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26 July 2010 : Column 743W—continued
New Businesses: Bedfordshire
Nadine Dorries: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many new businesses were started in (a) Mid Bedfordshire constituency and (b) the county of Bedfordshire in 2009-10. [9728]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated 16 July 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning how many new businesses were started in (a) Mid Bedfordshire constituency and (b) the county of Bedfordshire in 2009-10. [9728]
Annual statistics on business births, deaths and survival are available from the ONS release on Business Demography at:
The table below contains the latest statistics available on enterprise births in 2008 for Mid Bedfordshire constituency and the county of Bedfordshire.
| Count of enterprise birth in 2008 for the county of Bedfordshire and Mid Bedfordshire constituency | |
| Number | |
Non-Departmental Public Bodies
Priti Patel: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 14 July 2010, Official Report, column 801W, on non-departmental public bodies, when he expects to announce the number of non-departmental public bodies to be abolished. [10183]
Mr Amess: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what progress has been made on the abolition of non-departmental public bodies; and if he will make a statement. [10557]
Mr Maude: The Government are committed to reducing the number of public bodies to increase accountability and reduce costs. To this end, I am working with Departments to assess the public bodies that fall within their areas of responsibility against three tests: do they perform a technical function; do they require political impartiality; or do they act independently to establish facts. We expect to publish the outcome of this assessment by the autumn.
Priti Patel: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 14 July 2010, Official Report, column 801W, on non-departmental public bodies, whether he plans to issue guidance to those non-departmental public bodies that are to be abolished on expenditure by them on lobbying activities. [10184]
Mr Maude: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Harrogate and Knaresborough (Andrew Jones) earlier.
Non-Departmental Public Bodies: Finance
Priti Patel: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much in cash reserves is held by each of his Department's non-departmental public bodies; and how much each such body spent in the latest year for which information is available. [10659]
Mr Maude: The total cash held by Capacity Builders (UK) Ltd as at 31 March 2010 amounted to £1,920,768.
The total cash held by the Commission for the Compact Ltd as at 31 March 2010 amounted to £293,165.
Details of 2009-10 spend for both executive non-departmental public bodies can be found in their individual Annual Report and Accounts 2009-10.
Population
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent advice he has received on the (a) accuracy of, (b) cost of and (c) practical arrangements for using methods other than the national census to measure the UK's population. [9679]
Mr Maude: The UK Statistics Authority is responsible for carrying out the census in England and Wales. The board of the authority has expressed the view that the 2011 census should be the last conduction on the traditional basis. Through the 'Beyond 2011' project the authority has been considering alternative ways of obtaining information that has been traditionally gathered via a census.
The current advice from the ONS is clear. Census alternatives are not sufficiently developed to provide now the information required to meet essential UK and EU requirements. It is therefore important that the census goes ahead in England and Wales on 27 March 2011. ONS must do all it can to ensure it is a success.
Mr Clappison: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the most recent projections made by the Office for National Statistics are of population densities in (a) the UK, (b) England, (c) Scotland, (d) Wales and (e) Northern Ireland for (i) the earliest date for which such projections have been made, (ii) 2031, (iii) 2056 and (iv) the most distant date for which such projections have been made; what estimate has been made of the population density of each such area in 2010; and if he will rank the UK in terms of the 2010 population density of each EU member state, giving the population density for each member state. [10595]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated July 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Minister for the Cabinet Office, asking what the most recent projections made by the Office for National Statistics are of population densities in (a) the UK, (b) England, (c) Scotland, (d) Wales and (e) Northern Ireland for (i) the earliest date for which such projections have been made, (ii) 2031, (iii) 2056 and (iv) the most distant date for which such projections have been made; what estimate has been made of the population density of each such area in 2010; and if he will rank the UK in terms of the 2010 population density of each KU member state, giving the population density for each member state. (10595)
Projected population densities can be calculated for any year from the published projected total population for that year and the relevant land area. The estimated population density for mid-2009 and projected population densities derived from the 2008 population base for the years 2010, 2031, 2056 and 2108 are given in the table below.
National population projections are produced for up to 100 years ahead, but only published for up to 75 years ahead, and are available from the Office for National Statistics website at:
However, long-term projections should be treated with great caution. Population projections become increasingly uncertain the further they are carried forward, particularly for smaller geographic areas.
