Voluntary Work: Public Finance
Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will assess the effect on levels of volunteering of reductions in public sector expenditure. [40203]
Mr Hurd: I meet regularly with representatives of the voluntary and community sector to discuss the impact on their work of the current reductions in public spending.
We are facing the largest peacetime deficit in our history and charities, voluntary groups and social enterprises cannot be immune from the necessary reductions in spending. It is as important for them as for the rest of society that we get public finances under control.
Despite the reductions, Government are committed to working to encourage more social action, including volunteering, as creating a culture of giving time and money is a key aspect in realising the vision for a big society.
We are developing new funding opportunities for charities and voluntary groups, including investing up £82.5 million in funds specifically aimed at the development of volunteering. These funds will include a match fund to encourage private sector investment and a fund to support local volunteering infrastructure. In addition we are engaged in a range of programmes to encourage social action, including the National Citizen Service and Community Organisers programme. Although we anticipate increases in levels of volunteering it would be unrealistic to accurately put a figure on what these might look like at this early stage.
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Energy and Climate Change
Carbon Emissions: Housing
Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change by how much he estimates carbon dioxide emissions from domestic properties will change as a result of the introduction of the Green Deal. [42847]
Gregory Barker: The Government are committed to meeting the economy wide emissions reductions specified by carbon budgets. These require a 34% reduction in emissions by 2020 relative to 1990 levels.
The impact assessment(1) published alongside the introduction of the current Energy Bill included illustrative examples of the potential savings the Green Deal could deliver. These examples suggest that in the domestic sector, the impact of the Green Deal could be a saving of between 3.9 and 5.9MtCO2e per year in 2020. These examples are only illustrative as the details of the Green Deal policy are still to be determined. More robust estimates will be provided alongside consultation documents later this year.
(1) www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/legislation/energybill/1002-energy-bill-2011-ia-green-deal.pdf
Carbon Emissions: Shipping and Aviation
Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what proportion of UK carbon dioxide emissions he estimates are attributable to (a) shipping and (b) aviation. [42852]
Gregory Barker: DECC published final estimates of UK greenhouse gas emissions by source for the period 1990 to 2009 on 1 February 2011. Shipping and aviation emissions are provided at both the domestic and international level (see following table). International shipping and aviation emissions are reported but following IPCC guidance do not count towards the UK totals.
Carbon Sequestration
Dan Byles: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the (a) average height, (b) minimum required height and (c) maximum potential height of absorber towers required for future coal and gas fired power stations fitted with carbon capture and storage technology. [42750]
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Gregory Barker: Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is only at the demonstration stage. Consequently the range and absolute values for heights of absorber towers can only be provided as an indication.
Current estimates are that absorber towers would range from about 40m for pre-combustion capture technology to 60-85m for post-combustion. The actual heights of towers will be subject to project specific factors and the rate of technological maturation.
Note that one of the capture technologies—oxyfuel—does not use absorber towers.
Departmental Conditions of Employment
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of his Department's adherence to each of the principles of good employment practice set out in the Cabinet Office publication Principles of Good Employment Practice. [42622]
Gregory Barker: No formal assessment has been undertaken of how the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has adhered to the Cabinet Office publication “Principles of Good Employment Practice”. However, processes and controls are in place to ensure that the principles are complied with on an ongoing basis by the following means:
All tender documents which are issued by DECC follow the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) best practice guidance.
The Department’s competitive tender processes ensure that suppliers comply with OGC guidance. Evidence of compliance is requested in tender documents.
The Department reviews its procurement procedures and documentation regularly to ensure continuing compliance with OGC guidance.
The Department uses outcome based specifications wherever appropriate.
Procurement staff seek opportunities to promote skills training, qualifications and apprenticeships in contracts.
The Department’s standard terms and conditions contain clauses covering discrimination, disability and race equality. Should a breach of these conditions occur, the Department has the ultimate option to terminate the contract.
Departmental Interpreters
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change for which services provided by (a) his Department and (b) its associated public bodies interpreters provide services in a language or languages other than English; how many interpreters are employed or subcontracted for each non-English language; and what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of interpretation costs incurred in the latest period for which figures are available. [42891]
Gregory Barker: For the current financial year, in the nine months to 31 December 2010 the Department employed one interpreter at a cost of £875.00 in connection with overseas travel.
