Written Answers to Questions
Tuesday 30 November 2010
Northern Ireland
EU Law
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many EU directives are pending transposition into domestic legislation by his Department; and what estimate he has made of the cost of each such transposition. [27505]
Football: World Cup 2010
Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department spent on entertainment activities related to the 2010 FIFA World Cup. [27359]
Mr Paterson: The Department did not incur any expenditure on entertainment related to the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Weapons
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he has taken to ensure the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning publishes an inventory of the weapons decommissioned by (a) loyalist and (b) republican paramilitary organisations in Northern Ireland. [25735]
Mr Paterson: The Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD), at the joint request of the British and Irish Governments, is preparing a final report on its work to decommission arms which it will present to the two Governments when completed. I intend to make the report available to Parliament when it is received, following normal consultation with my Irish counterpart in respect of reports addressed to both Governments.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the IICD for its hard work and patience over the years, which has undoubtedly helped to forge the path towards normalisation in Northern Ireland today.
Communities and Local Government
Affordable Housing: Construction
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the effects of the proposed increase in social housing rents to 80 per cent. of markets levels on construction of (a) social and (b) affordable housing in each region; and if he will make a statement. [27096]
Grant Shapps: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, my hon. Friend the Member for Hazel Grove (Andrew Stunell) on 29 November 2010, Official Report, columns 470-71W.
Audit Commission: Directors
Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for what reasons the Director of Communications of the Audit Commission left his role. [27680]
Robert Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to the hon. Member direct.
Letter from Eugene Sullivan, dated 30 November 2010:
Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply.
The former Director of Communications and Public Reporting left his post on the grounds of redundancy.
Audit Commission: Hotels
Mr Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on how many occasions five-star hotels have been booked by the Audit Commission through the Expotel hotel reservations service in the last 12 months; which hotels were booked; and at what cost to the public purse. [27191]
Robert Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to the hon. Member direct.
Letter from Eugene Sullivan, dated 30 November 2010:
Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply.
In the last 12 months, the Audit Commission has booked two five-star hotels through Expotel that, at that time, offered the best value for money:
Waldorf Hilton, London
We booked 12 nights of accommodation for staff attending conferences during the period December 2009 to January 2010 at a total cost of £1,800.00. We paid an average rate of £150 per night, less than the Commission's ceiling rate at the time for a London hotel of £160 per night. The Commission reduced the ceiling rate for a hotel in London to £120 in July 2010.
Radisson Edwardian, Manchester
We booked 11 nights of accommodation for staff attending conferences during the period November 2009 to March 2010 at a total cost of £1,221.52. We paid an average rate of £111.05 per night, less than the Commission's ceiling rate at the time for a hotel outside London of £115. The Commission reduced the ceiling rate for hotels outside London to £90 in July 2010.
The Commission has not made any bookings for five-star hotels since April 2010.
Audit Commission: Official Hospitality
Mr Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much the Audit Commission has spent on hospitality since the announcement of its abolition. [27190]
Robert Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to the hon. Member direct.
Letter from Eugene Sullivan, dated 30 November 2010:
Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply.
The Audit Commission has spent £5,063 providing hospitality on three occasions since the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government made his abolition announcement on 13 August 2010.
In October 2010 the Commission hosted the seventh Eurorai triennial congress and spent £5,000 contributing to the cost of a dinner for 170 delegates. We have already disclosed this item in our monthly publication of all payments over £500.
Eurorai is an organisation representing over 70 bodies involved in public audit in Europe. A congress is held every three years and the Region of the President elect is the host for this event. In 2007, we agreed that we would act as the host and plans have been underway to organise the congress for the last three years. Following the Secretary of State's announcement on 13 August of the Audit Commission's abolition, we considered our position and, after discussion with CLG officials, we agreed to go ahead with the congress and fulfil our commitment.
Also in October 2010, the Commission provided hospitality to:
six Polish visitors on an international academic visit - a full day visit where a sandwich lunch was provided at a total cost of £33.00; and
six visitors from the Houses of Parliament Spire Project team - an all day workshop where a sandwich lunch was provided at a total cost of £30.00.
Community Cohesion Fund
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities have received grants from the Community Cohesion Fund; how much each has received; and what information his Department holds on the use to which each grant has been put. [27110]
Robert Neill: A table providing information on the 126 local authorities who received grant funding from the Community Cohesion Fund in 2010-11 has been placed in the Library of the House.
As this is area-based grant funding, the monies are non ring-fenced and it is for local authorities and their communities to identify their local priorities and fund these accordingly. The Department does not monitor how local authorities use their funding.
Council Tax: Lancashire
Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the annual change was in the level of council tax precepts for (a) Hyndburn Council and (b) Rossendale Council in each year since 1999. [27010]
Robert Neill: It is assumed that the hon. Member means council tax levels rather than council tax precepts.
Details of both the annual change and the percentage change in council tax levels for Hyndburn and Rossendale councils in each year since 1999 are shown in the following tables. These data can also be found on DCLG's website:
| Hyndburn council | ||||
| Band D council tax (including parish precepts) | Band D area council tax (includes parish precepts) | |||
| £ | Percentage change | £ | Percentage change | |
| Rossendale council | ||||
| Band D council tax(including parish precepts) | Band D area council tax (includes parish precepts) | |||
| £ | Percentage change | £ | Percentage change | |
Departmental Postal Services
Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what services provided by his Department and its predecessors were the subject of a contract with Post Office Ltd in 1997-98 and have subsequently become the subject of a contract with another supplier; and what the monetary value was of each such contract in (a) 1997-98 and (b) the latest period for which figures are available in each case. [24908]
Robert Neill: The Department no longer holds records of any contracts that may have been held with Post Office Ltd in 1997-98.
Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which services of his Department and its predecessors have been the subject of a contract awarded in a tender process in which Post Office Ltd submitted a bid since 1997-98. [24909]
Robert Neill: The information requested is not held centrally and could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.
Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department has taken to identify those of its services that could be provided through the Post Office network. [24910]
Robert Neill: The Department has worked alongside the Cabinet Office to identify opportunities where the Post Office will be able to compete for future Government services but has not matched any of its requirements to services provided by the Post Office network.
The Government policy statement 'Securing the Post Office Network in the Digital Age' published on 9 November 2010 provides information on the Government's policy for the Post Office and the provision of Government services.
The Department has had several meetings with Post Office Ltd during the course of the last year to discuss the services they offer that could be of use to councils, and have put them in contact with the Local Government Association to take forward promotion of those opportunities.
We are supportive of schemes by local authorities to provide support for Post Offices, such as the Essex County Council Post Office Initiative.