Eurostat publishes estimates of population densities for all EU countries up to 2007 (see table tps00003 under main demographic indicators at:
Public Bodies: Lobbying
Andrew Jones: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will issue guidance to Government Departments on the retention and use of lobbying companies by publicly-funded bodies for the provision of lobbying and support services to campaign for increased funding. [9460]
Mr Maude: The Cabinet Office publication, "Public Bodies: A Guide for Departments", states that it is an improper use of public funds for non-departmental public bodies to employ PR or other consultants to lobby Parliament or Government Departments in order to obtain higher funding. This guidance is available at
and copies are available in the Library of the House.
Energy and Climate Change
Carbon Emissions: Research
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the proposals for future research and development of low carbon energy technologies in the Committee on Climate Change's report on Building a low-carbon economy. [10940]
Gregory Barker: The Committee on Climate Change's report: "Building a Low Carbon Economy-the UK's Innovation Challenge", was commissioned under the previous Government. We value the Committee's work and will consider the findings carefully alongside the spending review process.
Departmental Billing
Mr Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what information his Department holds on the time taken by contractors employed by it to pay the invoices of their sub-contractors under prompt payment arrangements; and if he will make a statement. [9256]
Gregory Barker: The Department does not hold any central information on the time taken by contractors (tier one suppliers) to pay their sub-contractors (tier two suppliers). However, we are working closely with tier one suppliers to ensure that tier two suppliers receive payment promptly by:
reviewing payment performance as part of the standard contract management process;
ensuring tier one suppliers include in the relevant contract a provision which requires the tier one supplier to pay the tier two supplier within 30 days; and
enabling tier two suppliers to report any concerns they feel have not been adequately addressed direct to the Department or via the Office of Government Commerce's supplier feedback process.
We remain committed to paying invoices within five working days and continue to work closely with our suppliers to ensure that the benefits are felt by all in the supply chain.
Departmental Contracts
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the monetary value of the contracts between his Department and private sector companies which will be cancelled under his Department's planned spending reductions. [10168]
Gregory Barker: The full range of contracts with the Department of Energy and Climate Change are currently under review. At the present time there is no estimate available as to the value of contracts that may be cancelled or re-negotiated.
Departmental Correspondence
Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what instructions have been issued by the private office of each Minister in his Department on the preparation of briefing, speeches and replies to official correspondence. [9659]
Gregory Barker: The private offices maintain guidance on the departmental intranet which provides general advice for officials working with Ministers.
Departmental ICT
Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much (a) his Department and (b) its non-departmental public bodies spent on information and communication technology in each year since its inception. [R] [7338]
Gregory Barker: DECC only became a legal entity on 5 March 2009, and therefore in 2008-09 the core ICT services for DECC were still supplied and funded by DEFRA and BIS. DECC's total annual ICT expenditure for 2008-09 therefore was only £205,000. The 2008-09 ICT expenditure for non-departmental public bodies was £10.14 million.
DECC's total annual ICT expenditure for 2009-10 was £8.44 million. This expenditure includes the cost of setting up and rolling out a new ICT system for the Department. The 2009-10 ICT expenditure for non-departmental public bodies was £12.42 million. The non-departmental public bodies covered by this figure are; the Coal Authority, Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, Civil Nuclear Police Authority and Committee on Climate Change.
Departmental Speeches
Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change which (a) (i) civil servants and (ii) special advisers in his Department and (b) other individuals are employed to write speeches for each Minister in his Department. [7297]
Gregory Barker: One civil servant is employed to write speeches for Ministers. Civil servants from across the Department are also involved as part of their duties in drafting ministerial speeches. Special advisers will also input on occasion.
Departmental Travel
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change which (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have been driven by the Government Car Service since the Government took office; and how much each of these persons has received in expenses for use of taxis, buses and underground trains in that period. [7978]
Gregory Barker: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 24 June 2010, Official Report, column 344W, to the hon. Member for West Bromwich East (Mr Watson).
In addition, the Government publish on a quarterly basis, the expenses incurred by the most senior officials which includes use of Government car service and other travel expenses.
Energy Efficiency
Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with which representatives of industrial sectors his Department has had discussions on the energy efficiency measures to be included in the Green Deal. [10323]
Gregory Barker: Discussions have taken place with a number of leading organisations in the retail, installation, energy and finance sectors to discuss the broad scope of the Green Deal. These discussions will continue as we develop the detailed policy, including those measures that can be included as part of the Green Deal offer.
Dr Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) what assessment he has made of the potential contribution of the installation of thermostats in homes to homes obtaining insulation and other energy efficiency measures under proposed pay-as-you-save schemes; [10626]
(2) what requirement for the installation of thermostats he intends to make in homes participating in proposed pay-as-you-save insulation schemes. [10661]
Gregory Barker: Installations such as heating controls and thermostats, are important for helping households to control their overall energy use. The Green Deal will allow people to install certain energy efficiency measures in their homes, which can be paid for through their energy bill savings. We will be setting out the measures that qualify for the Green Deal in secondary legislation once the forthcoming Energy Bill has received Assent.
