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Written Answers to Questions
Monday 13 June 2011
Northern Ireland
Electoral Register
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many voters were on the electoral register in Northern Ireland in the register compiled in the year (a) preceding and (b) following the introduction of individual voter registration in Northern Ireland. [58301]
Mr Paterson: The Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland is responsible for maintaining the electoral register in Northern Ireland. Statistics about the size of the electorate can be found on his website at:
http://www.eoni.org.uk/index/statistics/electorate-statistics.htm
The hon. Member may wish to write to him directly with any further queries.
G4S
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many contracts his Department holds with G4S; and what the (a) purpose and (b) monetary value of each such contract is. [58671]
Mr Paterson: The Northern Ireland Office does not hold any contracts with G4S.
IBM
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many contracts his Department holds with IBM; and what the (a) purpose and (b) monetary value of each such contract is. [58683]
Mr Paterson: The Northern Ireland Office does not hold any contracts with IBM.
Culture, Media and Sport
Aerials
Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (1) what assessment he has made of the likely effect of the 800MHz spectrum auction on competition in the mobile network provider industry; [59456]
(2) what steps he is taking to ensure equal treatment for all mobile providers on the 800MHz and 900MHz spectrum; and if he will make a statement. [59459]
Mr Vaizey:
No assessment has been made of the likely competition effects of the auction but the Government tasked Ofcom in a Direction made in December 2010 to
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do this and to address competition concerns appropriately and proportionately. A competition assessment and proposals were published in Ofcom's March 2011 consultation. Ofcom proposed spectrum caps, limiting both holdings of sub-1GHz and total spectrum holdings, to allow all mobile providers equitable treatment in being able to secure a portfolio of appropriate spectrum holdings to operate and compete effectively.
Broadband
Mrs Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the number of people in St Albans constituency who live in areas with low-speed broadband. [59194]
Mr Vaizey: Approximately 3% of premises (business and residential) in St Albans constituency are estimated to have a connection speed of less than 2 Mbit/s.
Broadband Delivery UK is assessing current broadband provision at community level across the UK in its work to deliver the coalition Government's objective to facilitate universal broadband access of at least 2Mbps and achieve the best superfast broadband network in Europe by 2015.
Broadcasting: Alcoholic Drinks
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what guidance Ofcom issues to broadcasters on the provision of alcohol to participants in shows filmed for television broadcast. [58322]
Mr Vaizey: The matter raised is an operational one for the independent regulator, the Office of Communications (Ofcom), which is accountable to Parliament rather than Ministers. Accordingly, my officials spoke to Ofcom, who advised:
Ofcom does not issue specific guidance to broadcasters on this issue. However, under Ofcom's Broadcasting Code due care must be taken over the physical and emotional welfare and the dignity of people under 18 who take part or are otherwise involved in programmes. This is irrespective of any consent given by the participant or by a parent, guardian or other person over the age of 18 in loco parentis. As well as this, programmes must not include material (whether in individual programmes or in programmes taken together) which, taking into account the context, condones or glamorises violent, dangerous or seriously antisocial behaviour and is likely to encourage others to copy such behaviour.
Departmental Procurement
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (1) how many contracts his Department holds with Crown Relocations; and what the (a) purpose and (b) monetary value of each such contract is; [58648]
(2) how many contracts his Department holds with Serco; and what the (a) purpose and (b) monetary value of each such contract is; [58657]
(3) how many contracts his Department holds with IBM; and what the (a) purpose and (b) monetary value of each such contract is. [58694]
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John Penrose: This Department does not have any contracts with Crown Relocations, Serco or IBM.
Libraries
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether his Department issues guidance to local authorities on the (a) purchase and (b) dissemination of books of anti-Semitic nature by libraries within their borough; and if he will make a statement. [59045]
Mr Vaizey: Decisions on the publications libraries stock are made by individual library authorities. Libraries need to balance issues of freedom of expression and democratic dialogue with concerns about controversy or offence. The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) guidance on controversial material supports libraries as they make case by case decisions about what to stock. This is available at:
http://www.mla.gov.uk/what/support/toolkits/~/media/Files/pdf/2009/ControversialMaterialReport
National Lottery
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what financial assistance (a) his Department and (b) the National Lottery has given to (i) amateur and (ii) professional sports clubs in Brighton, Kemptown constituency since 2010. [59059]
Hugh Robertson: Sport England invests national lottery and Exchequer funding in community sport. Although Sport England does not record the amount of financial assistance specifically provided to amateur and professional sports clubs in constituency areas, £244,456 of lottery funding has been awarded to community sport in the Brighton, Kemptown constituency since April 2010, and £347,143 of Exchequer funding.
Sports: Betting
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with national sports governing bodies on the effects of sports betting. [58295]
Hugh Robertson: I meet regularly with sports governing bodies to discuss a range of issues including sports betting. On 8 February I spoke at a seminar run by the Sports Betting Group that was attended by many of the members of the Sport and Recreation Alliance.