In this period the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority spend on providing interpretation and translation services for the bilingual (Welsh/English) sessions of the four Wylfa Site Stakeholder Group meetings was £2,454.85 and for the two meetings of the Trawsfynydd Site Stakeholder Group was £1,037.60. These are statutory
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services under the Welsh Language Act of 1993. One interpreter is present at each meeting together with wireless headsets for all attendees to hear the translation from Welsh to English. Interpreters are sometimes used during NDA overseas visits but costs cannot be separately identified.
The above figures exclude VAT.
Departmental Manpower
Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many (a) actual and (b) full-time equivalent staff have left his Department’s employment since May 2010. [42303]
Gregory Barker: Since May 2010, (a) 53 actual and (b) 52.5 full-time equivalent civil servants have left the Department of Energy and Climate Change.
Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many (a) actual and (b) full-time equivalent staff his Department employed at the latest date for which figures are available. [42384]
Gregory Barker: At 1 January 2011, the Department of Energy and Climate Change had (a) 1,178 actual and (b) 1,154.25 full-time equivalent civil servants.
Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many (a) actual and (b) full-time equivalent staff were employed by his Department in May 2010. [42400]
Gregory Barker: In May 2010, the Department of Energy and Climate Change had (a) 1,060 actual and (b) 1,036.17 full-time equivalent civil servants.
Departmental Regulation
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what regulations his Department introduced between 18 November 2010 and 8 February 2011. [42079]
Gregory Barker: Six statutory instruments made by the Department have come in to force since 18 November 2010 but before 8 February 2011. They are:
The Justification Decision (Generation of Electricity by the EPR Nuclear Reactor) Regulations 2010 (SI 2010/2844)—came into force on 30 November 2010.
The Justification Decision (Generation of Electricity by the AP1000 Nuclear Reactor) Regulations 2010 (SI 2010/2845)—came into force on 30 November 2010.
The Nuclear Decommissioning and Waste Handling (Designated Technical Matters) Order 2010 (SI 2010/2850)—came into force on 30 November 2010.
The Electricity (Guarantees of Origin of Electricity Produced from Renewable Energy Sources) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 (SI 2010/2715)—came into force on 5 December 2010.
The Submarine Pipelines (Designated Owners) Order 2010 (SI 2010/3048)—came into force on 5 January 2011.
The Lynn and Inner Dowsing Offshore Wind Farms (Amendment) Order 2011 (SI 2011/84)—came into force on 24 January 2011.
Dan Byles: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what regulations sponsored by his Department have been revoked since 7 December 2010. [42189]
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Gregory Barker: Since 7 December 2010, the Department has not revoked any statutory instruments in full.
However, the Energy Bill, introduced into the House of Lords on 8 December 2010, sets out proposals to repeal the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 (HECA) in England, Scotland and Wales. This will reduce regulatory burdens, support the Government's localism agenda and remove redundant legislation from the statute book.
DECC is committed to reducing the burden of regulation on UK business, and a series of internal and external exercises have been or are being conducted towards this aim. For example, in June 2010 my noble Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (Lord Marland), responsible for the Department's regulatory agenda, wrote to 250 of the Department's key stakeholders asking for their views on ways to reduce DECC's regulatory burden. The response letter from Lord Marland and a summary of responses to this exercise was published in November 2010 on the DECC internet site:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/about/betterreg/better reg.aspx
Following on from this exercise, DECC plans to repeal a number of statutory instruments as well as powers under primary legislation (in total, 28 repeals). The exact processes for making the repeals are still being explored (suitable vehicles for the repeals are being considered, and consultation with relevant parties such as the devolved Administrations needs to take place for certain policies).
Electricity Market Reform
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the likely effects of the proposed changes to the electricity market on the ability of the UK to attract investment in demand-side measures. [40832]
Charles Hendry: The proposed reforms to the electricity market, and in particular the capacity mechanism, will encourage demand reduction measures (negawatts) to compete on an equal basis with supply side generation. We have no specific estimate for the level of investment that will be made in demand-side measures, but the electricity market reform will support demand-side investment as a proportion of the estimated £110 billion capital required to support new generation by 2020.
Renewable Energy: EU Action
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what agreements on energy subsidy reform were reached at the European Council meeting in Brussels on 4 February 2011. [41854]
Charles Hendry: The European Council agreed on further work between the Commission and member states on the implementation of the renewable energy directive. There was no specific agreement on energy subsidy reform. The terms of national support schemes are a matter for member states within European rules.