Energy: Prices
Mr McCann: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) whether penalties apply to energy suppliers for breaches of standards of conduct in respect of energy tariffs; [11609]
(2) if he will discuss with Ofgem the transparency of the process whereby wholesale energy prices are used to calculate domestic energy prices; [11612]
(3) if he will take steps to increase the level of transparency in energy pricing in the (a) wholesale and (b) retail energy markets; [11613]
(4) if his Department will undertake research on the link between wholesale and retail energy prices; [11614]
(5) what criteria his Department uses to assess the extent to which the wholesale cost of energy reflects the cost of its generation; [11615]
(6) what mechanism his Department uses to estimate the link between (a) wholesale and (b) domestic energy prices; [11616]
(7) by what mechanism his Department assesses whether energy suppliers are adhering to the standards of conduct in respect of energy tariffs. [11617]
Charles Hendry: Following its Energy Market Supply Probe, Ofgem introduced new standards of conduct which provide a guide to customers about the level of service they can expect from an energy supplier.
These standards are not enforceable against energy suppliers but are supported by obligations in licences and under consumer protection law, and form part of the wider context for possible Ofgem enforcement action.
Ofgem will take the standards into account when it decides whether to investigate potential licence breaches by suppliers and, where relevant, as part of Ofgem consideration of consumer detriment for the purposes of suspected breaches of licence conditions and proposals for licence modifications leading to further regulatory rules.
Wholesale energy costs account for around 60% of a domestic customer's energy bill and are a major consideration in suppliers' retail pricing decisions. The relationship between wholesale costs and retail prices is complex, hence the importance of transparency. In the 2008 pre-Budget report, Ofgem were asked to produce a quarterly update on the link between wholesale and retail energy prices precisely in order to increase levels of pricing transparency. The latest report showed the major suppliers have cut their prices in response to falling wholesale prices and that margins were lower than in the previous quarter. Ofgem has said that if suppliers stopped competing on price or domestic prices did not respond to a sustained fall in wholesale prices, it would look closely at the market.
Competition is vital to keeping bills as low as possible. Ofgem continues working to reduce barriers to entering the retail market and will publish a report on wholesale market liquidity in summer 2010.
Mr McCann: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what criteria are used to determine whether consumers are being charged fairly for domestic energy. [11619]
Charles Hendry: Ofgem, the independent sector regulator is responsible for ensuring that consumers are treated fairly by their energy suppliers.
Following its probe into retail energy markets in 2008 Ofgem took steps to prohibit unfair and excessive price differences between different groups of consumers (e.g. unjustified premiums for pre payment meters). Ofgem have recently reported that price differentials are now largely in line with differences in costs, but will continue to monitor this.
Environment Protection: Low Incomes
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the effect on those on low incomes of measures to tackle climate change. [10102]
Gregory Barker: The Analytical Annex of the Low Carbon Transition Plan (LCTP) from July 2009 included the last published estimates of the distributional implications of climate change and energy policies on energy bills. As noted in the LCTP lower income households face a lower absolute increase in their energy bills however, they typically spend a greater share of their income on energy bills. By 2020, energy bills as a percentage of income are estimated to increase from an average of 12.7% to 14.2% for households in the bottom income decile. For more details see the Analytical Annex of the LCTP available at:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/publications/Default.aspx? term=low%20carbon%20transition%20plan&tags=&urn= &fromDate=&toDate=&alpha=
The Government recognise the need to help more of the most vulnerable to keep their homes warm at an affordable cost. A significant number of fuel poor and vulnerable households have already received support to upgrade the thermal performance of their dwelling through policies such as Warm Front and CERT. In bringing forward our proposals for a Green Deal, we will ensure that we will help more of the most vulnerable households on the lowest incomes.
Environmental Projects
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will commission a review of the procurement of power purchase agreements in order to examine the ability of small environmental projects in development to tender for Government contracts. [10503]
Mr Maude: I have been asked to reply.
Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) offer a new and innovative method of purchasing electricity for the public sector. They provide opportunities to generate cost savings and facilitate new energy generation, supporting smaller renewable energy generators.
Initial investigations into the opportunities offered by PPAs have already been undertaken, with future work to be taken forward by the Efficiency and Reform Group as part of this Government's commitment to centralise the procurement of commodity goods and services across Government.
Farmers: Carbon Trust
Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether farmers continue to be eligible for interest-free loans from the Carbon Trust. [10608]
Gregory Barker: Farmers in England are eligible to apply for Carbon Trust administered interest free energy efficiency loans of up to £20,000.