Sportsgrounds
Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on reducing the rate of VAT on the hire of sports grounds. [59104]
Hugh Robertson:
The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), has frequent contact with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), on a wide range of issues. Departmental officials have had
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discussions with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) on VAT and sports clubs and received advice on their position. Tax policy decisions remain a matter for HMRC.
Education
Academies: Gillingham
Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many schools in Gillingham and Rainham constituency have (a) converted and (b) applied to convert to academy status. [57872]
Mr Gibb: At present, one school in the Gillingham and Rainham constituency has converted to academy status: Rainham School for Girls, which opened in February 2011. Rainham Mark Grammar School has applied to convert to academy status. There is one sponsored academy already open in the Gillingham and Rainham constituency—Brompton Academy—which opened in September 2010.
Full details of schools that have formally applied for academy status, as well as a list of academies that have opened in the academic year 2010/11 can be found on the Department for Education’s academies website at:
http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/typesof schools/academies/a0069811/schools-submitting-applications-and-academies-that-have-opened-in-201011
Arts: Education
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the total number of full-time equivalent specialist art teacher posts in maintained (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools in each of the next three academic years. [57649]
Mr Gibb: The number of teachers that schools employ in future years will, as now, be a matter for them to decide, according to local needs and subject to statutory requirements on class sizes where appropriate. For funding purposes, the Department has produced overall estimates of teaching posts in state schools and academies in England.
The Government do not produce estimates of the future numbers of teaching posts in particular subjects. Estimates of the proportion of teachers working in secondary schools who will be qualified in different subjects are however produced as part of the Department for Education's teacher supply and demand modelling process. These estimates, broken down by subject, are not currently made for teachers working in primary schools.
The latest School Workforce Census data indicates there are around 13,200 art teachers in state funded secondary schools. Of these, around 11,400 hold a relevant post A-level qualification. Estimates for the future number of specialist art teachers in state funded secondary schools indicate that there will be a decrease of around 100 to 200 teachers in each year. This is in line with a decreasing requirement for secondary teachers as a result of the ongoing decline in secondary pupil numbers.
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Free Schools: South Yorkshire
Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many proposals for free schools in (a) Barnsley and (b) South Yorkshire his Department has received. [57992]
Mr Gibb: To date, the Department has received one proposal from a group in Barnsley seeking to establish a Free School, and a further five proposals have been received from groups in South Yorkshire.
Schools: Islam
Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what funding his Department has provided to Tifly Day Care in London since May 2010; [50824]
(2) what funding his Department has provided to the Islamic Shakhsiyah Foundation schools in London since May 2010. [50825]
Sarah Teather: The two Islamic Shakhsiyah Foundation (ISF) schools in Haringey and Slough are registered independent schools. They receive no direct funding from the Department for Education.
Haringey council has advised the Department that Tifly Day Care forms part of the London school. The LA has given the school money, for free early education. Slough borough council has also allocated funding to the ISF school in its borough for free early education
The Secretary of State for Education, the right hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), wrote to both local authorities in October 2010 seeking assurances about the processes they had in place to ensure that public funds are being spent appropriately, and are not being used to further extremism. Both authorities agreed that, on the basis of information available to them, they had no reason to withdraw early years funding from the schools.
Subsequently, the school in Haringey was inspected in October 2010. It was inspected by Ofsted rather than the Bridge Schools Inspectorate at the explicit request of the Secretary of State. The overall judgment of the quality of education provided was ‘inadequate’. It was served with a notice to improve. Further action will follow.
The Government are clear that there should be no place for extremist views in any school or early years settings. That is why we have established a Preventing Extremism Unit within the Department for Education focusing specifically on safeguards such as strengthening the regulatory framework to ensure extremists cannot operate in schools or early years settings.
Schools: Vocational Guidance
Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to implement the recommendation of the report of the Independent Review of Higher Education in respect of the provision to pupils of individualised careers advice delivered by certified professionals. [58188]
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Mr Gibb: Subject to the passage of the Education Bill, schools will be under a duty to secure access to independent and impartial careers guidance for their pupils from September 2012. Under the new duty, schools will be free to make arrangements for careers guidance that fit the needs and circumstances of their students, including determining the appropriate balance between web-based, telephone and face to face support. In support of the new duty, schools will be able to access high quality support from providers who have achieved a national quality standard for careers guidance.
Paul Uppal: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what his policy is on the provision of funding for new careers advice services in schools and colleges. [58212]
Mr Gibb: Subject to the passage of the Education Bill, schools will be responsible for securing independent careers guidance for their pupils from September 2012. We will be consulting on extending the duty to colleges in due course. Schools and colleges will be free to determine their local arrangements, including decisions relating to the local funding of careers guidance. Online and helpline services currently funded by the Department for Education will, during the academic year 2011/12, be integrated with those for adults as part of the establishment of a National Careers Service.
Students
Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to ensure that local authorities are meeting statutory obligations to pupils under alternative provision. [58581]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 9 June 2011]: Local authorities' statutory obligation with regard to alternative provision is to arrange suitable education for pupils who fall under section 19 of the Education Act 1996.