Departmental Sponsorship
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what expenditure (a) his Department and (b) its non-departmental public bodies incurred on sponsorship in each year since 1997 for which figures are available. [27511]
Robert Neill: The Department does not maintain central records of expenditure incurred on sponsorship. I also refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Burton (Andrew Griffiths) on 12 July 2010, Official Report, column 493W, on a sponsorship contract initiated by the last Government.
In the financial year 2009-10, the Department's Communication Directorate spent £70,654.90 as a sponsor of the British Darts Organisation and £4,850 as a sponsor of Bowls England, in return for marketing opportunities promoting the Department's Fire Kills fire safety campaign.
Fires Services: Grants
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what percentage of the overall income of each fire service in 2009-10 came from central Government grants. [27618]
Robert Neill: The proportion of the total income for each single purpose Fire and Rescue Authority in England in 2009-10 which came from central Government grants is as follows.
| Central Government grants as a percentage of total income | |
| Source: Department for Communities and Local Government revenue outturn (RO) and capital outturn (CO) returns | |
The figures for other local authorities providing a fire service cannot be calculated as the formula grant is an unhypothecated grant.
The definition of central Government grant used here is the sum of formula grant (revenue support grant and redistributed non-domestic rates), specific grants inside Aggregate External Finance (AEF) (i.e. revenue grants paid for council's core services), specific and special revenue grants outside AEF (i.e. where funding is not for authorities' core services, but is passed to a third party, for example, rent allowances and rebates), Area Based Grant and expenditure financed by capital grants from central Government.
The definition of total income used here is the sum of central Government grants, council tax requirement, investment income-external receipts and dividends-sales, fees and charges, and in-year capital receipts. It excludes income reported by local authorities under 'other income' in revenue outturn returns as this includes internal recharges, which distorts the comparative figures.
Comparison across years may not be valid owing to changing local authority responsibilities.
The dependency of local authorities on Government grant will be taken into account in the forthcoming Local Government Finance Settlement.
Housing
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he plans to make changes to the definition of a local connection in respect of assessments for local authority housing or support. [26655]
Andrew Stunell: There are no current plans to change the provisions on local connection in section 199 of the Housing Act 1996 (which apply for the purposes of housing applications made under parts 6 and 7 of the 1996 Act).
Housing: Combined Heat and Power
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether micro-combined heat and power schemes fuelled by liquid petroleum gas are eligible to contribute to performance towards attaining sustainable home status. [26998]
Andrew Stunell: Yes. Micro-combined heat and power (micro-CHP) is a recognised technology under Standard Assessment Procedure for Energy Rating of Dwellings (SAP) and the Code for Sustainable Homes (the Code.). When micro-CHP schemes are fuelled by liquid petroleum gas, they contribute to performance towards attaining sustainability in a home. SAP 2009 includes generic emissions factors for different variants of liquid petroleum gas. Appendix N of SAP considers micro-CHP as an alternative to a conventional domestic boiler. Micro-CHP can contribute to meeting the Code standards, specifically under "Ene 1: Dwelling Emission rate and Ene 7: Low and Zero Carbon Technologies".
Housing: Construction
Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the likely effects of his proposal to offset numbers of demolitions against the number of new build homes planned on (a) areas with high numbers of empty properties, (b) areas in respect of which local authorities have proposed demolition programmes and (c) incentives to (i) undertake regeneration projects and (ii) demolish buildings; and if he will make a statement. [26190]
Andrew Stunell: The aim of the New Homes Bonus is to provide a powerful, simple, transparent and permanent means of incentivising local authorities to increase their housing supply. The consultation stage impact assessment makes an estimate of the potential supply impact, based on a number of possible behavioural responses of local authorities. This can be viewed in the current consultation available on the Department for Communities and Local Government Website at:
Almost £1 billion will be set aside for the New Homes Bonus over the spending review period, including nearly £200 million in year one, and we have made it clear that funding beyond these levels will come from formula grant which will match fund the additional council tax raised for new homes and properties brought back into use, for the following six years, with an additional amount for affordable homes.
Under the consultation proposals we are also incentivising local authorities to bring empty homes back into use, by removing them from the council tax base calculations. This also means the authorities demolishing homes classified as empty homes would not be penalised.
The Government are giving communities and neighbourhoods new rights, powers and tools that they could use to drive forward local regeneration and growth, enhancing their ability to benefit from the New Homes Bonus. We are giving local communities and councils greater control over what happens locally, and greater ability to secure and channel public resources, and to attract private and social investment. In addition, the recently established Regional Growth Fund (£1.4 billion over three years), the European Regional Development Fund, and the continuation of Regional Development Agencies and the Homes and Community Agency committed schemes will support local regeneration and growth.
Dr Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many housing completions there were in the Southampton unitary authority area in each of the last five years. [27199]
Grant Shapps: The following table shows the number of new build dwellings completed in each financial year from 2005-06 to 2009-10 for Southampton unitary authority.
| Dwellings completed | ||||
| Number | ||||
| Completions | Private enterprise | Registered social landlords | Local authority | All |
| Note: Estimates for registered social landlords, local authority, and therefore total new build dwellings are not available for 2005-06 and 2007-08 because of incomplete data. Source: National House-Building Council and returns from Southampton unitary authority. | ||||
Housing: Empty Property
Stephen Mosley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many empty homes there are in (a) City of Chester constituency and (b) the North West; and how many such homes have been empty for six months or more in each of those areas. [27639]
Robert Neill: Data are not available at constituency level. Relevant billing authorities have reported that the total number of empty dwellings and the number of dwellings that have been empty for six months or more and are substantially unfurnished in Cheshire East, and in Cheshire West and Chester, are as shown in the following table. The data are a snap shot taken as at 4 October 2010.
| Total empty homes | Long term empty | |
Aggregation of equivalent data from all billing authorities in North West statistical region indicates that the total number of empty dwellings and the number of dwellings that have been empty for six months or more are as follows:
| North West statistical region | |
The data are taken from the council tax base (CTB) and CTB (Supplementary) forms completed annually in October by all billing authorities in England and returned to the Department for Communities and Local Government.
Housing: Insulation
Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many homes in the (a) private rented, (b) social and (c) owner-occupied sector in (i) England, (ii) Hyndburn and (iii) Haslingden (A) are unfit for habitation and (B) do not meet his Department's minimum guidelines on insulation. [26186]
Andrew Stunell: Following the repeal of the Fitness Standard under the Housing Act 2004, the Department for Communities and Local Government no longer makes, or requires from local authorities, an assessment of the number of homes unfit for habitation. The Housing Health and Safety Rating System introduced a new approach to the evaluation of potential risks to health and safety from any deficiencies identified in dwellings. It was introduced in the Housing Act 2004, and came into force on 6 April 2006, replacing the "fitness standard" as the statutory minimum standard for housing and as one component of the decent homes measurement.