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Energy: Housing
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change in what proportion of privately-owned homes valued (a) up to £100,000, (b) between £100,000 and £250,000, (c) between £250,000 and £500,000, (d) between £500,000 and £750,000, (e) £750,000 and £1 million and (f) over £1 million his Department expects energy efficiency measures to be installed through the Green Deal. [41591]
Gregory Barker: Green Deal finance will help householders to invest in energy efficiency measures; take-up will not depend on, or be determined by, the value of the property. Indicative analysis suggests that the price of a property rarely reflects its level of energy efficiency which would indicate that owners of properties in all price bands will be able to benefit from the Green Deal. The proposed Energy Company Obligation component of Green Deal will focus a major part of its effort on subsidised offerings to vulnerable households on low incomes, which should help to drive take-up across the spectrum of property value, including in less expensive properties.
No estimates of take-up have yet been made, but work is underway to develop understanding of this area and the recent Green Deal Impact Assessment provides illustrative scenarios to assist debate.
Energy: Prices
Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the merits of implementing a cap on the amount by which gas and electricity companies can increase prices to the consumer in any given period. [42001]
Charles Hendry: Effective competition is the key to ensuring that prices are as low as possible for consumers. Ofgem, the market regulator, monitors the market closely to ensure consumers pay a fair price for their energy and British residential customers pay some of the lowest prices for gas and electricity in the EU. Following the recent announcement of price increases by some energy suppliers, Ofgem has launched a review of the retail energy market to see if further action is needed to protect customers, which we welcome. Ofgem plans to complete the review by March 2011.
Fuel Oil: Regulation
Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to improve regulation of the domestic heating oil market. [42848]
Charles Hendry: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement I gave on 21 January 2011, Official Report, columns 55-56WS, concerning the off-grid energy market. I am keen that the reasons for the high heating oil prices and supply issues this winter are thoroughly investigated by an independent authority.
The market study by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) will provide an independent assessment of the off-grid market and establish what further action may be necessary to ensure it works properly.
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I look forward to seeing its conclusions in advance of next winter so the lessons from this winter can be learned and any necessary changes made.
Fuel Poverty
Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many low-income households with children are classified as living in fuel poverty. [41788]
Gregory Barker: In England in 2008, the most recent year for which fuel poverty statistics are available, around 394,000 households that contained somebody aged under 16 and had a household income in the lowest three income deciles were fuel poor.
Most recent figures for Scotland, from the SHCS 2009, show that around 46,000 fuel poor households contained somebody under 16 and had an income in the lowest three deciles.
Comparable figures are not available for Wales.
Government Departments: Carbon Emissions
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent progress his Department made towards the Government's objective to reduce emissions from central Government offices by 10 per cent. by May 2011. [42543]
Gregory Barker: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Liverpool, Wavertree (Luciana Berger) on 27 January 2011, Official Report, column 436W.
There is not much to report since last month, except that we continue to work hard to reduce our emissions and that current figures show that DECC has now saved over 120 tonnes since 14 May 2010.
Imports: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what consideration he has given to reducing the greenhouse gas emissions embedded in imported products; what consideration he has given to introducing a system of consumption-based emissions accounting alongside the National Greenhouse Gas Inventory; and if he will request the Committee on Climate Change to examine the matter. [42767]
Gregory Barker: We recognise that it is important to consider emissions associated with UK consumption as well as those from UK production. The UK has an important global influence in terms of embedded greenhouse gas emissions associated with imported products and DEFRA’s Sustainable Consumption and Production programme has been working for several years to identify and help reduce the lifecycle carbon and other environmental impacts that are associated with UK consumption.
We do not currently report our emissions regularly on a consumption basis. The DEFRA-funded research report “Development of an Embedded Carbon Emissions Indicator” developed an initial data and model framework to allow assessment of environmental impacts associated with UK trade flows. DEFRA has recently let a contract to update this indicator. While this research provides a
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satisfactory indication of the trend in carbon dioxide emissions relating to UK consumption, we do not consider the estimates are sufficiently reliable for use in monitoring performance or setting targets.
I have not made a request, but I understand from the Committee on Climate Change’s December 2010 report on the fourth carbon budget that it considers looking at embedded emissions.
Low Carbon Innovation Fund
John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the decision-making process is for the allocation of funding for the Low Carbon Innovation Fund announced in the comprehensive spending review. [42731]
Gregory Barker: DECC has been allocated over £200 million over four years to support the development of green energy technologies. Up to £60 million of that funding has been allocated to support the development of manufacturing infrastructure near port sites. In order to prioritise the remaining funding, I will be drawing on a wide range of evidence sources and views. I want to ensure that we focus our support on technologies and programmes where there are clear market failures and where the funding will have the greatest impact on meeting the Government’s climate change and energy objectives, as well as, where appropriate, supporting the growth of the UK green economy. I expect to be able to provide more details in a few months’ time.