At present, this education only has to be full-time for those pupils who have been permanently excluded from school. We believe that all pupils who fall under section 19 should be entitled to full-time education, unless this is inappropriate for health reasons.
That is why we have taken measures to commence section 3A of the Children, Schools and Families Act 2010 from September 2011. This section redefined the section 19 duty, to the effect that the education should be full-time for all pupils in alternative provision, unless there are reasons which relate to the physical or mental health of the child which would mean that this would not be in the child's best interests.
There is no duty upon local authorities to report the provision they make for the pupils who fall within the scope of section 19. We have no plans to require local authorities to provide this information. The Department for Education investigates any parental concerns about such provision, and the Secretary of State has powers to intervene where a local authority is not fulfilling its statutory duty.
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Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund: Doncaster
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding has been provided from the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund for organisations in Doncaster in each year of the fund's operation. [58418]
Richard Benyon:
The Aggregates Levy Database records Doncaster council, an Aggregates Levy Sustainability
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Fund (ALSF) delivery partner, as distributing £188,600 for community-based projects.
Doncaster council will also have benefited from a total of £1,623,887 of funds (including the £188,600) that has been distributed to South Yorkshire region since the ALSFs inception in 2002 and will have also benefited from general national ALSF-funded projects and research activities.
A table listing the 20 projects funded within the South Yorkshire region (including Doncaster) follows:
| Grant funds distributed by delivery partners in South Yorkshire (including Doncaster) since 2002 | ||
| Delivery partner | Project duration | Grant (£) |
| (1) Not stated. Source: Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund Database. | ||
Beaches: Morecambe
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to ensure that beaches in Morecambe are safe for bathing. [59236]
Richard Benyon: Bathing water quality in Morecambe has improved over the last 30 years as a result of significant investment.
The National Environment Programme that forms part of United Utilities' Asset Management Plan for 2010-15 includes 10 schemes designed to improve bathing water quality in the Morecambe area.
Natural England and the Environment Agency have proposed a two-year partnership project on the lower River Lune estuary under DEFRA's Catchment Sensitive Farming initiative. This would promote voluntary action by farmers and other land managers to tackle diffuse water pollution from agriculture.
An urban diffuse pollution project by United Utilities is nearing completion. It examines surface water outfalls along the Heysham and Morecambe sea front and has highlighted several areas of concern that the Environment Agency is working closely with United Utilities to resolve.
Crown Relocations
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many contracts her Department holds with Crown Relocations; and what the (a) purpose and (b) monetary value is of each such contract. [58644]
Richard Benyon: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and its Executive Agencies hold no contracts with Crown Relocations.
Droughts
Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on the management of future long spells of dry weather. [58340]
Richard Benyon: There is a robust statutory framework in place for managing the impacts of dry weather. Water resources legislation enables Government to manage water abstraction demands, taking account of water availability, and the needs of businesses, consumers and the environment. In addition, water companies prepare and maintain statutory drought plans that set out the actions they will take in response to drought in order to maintain the public water supply.
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Climate change is expected to increase the pressure on our water resources and may lead to an increase in frequency of extreme weather events such as droughts.
The Natural Environment White Paper, published on 7 June, announced our intention to provide clearer signals to drive investment decisions to meet water needs and protect ecosystems. The Water White Paper, which is due to be published in December, will provide further details regarding abstraction.
Exhaust Emissions: Bus Services
Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the contribution of emissions from public service vehicles to breaches of EU standards for maximum levels of nitrogen oxides in (a) London and (b) other metropolitan areas. [59017]
Richard Benyon: The Government have completed an assessment of the contribution from all road transport sources to emissions of oxides of nitrogen in London and all other metropolitan areas where there are exceedences of the nitrogen dioxide limit value. This assessment takes into account emissions from public service vehicles and buses and has been published as part of a consultation on draft air quality plans for nitrogen dioxide, which is available on the DEFRA website at:
www.defra.gov.uk/consult/2011/06/09/air-quality/
Flooding: St Albans
Mrs Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what recent assessment the Environment Agency has made of the risk of flooding in St Albans constituency; [59192]
(2) what recent steps have been taken by the Environment Agency to reduce the risk of flooding in St Albans constituency. [59193]
Richard Benyon: The Environment Agency's latest flood zone maps identify that approximately 1,400 properties are at significant risk of flooding from local river systems within the St Albans constituency.
The Environment Agency is in contact with St Albans district council to identify surface water and flooding alleviation options for its local watercourse systems. If any viable schemes can be identified, these will be included as funding bids under a future works programme.
The Environment Agency is also liaising with Hertfordshire county council to establish a prioritised programme of works to address surface water flooding as identified by its surface water management plans.
Forests
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made on proposals to extend the boundaries of the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty into the Lune Valley. [59235]
Richard Benyon:
Natural England has no plans to amend the boundaries of the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Current efforts focus
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on consulting on proposals for the Lune Valley to the north of Kirkby Lonsdale to form part of an extension to the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
G4S
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many contracts her Department holds with G4S; and what the (a) purpose and (b) monetary value of each such contract is. [58676]
Richard Benyon: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and its Executive agencies hold no contracts with G4S.