Fuel Poverty
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what targets his Department has set for reducing the level of fuel poverty; and what assessment he has made of the contribution of the Warm Front scheme to his Department's objectives. [9935]
Gregory Barker: We will continue to look at ways in which we can make further progress towards the fuel poverty goals and remain committed to doing all that is reasonably practicable to eradicate fuel poverty in ail households in England by 2016.
Government are totally committed to helping those households that are in fuel poverty. We recognise the need to help more of the most vulnerable to keep their homes warm at an affordable cost.
Warm Front is key to tackling fuel poverty in private sector households and has assisted over 2.1 million vulnerable households, across England, since its inception in June 2000.
Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps are being taken by his Department to eradicate fuel poverty by 2016. [10257]
Gregory Barker: Government recently announced the extension of a more ambitious and targeted Carbon Emissions Reduction Target to December 2012, paving the way for the Green Deal. This extension will require a significant and urgent increase in home energy insulation. Through the extension we are requiring a greater focus on helping low income households than ever before. This will result in the investment of over £400 million in the most vulnerable GB homes.
Approximately 175,000 households are expected to be provided measures which can provide a long term solution to fuel poverty. Many more will receive measures which will protect them from falling into fuel poverty.
The Warm Front Scheme is key to tackling fuel poverty and has assisted over 2.1 million vulnerable households, across England, since its inception in June 2000.
We have the powers to introduce mandated social price support through the Energy Act 2010 and, subject to the outcome of the spending review and consultation, we intend to introduce the first scheme in 2011.
Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the number and proportion of households in (a) Bedford constituency, (b) the East of England and (c) England and Wales which are in fuel poverty. [11279]
Gregory Barker: In 2006, the most recent year for which sub-regional figures are available, there were around 3,000 (8%) fuel poor households in the Bedford constituency.
In 2007, there were 253,000 (11%) fuel poor households in the East of England and 2.8 million (13%) fuel poor households in England. The latest figure from the Welsh Assembly Government shows a projected figure of around 243,000 (20%) households in fuel poverty in 2006.
National Concessionary Fuel Office
Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans his Department has for the future (a) administration and (b) funding of the National Concessionary Fuel Office. [11123]
Charles Hendry: The Department has no current plans to change the existing arrangements of the National Concessionary Fuel Scheme (NCFS).
Oil: Scotland
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions his Department has had with the chief executive of Cairn Energy since July 2009 on its plans to drill for oil off the coast of Scotland; and if he will publish the minutes of those meetings. [11913]
Charles Hendry: None. Cairn Energy hold no UK petroleum licences.
Renewable Energy
Mrs Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the effect on the UK bioliquids sector of the Ofgem ruling of March 2009 on eligibility for the Renewables Obligation of fuel from bioliquids produced with methods involving methanol from natural gas; and what representations his Department has received on the matter. [10398]
Charles Hendry: Following Ofgem's March 2009 ruling the Department has received representations from a number of companies regarding bioliquids produced with methods involving methanol from natural gas. We are currently in the process of amending the renewables obligation order to incorporate the sustainability criteria for bioliquids in compliance with the renewable energy directive. This will include consulting on allowing bioliquids used for electricity generation where they are derived from fossil fuel, such as biodiesel, which meet the sustainability criteria to be included in the renewables obligation.
Mrs Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) what consideration he has given to the merits of amending the Renewables Obligation to allow partial certification of renewable energy produced using small amounts of material derived from fossil fuel; [10399]
(2) what consideration he has made of the merits of amending the provisions of the Renewables Obligation in respect of bioliquids produced from waste oils which contain traces of methanol or other recycle fossil fuels to reflect the comparable provisions in the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation. [10400]
Charles Hendry: We are currently in the process of amending the renewables obligation order to incorporate the sustainability criteria for bioliquids in compliance with the renewable energy directive. This will include consulting on allowing bioliquids used for electricity generation where they are derived from fossil fuel, such as biodiesel, which meet the sustainability criteria to be included in the renewables obligation.
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he plans to publish information on the energy generated from renewable resources in 2009; and if he will make a statement. [10951]
Gregory Barker: Statistics on renewable electricity, heat and biofuels during 2009 were contained in a special feature article within the June 2010 edition of Energy Trends, which is available on the Department's website:
and in the Libraries of the House. More detailed information will be published on 29 July 2010 within Chapter 7 of the Digest of UK Energy Statistics, which will also be available both on the website and in the Libraries of the House.
