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15 Mar 2010 : Column 681W—continued
As a result of this work I have already announced my intention, subject to consultation in summer 2010, to require energy suppliers to deliver the new help available under mandated social price support schemes through eligible consumers' electricity accounts. This is because
I believe a rebate on electricity bills is more inclusive, enabling eligible households off the gas grid to benefit alongside eligible households on the gas grid.
Fuel Oil
Mr. Charles Kennedy: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the level of competition in local heating fuel supply markets in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [321897]
Mr. Kidney: There are around 200 different heating oil distributors and around 40 Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) suppliers in the UK, some with a national, regional or local presence, with competition between the companies involved. In order to provide a choice for consumers the relevant trade associations provide a search facility to find local suppliers:
The Government support the retention of a competitive market for heating oil, which is in the best interests of all customers. Both general consumer protection legislation, such as the Supply of Goods and Services Act and Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations, and competition law apply to this sector. Responsibility for the enforcement of competition law lies with the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) and the Competition Commission. Following an investigation by the Competition Commission regulatory changes to make it easier to switch supplier for domestic bulk LPG have recently come into force, and should improve competition in this market.
Office of Gas and Electricity Markets: Finance
Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the budget is of the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets for (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11 and (c) 2011-12. [320515]
Mr. Kidney: Ofgem inform us that their budget for 2009-10 and projected budget for 2010-11 and 2011-12 is:
| £ million | |||
| 2009-10 | 2010-11 (projected costs) | 2011-12 (projected costs) | |
The projected increase in E-Serve's budget between 2009-10 and 2010-11 is mainly due to the administration of new Government programmes such as the rollout of smart meters, feed in tariffs and the Renewable Heat Incentive.
Public Bodies: Finance
Charles Hendry:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what budget has been set for the (a) Coal Authority, (b) Committee on Radioactive Waste Management, (c) Nuclear Decommissioning
Authority, (d) UK Energy Research Partnership and (e) Civil Nuclear Police Authority in (i) 2009-10, (ii) 2010-11 and (iii) 2011-12. [320514]
Mr. Kidney: The following budgets have been set for these organisations for 2009-10:
| Organisation | Total budget for 2009-10 (£) |
| (1) The ERP is a partnership between government, industry and research organisations. DECC's contribution to ERP in 2009-10 is £38,000. | |
Budgets for 2010-11 and 2011-12 are not yet finalised.
Totnes Town Transition Group
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 22 February 2010, Official Report, columns 74-5W, on the Totnes Town Transition Group, by what mechanisms the monitoring and evaluation plan will capture evidence of project impacts and promote community dialogue and shared learning; what timetable has been set for completion of that plan; what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of that plan; and what programmes will be funded from the grant of £625,000. [322041]
Joan Ruddock: The Low Carbon Community Challenge research programme will use the following mechanisms as part of the monitoring and evaluation plan in order to capture evidence of project impacts and promote community dialogue and shared learning:
Capturing baseline hard data and historic trends on domestic and non-domestic energy use in buildings in each of the 22 communities.
Socio-economic and environmental behaviour data captured using a household survey across the successful communities-one before the challenge begins and one at the end-involving a sample of residents in each community.
Public dialogue: A series of facilitated events in each of the 22 communities to understand the emerging lessons from the Challenge-for the project, the partners as well as for policy making.
Evaluation of the effectiveness of the LCCC as a programme.
The plan started in February 2010 and will be completed in March 2012. The estimated cost to the public purse of the evaluation plan over the two years is between £900,000 and £1,300,000.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
European Union
Mr. Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what issues he has identified as strategic priorities for the European Union; and if he will make a statement. [322295]
Chris Bryant: The Government see the primary strategic priorities for the EU as to deliver an open and competitive European economy, to promote stability and growth in its neighbourhood, and to work for sustainability, openness and security in the wider world.