The Department does not set out minimum guidelines on insulation for existing housing.
The English Housing Survey provides a national-only estimate of the number of dwellings that do not meet the insulation requirements of the thermal comfort criterion of the Decent Homes Standard. These requirements are set out in the Guidance for the Decent Homes Standard, available at:
Estimates for the number of dwellings that do not meet the insulation requirements of the thermal comfort criterion of the Decent Homes Standard in 2008 (the most recent estimates available) are set out in the following table:
| Number and percentage of homes not meeting the insulation requirements of the thermal comfort criterion of the Decent Homes standard, 2008 | ||
| Number ( T housand) | Percentage of the tenure | |
| Source: English Housing Survey, 2008. | ||
The Department does not hold this information for Hyndburn or Haslingden.
Local Government Finance
Mr Spencer: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will assess the merits of bringing forward proposals to enable larger parish councils to retain their business rate income. [27109]
Robert Neill: We currently have no plans to allow parish councils to retain business rates income. However, the Government are committed to providing incentives for local authorities to promote economic growth through the business rates system. Proposals to enable councils to retain locally raised business rates will be taken forward through the Local Government Resource Review, which starts in January.
Local Government: Voluntary Organisations
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department is taking to ensure that local authority plans to deliver savings do not disproportionately affect the voluntary sector. [27303]
Andrew Stunell: Spending decisions are, and will continue to be, a matter for local authorities. We have a rich diversity of voluntary organisations, charities, faith groups, co-operatives, social enterprises and local housing trusts-all of whom already make a huge contribution to local life. The big society means using their potential and involving them even more in delivering what people want. I do not expect local authorities to respond by passing on disproportionate cuts to other service providers, especially the voluntary sector.
I also draw the attention of the hon. Member to my Department's press release of 14 October 2010 on the valuable role of the voluntary sector, a copy of which I have placed in the Library of the House.
Redundancy: Audit Commission
Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether any (a) redundancy, (b) settlement and (c) termination payments were made to the Director of Communications of the Audit Commission. [27679]
Robert Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to the hon. Member direct.
Letter from Eugene Sullivan, dated 30 November 2010:
Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply.
The former Director of Communications and Public Reporting left his post on the grounds of redundancy. He received a redundancy payment as provided for in his contract of employment. He was also given a payment in lieu of notice.
Right to Acquire Scheme
Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many right to acquire purchases from housing associations have been facilitated (a) in total and (b) with Sharia-compliant financing since January 2005; what the monetary value of such purchases was in each such year; and if he will make a statement. [26523]
Andrew Stunell: Between 2005-06 and 2009-10, a total of 1,850 sales took place under the right to acquire scheme with an estimated average market value of £94,000 per property acquired. Information by individual year is provided in the following table. Note the information for average market values is based on larger Registered Social Landlords only. None of the sales was made with Sharia-compliant finance.
| Right-to-Acquire social housing sales in England | ||
| Number | Average market value (£) | |
| Note: Numbers rounded to nearest 10 homes and market values to £ thousand. Source: Homes and Communities Agency (numbers) and Tenant Services Authority (market value). | ||
Social Rented Housing
Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent estimate his Department has made of the number of families eligible for social housing that require properties with (a) four, (b) three and (c) two bedrooms who are awaiting the allocation of such a property in each borough in London. [26470]
Andrew Stunell: Information is available on numbers of households rather than families. Social housing waiting lists are maintained by local authorities and are open to anyone to join. The number of households registered on social housing waiting lists, along with the number of households requiring one, two, three, more than three, or an unspecified number of bedrooms, as at 1 April each year, is collected from local authorities in England in section C on the annual Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix (HSSA). The latest information for each local authority as at 1 April 2009 is available on the DCLG website:
Where local authorities and registered social landlords operate a common register, households registered with the social landlords will be included in the data. However, registered social landlords are independent bodies and can keep their own waiting lists.
Information relating to 1 April 2010 will be published on the DCLG website today.
Social Rented Housing: Lambeth
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) pursuant to the answer of 8 June 2010, Official Report, column 136W, on social rented housing: Lambeth, what plans he has for capital allocations under the Decent Homes programme for (a) Lambeth Living and (b) United Residents Housing arm's length management organisations in (i) 2011-12 and (ii) 2012-13; and when he expects to announce allocations to all arm's length management organisations for those years; [26273]
(2) pursuant to the answer of 12 July 2010, Official Report, column 499W, on social rented housing: Lambeth, what eligibility criteria will apply to proposals for Decent Homes programme funding for arm's length management organisations following the outcomes of the comprehensive spending review; [26274]
(3) whether he plans to bring forward proposals to provide Decent Homes funding directly to local authorities rather than to an arms length management organisation. [26696]
Andrew Stunell: On 11 November 2010, Official Report, columns 21-22WS, the Minister for Housing and Local Government, my right hon. Friend the Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Grant Shapps) announced that all councils, including those with arm's length management organisations, that have a significant backlog of decent homes work will be eligible for funding from a new single Decent Homes funding stream.
The funding settlement for the Decent Homes programme over the spending review period had to be set at a level below expectations in order to reduce the massive deficit left by the last Government. A fresh approach to determining need and allocation is therefore needed.
The Homes and Communities Agency are currently consulting on proposals for the process and criteria for allocating Decent Homes capital funding. This includes a timetable for authorities to make bids following which the Homes and Community Agency hope to make allocations in January or early February. A copy of the proposal document has been placed in the Library of the House.
Travellers: Caravan Sites
Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when his Department expects to bring forward amendments to planning circular ODPM 01/2006 on Gypsy and Traveller sites. [27156]
Mr Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he plans to implement his proposals to replace draft circular 01/2006 on Gypsy and Traveller sites. [27312]
Robert Neill: I refer my hon. Friends to the answer given by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, my right hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr Pickles) to my hon. Friend the Member for Lancaster and Fleetwood (Eric Ollerenshaw) on 25 November 2010, Official Report, column 430.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Departmental Air Travel
Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with which airlines his Department has contracts. [27104]
Alistair Burt:
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not have contracts with airlines. Flights are booked through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's travel service provider, Hogg Robinson Group, using
the fare rates of the Government Air Programme (a framework agreement owned by Buying Solutions) and Hogg Robinson Group.
