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8 July 2009 : Column 807W—continued
Mandatory requirement 12 of the HMG Security Policy Framework, published in December 2008 states that Departments and Agencies must provide all staff with guidance on the Data Protection Act and other legislation which affects their role. Reference:
Mandatory requirements 31 to 49 of the HMG Security Policy Framework published in December 2008 includes measures that Departments must put in place in relation to information security and assurance. Reference:
Departmental Public Consultation
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many public consultations his Department has conducted since its creation; what the title of each was; how many responses were received to each; and what estimate he has made of the cost of each. [283922]
Joan Ruddock: In line with the code of practice on consultation, the Department of Energy and Climate Change publishes all its consultation documents on its website at:
The number of responses received for individual consultations is recorded in the Government response documents. These are published on the departmental website alongside the consultations themselves.
The total cost incurred for each consultation: The information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Energy: Meters
Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) when he expects the programme to install smart meters in households to begin; [283598]
(2) whether his Department plans to bring forward legislation to limit the percentage of the cost of smart meters that can be passed on to consumers; and if he will make a statement. [283614]
Mr. Kidney: Last year the Government announced their intention to mandate smart metering for all households, with an indicative timetable for completion of the roll-out by the end of 2020.
We are currently consulting on our approach to key aspects of the roll-out of smart meters. Our final decisions will be followed by the detailed work required to prepare
for the roll-out. As part of this work, a wide range of policy, technical and operational issues will need to be addressed. These will include the start-date for roll-out and determination of appropriate regulatory frameworks.
Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether customers who subscribe to a pre-payment tariff for smart metering will be charged more than those who do not; and if he will make a statement. [283616]
Mr. Kidney: A substantial programme of work must be completed before the roll-out of smart meters begins. As part of this, a wide range of policy and operational issues needs to be addressed to maximise the benefits that all consumers can obtain from smart metering.
There is currently a price differential between prepayment and standard credit meters because of the additional costs of prepayment meters and the infrastructure required to support them. It is anticipated that these costs will be reduced by smart metering.
Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) what provision exists for customers who already have a smart meter to change their energy provider prior to the national roll-out of smart meters; and if he will make a statement; [283690]
(2) whether any mechanism exists for energy companies to provide smart meters to customers who request one prior to their becoming available nationally; and if he will make a statement. [283691]
Mr. Kidney: The provision of smart meters ahead of a Government-mandated roll-out is a matter for energy suppliers and their customers. Suppliers are obliged to measure gas and electricity through an approved meter, but there is no obligation to provide a “smart” meter.
Customers with existing “smart” meters will continue to be able to switch energy provider, however the metering services provided by the new supplier may be different.
Energy: Prices
Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will take steps to ensure that energy tariffs are the same before account is taken of administration costs for customers who pre-pay and those who pay quarterly bills. [283095]
Mr. Kidney: The Government believe that differences in charges relating to the method of payment should reflect the costs of servicing that method, and should not discriminate unfairly against any group of customers. Therefore, we strongly support the regulator Ofgem’s work putting in place rules to ensure that prices paid by consumers are cost reflective.
Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he expects Ofgem to publish its final report on its Energy Supply Probe. [283280]
Mr. Kidney: Ofgem’s initial probe report identified a number of areas where action was required and proposed a range of remedies.
Ofgem published its decision document on new licence conditions to prohibit undue discrimination and ensure payment methods are cost reflective on 26 June. Subject to responses, the new licence conditions should be introduced in August.
Ofgem aims to proceed to Statutory Consultation on the final package of its Energy Supply Probe remedies, including better consumer information and improved protection for small businesses, towards the end of this month and to have the new measures in licences ahead of the coming winter.
Ms Barlow: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what progress his Department has made in ensuring that those with pre-payment meters for energy supplies are not overcharged. [283349]
Mr. Kidney: The Government believe that differences in charges relating to the method of payment should reflect no more than the costs of servicing that method, and should not discriminate unfairly against any group of customers. Therefore, we strongly support the regulator Ofgem’s work putting in place rules to give effect to this approach.
