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17 Mar 2010 : Column 936W—continued
Carbon Emissions: Housing
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he plans to take steps to ensure that consumers are aware of those services and products which are subsidised under the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target scheme; and if he will make a statement. [322483]
Joan Ruddock: The Government are taking a number of steps to ensure consumers are assisted in understanding the support available to them. The Government supports a one-stop shop through the Energy Saving Trust which provides free advice to consumers on energy saving as well as providing easy access to the full range of Carbon Emission Reduction Target offers. This is supported by the Government's overarching Act On CO2 marketing campaign which demonstrates the benefits of the energy saving measures offered under the Carbon Emission Reduction Target as part of coverage in national television, press, radio and online. Longer term, we have set out our intention as part of the 'Warm Homes, Greener Homes' strategy to continue to improve and simplify consumer access to, and use of, energy saving information. This will combine with effective branding and marketing to build awareness and trust in the available products and services.
Climate Change: Publicity
Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much his Department had spent on its advertising campaign Act on CO2 at the latest date for which information is available. [319440]
Joan Ruddock: DECC was created in October 2008, however the Save Money, Save Energy campaign was launched in September 2008, therefore figures reported are from the start of that campaign.
From September 2008 to March 2009, invoiced cost on DECC's Act on CO2 advertising campaign was £10.19 million inclusive of fees, exclusive of VAT and covers all costs associated with the campaign.
From April 2009 to 16 March 2010, the estimated cost was £9.98 million inclusive of fees, exclusive of VAT and covers all costs associated with the campaign.
Climate Change: Research
Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much funding has been allocated to research into mitigation of the effects of climate change on (a) agriculture and (b) other industries in the last five years. [322309]
Dan Norris: I have been asked to reply.
(a) The funding allocated into research into the effects of climate change on agriculture in the past five years is as follows:
| £ | ||
| Mitigation | Adaptation | |
(b) The UK Climate Impacts Programme (UKCIP), funded by DEFRA, has incorporated a business element that works with individual business or representative organisations to help develop risk management and adaptation strategies. UKCIP have developed free for user on-line tools specially designed for business, in addition to the climate change projections.
We are unable to provide a breakdown of the funding provided to UKCIP for research into mitigating the effects of climate change in agriculture and business, as the work done by UKCIP is of benefit to all. However the total funding provided to UKCIP for the last five years is as follows:
| £ | |
In addition, as part of Government's cross-Department Adaptation to Climate Change programme established in 2008, a small business engagement team has been set up. In FY 2009-10 this team managed research projects on business opportunities from adaptation to climate change, business messaging and business advice totalling up to £160,000.
Departmental Lost Property
John Mason: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what property has been recorded as (a) lost and (b) stolen from his Department in the last 12 months; and what estimate has been made of the cost of the replacement of that property. [322074]
Joan Ruddock: The following items have been recorded as lost or stolen from the Department in the last 12 months:
| Item | Lost | Stolen | |
Estimated cost for replacement is £4,000.
Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much has been paid in reimbursable expenses to special advisers in his Department in each year since its creation. [320582]
Joan Ruddock: The Department has not paid any reimbursable expenses to special advisers.
Domestic Appliances: Carbon Emissions
Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) what estimate he has made of the number of domestic consumer electronics products which qualify for the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target; what estimate he has made of the reduction in the volume of carbon dioxide emissions as a result of the number of domestic consumer electronics products in the scheme; and if he will make a statement; [322866]
(2) if he will bring forward proposals to require all Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) measures to be branded to inform consumers of their indirect contribution through bill payments to the cost of CERT measures; and if he will make a statement. [322867]
Joan Ruddock: Government do not require suppliers to report or present this information on bills at present, but the Government's 'Warm Homes, Greener Homes' strategy, published in early March, set out the importance of greater transparency in any post 2013 energy company obligation, including around cost information. We continue to develop the detail of this arrangement, and will pursue new powers as necessary.