Departmental Contracts
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 27 July 2010, Official Report, column 965W, on departmental contracts, whether he has made an estimate of the monetary value of the contracts between his Department and private sector companies which will be terminated early under his Department's planned spending reductions following the outcomes of the comprehensive spending review. [27677]
Alistair Burt: There are at present no plans to terminate contracts between the Department and private sector companies following the outcome of the comprehensive spending review.
Developing Countries: Departmental Coordination
Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what priority locations he has identified for co-location of posts of his Department and of the Department for International Development. [25608]
Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development (DFID) are strongly committed to identifying opportunities for co-location which make operational sense and can save taxpayers' money.
Specific opportunities for co-location agreed between the two Departments include:
Ghana: DFID will move into the high commission visa building in Accra in early 2011;
Barbados: plans are in place for DFID to move into the high commission offices in Bridgetown by autumn 2011;
India: DFID are considering co-location following a refit of the high commission offices in New Delhi;
Jerusalem: DFID are progressing a design to build on our compound adjacent to our consular offices.
We have already co-located staff in Juba and Montserrat.
EU Justice and Home Affairs
Mr Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what measures the UK has exercised an opt-in under EU legislative arrangements since May 2010; and what further such measures have been proposed in respect of which the possibility of a UK opt-in arises in that period. [27619]
Mr Lidington: Since May 2010, the UK has exercised its Title V (Justice and Home Affairs) opt-in in relation to six proposals:
The Council Decision on the signature and provisional application of the EU-Korea Free Trade Agreement;
The Council Decision to sign and conclude the EU-US agreement on the Terrorist Finance Tracking Programme;
The draft Directive to combat the sexual exploitation of children;
The Council Decision to conclude the EU-Georgia readmission agreement;
The draft Directive on the European Investigation Order;
The draft Directive on the Right to Information.
The UK has not opted in to a further five Title V measures during this period:
A Commission proposal on the right to interpretation and translation in criminal proceedings;
The draft Directive to combat human trafficking;
The Council Decision on a proposal to amend the EU-Swiss Agreement on the free movement of workers;
The draft Directive on seasonal workers;
The draft Directive on legal migration.
Further proposals adopted by the Commission on which opt-in decisions are also pending are:
The Council Decision on the negotiating mandate for the EU-Canada Passenger Name Records (PNR) Agreement;
The Council Decision on the negotiating mandate for the EU-Australia Passenger Name Records (PNR) Agreement;
The Council Decision on the negotiating mandate for the EU-US Passenger Name Records (PNR) Agreement;
The Council Decision to negotiate amendments to the agreement between the EU and the EEA;
The draft Directive on attacks on information systems (cybercrime); and
The proposal to amend the Eurodac regulation.
Human Rights: Guantanamo Bay
Mr Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State and US administration officials on the release of Shaker Aamer from Guantanamo Bay; and if he will make a statement. [27557]
Alistair Burt: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary reiterated the Government's request for the release and return to the UK of Shaker Aamer when he met the US Secretary of State in Washington on 17 November 2010. UK officials continue to discuss Mr Aamer's case with officials in the US but the outcome of these discussions is not certain. The decision on Mr Aamer's future lies solely with the US Government.
Iraq: Christianity
Mr MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he received on the killing of 43 people during a Catholic mass in Baghdad on 31 October 2010; and whether he has made recent representations to the Iraqi government on the treatment and protection of Christian minority groups in Iraq. [26370]
Alistair Burt: In addition to press reports, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office received frequent reports of the attack on Our Lady of Salvation Church from our embassy in Baghdad. In response, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised his concerns when he met with the Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari on 10 November 2010. Mr Zebari confirmed that the Iraqi Government will safeguard the rights and freedoms of all minorities in Iraq.
Our ambassador to Iraq met with the Iraqi Minister for Human Rights on 11 November 2010 and raised our concerns with her.
My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister also asked about the recent attacks on Christians in Iraq, and the wider security situation, in a phone call to Prime Minister
Nouri-al Maliki on 15 November 2010. Prime Minister Maliki expressed concern at recent developments and said that the Iraqi Government was doing everything possible to tackle the terrorist threat. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made clear the Iraqis had the UK's full support.
We will continue to press the Iraqi authorities to do all they can to bring to justice those who are responsible for this attack on innocent worshippers, and all Iraq's politicians and diverse communities to work together to tackle the threat of violent extremism.
Mr MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of the number of Christians killed in Iraq as a result of religious or ethnic violence in each Christian group in (a) 2008 and (b) 2009. [26372]
Alistair Burt: Unfortunately there are no reliable figures available on the number of Christians killed by ethnic violence in Iraq. However the UK is very concerned by the recent attacks against the Christian community in Iraq. We are doing everything we can to support the Iraqi Government in combating sectarian violence and providing adequate security for all groups.
Mr MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the killing of (a) Catholics and (b) other Christians by extremist Islamist groups in Iraq. [27389]
Alistair Burt: In addition to press reports, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has received a number of reports from our embassy in Baghdad on the recent attacks on Christians in the country. These reports do not generally distinguish between Catholics and other Christian groups.
We utterly condemn any attack against Iraqi citizens, including Christians. We were appalled at the attack on the Our Lady of Salvation Church in Baghdad on 31 October 2010, which killed over 50 people and further attacks on 10 November, which targeted mainly Christian areas across Baghdad, killing six and wounding over 30. We welcome the recent arrests of suspects of these attacks.
We will continue to press the Iraqi authorities to do all they can to bring to justice those who are responsible for this attack on innocent worshippers, and all Iraq's politicians and diverse communities to work together to tackle the threat of violent extremism.
Mrs Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on recent trends in the level of violence towards Christians in Iraq. [27635]
Alistair Burt: Recent reports, from both the press and our embassy in Baghdad, have shown an increase in violence towards Christians in Iraq. The attack on the Our Lady of Salvation Church in Baghdad on 31 October was the worst attack on the Christian minority in recent years. The attack was followed by further attacks on mainly Christian areas of Baghdad on 10 November.
We will continue to press the Iraqi authorities to do all they can to bring to justice those who are responsible for this attack on innocent worshippers, and all Iraq's politicians and diverse communities to work together to tackle the threat of violent extremism.
Lebanon: Foreign Relations
Paul Uppal: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the state of UK relations with Lebanon. [26646]
Alistair Burt: As demonstrated during the recent visit of Prime Minister Hariri, the UK is a firm friend of Lebanon. We welcome the period of peace and prosperity that Lebanon has enjoyed since 2008. We want to see this continue and support Lebanon's Government of National Unity which is working to maintain stability. We have recently confirmed further funding for the Special Tribunal on Lebanon. We call on all parties to allow the tribunal to complete its work in the interests of justice.