Motor Vehicles: Litter
Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress she has made in examining proposals to amend the law on litter from motor vehicles. [58470]
Richard Benyon [holding answer 9 June 2011]: It is a crime to drop litter, and the offender can be prosecuted in a magistrates court and fined. Littering from a vehicle, especially when it is travelling at speed, presents particular difficulties for local authority enforcement officers in clearly identifying the offender.
An amendment tabled during the Commons Report stage of the Localism Bill proposes to extend the scope of the current offence of littering to make the registered keeper of a vehicle criminally liable whether or not they were present or personally responsible for the littering. That approach raises serious concerns over fairness and proportionality.
A key element in tackling litter is changing littering behaviour. That is why the Government are supporting, through their grant to the charity Keep Britain Tidy, the Love Where You Live campaign which draws together business, communities, local authorities and civil society organisations in partnership to secure a lasting change in behaviour. As part of this, we will be looking to work further with business and others to develop ways of tackling vehicle litter.
Borough councils in London will shortly be able to use new powers acquired through a private Bill currently before Parliament to tackle vehicle littering by issuing a civil penalty. It makes sense for Government to seek to learn the lessons of that approach in London before considering further legislation in this area.
Noise: Heathrow Airport
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress her Department has made in implementing the provisions of the Noise Policy Statement for England at Heathrow and the surrounding area. [58190]
Richard Benyon:
The Noise Policy Statement for England (NPSE) is becoming embedded in a wide range of policies including the White Paper “Creating Growth, Cutting Carbon—Making Sustainable Local Transport Happen”, published in January 2011, and the consultation document “Developing a sustainable framework for
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UK aviation: Scoping document”, published in March 2011, both of which affect Heathrow and the surrounding area.
Furthermore, the various noise action plans adopted under the environmental noise directive, including those covering the London agglomeration, major roads, major railways and Heathrow airport also embrace the principles found in the NPSE.
Consequently, good progress is being made in implementing the NPSE at Heathrow and the surrounding area.
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the UK's capacity to meet its obligations under the EU Environmental Noise Directive at Heathrow and the surrounding area. [58191]
Richard Benyon: The production of Noise Action Plans (NAPs) is a legal requirement under the Environmental Noise Directive 2002/49/EC. The NAPs for 23 agglomerations, including London, and for major roads and railways have been adopted and published. The London Agglomeration NAP, which includes Heathrow and the surrounding area, and the associated first priority location maps, can be found at:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/quality/noise/environmental-noise/action-plans/
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Meriden (Mrs Spelman), formally adopted the Noise Action Plan for Heathrow airport on 19 May 2011 and the final plan will shortly be published by the airport.
Consequently, together with the noise mapping that was completed in 2007 and the information that can be found on the DEFRA website showing the results of the mapping, the UK has fully met all its obligations with regard to the environmental noise directive at Heathrow and the surrounding area.
Rats: Henderson Island
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the rat infestation on Henderson Island. [59033]
Richard Benyon: DEFRA has made no assessment of the rat infestation on Henderson Island.
However, two studies on rat eradication on Henderson Island, funded through the Overseas Territories Environment Programme (OTEP), were completed in 2008 and 2009. Since then an OTEP-funded detailed
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operational plan for rat eradication was prepared as part of a project managed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).
At the tenth Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Nagoya, Japan, last October, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Meriden (Mrs Spelman), was pleased to announce that DEFRA would be committing £200,000 towards an RSPB initiative to support the endangered Henderson petrel, also safeguarding populations of other important, threatened bird species and restoring a globally-significant island ecosystem on Henderson Island.
This brings the total funding that Her Majesty's Government have so far contributed towards the eradication of rats on Henderson Island to over £400,000.
Serco
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many contracts her Department holds with Serco; and what the (a) purpose and (b) monetary value of each such contract is. [58659]
Richard Benyon: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has a multi-source framework agreement with Serco Consulting. This framework is for the provision of interim programme and project managers. The framework contract expires on 2 December 2011. There are currently no active contracts under this agreement for the Department.
The Department and its executive agencies hold no other contracts with Serco.
Trade Unions
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many staff of (a) her Department, (b) Animal Health, (c) the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, (d) Forest Research, (e) Forest Enterprise (England), (f) the Food and Environment Research Agency, (g) the Marine and Fisheries Agency, (h) the Rural Payments Agency, (i) the Veterinary Laboratories Agency and (j) the Veterinary Medicines Directorate are entitled to work (i) full-time as trade union representatives and (ii) part-time on trade union activities; how many such staff are paid more than £25,900 annually; and what the cost to the public purse of employing such staff on such duties was in the latest period for which figures are available. [56441]
Richard Benyon: The information requested is set out in the following table.
