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6 Apr 2010 : Column 1224W—continued
Energy and Climate Change
Carbon Emissions
Mr. Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he discussed the effect of the UK committing to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 42 per cent. by 2020 with representatives of other governments at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. [324704]
Joan Ruddock [holding answer 29 March 2010]: My right hon. Friend did not discuss the effect of the UK committing to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 42 per cent. with representatives of other Governments at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.
Mr. Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the effect on the UK of a reduction in the UK's carbon dioxide emissions by 42 per cent. by 2020. [324762]
Joan Ruddock [holding answer 29 March 2010]: In July last year we published a Low Carbon Transition Plan and an accompanying analytical annex that set out how we would reduce greenhouse gas emissions to meet our carbon budgets and the cost to the UK of doing so, consistent with reducing emissions by 34 per cent. by 2020. Were we to move to a higher target and set new carbon budgets consistent with that, then the Climate Change Act, requires that we publish our proposals and policies for delivering those emissions reductions as soon as is practicable following the setting of new budgets in legislation.
Climate Change: Publicity
Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much his Department has spent on advertising aimed at raising awareness of climate change among (a) all people and (b) people under the age of 18 since its establishment. [319424]
Joan Ruddock: Act on CO2 advertising is aimed at adults.
Invoiced media costs for the climate literacy advertising strand of the Act on CO2 campaign are £4.78 million, inclusive of fees and exclusive of VAT.
The Department has not bought advertising for the Act on CO2 campaign-or any other campaign activity-specifically aimed at under-18s.
Departmental Buildings
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his Department provides subsidised gym facilities for its staff. [324563]
Joan Ruddock: The Department provides accommodation, at no cost, for gym facilities in 3 Whitehall Place. The actual gym facilities and equipment are provided and managed by the DEFRA Sports and Social Association.
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much his Department spent on interior design in relation to office refurbishments undertaken since its inception. [324675]
Joan Ruddock: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to his question 320471 on the cost of refurbishment on 22 March 2010, Official Report, column 101W, which included the cost of interior design. This cost cannot be separately identified. In addition, the cost of interior design in relation to internal communications work was £38,404 in 2008-09 and £54,522 in 2009-10.
Departmental Consultants
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much (a) his Department and (b) each other body for which his Department is responsible spent on external consultants and advisers in each year since 2005. [319812]
Joan Ruddock The Department of Energy and Climate Change was created on 3 October 2008. In the financial year 2008-09 the Department spent £7,277,000 on external consultants and advisers.
Additionally the bodies for which the Department is responsible spent a total of £14,720,000 on external consultants and advisers.
Departmental Disciplinary Proceedings
Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many (a) disciplinary and (b) capability procedures have been (i) initiated and (ii) completed in his Department in each year since its inception; how much time on average was taken to complete each type of procedure in each such year; how many and what proportion of his Department's staff were subject to each type of procedure in each such year; and how many and what proportion of each type of procedure resulted in the dismissal of the member of staff. [320639]
Joan Ruddock: No records are collated centrally regarding how many procedures have been initiated in the Department since its creation in October 2008.
We are unable to provide the number of staff dismissed (all reasons) under section 40 of the Data Protection Act 1998.
Departmental Information Officers
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the cost to his Department was of employing press and media officers in the last 12 month period for which figures are available; and what the cost to his Department was of employing such staff in the financial year 1996-97, expressed in current prices. [324813]
Joan Ruddock: The cost of employing press and media officers from April 2009 to January 2010 (latest figure available) was £407,000.
DECC was created in October 2008.
Departmental Internet
Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many complaints his Department received regarding difficulties using its website in each year since its inception; and if he will make a statement. [325199]
Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much his Department spent on external website design consultants in each year since its inception; and if he will make a statement. [325217]
Joan Ruddock: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for North-East Hertfordshire (Mr. Heald) on 16 March 2010, Official Report, column 796W.
Departmental Marketing
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much his Department has spent on promotional items carrying the Department's branding and logo since its inception; and what those items were. [324723]
Joan Ruddock: The spend on promotional items is:
(a) £2,454, a combined order of a mug for each member of staff as part of our departmental launch and low cost branded pens for internal and external use
(b) £450, a further set of mugs to promote DECC's new values.
As well as having a promotional aspect these items were produced for sustainability reasons in support of our departmental remit. The pens were produced from recycled materials and the mugs used to reduce the use of disposable cardboard cups.
We have deliberately kept use of such promotional materials to a minimum.
Departmental Recruitment
Mr. Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many job vacancies in his Department and its agencies were filled through external recruitment in the last year for which figures are available. [315505]
Joan Ruddock: DECC recruited 51 people through external recruitment in the last year.
Energy Supply
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the effects of changes in the carbon price set under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme on private sector investment in energy supply infrastructure. [325246]
Joan Ruddock: No assessment has been made on this particular issue. The Government have recently published the initial findings of their Energy Market Assessment, which recognises the carbon price and its long-term certainty is one of many, and not the most significant factor, that affects investment decisions in electricity generation. Gas price volatility and its relationship to electricity price is a key driver, as well as, uncertainty around future electricity demand and the impact of renewables on wholesale electricity prices.