Nuclear Power Stations: Construction
Dan Byles: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the number of companies worldwide currently constructing reactor vessels for use in new build nuclear power stations; in which countries such companies are based; and how many reactor vessels were constructed in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [42751]
Charles Hendry: The Department does not hold the requested information.
It is the role of the Government to remove the barriers to investment in new nuclear power stations but for energy companies to make the investments and to build new nuclear power stations. It is these project developers who are best placed to ensure the availability of the items required to support their plans.
I speak regularly with the energy companies and the reactor vendors and they do not believe the availability of reactor pressure vessels will cause a delay to new nuclear plant. Ultra heavy forgings for pressure vessels need to be ordered a long time in advance and vendors already have slots booked with existing suppliers to ensure that when they are building reactors around the world the necessary elements are available.
Open-cast Mining: Competition
Dr Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the level of competition in the open-cast mining industry; and if he will make a statement. [42212]
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Charles Hendry: No specific assessment of the open-cast mining industry has been made, but with, at present, 35 operating surface coal mines of varying size throughout Wales, Scotland and England being worked by 16 different operators, competition appears healthy. It should additionally be noted that the industry’s licensing body, the Coal Authority, has a policy of seeking competing expressions of interest (among industry and on its website) in respect of any reserves over which it receives a licence application.
Power Stations: Security
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the policing of energy infrastructure establishments. [42772]
Charles Hendry: I met with the right hon. and noble Baroness Neville-Jones of Hutton Roof on 11 October 2010 to discuss progress made by our respective Departments to take forward work in developing a strategy for the policing of the civil nuclear estate and the critical national infrastructure. The status of this work is reflected in the DECC structural reform plan monthly implementation update on the Number 10 website:
http://transparency.number10.gov.uk/transparency/srp/#
Beyond this piece of work, officials from DECC and the Home Office are in regular contact in order to keep the protection, including policing, of key energy sites under constant review.
Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the likely effects of the introduction of the feed-in tariff scheme on energy prices in each of the five years from April 2010. [42259]
Gregory Barker: The introduction of feed-in tariffs (FITs) in April 2010 is expected to result in increased average retail electricity prices for both domestic and business customers as suppliers are expected to pass through their additional costs to customers. We assume that the impact on retail prices is the same across sectors, as costs are assumed to be spread evenly over total consumption. This results in the following estimated impact on retail prices for domestic and non-domestic customers for each of the five years from April 2010:
|
|
£/MWh (excl. VAT) |
Impacts on retail prices are represented in 2009 prices, undiscounted. Figures have been rounded to the first decimal place. Further information can be found in ‘Estimated impacts of energy and climate change policies on energy prices and bills’ at:
www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/what%20we%20do/uk%20energy%20supply/236-impacts-energy-climate-change-policies.pdf
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‘Impact Assessment of Feed-in Tariffs for Small-Scale, Low Carbon, Electricity Generation’ at:
www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/elec_financial/elec_financial.aspx
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when the decision to cap the feed-in tariff scheme in 2010/11 was taken; and what consultation process was undertaken before that decision was made. [42323]
Gregory Barker: Information on the projected costs of the feed-in tariffs (FITs) was included in the impact assessment of the FITs scheme. This was published by the previous Administration in February 2010 following public consultation in summer 2009.
Last year's spending review committed to improving the efficiency of FITs and to making savings of £40 million in 2014-15. This is equivalent to 10% of the £400 million(1) spend originally projected for that year. The final cost profile to 2014-15 will depend on the timing and outcome of the first review of FITs which has now started. Any changes to tariffs resulting from the review will be subject to consultation and parliamentary scrutiny as required by the Energy Act 2008.
(1) It should be noted that (a) costs are presented in net terms, i.e. net of the value of electricity exported back to the grid; and (b) costs are additional-to-BAU, where BAU impacts are impacts that would occur in the absence of FITs (i.e. under the RO).
Renewables Obligation Certificates
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what progress has been made on the Renewables Obligation Certificate banding review; and when he expects the proposed consultation as part of that review to commence. [42324]
Charles Hendry: We commenced a scheduled review of the support bands in the renewables obligation in October 2010. This will determine the levels of support for large-scale electricity generation from 2013-17. On 8 December 2010, I announced that we would accelerate the banding review by a year, and would consult on bands this summer, with the Government response by autumn. This will give generators and investors certainty on support levels a year earlier than previously planned.