|
|
|
Number of full time TU representatives | Number of part time TU representatives | Number of reps who earn more than £25,900 annually |
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| (1) We have recently completed a review of Trade Union facility time in core DEFRA. This will result in a reduction in the cost of facility time from 2011-12 (an annual saving of £89,000). The representation will be reduced to two full-time representatives and 13 part-time representatives. Further work is planned to reduce the cost and streamline the management of trade union activity within DEFRA and its Agencies. (2) Animal Health, and the Veterinary Laboratories Agency, merged into one new Agency, Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency on 1 April 2011. (3) The Forestry Commission, which includes Forest Research and Forest Enterprise England is a cross border body which does not separately account for the trade union activity it supports by country or area of activity. (4) Number cannot be provided because it is less than five and therefore not disclosable on the grounds of confidentiality. (5) The Marine and Fisheries Agency was subsumed into the Marine Management Organisation on 1 April 2010. | ||||
The cost to the public purse of time that staff spent on trade union duties in the 2010-11 financial year for the organisations shown was £1,251,000. The latest figure available for RPA is for the 2009-10 financial year and this has therefore been used in the total cost figure.
Waste Management: EU Law
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made on progress in meeting obligations under the EU Waste Framework Directive. [58202]
Richard Benyon: The regulations transposing the revised Waste Framework Directive (2008/98/EC) in England and Wales came into force on 29 March 2011 and no assessment has yet been made of their implementation. Article 37 requires member states to submit reports on their implementation of the directive to the European Commission every three years and the first report must be submitted by 30 September 2013. The transposing regulations will be monitored in order to prepare that report and will be reviewed in the light of the report that is submitted.
Water: Sports
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will consider the merits of introducing a statutory right of access for unpowered craft to inland water for recreational purposes. [50603]
Richard Benyon: We have no plans to introduce a statutory right of access to inland water for unpowered craft for recreational purposes. We are keen to achieve far greater levels of access to waterways for canoeists and other users by encouraging locally agreed, voluntary, access agreements. This fits very well with the big society agenda as it will give access where it is needed and meet the needs of all users and interested parties.
Waterways Trust
Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to ensure that the British Waterways Charitable Trust will receive adequate funding to maintain its inland waterways network. [59061]
Richard Benyon: The majority of funding for British Waterways comes from its commercial activities and through its licensing operations. During the last spending review period, grant contributed between 30% and 35% of British Waterways' revenue which is spent on the waterways in England and Wales.
In the current, tough fiscal environment, the Government will give the new waterways charity the best possible start. It has already committed to transfer BW's commercial property portfolio and committed to long-term funding at the 2014-15 level (£39 million) to 2022-23 inclusive. The terms and conditions of the funding will be subject to negotiation with the recently appointed trustees of the new waterways charity.
Making British Waterways a charitable company creates new opportunities for growing income from private and commercial sources, making efficiencies and forming supportive partnerships. The charity will also be able to borrow against its assets and so expand income in the longer term.
Defence
Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 23 May 2011, Official Report, columns 388-9W, on Afghanistan: peacekeeping operations, when he expects pre-deployment training on cultural and gender awareness to be available to members of the armed forces. [58382]
Nick Harvey: As stated in the answer of 23 May 2011, Official Report, columns 388-89W, all personnel deployed to any operational theatre already undertake law of armed conflict training which covers the status of protected persons including women and children and some cultural awareness training as part of their pre-deployment preparation.
In accordance with the UK National Action Plan on UNSCR 1325, the Ministry of Defence is committed to continuously developing and delivering its pre-deployment training on cultural (including gender) awareness for the UK armed forces. Training is regularly reviewed and updates will be incorporated as and when they are appropriate.
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date in January 2011 the tour of duty of soldiers of 2 Signal Regiment in Afghanistan ended; on what date an aircraft was provided to fly them home; what the reasons were for the length of the period of time between the end of the tour of duty and the flight home; what steps he is taking to reduce the length of time between the end of tours of duty on active service overseas and the transport of service personnel to the UK; and if he will make a statement. [58400]
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Nick Harvey: 2 Signal Regiment conducted their Transfer of Authority on 15 January 2011. It is standard practice to stagger the arrival and departure of a unit's personnel to and from Afghanistan, in order to maintain operational capability, balance troop movements across theatre and aid in ensuring a smooth handover from one unit to another. Therefore, the unit requested their personnel be transported home on four flights, departing theatre on 14, 17, 19 and 21 January 2011.
However, due to aircraft serviceability and availability issues, the flights departed Afghanistan on 15, 18, 20 and 22 January 2011 respectively. Any delays to the airbridge are regrettable, but we must recognise the difficult circumstances in which it operates, transporting large volumes of personnel, equipment and supplies in hazardous conditions.
Army: Manpower
Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many potential army recruits were referred from army selection centres to Cardiac Report Ltd in each of the last five years; what the cost to the public purse was of the contract with Cardiac Report Ltd in each such year; and how many of those recruits who were referred were subsequently declared fit following their visit to the company. [59219]
Mr Robathan: Cardiac Report Ltd provides specialist pre-employment screening services for the Army. Any Army applicants identified with having a possible cardiac abnormality at Army development and selection centres are referred for detection and evaluation.