Uganda: Politics and Government
Jim McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Ugandan government on (a) freedom of (i) assembly and (ii) expression, (b) police management of public order and (c) treatment of the rural media in respect of political reporting during the forthcoming presidential election campaign. [26344]
Mr Jeremy Browne: Our high commission in Kampala has discussed issues relating to freedom of assembly and expression (including political reporting) and public order management with the Government of Uganda.
We have raised the Public Order Management Bill with the Ugandan Minister of Internal Affairs, the Minister of State for Internal Affairs and the Inspector-General of Police. Our high commission has discussed the draft Press and Journalist Bill with the Ugandan Minister for Information and National Guidance. In all cases we have encouraged the Ugandan authorities to ensure that any new legislation strikes an appropriate and legitimate balance between regulation and protection of the rights to freedom of expression and assembly.
Furthermore, the UK is working to support key institutions in Uganda, including the Electoral Commission, Government and opposition parties, and the police force, to help ensure elections that are as credible and peaceful as possible.
Transport
Cycling
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for the continuation of the (a) Bikeability, (b) Cycling Towns and Cities and (c) Finding New Solutions programmes previously funded by Cycling England. [20197]
Norman Baker:
The current Cycling England programme ends in March 2011, with some transitional activity likely to continue into 2011-12. As part of the Government's commitment to supporting sustainable travel, and to simplify funding for local authorities, I have announced the creation of a Local Sustainable Transport Fund
worth £560 million. This will challenge local transport authorities outside London to develop packages of measures that support economic growth and reduce carbon in their communities as well as tackling congestion, delivering cleaner environments, improved safety and increased levels of physical activity. A proportion of the fund will be allocated to provide continued funding for Bikeability. For the remainder of the funding, we will invite local authorities to develop packages of low cost, high value measures which best meet their local needs and effectively address local issues. Measures could include encouraging walking and cycling, such as those demonstrated in the Cycling Towns and Cities and the "Finding New Solutions" projects.
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what quantifiable targets he has to (a) increase cycle use and (b) reduce accident risk per kilometre travelled by cycle. [20203]
Norman Baker: While there are no quantitative national targets to increase cycle use, the coalition Government are committed to supporting sustainable travel initiatives, including the promotion of cycling. I anticipate cycling will be among the beneficiaries of the £560 million Local Sustainable Transport Fund I announced recently.
It is primarily for local authorities to take forward actions to increase cycle use and reduce accident risks, including consideration of segregation of cyclists from motor vehicles.
The UK already has some of the safest roads in the world, but the coalition is considering how to make them even safer. We will produce a new strategic framework for road safety that sets out the Government's vision for road safety, national measures, and how we will work with others to achieve this. We will be discussing this with stakeholders and intend to publish a strategy early next year.
Departmental Empty Property
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the estimated monetary value is of each vacant (a) building and (b) parcel of land owned by his Department in each region. [16244]
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport aims to hold only Core property (i.e. which is needed for the delivery of its business). All Non-Core property (unless it is held pending transport scheme use) will be disposed or re-allocated at the earliest opportunity in a way which is both consistent with official guidance and achieves value for money.
Information in respect of the vacant building and land held by the Department, covering both the Central Department and Executive Agencies, is provided in the following tables.
| (a) Building | ||
| Region | Number of sites | Value (£) |
| Note: Data includes dwellings | ||
| (b) Land | ||
| Region | Number of s ites | Value (£) |
| (1) Excludes valuation of a site due to be assessed this year. | ||
EU Light Commercial Vehicles Directive
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what his policy is on the European Commission's long-term efficiency target proposed in the draft EU Light Commercial Vehicles Directive; [23122]
(2) what his policy is on the inclusion of a long-term target for reductions in emissions in the European Commission's proposal for legislation to reduce levels of carbon dioxide emitted by light commercial vehicles. [23132]
Norman Baker: The UK Government strongly support the inclusion of an ambitious but realistic long-term target in the proposed EU new van CO2 regulation. The UK's opening negotiating position was 135g/km in 2022, as our analysis shows that this represents the best approach to deliver significant but cost-effective CO2 savings from vans. However, the UK Government understand that all other member states are negotiating for a 2020 target. Negotiations on this target are ongoing, but it will necessarily be less ambitious than a 2022 target.
Motor Vehicles: Carbon Emissions
Mr Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the potential for replacing petrol and diesel powered road vehicles with vehicles which have lower carbon dioxide emissions; and if he will make a statement. [25671]
Norman Baker: In 2008, the Department for Transport commissioned research to assess the scope of the transport sector to switch to electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. The report concluded that, on a whole-life basis and based on the UK's existing national grid mix, electric vehicles have the potential to offer emissions reductions in the order of 40% and that these benefits would improve with decarbonisation of the UK power mix.
The report also found that, among the organisations consulted, a consensus view of a trend toward the electrification of the automobile existed, although there remained an uncertainty as to timings, and proportions of technologies likely to be employed (which include electric, plug-in hybrid, hydrogen fuel cell and diesel electric hybrids). This view is consistent with the consensus industry view as set out in the New Automotive Innovation and Growth Team's 2009 'Independent Report on the Future of the Automotive Industry in the UK'.
Notwithstanding the uncertainties around market development, the research commissioned by the Department suggested that, under a mid-range scenario, by 2020 as many as 800,000 electric and plug-in hybrid cars could be on the road.
From January 2011, a number of manufacturers will be bringing electric vehicles capable of motorway speeds and ranges of up to 100 miles to the mass market and we therefore expect sales of electric, and shortly thereafter, plug-in hybrid vehicles, to increase. The industry-consensus view suggests that the introduction of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles to the general market could start to be seen from the latter part of this decade.
Shipping: Rescue Services
Mrs Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultation he proposes to undertake in relation to his intention to remove emergency towing vessels following the outcome of the comprehensive spending review; and if he will make a statement. [26455]
Mike Penning [holding answer 25 November 2010]: We have decided that the contract for emergency towing vessels at public expense will not be renewed when it expires in September 2011. Between now and next September, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency will discuss with the shipping and wider maritime industries, and with local interested parties, how commercial tug and salvage arrangements could operate to assist ships that get into difficulty in the future.