Work to assess the deployment potential and generation costs of renewable electricity technologies is ongoing, and we will publish the independent report on costs and deployment potential this spring, ahead of the summer consultation. We will shortly commence work to model different banding scenarios consistent with meeting our 2020 renewable energy target.
Smart Electricity Grid
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department is taking to facilitate the development of a smart electricity grid. [41769]
Charles Hendry:
We are developing policies to ensure that electricity system infrastructure can meet the key challenges for the future network and system balancing. These policy issues will form part of the electricity
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market reform White Paper this spring. We are setting up with Ofgem a Smart Grid Forum to guide the actions that we are taking to address future challenges for electricity networks.
DECC is also managing the implementation phases of the smart metering programme, which will see the rollout of smart meters to GB households and many businesses, paving the way for smart grids.
Ofgem has allocated £500 million in funding to encourage innovation in distribution networks over the next five years. In addition, by the end of this financial year, DECC will have awarded £2.7 million to projects through its Smart Grids capital grants programme under the Low Carbon Investment Fund.
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what timetable his Department has set for the development of a smart electricity grid. [41770]
Charles Hendry: Development of a smart grid will be an incremental process. The Electricity Networks Strategy Group (ENSG), jointly chaired by DECC and Ofgem, set out a high level framework for smart grid development in its Route Map published in February 2010. In line with the timetable set out there, we expect the period up to 2015 to focus on the development of and trialling of smart technologies and approaches on the grid. This will interact with the smart meter roll out.
Between 2015 and 2020, we would expect the first layer of a smart grid to be rolled out on a larger scale where a benefit has been shown through trialling. Roll out will need to continue post-2020, largely driven by the increased electrification of transport and heating and greater penetration of distributed generation.
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment his Department has made of the potential benefits for smart utility networking of allocating spectrum on a lightly-regulated basis. [41772]
Charles Hendry: We have not made an assessment of the various options for communications platforms for smart grid as we believe the market will establish the communications system that will best serve the needs of the electricity system. The question of spectrum allocation is dependent on the choices made on communications platforms.
Solar Power
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the answer of 14 February 2011, Official Report, column 546W, on solar power, (1) what definition his Department uses of solar photovoltaic (a) micro, (b) small-scale, (c) medium-scale and (d) large-scale generation; [42972]
(2) for what reason his Department is using the 50 kW statutory micro-generation definition as the starting point for a review of large-scale 1 megawatt to 5 megawatt solar farms. [42971]
Gregory Barker:
Section 41(4) of the Energy Act 2008 provides the statutory definition of “small-scale low-carbon generation” for the purposes of defining the scope of
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the Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) scheme. This also sets the specified maximum capacity for small-scale FITs at 5 megawatts. As my previous answer confirmed, 50 kilowatts is used in the statutory definition of “microgeneration” and therefore provides the starting point for determining what is large scale for the purposes of the FITs scheme.
Solar Power: Feed-in Tariffs
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the effects of the introduction of the feed-in tariff scheme on the manufacture of solar power products in the UK. [42260]
Gregory Barker: The UK solar photovoltaic market has seen an increase in production capacity as a result of the introduction of the feed-in-tariff. Sharp reports increased production by 25% and Romag, operating in the north-east, are increasing production by 30%. More broadly, there are opportunities in the supply chain and the solar industry reports that jobs in the sector have increased significantly over the past year.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many megawatts of solar photovoltaic generating capacity have been installed since the launch of the feed-in tariff scheme on 1 April 2010. [42317]
Gregory Barker: Live information data obtained on 18 February from Ofgem's ‘FITs Installations Statistical Report’ show 60.5 MW of solar photovoltaics (22,722 installations) is currently registered for Feed-in Tariffs (FITs). This includes schemes installed prior to 1 April 2010.
