scheme. [255873]


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Joan Ruddock: The following table shows the average number of days between receipt of a Warm Front top-up payment and completion of installation. These timescales are based upon the latest period for which the data is available—1 June 2005 until 28 October 2008.

Installations by time band
Average days
Scheme year Owner occupied Private rented Combined average

2005-06

34

49

35

2006-07

32

48

33

2007-08

23

33

23

2008-09(1)

24

57

24

(1) To end October 2008

Wind Power

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what proposals for wind farms in (a) the Thames estuary and (b) the English Channel his Department is considering; and if he will make a statement. [279038]

Joan Ruddock: DECC does not have any offshore wind farm applications under consideration within the Thames estuary or English channel areas.

On 10 December 2007, the then Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform commissioned a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) on a draft plan for up to an additional 25 GW (installed capacity) of new offshore wind farms, in addition to 8 GW already in planning. This draft plan applies to all English and Welsh territorial waters and the renewable energy zone (UK waters outside 12 nautical miles).The assessment has been subject to a public consultation and a decision is expected in the summer.

Following this decision, the Crown Estate, as landowner of the sea, can proceed with its offshore wind farm leasing programme. The Crown Estate is currently considering proposals within nine indicative round 3 development zones, including two zones in the English channel.

Further details on the Crown Estate round 3 process and a map of indicative areas of potential for offshore wind farm development are available at:

Any proposals that come forward for specific developments under round 3 will subsequently be assessed by the relevant competent authority through the planning process to ensure they are located in appropriate places.

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Agriculture: Subsidies

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects the payment by EU member states of single farm payments based on historic production levels to end. [280390]


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Jim Fitzpatrick: The CAP Health Check agreed last November introduced the option for member states to move from a historic to flat rate model of the single payment scheme. It is too early to gauge the extent to which this option will be taken up in practice. However, the member states concerned will be aware that Commissioner Fisher-Boel has signalled that the Commission will propose that optionality be converted to compulsion when the scheme is next reviewed.

Badgers

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make it his policy to provide a service for the collection and disposal of badger carcases found (a) on land adjacent to individual households and (b) in water courses. [280218]

Jim Fitzpatrick: DEFRA has no plans to provide a service of this nature. Where badger carcases are found on private land, responsibility for their collection and disposal rests with owner/occupiers. Owner/occupiers of property on which there are badger carcases are advised to contact their local authority for advice on appropriate disposal methods. Local authorities have responsibility for collection and disposal from public grounds and non-trunk roads, while the Highways Agency has responsibility for removal from trunk roads. The Environment Agency will consider taking action to remove carcases from water courses if they are causing pollution or flood risk.

Bees: Research

Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which (a) organisations and (b) individuals were consulted during the development of his Department's bee health research Rationale, Objectives, Appraisal, Monitoring and Evaluation statement. [280723]

Jim Fitzpatrick [holding answer 18 June 2009]: DEFRA’s bee health research Rationale, Objectives, Appraisal, Monitoring and Evaluation statement (ROAME) was included as part of the public consultation on the Healthy Bees plan which commenced on 8 April 2008 and closed on 29 August 2008. The consultation documents were published on the DEFRA website and were sent to the following organisations:


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