Attorney-General
Domestic Violence
9. Owen Smith: To ask the Attorney-General what recent discussions he has had with the Crown Prosecution Service on the prosecution of cases involving allegations of domestic violence. [27084]
The Attorney-General: None, but as I said in my reply to the oral question from the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne Central (Chi Onwurah), all areas of prosecution policy are kept constantly under review.
Prosecutions: Witnesses
Caroline Nokes: To ask the Attorney-General what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of Crown Prosecution Service expenditure in respect of criminal prosecutions where witnesses failed to attend in (a) England and (b) Hampshire in the latest period for which figures are available. [27385]
The Attorney-General: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is responsible for the prosecution of most criminal cases in England and Wales.
Although it will depend on the precise evidence a witness is due to give and the possibility of the evidence being received by the court through other means, the failure of a witness to attend court could create a situation where the prosecution cannot continue. If this occurs it is likely that the prosecution either has to offer no evidence (the case is dismissed) or, where a trial hearing is ineffective, it has to be adjourned to another day.
The CPS maintains a record of the primary reasons for unsuccessful outcomes. A summary of the record for 2009-10 where the primary reason was civilian witness non-attendance is shown in the following table:
| England and Wales 2009-10 | ||
| Subject | Volume | |
|
Total MAGS unsuccessful cases owing to witness non-attendance | ||
A summary of the records for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight for 2009-10 where the primary reason was civilian witness non-attendance is shown in the following table:
| Hampshire and Isle of Wight 2009-10 | ||
| Subject | Volume | |
|
Total MAGS unsuccessful cases owing to witness non-attendance | ||
In relation to ineffective trials, records are kept of the primary reason for a trial being ineffective. A summary of records for the crown court in England and Wales and Hampshire and the Isle of Wight for 2009-10, where the primary reason was '(civilian) witness absent', is shown in the following table:
| Crown Court ineffective trial data: 2009-10 | ||||
| CPS area | England and Wales | |||
| Hampshire and Isle of Wight | Percentage of all trials | England and Wales | Percentage of all trials | |
A summary of records for the magistrates courts in England and Wales and Hampshire and the Isle of Wight for 2009-10 where the primary reason for an ineffective trial was '(civilian) witness absent' is shown in the following table:
| Magistrates Courts ineffective trial data: 2009-10 | ||||
| Hampshire and Isle of Wight | Percentage of all trials | England and Wales | Percentage of all trials | |
Given the broad range of cases prosecuted by the CPS and the range of implications of witness non-attendance, it is not possible to provide an accurate overall cost to the CPS of witnesses failing to attend court. To fully extract the data would incur disproportionate cost.
Caroline Nokes: To ask the Attorney-General what proportion of cases in which the Crown Prosecution Service called witnesses from abroad resulted in convictions in the latest period for which figures are available. [27386]
The Attorney-General: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is responsible for the prosecution of criminal cases in the magistrates courts, the youth court and the crown courts in England and Wales.
The CPS does not keep a central record of the outcome of cases where a witness from abroad had been called to court to give evidence. More detailed enquiries would require staff to manually sift through all CPS records, which would incur a disproportionate cost.
Caroline Nokes: To ask the Attorney-General how much the Crown Prosecution Service has spent on calling witnesses from abroad in each of the last five years. [27387]
The Attorney-General: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is responsible for the prosecution of criminal cases in the magistrates courts, the youth court and the crown court in England and Wales.
The CPS accounting system records the value of expenses paid to witnesses for their attendance at courts in England and Wales. According to data extracted from the accounting system, CPS expenditure on foreign witness expenses for the last five years was:
| £ | |
Scotland
Colleges of Education
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met representatives of the Association of Scotland's Colleges; and what matters were discussed. [26910]
David Mundell: Scotland's colleges participated in a round-table discussion on employment and welfare reform hosted by the Secretary of State on 24 September. He expects to meet representatives of Scotland's colleges soon.
Convention of Scottish Local Authorities
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met representatives of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities; and what matters were discussed. [26913]
David Mundell: The Secretary of State most recently met representatives from COSLA at a round-table meeting he hosted on 24 September to discuss employment and welfare reform.
EU Law
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many EU directives are pending transposition into domestic legislation by his Department; and what estimate he has made of the cost of each such transposition. [27504]
David Mundell: There are none.
Grants
Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what grants have been awarded by his Department in 2010-11 to date; what grants he plans to award in each of the next two years; what the monetary value is of each such grant; and to which organisations such grants are made. [27670]
David Mundell: The Scotland Office has not awarded any grants other than the statutory transfer of the grant to the Scottish Consolidated Fund. There are no plans to award any other type of grant in either of the next two years.
Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much funding his Department has allocated in grants for (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11; and how much such funding he plans to allocate for 2011-12. [27671]
David Mundell: The Scotland Office does not award grants other than that granted to the Scottish Consolidated Fund. In 2009-10, £26,929,090,000 was granted to the Scottish Consolidated Fund. To date, £17,136,600,00 has been transferred to the Scottish Consolidated Fund in 2010-11.
Scotland Bill
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with departmental devolution champions on the likely provisions of the Scotland Bill. [26914]
Michael Moore: The Scotland Bill will deliver the coalition Government's commitment to implement the recommendations of the Commission on Scottish Devolution. I have worked closely with my ministerial colleagues across the UK Government while preparing the Scotland Bill. The devolution champions are a network of officials and my officials have engaged closely with their colleagues in other Departments.
Scottish Trades Union Congress
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met representatives of the Scottish Trades Union Congress; and what matters were discussed. [26911]
David Mundell: The Secretary of State has met representatives from the Scottish Trades Union Congress on several occasions in the past few months and discussed a range of matters important to Scotland.
Serving Scotland Better: Scotland
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland pursuant to the answer of 17 November 2010, Official Report, column 782W, on Serving Scotland Better: Scotland, which Scottish Government Ministers he has met to discuss the recommendations of the report of the Commission on Scottish Devolution; and on what date each such meeting took place. [26917]
Michael Moore: I have discussed the coalition Government's commitment to implement the recommendations of the Commission on Scottish Devolution regularly with the Minister for Culture and External Affairs in the Scottish Government and other Scottish Government Ministers.
Worship Grant Scheme
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has discussed with the Chancellor of the Exchequer the likely effects in Scotland of the end of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme. [27153]
Michael Moore: I have not had any recent discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme. However, the status of the scheme has been reviewed following the spending review and the scheme has been extended for a further four years.
Prime Minister
Afghanistan
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Prime Minister on what dates he has held meetings at Chequers at which Afghanistan was discussed; and who attended each such meeting. [26338]
The Prime Minister: I discussed the situation in Afghanistan during an introductory meeting with the Chiefs of Staff at Chequers on 15 May 2010. I also met President Karzai at Chequers that day.