DECC produces a quarterly table of FITs capacity statistics, ET 5.6, available at:
http://decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/source/electricitv/electricitv.aspx
This table shows that, at the end of December 2010, 45 MW (17,200 installations) of solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity had been accredited on the FITs scheme. Of this, 32.9 MW (12,382 installations) was installed after 1 April 2010.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what criteria he used in making the decision to extend the fast-track feed-in tariff review of solar farms to include all community projects greater than 50 kilowatts; and if he will make a statement. [42318]
Gregory Barker: Under the feed-in tariffs (FITs) scheme, tariff levels are based on technology and generating capacity. The reference of 50kW is simply the threshold used in the existing definition of microgeneration which is why it provides the starting point for defining the scope of the fast-track review.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the monetary value is of solar photovoltaic feed-in tariff payments made since 1 April 2010. [42319]
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Gregory Barker: This information is not currently available in the form requested. However, Ofgem have published data from the quarterly levelisation process which shows a total of £2,686,712.55 paid for all technologies up to 30 September 2010. Levelisation data can be viewed at:
http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Sustainability/Environment/fits/Levelisation/Pages/Levelisation.aspx
Levelisation data for 1 October to 31 December 2010 will be made available on Ofgem's website soon.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when his Department published its 2010-11 projections of solar photovoltaics update under the feed-in tariff scheme; and in what format that publication took place. [42322]
Gregory Barker: Information on take-up was included in the Impact Assessment of the feed-in tariffs (FITs) scheme published under the previous Administration in February 2010. However, details on level of projections of all eligible technologies under the scheme was sent to electricity suppliers at the start of the scheme. This information was also provided in response to specific requests and used in meetings with stakeholders.
It confirms projections of 20,309 solar PV installations in 2010-11 with no large scale schemes in FITs during the first three years of FITs.
A copy of the projections can be found in the House Library.
Syngas
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the commercial potential for using syngas for energy production in the UK. [41762]
Charles Hendry: The Department of Energy and Climate Change funded a study by E4Tech in 2009 of the potential for bioSNG in the UK. The study was published in April 2010 and is available on the website of the National Non-Food Crops at:
http://www.nnfcc.co.uk/tools/potential-for-biosng-production-in-the-uk-nnfcc-10-008
It concluded that in the long-term, bioSNG could be an economically attractive option for providing low carbon heat.
Water Power
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what funding mechanisms he plans to put in place to encourage investment in the marine renewables sector following the closure of the Marine Renewables Deployment Fund. [41593]
Gregory Barker: The Department is currently developing its detailed plans for the allocation of the £200 million, to support the development of low carbon technologies, announced in the spending review—the needs of wave and tidal energy technologies are being considered as part of that process.
A scheduled banding review of renewables obligation support for all technologies, including marine technologies, began last October. The review will consider whether
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any changes are needed to the current bands. We intend to consult on any changes to the bands this summer and to confirm the revised bands in the autumn, one year earlier than previously announced. Any changes in support levels will come into effect on 1 April 2013, (2014 for offshore wind) subject to state aids and parliamentary approval.
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what proportion of the £200 million allocated for the development of low-carbon technologies in the comprehensive spending review will be used to support marine renewables. [41594]
Charles Hendry: DECC is engaged in a detailed business planning process and in parallel we are assessing the innovation needs of a wide range of low carbon technologies, including offshore wind, marine, bio-energy, and how they can be addressed. Innovation funding decisions will be made in light of the outcome of that work, and these are expected to be in late spring.
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to encourage marine energy device manufacturers to locate in the UK. [41595]
Gregory Barker: We have moved to establish a new UK Marine Energy Programme, that will address the barriers affecting the UK marine energy sector's ability to develop and deploy wave and tidal energy devices at a commercial scale.
Through the programme we will put in place a coherent programme of policies across Government, led by DECC, to enable the UK Marine Energy sector to move from prototype testing to commercial deployment.
With the right framework of policies in place we can both develop our indigenous UK marine energy industry and attract investment and manufacturing into the UK.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans he has to implement the recommendations contained in the Marine Energy Action Plan published in March 2010. [42416]
Gregory Barker: We will take into account a wide evidence base in developing our support for the development of wave and tidal energy in the UK as part of our work under the UK Marine Energy Programme. The Marine Energy Action Plan will form one such source and its recommendations will feed into this.
Water Power: Finance
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when his Department plans to announce grant funding to the marine renewables sector in (a) 2011 and (b) 2012. [42321]
Gregory Barker: The Department is currently developing its detailed plans for the allocation of the £200 million, to support the development of low carbon technologies, announced in the spending review—the needs of wave and tidal energy technologies are being considered as part of that process.
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The Department will make announcements on its innovation funding for the coming spending review period once its ongoing detailed business planning concludes.