Despite these uncertainties and the current low level of demand, high levels of investment are currently taking place. National Grid's data show that 20 GW are currently under construction or have been granted planning consent.
The next stage of our Energy Markets Assessment work will be a detailed assessment of a range of options for reforming the electricity market to meet our objectives beyond 2020, assessing them against cost-effectiveness, affordability and investor certainty. Government will consult on proposals in autumn 2010 and publish a White Paper in 2011.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what account will be taken of the full life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions of each fuel type in identifying low carbon generation technologies which will be eligible for specific support under the five groups of options referred to in paragraphs 4.7 to 4.48 of his Department's report on Energy Market Assessment. [325104]
Mr. Kidney: As set out in the DECC publication "Valuation of energy use and greenhouse gas emissions for appraisal and evaluation", which can be found on the DECC website, the emissions associated with imports are not included in the UK's national inventory.
Greenhouse gases emitted elsewhere in Europe which form part of full life cycle emissions for fuels used in the UK, have to meet their costs through the EU Emissions Trading System.
Housing: Carbon Emissions
John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his Department has made an estimate of the effect on the level of carbon dioxide emissions that would result from the installation of room thermostats in homes where they are not presently installed. [325465]
Joan Ruddock: The Department keeps abreast of published research relevant to this question as well as carrying out its own field trials of energy saving measures in homes. Heating controls in homes can save energy and thereby reduce carbon dioxide emissions if they allow the occupants to maintain comfort by not heating the home (or part of the home) when this is not needed. However, recent field evidence indicates that these controls make little difference and may not save energy or reduce emissions as they are not used as intended. We will be working with the industry and researchers to understand how heating controls could be better designed and deployed to deliver energy savings.
Nuclear Decommissioning Authority: Springfields
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 24 March 2010, Official Report, column 42WS, on the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (Springfields Site), what insurance arrangements will apply under the new arrangements for management of the plant. [325400]
Mr. Kidney: Under the new arrangements for the management of the site, with effect from 1 April 2010 the insurance arrangements for the Springfields site will be a matter for Springfields Fuels Ltd. and its owner. Under the agreements between the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and Springfields Fuels Ltd. the latter is required to have a range of insurances including Nuclear Installations Act 1965 liability insurance. No insurance arrangements will be made by either the Department for Energy and Climate Change or the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.
Nuclear Power: Public Consultation
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the cost to the public purse was of holding the public meeting on his Department's group on documents on nuclear justification at the Marriott Hotel, Marble Arch on 19 January 2010; whether his Department made provision for the reimbursement of participants for travel costs; what assessment his Department made of the comparative cost of holding that meeting at his Department; whether he has made an assessment of the merits of recovering the cost of the meeting from the Nuclear Industry Association; whether he has plans for any further such meeting; and what record of that meeting (a) was circulated to participants and (b) he plans to post on his Department's website. [325667]
Mr. Kidney: Further to my answers of 2 February 2010, Official Report, column 187W, and 5 February 2010, Official Report, column 617W; which covered most of the points in my hon. Friend's question, the final cost of the public meeting held as part of the consultation on my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's proposed Regulatory Justification decisions on new nuclear power stations was £12,951. This included the cost of travel for some delegates. A Government venue was not chosen on this occasion as a hotel offered more flexible options for staging the event. The meeting was part of the consultation and it is therefore proper that the Government meet the cost. The consultation being over, we have no current plans for any further such meeting. A transcript of the meeting was circulated to delegates and placed on the Department's website at:
Renewable Energy: Scotland
Mr. Ingram: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much funding his Department has allocated to renewable energy projects in Scotland in each of the last five years; and what funding allocations have been made for future years. [324522]
Joan Ruddock [holding answer 29 March 2010]: Since 2005, £10.5 million has been awarded to renewable energy projects in Scotland spread across the financial years 2009-10 and 2010-11.
Funding is not 'allocated' to Scotland as the majority of renewable energy funding schemes operated by DECC are open across the UK on a competitive basis.
HMG also provides funding through other delivery partners (for example, the Carbon Trust) and for research, development and demonstration projects which are not yet operational.
Uranium: Imports
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much uranium has been imported from each country for civilian uses in each year since 1997. [320983]
Mr. Kidney: Uranium comes in many different forms. Providing a list of all forms, from all countries, would be prohibitively expensive.
Warm Front Scheme: Greater Manchester
Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many households in (a) the City of Manchester and (b) Manchester Central constituency have received assistance under the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme since its inception. [324883]
Joan Ruddock [holding answer 29 March 2010]: The following tables show the number of households in the City of Manchester and Constituency of Manchester Central which have received assistance from the Warm Front Scheme(1) since its inception.
(1) The Home Energy Efficiency Scheme which begun in 1991 was rebranded to the Warm Front Scheme in 2000.
| City of Manchester | |
| Households assisted | |
| (1) Up to the 28 February 2010. | |
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