As I set out during my appearance at the Liaison Committee I held a meeting on Afghanistan at Chequers on 1 June 2010. This was attended by members of the National Security Council and a range of external experts.
A list of membership of the National Security Council is on the Cabinet Office website:
In addition, the seminar was attended by the then Chief of the Defence Staff (Sir Jock Stirrup), Sir Peter Ricketts, Sir William Patey, Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles, Brigadier James Cowan, the right hon. Lord Ashdown, Lt General Sir Graeme Lamb, James Fergusson and my hon. Friends the Members for Gravesham (Mr Holloway) and for Penrith and The Border (Rory Stewart) and supporting officials.
Departmental Responsibilities: Urban Areas
Mr Nicholas Brown:
To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 15 November 2010, Official Report, column 565W, on departmental responsibilities: urban
areas, on what date he plans to make an announcement on Ministers with responsibility for cities in England. [27307]
The Prime Minister: I have nothing further to add to the answer I gave on 15 November 2010, Official Report, column 565W.
Enterprise Advisers
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to appoint an enterprise adviser. [27621]
The Prime Minister: The Government are committed to doing everything they can to help and promote enterprise by creating the conditions that enable UK businesses to be successful. On Monday 29 November my right hon. Friends the Chancellor of the Exchequer the Chancellor and the Business Secretary launched the Growth Review. This is a fundamental assessment of what each part of Government are doing to provide the conditions for private sector success and to address the barriers faced by industry.
Energy and Climate Change
Biofuels
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he intends to introduce sustainability criteria under the Renewables Obligation for the use of solid and gaseous biomass in the generation of renewable heat. [26999]
Charles Hendry: The Renewables Obligation (RO) is the UK's main support mechanism for large-scale renewable electricity generation. The RO also rewards heat through the CHP (combined heat and power) uplift. The CHP uplift gives eligible generators an additional 1/2 ROC in recognition of the efficiency and carbon savings generating both heat and electricity can offer.
We recently consulted on the introduction of sustainability criteria for the use of solid and gaseous biomass under the Renewables Obligation. The criteria set out in the consultation included a minimum greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions saving of 60% compared to fossil fuel, and general restrictions on the use of materials from land important on carbon or biodiversity grounds. We also proposed that the criteria would be applied to CHP as well as to co-firing or dedicated biomass power plants. The Government response to the consultation is due to be published shortly.
Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme
Dr Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what representations he has received on his proposed alterations to the financial incentives available to participants in the carbon reduction commitment energy efficiency scheme following the spending review 2010. [27197]
Gregory Barker:
The decision not to proceed with the previous Administration's policy of revenue recycling in the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme was announced on
20 October. The revenue will be used to support the public finances, including spending on the environment. Since October, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have discussed both this decision and the wider review to simplify the CRC with a range of stakeholders, including participants in the scheme. We published a consultation paper on 17 November proposing changes to the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme Order principally to delay the start of the second phase of the CRC in order to give time to review and simplify the scheme. We have received written representations from the retail, hospitality, telecoms, food and drink, metals and manufacturing sectors which will be given careful consideration as we look to consider how best to simplify the scheme, so that it can effectively deliver the energy efficiency improvements that are urgently needed.
Climate Change Act 2008
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he expects to report to Parliament on the benefits of greenhouse gas reporting under the requirements of the Climate Change Act 2008. [24522]
Mr Paice: I have been asked to reply.
The Secretary of State has commissioned a report to assess the contribution that corporate reporting of greenhouse gas emissions makes to the UK meeting its climate change objectives. This report will be laid before Parliament before 1 December 2010.
Coal: Mining
Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many deep mine coal pits are operating in Great Britain; and what proportion of electricity generated in the UK is produced from coal. [27315]
Charles Hendry: As at 31 December 2009, there were 13 deep mine coal pits operating in the UK. This total is now 12 following Welbeck colliery ceasing production through exhaustion of workable reserves in May 2010.
Source:
Table 2.10, Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics 2010
In 2009, coal contributed 28% (104,608 GWh) to the UK electricity generation mix (375,663 GWh).
Source:
Table 5.6, Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics 2010
Departmental Written Questions
Sir Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many and what proportion of questions tabled to the Secretary of State for written answer on a named day were answered substantively before or on the day named for answer (a) in Session 2009-10 and (b) since May 2010; how many such questions tabled between May 2010 and 12 November 2010 had not received a substantive answer by 18 November 2010; and what estimate he has made of the average cost to his Department of answering a question for written answer on a named day on the day named for answer in the latest period for which figures are available. [25953]
Gregory Barker: The Government have committed to providing the Procedure Committee with sessional statistics in a standard format on the time taken to respond to written parliamentary questions for the 2009-10 session. This information will be submitted to the Procedure Committee shortly.
The Department does not hold this information in the format requested. In the period 25 May to 12 November 2010, the Department received 683 ordinary written questions of which 518 (76%) were answered within five sitting days. All 683 questions have now received a substantive answer.
In the same period the Department received 78 named day questions of which 51 (65%) were answered on or before the day for answer. All 78 questions have now received a substantive answer.
The Department does not hold centrally estimates of the cost relating to the answering of parliamentary questions. For information on the annual indexation exercise of the costs conducted by HM Treasury, I refer my hon. Friend to the written ministerial statement made by the then Exchequer Secretary (Sarah McCarthy-Fry) on 20 January 2010, Official Report, column 15WS.
Electricity Generation: EU Action
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent assessment he has made of the merits of a pan-European supergrid. [26351]
Charles Hendry: Substantial investment in the electricity networks will be required in the EU over the coming decades in order to move to a low-carbon economy by 2050. We will need a bigger and smarter electricity grid, and new ways of matching supply and demand, including increased interconnection between member states in order to support additional renewable generation.
I therefore welcome the publication by the European Commission on 17 November of a Communication ("A blueprint for an integrated European energy network"). This outlines the Commission's views on what needs to be done across the EU in order to achieve the investment in electricity and gas networks needed. I look forward to having a first exchange of views on this Communication with my fellow Energy Ministers at the Energy Council on 3 December 2010.
In recognition of the need to work together with other countries to develop the infrastructure needed to maximise the renewable energy resources in our region, I also plan to sign on 3 December a Memorandum of Understanding with nine other Ministers on the North Seas Offshore Grid Initiative. This will signal our commitment to investigate the options for more co-ordinated development of offshore grids in the North, Irish and Baltic seas. As an initial contribution to the analysis, my Department recently published a report by SKM setting out the findings of research it commissioned on the costs and benefits of different interconnection options for potential renewable generation projects located outside the UK.