John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what proportion of the remainder of the Low Carbon Innovation Fund announced in the comprehensive spending review will be allocated to financing the commercial development of marine renewables. [42730]
Gregory Barker: DECC is engaged in a detailed business planning process and in parallel we are assessing the innovation needs of a wide range of low carbon technologies, including offshore wind, marine, bio-energy, and how they can be addressed. Innovation funding decisions will be made in the light of the outcome of that work, and these are expected to be in late spring.
Wind Power: Finance
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much subsidy was provided to wind power under the Non Fossil Fuels Obligation scheme; and what his Department's policy was on the use of subsidy for wind power as a step towards commercial viability between 1987 and 1997. [41757]
Charles Hendry: Information on the non-fossil fuel obligation (NFFO) is held by the Non-Fossil Purchasing Agency Limited (NFPA). The NFPA have provided the following information on the premium paid to wind between 1998-99 and 2000-01:
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Premium paid (£ million) |
Data on the subsidy paid prior to 1998-99 are not readily available.
The first commercial wind farm in the UK started generating electricity in 1991, supported by the non-fossil fuel obligation. It is evident that wind power was not commercially viable without subsidy during the period 1987-97, given that it was a relatively new technology, hence the introduction of the NFFO.
Wind Power: Planning Permission
Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what applications for consent have been made for offshore wind developments in the last two years; what objections have been made to those applications; who made such objections; and on what grounds such objections were made. [42372]
Charles Hendry: Two applications for consent for proposed offshore wind farm developments have been submitted in the last two years—for the Dudgeon (560 MW, developer Dudgeon Offshore Wind Ltd.) and Westermost Rough (245 MW, DONG Westermost Rough Ltd.) projects.
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There have been seven objections to Westermost Rough and eight to Dudgeon. These objections have been received from members of the public, organisations representing fishermen, the Ministry of Defence, National Air Traffic Services, the Norfolk Coast Partnership and the RSPB. The objections have been made on the grounds of impacts on birds, fish, fishing activity, military radar, civil aviation services and marine navigation.
World War II: Mining
Mr Marcus Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will bring forward proposals to acknowledge the contribution made by miners during the Second World War. [42781]
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Charles Hendry: In 2007 the Bevin Boys Veterans Badge was introduced to recognise those who were in the unique position to have either been selected or volunteered as part of the Bevin Boys scheme.
Although coal miners who were already employed in the pits made a similar contribution to the war effort they were one of many reserved occupations such as railway and dock workers, farmers, agricultural workers, schoolteachers and doctors. It would not be right to single out one occupation for recognition when many millions of men and women who were employed in other reserved occupations also played a major role in the wartime effort.
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Written Answers to Questions
Monday 28 February 2011
Education
Academies
Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what his policy is on (a) first and (b) primary schools becoming academies. [37016]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 31 January 2011]: All primary and first schools which are rated outstanding, or which are good with outstanding features, are eligible to convert to academy status. In addition, any school can apply with other schools as part of a formal partnership, providing at least one is rated outstanding or good with outstanding features, or they join an existing academy trust with a proven track record of school improvement.
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many schools that have opted to convert to Academy status did so without prior consultation with (a) pupils, (b) parents and (c) staff since May 2010. [38487]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 4 February 2011]: Schools applying to convert to Academy Status have a statutory requirement to consult interested parties (for example, students, parents, and the local community). Schools are free to choose how they wish to do this. The consultation process must legally be completed before the Funding Agreement with the Secretary of State is signed. Prior to the Funding Agreement being signed, the school's governing body needs to confirm that it has consulted interested parties, the date on which the consultation was carried out, and that the views obtained were considered in the decision to convert to an academy.
The current employer of school staff (either the local authority or governing body depending on the type of school) is required to conduct a Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) consultation with all teaching and support staff and their unions as part of the staff transfer process.
Academies: Finance
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) whether any Academy schools have had their revenue funding reduced in lieu of a sponsor’s contribution; [35858]
(2) which Academy schools have had their revenue funding reduced in lieu of a sponsor’s contribution; and by how much that funding has been reduced in each case. [36806]
Mr Gibb
[holding answers 24 and 31 January 2011]: The first academy projects required sponsors to make a capital contribution towards the cost of constructing academy buildings. In a small number of cases where a sponsor was unable to meet its capital sponsorship commitment, the Department agreed to make a payment
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to the contractor and then recover the amount by reducing the academy’s general annual grant. The Department’s expectation is that the sponsor should then make contributions to the academies to make good these deductions. There are currently eight academies whose revenue funding is being reduced in lieu of a sponsor’s contribution. The following table shows each academy, along with the amount of funding that has been reduced.
