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25 Feb 2010 : Column 671W—continued
Energy Management Strategy
Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he expects to publish his Department's household energy management strategy. [318552]
Joan Ruddock: The Government consulted on their plans for improving the energy efficiency of existing homes from February to May last year. We had over 300 responses to that consultation, from a wide variety of organisations and individuals, expressing a broad range of views.
In response to that consultation, our Strategy for Household Energy Management will be published very shortly.
Coal: Electricity
Mr. David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will give additional support to promote the use of co-firing of biomass in coal-powered electricity generation. [318563]
Mr. Kidney: Co-firing, along with other eligible renewable electricity generation technologies is supported under the renewables obligation.
In October 2010 we will start the first scheduled banding review for all eligible renewables technologies supported under the renewables obligation.
This will include reviewing at the level of support for co-firing of biomass and energy crops in fossil-fuelled generation.
Environmental Technologies
Mr. Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent steps he has taken to increase the use of new environmental technologies; and if he will make a statement. [318558]
Joan Ruddock: The Department of Energy and Climate Change has a range of policies in place that will increase the use of new environmental technologies by driving carbon emission reduction. These policies include the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, our carbon budgets, and the carbon reduction commitment.
Recent steps to increase the use of new environmental technologies include Feed In Tariffs; the Renewable Heat Incentive and the Low Carbon Communities Challenge.
Natural Gas: Industrial Disputes
Mr. Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) what steps his Department is taking to ensure the security of the UK's gas supply in the event of proposed industrial action at Milford Haven; [318463]
(2) on what dates he discussed Unite's proposed industrial action at Milford Haven with officials from Unite; [318464]
(3) what representations he has received on the likely effect on the security of gas supply of industrial action by Unite at Milford Haven; [318465]
(4) what representations he has received on the likely effect of industrial action by Unite at Milford Haven on imports of crude oil and refined products. [318466]
Mr. Kidney:
The Department of Energy and Climate Change has been closely following events at Milford Haven Port Authority over the past few weeks. My officials have been in regular contact with the operators of LNG import facilities and refineries in the area to understand the implications of possible industrial action. We have also been in contact with national grid to discuss the potential implications for UK's gas supply. Officials have maintained close communication with port authority management to follow developments
and, between 1 and 23 February, Ministers and officials have spoken on a number of occasions with senior representatives from Unite to seek their assessment of the dispute.
DECC recognises the strategic importance of the port to the energy industry and has urged the parties concerned to do everything possible to reach a resolution to the dispute whilst recognising that the issues under negotiation are a matter for the management and employees of the port authority. We welcome the announcement that the industrial action at Milford Haven port scheduled to start on 23 February has been averted and are pleased that consultation is under way on proposals which we hope will lead to an agreement.
My officials and I will continue to monitor developments closely and I urge the parties concerned to seek a swift and sustainable agreement to the dispute.
Northern Ireland
Departmental Pay
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much funding his Department has allocated for (a) year end and (b) in-year bonuses for its staff in 2009-10. [307023]
Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) operates three non-consolidated performance payment schemes: an in-year, special performance scheme (to reward particularly meritorious contributions during the year); an end-of-year performance payment scheme for staff below the Senior Civil Service (SCS) (to reward performance and delivery throughout the previous year); and a performance payment scheme for SCS staff, which is an integral part of the pay arrangements in operation in all Whitehall Departments.
The annual costs of the end-of-year performance payment scheme for staff below Senior Civil Service is £348,300. This equates to 0.54 per cent. of the pay remit available to those staff eligible to participate in the scheme.
In respect of performance payments for Senior Civil Service for 2009-10, the NIO will, as usual, await the advice of the Senior Salaries Review Body and Cabinet Office Guidance.
The funding allocated to the in-year special performance scheme equates to 0.4 per cent. of the pay remit available to those staff eligible to participate in the scheme. The funding for the 2009-10 year was set at £258,000.
Departmental Travel
Mr. Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish the travel guidance issued to staff of each of his Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies. [315033]
Paul Goggins: Most of the Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies follow travel policy/guidance issued by the Northern Ireland Office (NIO).
The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission have their own guidance document and the Northern Ireland Prison Service follow the guidance contained in the Northern Ireland Civil Service Handbook.
I will place in the Library of the House copies of travel guidance documents.