Energy: Housing
Alison Seabeck:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans he has for the mechanism for accreditation of general builders
undertaking retrofitting work under the proposed Green Deal; and what mechanisms will be in place to prevent rogue traders from undertaking such work. [26380]
Gregory Barker: The Green Deal will be underpinned by a certification scheme. This will set the necessary technical standards for installation and competence levels for installers as well as customer care and warranty requirements .
To ensure that work is carried out to a high standard, all installers operating under the Green Deal will have to adhere to the prescribed certification and skills standard, and to carry a quality mark demonstrating this. We will develop the standard with relevant sectors.
Energy: Prices
Peter Aldous: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will take steps to include in the proposed Energy Company Obligation provisions to ensure greater transparency in respect of the proportion of customers' bills charged to cover the cost to the supplier of that obligation; and if he will make a statement. [26167]
Gregory Barker: We recognise the need to ensure transparency under the future Energy Company Obligation, including the costs. To this end, we will include provisions in the energy security and green economy Bill that will enable greater, more detailed reporting by obligated companies, including details of costs passed through to consumer energy bills.
Peter Aldous: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will take steps to ensure that minimum standards for tariffs are proposed in the energy security and green economy Bill. [26168]
Gregory Barker: The Energy Security and Green Energy Bill will include powers to require energy suppliers to inform consumers through their bills about the cheapest available tariff to give customers greater control over their energy costs.
To meet its principal duty, to protect the interests of consumers, Ofgem actively monitors the activities of licence holders, including compliance with its recently introduced standards of conduct. These standards require suppliers not to sell products that are inappropriate to a customer's needs or offer products that are unnecessarily complex or confusing.
In a recent open letter to suppliers, Ofgem reminded suppliers of their obligations under these standards. A copy of this letter is available online at:
Energy: Rented Housing
Penny Mordaunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will introduce a minimum energy efficiency standard for privately rented homes and social housing; and if he will make a statement. [26832]
Gregory Barker: There are no current plans to introduce minimum energy efficiency standards for rental accommodation. The Green Deal has the potential to increase the energy efficiency of homes across all housing sectors and will enable a range of innovative energy efficiency finance packages for landlords and tenants alike.
We are also seeking powers in the forthcoming energy security and green economy Bill that, from 2015, could require landlords to make reasonable energy efficiency improvements to their properties. These powers will not apply to social housing as the sector has made the largest improvement in energy efficiency in recent years.
Further ministerial statements will follow in due course, after the energy security and green economy Bill is introduced.
Football: World Cup 2010
Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much his Department spent on entertainment activities related to the 2010 FIFA World Cup. [27363]
Gregory Barker: The Department of Energy and Climate Change spent nothing on entertainment related to the activities of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Fuel Poverty
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 26 July 2010, Official Report, column 751W, on fuel poverty, what his definition is of reasonably practicable in respect of measures being carried out to eradicate fuel poverty in all households in England by 2016. [27126]
Gregory Barker: What is reasonably practicable in respect of measures being carried out to eradicate fuel poverty in all households in England by 2016 will depend upon the particular measure in question in the particular context. This may include, among others, matters such as the cost of implementing the measure, the effectiveness of the measure, and in respect of heating and insulation measures in particular, the ease of installation and its reliability.
Heating: Carbon Emissions
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what annual leak rate his Department assumes in its 2010 guidelines for company reporting for residential and commercial air conditioning, including heat pumps, in the calculation of greenhouse gas emissions. [27038]
Gregory Barker: An annual leak rate of 8.5% is used in the 2010 greenhouse gas conversion factors for company reporting for residential and commercial air conditioning, including heat pumps. The source for this rate is the UK Greenhouse Gas Inventory for 1990-2007 (AEA, 2009) where these UK factors were updated following an expert workshop with industry representatives.
Housing: Insulation
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he made of the (a) level of domestic gas consumption and (b) proportion of the change in that level of consumption attributable to the implementation of higher standards in respect of insulation in (i) 2005, (ii) 2006, (iii) 2007, (iv) 2008 and (v) 2009. [27246]
Gregory Barker: Statistics on annual gas consumption by households are published in the Digest of UK Energy statistics, copies of which are available in the House Library. Table 4.2 of the 2010 edition indicates the following domestic gas consumption levels.
| Domestic gas consumption | |
| GWh | |
Gas consumption can be influenced by a number of factors, including price, external and internal temperatures, age and condition of the boiler and heating system, as well as insulation levels. Between 2005 and 2009 it is estimated that the number of homes with cavity wall insulation has increased from 6.8 million to 10.0 million.
Analysis published by the Energy Saving Trust, available at
indicates that savings of around £110 can be made per year by adding cavity wall insulation to a gas heated three bedroom semi-detached property; at 3.67p per kWh this is equivalent to a reduction of around 3,000 kWh per year. However, the actual saving will depend on many factors such as house site and socio-economic factors, as well as varying by household type.
Quantitative research is currently being carried out to examine the before and after gas consumption in relation to a variety of property types that have had cavities filled and lofts insulated during recent years, and how these compare to control groups. Findings from this research will be published next year.
Industry Taskforce on Peak Oil and Energy Security
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what progress has been made by the UK Industry Taskforce on Peak Oil and Energy Security; and if he will make a statement. [27123]
Charles Hendry: The UK Industry Taskforce on Peak Oil and Energy Security is wholly independent of the Government.
Renewable Energy
Mark Simmonds:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much funding from the public purse his Department has allocated to the development of (a) biofuel, (b) biomass, (c) hydroelectricity, (d) solar energy, (e) tidal power, (f)
wave power and (g) wind power in each of the last three years; and how much such funding he plans to allocate in each year of the Comprehensive Spending Review period. [25281]
Charles Hendry: The following amounts were spent on support for the development of biofuel, bioenergy, hydroelectricity, solar energy, tidal power, wave power and wind power technologies through the Environmental Transformation Fund and Low Carbon Innovation Funding over the last three financial years.
| Spend (£ million) | ||||
| 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | ||
The Low Carbon Buildings Programme (LCBP) funds deployment of renewable microgeneration technologies including biomass, hydro, solar energy and wind. Figures for spend from 2006-09 by calendar year are set out in the following table.
| Spend (£) | |||||
| 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | ||
2010-11 budgets are as follows.
| Spend (£ million) | ||
| 2010-11 | ||
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