The numbers of potential Army recruits referred by Army development and selection centres to Cardiac Report Ltd and those whose screenings were found to be normal for cardiac abnormalities over the past five calendar years are shown in the following table:
| Number | ||
|
|
Applicants s een | Normal screenings |
Figures for those whose results were found to be normal after screening have been provided rather than those who have subsequently been declared medically fit for Army service. Applicants may be found to have other problems which preclude enlistment and it would take a considerable amount of work to cross check every record to see how they fared overall and this could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The cost of the contract with Cardiac Report Ltd over the past five financial years rounded to the nearest pound is shown in the following table:
| Financial year | Cost (£) |
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The overall cost to the public purse over the last five years has been £4,360,042.
Falkland Islands
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what dates (a) he, (b) other Ministers in his Department and (c) officials in his Department have visited or contacted their counterpart in (i) the Falkland Islands and (ii) countries of South America since May 2010. [58278]
Nick Harvey: Between May 2010 and 1 June 2011, the following visits to South America and the Falkland Islands were undertaken by Ministers and officials from the Ministry of Defence (MOD).
The Minister for International Security Strategy (Mr Howarth) visited Brazil in September 2010 and in April 2011.
The Chief of the Navy Staff visited Chile in September 2010.
The Chief of the Air Staff visited Brazil in March 2011.
The Commander in Chief Air Command visited Chile and the Falkland Islands in March 2011.
In addition to these visits, there is constant formal and informal contact between MOD officials at all levels with their South American counterparts. Details of this contact is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Routine contacts between the United Kingdom and South American nations are conducted through the United Kingdom Defence Attaché posts in Argentina (with non-resident accreditation to Uruguay), Brazil, Chile and Colombia (with non-resident accreditation to Peru). Moreover, regular contact is undertaken with the Defence Attaches from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela who are based in London.
There is, of course, constant communication between the Falkland Islands Government and the staff of Headquarters British Forces South Atlantic Islands which is based at Mount Pleasant in the Falkland Islands.
Libya: Armed Conflict
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the cost to the public purse of military operations in Libya to date. [59180]
Dr Fox: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 11 May 2011, Official Report, column 1208W.
Military Decorations
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received in favour of recommending the award of a National Defence Medal. [58373]
Mr Robathan: To date the Ministry of Defence has received approximately 260 representations from Members of Parliament and the public in support of the institution of a National Defence Medal.
13 Jun 2011 : Column 567W
Business, Innovation and Skills
Apprentices: Government Departments
John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many apprentices there are in each Government Department. [58741]
Mr Hayes: The latest available data collected by Government Skills cover apprenticeship starts during the period April 2010 to March 2011. During this period there were a total of 2,120 apprenticeship starts within Government Departments.
Energy: Housing
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the potential size of the market for securities backed by Green Deal receivables. [58270]
Gregory Barker: I have been asked to reply.
Detail on the potential market for Green Deal installations is set out in our impact assessment on the Department's website at:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/legislation/energybill/1002 -energy-bill-2011-ia-green-deal.pdf
13 Jun 2011 : Column 568W
Green Deal is a market-led product, so delivery will ultimately depend on sign-up by Green Deal providers and customers.
The Department has been engaging closely with the finance and investment community regarding the provision of finance for Green Deal. Our engagement to date has suggested that the issue of securities backed by Green Deal payments may be one means of keeping the cost of finance low. Investors have told us that Green Deal backed securities, if created, would be, in principle, an attractive proposition which would increase diversity in the market for this type of investment.
Higher Education: Brighton
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many and what proportion of schools in Brighton and Hove council area sent at least one pupil to the university of (a) Oxford and (b) Cambridge in each of the last 13 years. [59133]
Mr Willetts: The information is in the following table and is provided by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
| Schools in Brighton and Hove with Applicants accepted to full-time undergraduate courses at Oxford university or university of Cambridge via UCAS | ||||
| Oxford university | University of Cambridge | |||
| Year of entry | Number of schools with acceptances | Percentage of schools with acceptances | Number of schools with acceptances | Percentage of schools with acceptances |
| Source: UCAS | ||||
Schools have been identified as those with a postcode in the Brighton and Hove local authority. The figures cover schools classed by UCAS as comprehensive, grammar, independent and other secondary schools in England. Other kinds of centres have not contributed to this analysis. Only schools from which UCAS received applications in the cycle concerned have contributed to the proportion calculation. Figures do not account for students accepted to Oxford or Cambridge who applied directly, rather than via UCAS.
Detailed data on applications via secondary schools are only available from 2001. Data for earlier years have not been provided as the necessary reference data are not available.