Defence
Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many turbines other than those delivered in September 2008 are operational at Kajaki dam; in what year such turbines were installed; and what the volume of electricity output has been of such turbines in the last five years for which figures are available. [311001]
Chris Bryant: I have been asked to reply.
There are two turbines operational at Kajaki dam, which were installed between 1972 and 1975. In 1975, the dam began to produce electricity for the Helmand Valley and Kandahar. It produces 33 mega watts of power.
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons the turbine delivered to Kajaki dam by UK forces in September 2008 is not functioning; whether that turbine has functioned since its delivery; when he expects that turbine to function; and if he will make a statement. [311003]
Chris Bryant: I have been asked to reply.
The turbine delivered in September 2008 requires other materials, namely mechanical and construction equipment, to make it functional. These have not yet been moved to the Kajaki area. While the dam does not operate to its full capacity, currently it does provide electricity to the population of Helmand. Two generators are in place and being used, along with diesel-powered local generation, to increase supply. While the security situation in the area makes access and delivery to Kajaki challenging, supplies, including oil, are being delivered. USAID, the US federal government agency responsible for the US effort in the field of development and reconstruction, is leading the work on the refurbishment of the power station. They continue to plan to make the facility fully operational.
Armed Forces: Housing
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of each grade of his Department's single living accommodation housing stock in Scotland was empty in each of the last five years. [317784]
Mr. Kevan Jones: We record details of void bed-spaces which are defined as those which are available but not currently required for occupation by single Service personnel. Separate figures for Scotland are not available.
Armed Forces: Manpower
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the current shortfall is of (a) reservist and (b) regular (i) medical, (ii) nursing and (ii) paramedic staff. [309014]
Mr. Kevan Jones [holding answer 6 January 2010]: The latest available data are provided in the following tables:
| Defence Medical Service Regulars-Manning as at 1 October 2009 | |||
| Requirement | Trained strength | Shortfall (percentage) | |
| Notes: 1. Requirement excludes the manning and training margin. 2. Trained strength only includes personnel that are qualified in their speciality. 3. 'Medical Support Services' include the paramedic cadre. 4. Dental officers and allied dental healthcare professionals includes dental practitioners, dental support officers, dental surgery assistants and dental technicians. | |||
| Defence Medical Service Reserves-Manning as at 1 October 2009 | |||
| Requirement | Trained strength | Shortfall (percentage) | |
| Notes: 1. Dental officers and allied dental healthcare professionals includes dental practitioners, dental support officers, dental surgery assistants and dental technicians. 2. 'Medical Support Services' include the paramedic cadre. | |||
Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many people of each occupation are employed as personal staff for the Director General Land Warfare; [316934]
(2) how much his Department has spent on personal staff for the Director General Land Warfare in the last 12 months. [316935]
Bill Rammell: Director General Land Warfare has access to a pool of staff as part of a garrison-wide contract. He shares the use of one gardener and one domestic assistant to maintain his service family accommodation with the whole garrison of about 2,000 people. As such their staff duties are not solely dedicated to Director General Land Warfare. This is within MOD guidelines on proportionate staffing levels for the post.
The contract value of the support provided to Director General Land Warfare was valued at approximately £1,200 per month from February 2009 to January 2010.
Departmental Manpower
Mr. Philip Hammond:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many performance reviews were undertaken in respect of staff of (a) his Department and (b) its agencies in each of the last five years; in how
many cases performance was rated as unsatisfactory or below; how many staff left as a direct result of such a rating; and what percentage of full-time equivalent staff this represented. [313834]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: This information is not held in the format requested.
Other than certain medical grades, all MOD civilian staff are required to participate in an annual performance review process. If performance is identified as unsatisfactory -at any point in the reporting year-individuals may be subject to the restoring efficiency process, which involves warning the individual, encouraging improvement, and allowing a reasonable opportunity to improve. If a satisfactory performance is not achieved, the individual may be dismissed or downgraded. The number of staff dismissed for unsatisfactory performance in each financial year was as follows:
| Total | |
These figures include staff in MOD agencies but exclude Trading Funds and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.
Ex-servicemen: Military Decorations
Mr. Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many veterans' badges have been issued to former members of the armed forces since the badges were introduced. [318256]
Mr. Kevan Jones: As at 19 February 2010, 770,324 Veterans Lapel Badges have been issued to former members of the armed forces and their entitled dependants since their introduction on 10 April 2004.
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