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what funding his Department has allocated to assist environmental businesses operating in the photovoltaic market. [11248]
Charles Hendry: The main grant programmes for electrical microgeneration, including the low carbon buildings programme (LCBP) have now ceased and have been replaced by the feed-in tariff (FIT's), where those who produce their own electricity will receive payments for the electricity they produce and any electricity that they feed back into the 'grid'. Since the scheme has only been running three months it is too early to identify trends in take-up.
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to encourage individual investment in photovoltaic solar panel installations. [11250]
Charles Hendry: Since April this year the main vehicle for supporting investment in solar photovoltaics is the Feed-in Tariff, which is available for a range of small scale low carbon technologies, including PV. The Government are also consulting on a new Microgeneration Strategy, which will aim to tackle non-financial barriers to development of the microgeneration market, including solar photovoltaics.
Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment his Department has made of the merits of generation of electricity by solar panels on domestic homes. [11400]
Charles Hendry: The Government recognise that solar panels have an important part to play in helping to reduce carbon emissions in homes, and increase the deployment of renewables in the UK.
Solar panels are supported through the Feed In Tariffs (FITs) scheme, which was introduced on 1 April 2010. This is a financial support scheme for eligible low carbon electricity technologies aimed at small-scale installations (maximum capacity of 5 Megawatts). The merits of providing support to solar PV panels and other technologies were assessed in the Impact Assessment published at the time the scheme was launched. Further information is available at:
www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/Consultations/Renewable%20Electricity%20Financial%20Incentives/1_20100204103559_e_@@_FITsImpactAssessmentaccompanying GovernmentResponse.pdf
Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he plans to assess the merits of including electricity from (a) anaerobic digestion, (b) hydropower and (c) geothermal power in his Department's feed-in tariff scheme. [9536]
Gregory Barker: FITs for small-scale low-carbon electricity are intended primarily to support the widespread deployment of proven technologies now and up to 2020, rather than to support development of unproven technologies. Since the scheme's launch on 1 April, tariffs have only been offered to those technologies which we consider can be deployed at scale in the short term. These include anaerobic digestion and hydropower but do not currently include geothermal power.
The FITs scheme will be subject to periodic review which will include consideration of the eligibility of different technologies. We are continually collecting data which, as we learn more, will be fed into the review process.
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans he has for the future of the feed-in tariff scheme for photo voltaic solar panels; and what assessment he has made of the contribution of that scheme to his Department's objective on (a) reducing reliance on carbon-based fuels and (b) encouraging microgeneration. [11245]
Charles Hendry: The feed-in tariffs (FITs) scheme, which was introduced on 1 April 2010, sets tariffs for new photovoltaic (PV) out to 2020, with payments to generators for 25 years. From 2012 the tariffs will reduce automatically each year for new installations.
We will undertake periodic reviews of FITs, which will provide opportunities to assess how the scheme is working in practice and to make changes if these are necessary.
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he has had discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on changing the tax treatment of revenue from feed-in tariffs. [11246]
Charles Hendry:
The tax treatment of income from feed-in tariffs is a matter for my right hon. Friend the
Chancellor of the Exchequer. Officials of the Department are in regular contact with officials of HM Treasury on this issue.
Renewable Energy: Regional Development Agencies
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much funding his Department provided to regional development agencies for the purpose of developing renewable energies in each of the last three years. [9703]
Gregory Barker: Regional development agencies (RDAs) are funded via a single budget made up of contributions from funding Departments. DECC's contribution to the budget in 2009-10 was £45.824 million. Prior to this contributions were made by DECC's predecessor Departments. RDAs set their own priorities so none of DECC's funding was provided specifically for developing renewable energies.
Renewable Heat Incentive
Dr Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what percentage of renewable energy generation he has informed the EU will be provided by the implementation of the Renewable Heat Incentive under the terms of Article 4 of the Renewable Energy Directive 2009. [10627]
Gregory Barker: The Government are committed to increasing the amount of renewable heat in the UK; this is a crucial part of ensuring we meet our renewables targets, cutting carbon and ensuring energy security. The UK National Renewable Energy Action Plan contained projections for renewable energy based on the lead scenario for meeting the 2020 target. If markets and technologies develop along the lines of this scenario then we would expect the share of heat generation from renewable sources to increase to around 12% by 2020. The Renewable Heat Incentive proposals, which were published for consultation under the previous administration earlier this year, were aimed at achieving this increase.
We are still looking at the renewable heat incentive (RHI) proposals, including the impact of the costs, particularly given the financial constraints we must work within and the potential impact that funding options could have on vulnerable people. We want to provide certainty and clarity as quickly as possible, but must make sure that we make the right decision. We will look to make an announcement on the future of the proposed scheme as soon as possible.
