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3 Feb 2010 : Column 377W—continued
Sub-Saharan Africa: Aids
Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of governments of sub-Saharan African countries about policy to tackle Aids; and if he will make a statement. [315201]
Mr. Thomas: The Department for International Development (DFID) provides support to the following countries in sub-Saharan Africa on developing and implementing policies to tackle AIDS: Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
DFID officials, based in the UK and oversees, are in regular contact with representatives of governments in these countries regarding HIV/AIDS policy.
There have not been recent discussions between DFID Ministers and representatives of governments of sub-Saharan African countries specifically regarding policies to tackle AIDS. However, DFID Ministers have had frequent discussions with such government representatives on policies which have an impact on AIDS.
Globally, the UK provides the second largest bilateral contribution to tackle AIDS. In our AIDS Strategy, launched in 2008, we committed to spending £6 billion on health systems and services up to 2015. We also pledged £1 billion to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria by 2015 and over £200 million to support social protection programmes.
Energy and Climate Change
Civil Nuclear Constabulary
Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the regulatory regime for the Civil Nuclear Constabulary. [314535]
Mr. Kidney:
The Civil Nuclear Constabulary forms a key part of the security arrangements for the UK's civil nuclear industry which are required to be in place under
the Nuclear Industries Security Regulations 2003 as amended, by the independent security regulator, the Office for Civil Nuclear Security (OCNS).
Governance of the Civil Nuclear Constabulary is carried out by the Civil Nuclear Police Authority, a non-departmental public body for which the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change is responsible.
The Civil Nuclear Constabulary is inspected and supported by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC).
The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change is responsible to Parliament for security in the civil nuclear industry and reviews from time to time the overall arrangements to ensure these are robust and appropriate.
Climate Change: International Co-operation
Mr. Paul Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department plans to take in co-operation with its international counterparts to take forward the provisions of the treaty signed in Copenhagen on Climate Change. [314557]
Joan Ruddock: The Copenhagen Accord agreed in December 2009 does not have the legal status of a treaty, but includes a number of commitments made by the countries which agreed to it. The UK Government have been working through both bilateral and multilateral channels (including our FCO posts and other countries) to encourage others to associate themselves with the Copenhagen Accord and support its implementation. We have also been encouraging others to put forward ambitious mitigation commitments and actions in the Annex to the Accord. Initial assessments show that most of the major countries have associated themselves with the Accord and put forward mitigation commitments. A definitive list will soon be available on the UNFCCC website.
Fuel Poverty
Mr. Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his most recent estimate is of the number of households in fuel poverty as a result of the costs arising from heating properties to the temperature required to manage disability and related long-term medical conditions. [314576]
Mr. Kidney: It is not possible to say how many people were fuel poor solely due to the cost of heating required to manage a disability or medical condition.
Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department is taking to reduce the level of fuel poverty in Torbay constituency. [314608]
Mr. Kidney:
The Department of Energy and Climate Change is responsible for national programmes aimed at reducing fuel poverty. The combination of Warm Front, the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT), Community Energy Savings Programme (CESP), Decent Homes and local programmes delivered through local
government, partnerships, energy suppliers, eaga and NEA (such as Warm Zones and CEEF) are all important in tackling fuel poverty across regions of England.
The Warm Front Scheme is the Government's main scheme for tackling fuel poverty and up to 28 January 2010 has delivered energy efficiency measures to 5,781 households in Torbay constituency since the year 2000. Additionally, 282 benefit entitlement checks have been undertaken between 2003 and the end of November 2009, identifying an average weekly increase in income of £26.97 for those entitled to additional benefits.
The Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) requires energy suppliers to meet at least 40 per cent. of their obligation by promoting and installing measures in the homes of a priority group of vulnerable consumers in receipt of qualifying benefits or people aged over 70 years. Measures are only reported at GB level and details at constituency level are not available.
Fuel Poverty: Ashford
Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department is taking to reduce the level of fuel poverty among the residents of Ashford constituency. [313519]
Mr. Kidney: The Department of Energy and Climate Change is responsible for national programmes aimed at reducing fuel poverty. The combination of Warm Front, the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT), Community Energy Savings Programme (CESP), Decent Homes and local programmes delivered through local government, partnerships, energy suppliers, eaga and NEA (such as Warm Zones and CEEF) are all important in tackling fuel poverty across regions of England.
The Warm Front scheme is the Government's main scheme for tackling fuel poverty and up to 24 January 2010 has delivered energy efficiency measures to 1,904 households in Ashford constituency since the year 2000. Additionally, over 310 benefit entitlement checks have been undertaken since June 2003, identifying an average weekly increase in income of £27.84 for those entitled to additional benefits.
The Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) requires energy suppliers to meet at least 40 per cent. of their obligation by promoting and installing measures in the homes of a priority group of vulnerable consumers in receipt of qualifying benefits or people aged over 70 years. Measures are only reported at GB level and details at constituency level are not available.
Radioactive Materials: Waste Management
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether substitution of some UK-origin high level radioactive waste for intermediate level waste was applied under the repatriation agreement covering the long-term management of radioactive waste arising from reprocessing of imported foreign origin spent fuel in the shipment of radioactive waste from Sellafield to Japan sent on 20 January 2009; how much nuclear waste was in the shipment; how much the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority has spent on supporting this shipment; and whether an armed escort vessel is accompanying the shipment. [313747]
Mr. Kidney: Over the programme to return highly active waste (HAW) arising from reprocessing of overseas spent fuel, the return of substituted HAW will take place. The details of the status of individual customers' HAW returns is a commercial matter between the parties involved.