Following a consultation on their proposals Ofgem published its decision to implement a licence condition change requiring cost reflective payment methods on 26 June. Ofgem intend that this change will be in place by August 2009. This decision can be found online at:
Fossil Fuelled Power Stations: Planning Permission
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the merits of including an emissions performance standard in the criteria for securing planning permission for new fossil fuel power plants. [281898]
Joan Ruddock: The Government are considering the merits of emissions performance standards as part of its current consultation into the development of clean coal. A statement of the Government’s position on emissions performance standards will be given in its response to the consultation.
Sizewell A Power Station
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what information his Department holds on (a) the causes of the coolant leak at Sizewell A discovered on 7 June 2007 and (b) when it is understood the leak occurred. [280799]
Mr. Kidney: The Department is not aware of a coolant leak which occurred at Sizewell A on 7 June 2007. It is assumed the question refers to the Sizewell A pond leakage event which was identified on 7 January 2007.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) lead on the investigation in this case and they have informed my Department that the cause of the leak was a vertical longitudinal split in a section of 8 inch diameter plastic pipe in the cooling pond recirculation system. The alarm was raised at 11:30 hours on Sunday 7 January 2007. HSE’s initial assessment is that due to the nature of the split in the pipe the breach is most likely to have happened suddenly and only a short time (no more than a few hours) before the alarm was raised.
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether the Government has received any requests for additional resources from (a) the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate and (b) the Environment Agency as a result of the discovery of a coolant leak at Sizewell A on 7 June 2007. [280808]
Joan Ruddock: I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the coolant leak at Sizewell A on 7 January 2007 as I am not aware of a coolant leak at the site on 7 June 2007.
Neither the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate nor the Environment Agency made a request to Government for additional resource as a result of the Sizewell A coolant leak event of 7 January 2007.
Solar Power: Housing
Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much grant funding his Department provided for the installation of solar photovoltaic technology in domestic dwellings in each of the last five years; and what budget is available for these purposes in 2009-10. [283210]
Mr. Kidney: Since 2001 the Government have committed over £41 million to the development of solar PV in the UK through grant programmes and field trials. Currently solar PV has benefited significantly under the Low Carbon Buildings (LCBP) programme with an original budget of £86 million. The Government have committed a further £45 million to the Low Carbon Buildings Programme in the recent Budget. This now brings support for the programme to over £130 million.
| Low carbon buildings programme phase 1 | |||||
| Householder stream | |||||
| Year application received | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | |
| Householder stream | ||||
| Year grant paid | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
| LCBP communities, 2A and 2B streams relating to residential developments | ||||
| Combined total across other streams | ||||
| Year application received | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
| Combined total across other streams | ||||
| Year paid | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Agriculture: Buckinghamshire
Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding his Department allocated to the development of agricultural businesses in (a) Milton Keynes and (b) Buckinghamshire in each of the last five years. [283681]
Jim Fitzpatrick: Data on total spend are not available at constituency or county level. The table gives, by financial year, funding allocated to the development of agricultural businesses in the South East region. These figures include payments made under rural development programmes, which includes agri-environment payments, and payments made directly to agricultural businesses by the South East of England Development Agency.
| Total (£) | |
| (1) Source: DEFRA, Natural England, South East England Development Agency. Figures rounded up or down to the nearest thousand. | |
Agriculture: Hertfordshire
Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding his Department allocated to the development of agricultural business in (a) Hemel Hempstead, (b) Dacorum and (c) Hertfordshire in each of the last five years. [284318]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The following table gives, by financial year, funding allocated to the development of agricultural businesses in the East of England region from 2004-05 onwards(1). Total figures are not available at county or constituency level. These figures include payments made under Rural Development Programmes, including agri-environment payments, and payments made directly to agricultural businesses by the East of England Development Agency.
(1) Figures obtained from DEFRA, East of England Development Agency and Natural England.
| Total (£) | |
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