David Mowat: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he expects to announce his decision on the Renewable Heat Incentive; and if he will make a statement. [10855]
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 19 July 2010, Official Report, column 78W, on renewable energy: feed-in tariffs, when he expects to make an announcement on the Renewable Heat Incentive; and if he will make a statement. [10976]
Gregory Barker: I refer my hon. Friends to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Sevenoaks (Michael Fallon) on 15 June 2010, Official Report, columns 367-68W.
Wales
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will make an assessment of the likely effects on Wales of his Department's planned spending reductions. [8989]
Gregory Barker: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 29 June 2010, Official Report, column 496W. Since then, the Department has decided how savings will be made on its national Environmental Transformation Fund and Low Carbon Investment Funding. This will not result in the loss of programmes that were targeted specifically at Wales.
Wind Power
Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will bring forward proposals to end the Renewables Obligation scheme for onshore wind. [11242]
Charles Hendry: We are committed to the full establishment of feed-in tariff systems in electricity-as well as the maintenance of banded ROCs. We will make any changes to the support mechanism for renewables in the context of the wider work on electricity market reform, and in a way that preserves investor confidence.
Windows: Energy
Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans his Department has to increase the number of households installing energy efficient windows. [10321]
Gregory Barker: Issues relating to the glazing industry are a matter primarily for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills. In some circumstances, glazing is an eligible measure under the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target and the Community Energy Saving Programme, which runs until the end of 2012. These are currently the principle schemes for delivering household energy efficiency in Great Britain.
The Government are currently developing the Green Deal programme, which will allow people to install certain energy efficiency measures in their homes with no up-front costs, which can be paid for through their energy bill savings. We will be setting out the measures that qualify for the Green Deal in secondary legislation once the forthcoming Energy Bill has received Assent.
Work and Pensions
Access to Work
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his plans are for future levels of funding for the Access to Work programme. [10643]
Chris Grayling:
Access to Work provides financial help towards the extra costs faced by people with a disability in work, where this goes beyond what would
be reasonable for an employer to meet. Access to Work supported 32,120 disabled people during 2008-09. Official Statistics for 2009-10 will be published on 27 July.
The Government are reviewing current welfare to work programmes, including Access to Work, to ensure disabled people are given the right support to get a job and remain in employment. We are committed to ensuring disabled people are given the right support they need to get a job and remain in employment.
The coalition agreement announced
'We will reform Access to Work, so disabled people can apply for jobs with funding already secured for any adaptations and equipment they will need'
We are developing plans for delivering this commitment and further details will be announced in due course.
Allied Steel and Wire: Pensions
Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he has taken in respect of the pensions of former employees of Allied Steel and Wire. [10765]
Steve Webb: Allied Steel and Wire (ASW) Cardiff qualified for the Financial Assistance Scheme on 24 October 2005 and ASW Sheerness qualified for the FAS on 26 October 2005.
I met campaigners including Community, Unite, GMB and a member of the ASW scheme on 14 July to discuss the Financial Assistance Scheme.
Child Tax Credit: Aberdeenshire
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many families resident in Banff and Buchan constituency will be affected by changes to child tax credit due to come into effect in April 2011; and what estimate he has made of the likely average change in the level of child tax credit. [10540]
Mr Gauke: I have been asked to reply.
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 28 June 2010, Official Report, column 461W.
Information on the average change in child tax credit within each constituency is available only at disproportionate cost.
Council Tax Benefit
Miss Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) when his Department plans to rename council tax benefit as council tax rebate; [4540]
(2) what progress his Department has made towards renaming council tax benefit as council tax rebate. [4541]
Steve Webb: We cannot commit to a timetable for implementation until we have fully assessed the precise costs and impact of this change. We are engaging with local authorities and their IT suppliers in work to establish the particular delivery implications and associated costs for local authorities. Similar work is being carried out within Jobcentre Plus and the Pension, Disability and Carers Service where there are major implications for IT systems which link to local authorities' systems and play a crucial role in supporting benefit claims.
Credit Unions
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has for the future funding of credit unions; and if he will make a statement. [10436]
Steve Webb: Existing arrangements for funding credit unions through the Department for Work and Pensions are due to end on 31 March 2011. No firm plans beyond that date have been agreed.
Departmental Buildings
Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much (a) his Department and its predecessors and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on office refurbishment in each year since 1997. [7356]
Chris Grayling: In 1998 the Department entered into a 20 year PFI contract for the provision of fully serviced accommodation for the Department for which the Department pays an all inclusive unitary charge. Refurbishment is one of the services provided but the cost of it cannot be disaggregated from the unitary charge.