Higher Education: Hastings
Amber Rudd: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many and what proportion of schools in Hastings and Rye constituency sent at least one pupil to the university of (a) Oxford and (b) Cambridge in each of the last 13 years. [59134]
Mr Willetts: The information is in the following table and is provided by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
| Schools in Hastings and Rye with applicants accepted to full-time undergraduate courses at Oxford u niversity or u niversity of Cambridge via UCAS | ||||
| Oxford u niversity | u niversity of Cambridge | |||
| Year of entry | Number of schools with acceptances | Percentage of schools with acceptances | Number of schools with acceptances | Percentage of schools with acceptances |
13 Jun 2011 : Column 569W
13 Jun 2011 : Column 570W
| Source: UCAS | ||||
Schools have been identified as those with a postcode in the Hastings and Rye constituency. The figures cover schools classed by UCAS as comprehensive, grammar, independent and other secondary schools in England. Other kinds of centres have not contributed to this analysis. Only schools from which UCAS received applications in the cycle concerned have contributed to the proportion calculation. Figures do not account for students accepted to Oxford or Cambridge who applied directly, rather than via UCAS.
Detailed data on applications via secondary schools are only available from 2001. Data for earlier years have not been provided as the necessary reference data are not available.
Higher Education: Sunderland
Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many people resident in Sunderland central constituency applied to attend university in academic year (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11; and how many such applicants were successful. [58907]
Mr Willetts: The information is in the following table and has been provided by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
Applicants who were not accepted for entry will include: individuals who did not receive any offer; individuals who received an offer (conditional or unconditional) but decided not to go to university; individuals who received a ‘conditional’ offer and failed to meet the specific conditions (e.g. they did not achieve certain grades); and individuals who decided to withdraw from the UCAS system.
| Applicants and accepted applicants to full-time undergraduate courses at UK institutions from Sunderland c entral constituency, 2009/10 and 2010/11 | ||
|
|
Applicants | Accepted applicants |
| Note: Figures do not include applicants to higher education who do not apply through UCAS (i.e. people who apply directly to institutions). Source: UCAS. | ||
Insolvency
Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent representations he has received on the (a) governance of the Insolvency Service and (b) practices of insolvency administrators; and if he will take steps to improve the service offered by the Insolvency Service to businesses. [59326]
Mr Davey: I am not aware that my Department has received any recent representations on the governance of the Insolvency Service or the practices of its insolvency administrators (official receivers).
The Insolvency Service continuously strives to improve its services to businesses and conducts extensive discussions with its key stakeholders to achieve this. The service is also subject to my Department's rolling internal audit programme.
Intellectual Property
Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what his policy is on the implementation of the recommendation of the Gowers Review of Intellectual Property on a limited private copying exception for format shifting for certain works. [58524]
Mr Davey [holding answer 10 June 2011]: The Hargreaves Review of Intellectual Property and Growth, which was published in May, recommended that Government realise all opportunities within the EU framework for exceptions to copyright infringement. This included a recommendation to introduce a private copying exception to allow format shifting, similar to the recommendation of the Gowers Review. The Government are currently considering their response to the review, and will outline their approach to copyright exceptions as part of this.
Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to bring forward legislation on orphan works. [58565]
Mr Davey: The Hargreaves Review of IP and Growth published on 18 May made recommendations as to what it is required to deliver an effective orphan works solution. The European Commission also published on 24 May a draft directive to deliver an EU-wide orphan works solution. The Government are currently considering both of these documents and will outline the next steps to be taken as part of the Government response to the Hargreaves report.
Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has considered the merits of implementing the recommendation of the Gowers Review of Intellectual Property to introduce an exception to copyright for the purpose of caricature, parody or pastiche. [58566]
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Mr Davey: The Hargreaves Review of Intellectual Property and Growth, which was published in May, recommended that Government realise all opportunities within the EU framework for exceptions to copyright infringement. This included a recommendation to introduce an exception for parody, caricature or pastiche, similar to the recommendation of the Gowers review. The Government are currently considering their response to the review, and will outline their approach to copyright exceptions as part of this.
Intellectual Property: Distance Learning
Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what his policy is on the implementation of the recommendation of the Gowers Review of Intellectual Property on amending sections 35 and 36 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 in relation to distance learning and interactive whiteboards. [58521]
Mr Davey [holding answer 10 June 2011]: The Hargreaves Review of Intellectual Property and Growth, which was published in May, recommended that Government realise all opportunities within the EU framework for exceptions to copyright infringement. This could include exceptions for educational use, such as those recommended by the Gowers Review, as well as other uses of copyright materials. The Government are currently considering their response to the review, and will outline their approach to copyright exceptions as part of this.
Luke Molnar
Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he plans to respond to the report of 16 March 2011 from HM Coroner for Greater Manchester South under Rule 43 of the Coroners (Amendment) Rules 2008 relating to the death of Luke John Molnar and the regulation of companies offering foreign expeditions. [58899]
Mr Davey: The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), responded to HM Coroner for Greater Manchester South on 17 May 2011.
Members: Correspondence
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Bridgend (Mrs Moon) of 18 March 2011, reference MM/JH/18/03/2011. [58395]
Mr Davey: My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills replied, on 30 November 2010, to the 23 November 2010 letter which the hon. Member for Bridgend included in her letter of 18 March 2011.