The Government are at the forefront of promoting and driving action across this agenda. We have led the debate on the future shape of an ambitious, innovative, low carbon jobs and growth orientated economic agenda, as set out in the Prime Minister's Compact for Jobs and Growth. We continue to encourage the EU to deliver further enlargement, and to promote the reforms necessary within the aspirant countries, including particularly increased capacity and effectiveness of government institutions, transparent and accountable judicial institutions, and restructured and reformed economies. And we continue to drive efforts to ensure the EU promotes international security and stability, including through effective policy toward major external issues, a coordinated approach towards common security and defence policy operations, and effective institutional structure, including for the European External Action Service, that help to deliver the strategic priorities as a whole.
Falkland Islands
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations the US administration has made to his Department on the subject of the UK's sovereignty in respect of the Falkland Islands; and if he will make a statement. [322388]
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will issue a demarche to the US administration about the US Secretary of State's call for talks on sovereignty in respect of the Falkland Islands during her recent visit to Buenos Aires; and if he will make a statement. [322389]
Chris Bryant: We are in regular touch with the US on this issue. The US continues to recognise the UK's administration of the Falkland Islands and their wider position remains unchanged. We have consistently made clear that there is no need for any discussions or negotiations on the issue of the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands and surrounding maritime areas, about which we have no doubts. The principle of self-determination, enshrined in the UN charter, underlies our position.
Intelligence Services
Mr. Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the guidelines issued by his Department to officers of those intelligence services which fall within his responsibilities on interviewing prisoners abroad have been (a) seen and (b) agreed by him; and if he will make a statement. [321504]
David Miliband [holding answer 11 March 2010]: The draft consolidated guidance is being considered by the relevant Ministers, and as my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has made clear, will be published soon.
Nuclear Disarmament: International Cooperation
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what papers the Government has prepared for the nuclear non-proliferation summit in Washington DC on 12 and 13 April 2010; which (a) Ministers and (b) officials plan to attend the summit; and whether any representatives of non-governmental organisations will be included in the UK delegation. [319205]
Tessa Jowell: I have been asked to reply.
Government officials are currently involved in negotiating the communiqué and work plan texts that are expected to be issued at the US-hosted Nuclear Security summit in April. The UK delegation has not yet been finalised.
Terrorism: Northern Ireland
Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made an estimate of the amount of money which has been provided by individuals and organisations in the US to dissident Republican terrorist organisations in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; what steps have been taken with the US administration to prevent any such payments being made; and if he will make a statement. [321306]
Paul Goggins: I have been asked to reply.
There is no evidence that the US represents a significant source of funding or other support for dissident Republicans. In terms of prevention, both RIRA and CIRA have been designated 'Foreign Terrorist Organisations' by the US Government. This makes it unlawful for a person in the US or subject to the jurisdiction of the US to knowingly provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organisation. It also requires any US financial institution that becomes aware that it has possession of or control over funds in which a designated foreign terrorist organisation or its agent has an interest, to retain possession of or control over the funds and report the funds to the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the US Department of Treasury.
Children, Schools and Families
Building Schools for the Future Programme
Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families in which schools in each local authority area a school rebuilding project is under way under the Building Schools for the Future programme which has not reached financial close. [321859]
Mr. Coaker: The information requested has been placed in the House Libraries.
Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which local authorities (a) have reached financial close for their Building Schools for the Future (BSF) projects, (b) are part of the BSF programme but have not reached financial close and (c) are not part of the programme. [321860]
Mr. Coaker: Fifty projects in 43 local authorities have reached financial close in the Building Schools for the Future programme. These are listed in table A as follows. 58 local authorities in BSF have not reached financial close. These are detailed in list B. The 51 local authorities still waiting to join the programme are in list C.
| Table A: 43 local authorities which have reached financial close | |
| Local authority | Date reached financial close |
|
Blackburn with Darwen (part of Blackburn with Darwen and Bolton) | |
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