| Name of academy | Amount of funding reduced (£ million) |
Adoption: Peterborough City Council
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children were (a) available for permanent adoption and (b) adopted in the Peterborough city council local authority area in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [36583]
Tim Loughton [holding answer 27 January 2011]: The number of children who were (a) available for permanent adoption and (b) adopted in the Peterborough city council local authority area, in each year since 1999, is shown in the following table. Information is not available for 1997 and 1998 as Peterborough city council first provided data on looked after children in 1999 following a local authority reorganisation. “Available for permanent adoption” has been defined as children who were “placed for adoption at 31 March”.
| Children who were looked after by Peterborough city council who were placed for adoption at 31 March or who were adopted during the year (1,) () (2) : Years ending 31 March 1999 to 2010: Coverage: England | ||||
| Number | ||||
| Children placed for adoption at 31 March | Children adopted during the year | |||
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England | Peterborough | England | Peterborough |
| (1) Numbers at national level have been rounded to the nearest 100. At local authority level, numbers have been rounded to the nearest five. (2) Historical data may differ from older publications. This is mainly due to the implementation of amendments and corrections sent by some local authorities after the publication date of previous materials. Source: SSDA 903 | ||||
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Children: Abuse
Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department is taking to tackle child exploitation (a) domestically and (b) internationally. [37379]
Tim Loughton: To tackle child sexual exploitation effectively there must be a collaborative approach involving Ministers from a range of Government Departments as well as local authority children's services, Local Safeguarding Children Boards, and organisations such as the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP), Barnardo's and others, including voluntary organisations around the country.
Within Government, and working with national and local partners, I am leading our urgent consideration of what further action needs to be taken to safeguard children and young people from sexual exploitation. This will build on existing guidance and our developing understanding of this appalling abuse including through local agencies' work around the country on effective prevention strategies, identifying those at risk of sexual exploitation, supporting victims, and taking robust action against perpetrators.
The UK is committed to working with others, including our European partners, to prevent human trafficking. The UK signed the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children Against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse on 5 May 2008 and aims to ratify it as soon as possible. The UK also opted in to the proposed Directive on Child Sexual Exploitation and abuse on 28 June 2010.
Children: Protection
Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what impact indicators for child protection his Department is using as part of its 2011-2015 Business Plan. [37218]
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Tim Loughton [holding answer 3 February 2011]: The Business Plan for the Department for Education was published on 8 November 2010. This contained in draft a set of input and impact indicators and a revised set will be included when the finalised Business Plan is published in April. While the Business Plan did not include any specific impact indicators on child protection, the plan made clear the importance the Department places on improving arrangements for protecting children from harm, and set out a commitment to publish Professor Eileen Munro’s child protection review and implement reforms. Ministers asked Professor Munro to undertake this review of child protection in England in June 2010, and specifically to consider whether there are better ways of using performance data to improve social work practice. Professor Munro published her interim report on 1 February 2011. She argued that process-based targets and performance indicators have skewed local priorities to focus on specific aspects of process, rather than the quality of practice. Professor Munro will make final recommendations to Government in April 2011.
Class Sizes
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of (a) primary and (b) secondary schools have class sizes of over 30 pupils in each local authority area. [39888]
Mr Gibb: The requested information is in the table.
The number of classes by size has been published at local authority level as part of the Schools, Pupils and their Characteristics: January 2010 Statistical First Release at:
http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000925/index.shtml
in tables 14a and 14c. For England, the percentage of classes in maintained primary schools with 31 or more pupils is 9.4%. For state-funded secondary schools, this figure is 6.5%. For Key Stage 1 classes in maintained primary schools, 1.8% of those classes have 31 or more pupils.
| Maintained primary (1) and state-funded secondary (1,2) schools: percentage of schools with one or more classes of 31 or more pupils (3) , as at January 2010 | ||||||
| By local authority area and government office region in England | ||||||
| Maintained Primary (1) | State-funded Secondary (1,2) | |||||
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Total number of schools | Of which, n umber of schools with classes of 31 or more pupils | % of schools with classes of 31 or more pupils | Total number of schools | Of which , n umber of schools with classes of 31 or more pupils | % of schools with classes of 31 or more pupils |
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| n/a = Not applicable. No schools of this type. (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Includes city technology colleges and academies. (3) One teacher classes as taught during a single selected period in each school on the day of the census in January. Source: School Census | ||||||