Some refurbishments are not covered by the unitary charge and are funded separately as capital expenditure, which would include major projects, and the fit out of new buildings. Expenditure increased from 2002 when the Department embarked on a major programme funded by the Treasury to improve the services delivered to the public, including those provided by Jobcentre Plus, the Pension, Disability and Carers Service and Debt Management Services. Expenditure increased in 2009-10 because of the Department's response to the economic downturn. The Department and its predecessors' expenditure on these major refurbishment projects is set out in the following table. To separate the costs prior to 2008-09 could be achieved only at a disproportionate cost.
| £ million | |
| £ million | ||||
| Corporate | Pension, Disability and Carers Service | Jobcentre Plus | Total | |
Refurbishment costs for NDPBs not covered by the PFI contract are as follows:
| £ | |||||||
| Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission | Health and Safety Executive | Independent Living Fund | Pension Protection Fund | Personal Accounts Delivery Authority | The Pensions Advisory Service | The Pensions Regulator | |
| Pensions Ombudsman | Pension Protection Fund Ombudsman | Disability Employment Advisory Committee | Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board | Equality 2025 | Industrial Injuries Advisory Council | Social Security Advisory Committee | |
NDPBs operate individual arrangements and the above figures are for NDPBs excluding the Pensions Protection Fund (PPF). I will let the hon. Member have information on refurbishment spend for PPF for the following: Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, Independent Living Fund, Pension Protection Fund, Personal Accounts Delivery Authority, The Pensions Advisory Service, The Pensions Regulator, Pensions Ombudsman, Pension Protection Fund Ombudsman, Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board, Disability Employment Advisory Committee, Equality 2025, Industrial Injuries Advisory Council and Social Security Advisory Committee as soon as possible.
Departmental Televisions
Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much (a) his Department and its predecessors and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on televisions in each year since 1997. [7506]
Chris Grayling: The Department's spend (including agencies) on televisions is provided in the following table. Cost information prior to 2006-07 and separating the data between the Department and its agencies could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
| Spend (£) | |
Spend on televisions by the Department's NDPBs is as follows:
| £ | ||||
| Independent Living Fund | Personal Accounts Delivery Authority | The Pensions Advisory Service | The Pensions Regulator | |
Available information for the Pensions Protection Fund will be provided as soon as possible. NDPBs not listed have either not incurred any expenditure or the information is not available.
Departmental ICT
Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much (a) his Department and its predecessors and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on information and communication technology in each year since 1997. [7337]
Chris Grayling: Table 1 summarises information and communication technology expenditure with external suppliers. Information prior to 2005-06 for the Department, its predecessors and agencies, and prior to 2002-03 for the Health and Safety Executive, can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
| Table 1 | ||||||||
| £ million | ||||||||
| 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | |
| (1) CSA ceased to operate in 2008-09. (2) CMEC began operations in 2008-09. (3) Reported expenditure for the Health and Safety Executive excludes telephony. Abbreviations: DWP-Department for Work and Pensions JCP-Jobcentre Plus (Agency) PDCS-Pension, Disability and Carers Service (Agency) CSA-Child Support Agency (Agency) CMEC-Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission (Crown Non Departmental Body) Notes: 1. Figures for 2009-10 are provisional. 2. The 2009-10 accounts are based on International Financial Reporting Standards. Prior years were prepared on a UK GAAP basis. | ||||||||
Table 2 summarises Non Departmental Public Bodies information and communication technology expenditure with external suppliers. Information prior to 2005-06 can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The following bodies were sponsored by the Department and its predecessors during the period for which information is requested. These bodies have either been closed or replaced by a successor body as shown:
Pensions Compensation Board was replaced by the Pension Protection Fund in April 2005;
Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority ceased on 5 April 2005, its work is now done by The Pensions Regulator;
The Appeals Service moved to the Department of Constitutional Affairs (now the Ministry of Justice) on 1 April 2006;
Disability Rights Commissioner was subsumed into the Commission for Equality and Human Rights in September 2007;
National Employment Panel ceased on 31 March 2008. Its functions have been incorporated into the UK Commission for Employment and Skills from 1 April 2008;
Working Ventures UK closed down on 30 September 2009.
Departmental Internet
Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much (a) his Department and its predecessors and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on website design in each year since 1997. [7607]
Chris Grayling: Since 1997 the following has been spent on website design:
| Website | Cost (£000) | |
The Department's corporate website was redesigned during 2008-09 and 2009-10 as part of a decision that customer-facing content should move to Directgov and employer-facing content to Business Link. The cost shown represents the external design cost for the redesigned website. The Department's own in-house digital media team also worked on the redesign but it is not possible to extract and quantify costs as most staff work across more than one role and website.
| Website | Cost (£000) | |
During 2007-08 the Office for Disability Issues ran a project to redesign its website as part of improvement work using customer feedback and research. The cost shown represents the cost of external design work.