The first shipment consists of 28 HLW canisters in one transport flask, with each canister (vitrified waste and stainless steel) weighing up to 550kg.
The NDA's expenditure in supporting this shipment is customer funded.
In accordance with national and international regulations, the vessel will not be armed nor have an armed escort. The shipment has appropriate levels of security protection in accordance with the nuclear industry security regulations. These arrangements comply with the requirements of the UK regulator, the Office for Civil Nuclear Security.
Warm Front Scheme: Torbay
Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many households in Torbay constituency received assistance under the Warm Front scheme in 2008-09. [314623]
Mr. Kidney: The Warm Front Scheme is the Government's main scheme for tacking fuel poverty across England. In 2008-09 the Warm Front Scheme assisted 656 households in the Torbay constituency.
Wind Power
Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) what generating capacity of what types is planned to be built to provide back-up to support the nine zone Round 3 offshore wind generating turbines; and at what cost; [311089]
(2) what income is to be guaranteed to generating plants built as back-up to the nine zone Round 3 offshore wind generating turbines when they are (a) not generating and (b) operating at low capacity. [311090]
Mr. Kidney: The Government set out in the 2009 call for evidence "Delivering Secure Low Carbon Electricity" their assessment of the need for flexible power stations to provide back-up for periods when wind output is low, and invited responses on this assessment and on options for increasing electricity supply and demand flexibility. These responses will be considered as part of the energy markets assessment work announced in the pre-Budget report.
Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what percentage of Round 3 offshore wind generating platforms will be constructed in the UK. [311091]
Mr. Kidney:
Offshore wind turbines consist of a wide range of components, including towers, blades, castings and forgings, nacelles, gearboxes and bearings, undersea cable, foundations, electrical and control components, that are likely to be sourced from a broad supply chain. The offshore wind projects under Round 3 are still in
development and it is not yet known what percentage of these components will be sourced or assembled in the UK.
In order to maximise the business for UK companies and new green jobs, the Government will work with developers and The Crown Estate to support the growing offshore wind industry and help remove barriers to rapid deployment. This will include events around the country organised by The Crown Estate that bring together developers and UK businesses. Government are also supporting the next generation technologies that this scale of deployment will need, through a package of support to ensure the UK benefits from this innovative market.
Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change in which country each company is based which will (a) install and (b) run the generating platforms in each zone of Round 3 offshore wind development. [311093]
Mr. Kidney: Each of the Partner companies that is party to a Zone Development Agreement (ZDA) is registered in England and Wales. For Zones 1 (Moray Firth), Zone 2 (Firth of Forth) and 5 (Norfolk Bank), the main offices of the Partner will be in Scotland. For all other zones, the main offices of the Partner will be in England.
The ZDA grants exclusive rights to develop wind power within the zone, which is effectively the right to seek all the necessary consents for the wind farms. Each wind farm will be developed and owned by a new Project Company, who will hold the Lease from The Crown Estate. Each new Project Company must be registered in England and Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, and will initially be owned by the Partner.
Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change from what source the nine Round 3 offshore wind developments will be funded. [311094]
Mr. Kidney: The Government are working hard to provide a positive policy framework to facilitate the UK offshore wind industry. Renewable electricity generated by wind will continue to receive support through the Renewables Obligation, which has recently been extended to 2037 to ensure Round 3 developers investing up to 2020 can do so with confidence.
Within this context, the source of funding and investment needed for the construction and operation of any individual Round 3 offshore wind farms is for the successful developers to source and provide.
Wind Power: Electricity Generation
Mr. Cash: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his estimate is of the amount of electricity generated by onshore wind farms in each of the last two months. [310919]
Mr. Kidney: The Department collects wind data on a monthly basis. These data are published two months in arrears, so the latest data available are for October 2009. Available data for the last 12 months are given in the table.
Monthly data are only collected from major power producers (MPPs) and it is not possible to separate onshore and offshore wind generation. We collect more detailed data on an annual basis which cover both MPPs and smaller generators with an onshore/offshore split. In 2008 onshore wind farms generated 5,792GWh and offshore l,305GWh. Equivalent data for 2009 will be available on 29 July 2010.
| Monthly wind generation | |
| GWh | |
Wind Power: Noise
Mr. Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will review the standards in respect of noise from wind turbines contained in the document ETSU-R-97 for the purposes of further limiting the permitted level of noise. [314413]
Mr. Kidney: We consider that ETSU-R-97 is fit for purpose, and that a review is not justified at this time.
Health
Abortion
Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has commissioned recent research on a potential link between spending on community contraception services and the abortion rate per 1,000 women aged between 15 and 44 years; how much each primary care trust spent on community contraception services in the last 12 months; what the abortion rate per 1,000 women aged between 15 and 44 years was in each primary care trust in each of the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [313659]
Gillian Merron: The Department has not commissioned any research on the potential link between spending on community contraceptive services and abortion rates. However, the Government's significant additional funding over the past two years to improve women's access to contraception has contributed to a decrease in abortion rates: the abortion rate for women resident in England and Wales fell by 1.7 per cent, between 2007 and 2008 and by a further 4.6 per cent, in the first six months of 2009.
Information on spending on community contraceptive services by primary care trust (PCT) is not available centrally.
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