Energy: Billing
Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will take steps to prevent energy companies changing billing review and assessment periods for small business customers other than on an annual basis; and if he will enforce automatic return to such customers of credit balances above a specified level. [322306]
Mr. Kidney [holding answer 15 March 2010]: Details of billing review and assessment periods, and the customer's right to a credit refund for balances above a certain level are subject to the terms and conditions of individual business supply contracts. Where smaller business customers are concerned about such an issue they should in the first instance take it up with their supplier. If the supplier fails to resolve the matter satisfactorily, they should pursue their complaint through the Energy Ombudsman under the statutory redress scheme.
Ofgem looked at concerns about unfairness in contract terms in small business supply as part of its probe into the energy supply market in 2008. As a result, Ofgem recently placed an obligation on suppliers to provide clear and transparent contract terms and conditions. The changes came into effect from 18 January 2010. I would expect to see Ofgem evaluate the impact of the changes in due course and consider whether any further changes are needed to protect small business consumers.
National Grid
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent assessment he has made of the effect on the National Grid of an electromagnetic pulse strike caused (a) deliberately and (b) through solar activity. [322100]
Mr. Kidney: We are not aware recent work has been done on the risk of a deliberately generated electromagnetic pulse adversely impacting the National Grid.
In 2009 National Grid used modelling techniques to study the impact of solar storms on the UK transmission system. The modelling has identified the reasonable worst scenario for the transmission network could lead to short term, localised disturbances at the extremities of the network. National Grid does not anticipate any significant disruption to supplies to electricity customers.
Oils: Waste Disposal
Mr. David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his policy is on encouraging the generation of energy from waste oils; and if he will make a statement. [319195]
Dan Norris: I have been asked to reply.
DEFRA's policy on waste oils is set out in the revised Waste Framework Directive (2008/98/EC). In accordance with the directive, the recovery of energy from waste oil is fourth in the priority order known as the waste hierarchy. The regeneration of waste oil into base oil by re-refining is classed as recycling and is third in the hierarchy. Waste disposal, which includes incineration without energy recovery, is at the bottom as the least preferred option.
We are currently considering the responses to the stage one consultation on the transposition of the revised Waste Framework Directive, including the provisions in article 4 on the waste hierarchy and article 21 on waste oils. The stage two consultation will comprise a draft of the transposing regulations and an impact assessment.
Radioactive Waste: Transport
Mr. Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether trains carrying nuclear waste use the (a) Lea Valley and (b) Barking to Gospel Oak line. [322511]
Chris Mole: I have been asked to reply.
Irradiated nuclear fuel (often referred to as nuclear waste) is transported by rail from nuclear power stations to Sellafield in Cumbria. Because of the nature of the UK rail network these shipments regularly use railway routes in and around London. However, the Department for Transport does not hold data on the precise routes taken.
The transport of radioactive material, including irradiated nuclear fuel, is governed by stringent internationally-agreed standards recommended by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), an agency appointed by the United Nations to oversee all aspects of the peaceful uses of atomic energy worldwide. The safety of the transport of radioactive material is secured by the design and build quality of the packages used. In particular, packages used to transport irradiated nuclear fuel are designed to withstand a severe impact and fire without releasing their radioactive contents.
Organisations consigning radioactive materials are free to choose the most appropriate route and mode of transport for their purposes and rail transport represents the best option for very heavy items such as irradiated nuclear fuel flasks.
Home Department
Asylum
Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 1 March 2010, Official Report, columns 880-1W, which countries were categorised as (a) other Europe, (b) other former USSR, (c) other Americas, (d) other Africa, (e) other Middle East and (f) other Asia and Oceania in the data provided. [321318]
Mr. Woolas: The countries of nationality that are categorised within other Europe, other former USSR, other Americas, other Africa, other Middle East and other Asia and Oceania are listed as follows. The list includes nationalities for which there were no grants or refusals of asylum in the years 2007, 2008 and 2009.
Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus (Northern part of), Denmark, Faroe Islands, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Serbia, Spain, Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands, Sweden, Switzerland, Vatican City State (Holy See), Yugoslavia.
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan.
Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda (GBR), Bolivia, Bouvet Island, Brazil, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, French Guyana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Montserrat, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Pierre and Miquelon, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia, Surinam, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands (GBR), United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela, Virgin Islands (US).
Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Burkina Faso, Reunion, Sao Tome Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa, St. Helena (GBR), Swaziland, Togo, Tunisia, Western Sahara, Zambia.
Bahrain, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen.
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