Website design costs are not available for previous years for the Department or its predecessors. We are working with Cabinet Office to implement a standardised method for quantifying website costs across the Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies in response to recommendations from the Public Accounts Committee. These costs will be available from April 2011 onwards.
Departmental Lighting
Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much (a) his Department and its predecessors and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on light bulbs in each year since 1997. [7626]
Chris Grayling: In 1998 the Department entered into a 20 year PFI contract for the provision of fully serviced accommodation for which the Department pays an all inclusive unitary charge. Building maintenance is one of the services provided and the provision of light bulbs is included within this. The cost of light bulbs cannot be disaggregated from the unitary charge.
For those non-departmental public bodies not covered by the PFI contract, specific information on the spend on light bulbs is not available.
Departmental Marketing
Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his (a) Department and its predecessors and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on logo design in each year since 1997. [7482]
Chris Grayling: Under the previous Administration, the Department and its agencies spent £2,970 plus VAT in 2009-10 on logo design. Further information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Official Hospitality
Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much (a) his Department and its predecessors and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on hospitality in each year since 1997. [7444]
Chris Grayling:
The Department for Work and Pensions was formed in June 2001 from the Department of Social Security (DSS), the Employment Service (ES)
and some parts of the Department for Education and Employment (DFEE) and no information is available before that time.
All expenditure on hospitality is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on principles set out in Managing Public Money and the Treasury Handbook on Regularity and Propriety.
The information requested is shown in the following table:
| Total (£) | |
Departmental Pay
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was paid in remuneration in total to civil servants in his Department in 2009-10. [10001]
Chris Grayling: The overall remuneration for civil servants working within the Department is published as an annex in the Resource Accounts. The Resource Accounts for 2009-10 are not due to be laid before Parliament until 26 July 2010. Until the report has been agreed the figures contained may still be subject to change therefore I am unable to provide validated figures at this time.
A copy of the Resource Accounts will be placed in the Library on publication.
Departmental Security
Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much (a) his Department and its predecessors (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on security in each year since 1997. [7374]
Chris Grayling: In 1998 the Department entered into a 20 year PFI contract for the provision of fully serviced accommodation for which the Department pays an all inclusive unitary charge. Security is one of the services provided but the cost of it cannot be disaggregated from the unitary charge.
In addition customer care officers are employed at many Jobcentre Plus offices and one element of their role is security related. The cost of the security element cannot be disaggregated from the overall cost.
Security costs for NDPBs not covered by the PFI contract are as follows:
| £ | |||||||
| Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission | Health and Safety Executive | Independent Living Fund | Pension Protection Fund | Personal Accounts Delivery Authority | The Pensions Advisory Service | The Pensions Regulator | |
In relation to security of data, the information requested is not collated centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Stationery
Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much (a) his Department and its predecessors and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on stationery in each year since 1997. [7463]
Chris Grayling: The Department including the Child Maintenance Enforcement Commission has spent the following on stationery (i.e. desk top items, computer consumables and cut sheet paper):
May 2008 - March 2009 = £14,139,461
April 2009 - March 2010 = £16,505,496
April 2010 - June 2010 = £3,080,678
Prior to May 2008 spend was through a variety of commercial contracts and details can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
The following table details stationery spend for non departmental public bodies and arms length bodies associated with DWP:
| £ | |||||||
| Body | 1997-2004 | 2004- 05 | 200 - 06 | 200 - 07 | 2007 - 08 | 2008 - 09 | 2009 - 10 |
The following bodies were sponsored by the Department and its predecessors during the period for which information is requested. These bodies have either been closed or replaced by a successor body as shown:
Pensions Compensation Board was replaced by the Pension Protection Fund in April 2005;
Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority ceased on 5 April 2005, its work is now done by The Pensions Regulator;
The Appeals Service moved to the Department of Constitutional Affairs (now the Ministry of Justice) on 1 April 2006;
Disability Rights Commissioner was subsumed into the Commission for Equality and Human Rights in September 2007;
National Employment Panel ceased on 31 March 2008. Its functions have been incorporated into the UK Commission for Employment and Skills from 1 April 2008;
Working Ventures UK closed down on 30 September 2009.
NDPBs operate individual arrangements and I will let the hon. Member have information in relation to spend on stationery for the Pension Protection Fund as soon as possible.
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