No. 1 Hamm Strasse
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will direct his Department to initiate an investigation into the conduct of the directors of No. 1 Hamm Strasse Ltd in relation to its entry into administration. [59479]
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Mr Davey: The administrators of No. 1 Hamm Strasse Ltd were appointed on 1 February 2011 and they are required to report on the conduct of the directors under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 by 1 August 2011 on whether or not in their opinion the conduct of the directors makes them unfit to be concerned in the management of a company. They have not yet reported to the Insolvency Service.
When the report is received, the Insolvency Service, on behalf of the Secretary of State, will consider whether any reported matters warrant further investigation and has a discretionary power to seek a director(s) disqualification where it is believed to be in the public interest.
Overseas Students: English Language
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what representations he has received from universities on the effects of the UK Border Agency's new English language requirements on students who have already been offered places for the next academic year; and if he will make a statement. [59306]
Mr Willetts: I have received representations from a number of vice-chancellors about the difficulties universities are experiencing with the implementation of the new English language requirements and I am also in close contact with Professor Steve Smith, President of Universities UK. I have discussed the universities' concerns with the Minister for Immigration, my hon. Friend the Member for Ashford (Damian Green), and he has meanwhile met a group of university representatives to clarify the new requirements.
Regional Development Agencies: Assets
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made on the effect on growth of the sale of regional development agency assets; and if he will make a statement. [57972]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 8 June 2011]:Government outlined last year in their Local Growth White Paper how they plan to achieve growth in the regions. The White Paper set out clear principles which Government and regional development agencies (RDAs) are using to decide the final destination and ownership of RDA assets. RDAs submitted their asset and liabilities plans to Government for approval on 31 January 2011. These plans have been drawn up and assessed, against the principle of achieving the best possible outcome for their regions consistent with achieving value for the public purse.
Students: Finance
Mr Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 3 May 2011, Official Report, column 717W, on students: finance, what budget his Department allocated to advertisements on (a) radio, (b) television, (c) online and (d) other media to communicate student finance arrangements for each year from 1999-2000 to 2010-11. [56291]
13 Jun 2011 : Column 573W
Mr Willetts: The table provides a breakdown of expenditure for (a) radio, (b) television, (c) online and (d) other media committed by the Department to communicating student finance arrangements. The table includes a similar breakdown for expenditure undertaken by the Student Loans Company (SLC). Records are only required to be kept for seven years: thus these figures are not available before 2002/03.
Communications expenditure incurred against activity other than radio, television or online advertising is accounted for within the ‘other media’ column, which
13 Jun 2011 : Column 574W
includes items such as PR, press advertisements, events, booklets, leaflets, posters, DVDs, research and evaluation.
To date the Department has allocated £1.475 million to the recently launched information campaign aimed at potential students considering entering university from September 2012. This allocation has been accounted for against the 2011-12 financial year and therefore is not accounted for in the table.
Expenditure by media covering the financial years 1999-2010 was as follows:
| Financial year | (a) Radio | (b)TV | (c) Digital | (d) Other media |
Supermarkets: Competition
Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the operation of the Grocery Supply Chain Code of Practice; and what assessment he has made of the risk to UK horticulture industry of comparative pricing competition arising from surplus stocks from the EU and Spain following the recent e-coli outbreak in Germany. [59480]
Mr Davey: None. On 24 May 2011 the Government published a draft Groceries Code Adjudicator Bill, starting the parliamentary procedure for enacting the Groceries Code Adjudicator.
Trade Unions
Gavin Williamson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what funding his Department has provided to (a) the National Union of Teachers, (b) the National Association of Schoolmasters and Union of Women Teachers, (c) the Association of
13 Jun 2011 : Column 575W
Teachers and Lecturers,
(d)
the National Association of Head Teachers and
(e)
schemes run by those organisations in each year since 1997. [56407]
Mr Davey: Since 2003, the Department and its predecessors have made the following payments:
| (a) National Union of Teachers | |
|
|
£ |
| (b) National Association of Schoolmasters and Union of Women Teachers | |
|
|
£ |
| (c) Association of Teachers and Lecturers | |
|
|
£ |
(d) National Association of Head Teachers
No payments have been made.
(e) Schemes run by the above organisations
No payments have been made.
Payment information prior to 2003 can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Church Commissioners
Churches: Repairs and Maintenance
Harriett Baldwin: To ask the hon. Member for Banbury, representing the Church Commissioners, if the Church Commissioners will ask the Secretary of State for Justice to introduce legislative proposals to amend the law in respect of liability for repair of church chancels. [59333]
13 Jun 2011 : Column 576W
Tony Baldry: The Church Commissioners have no plans to request the Secretary of State for Justice introduce legislative proposals amending the law for the repair of church chancels.
The Church Commissioners are responsible in whole or in part for the repair of around 800 chancels across all parts of the country. The Commissioners are seeking to register their liabilities based upon their existing ownership of land by 13 October 2013 in accordance with the provisions of the Land Registration Act 2002. After that date, liabilities based on land that are not registered as overriding interests will cease on the first sale of the subject land post-October 2013.
Energy and Climate Change
Biofuels
Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on opportunities to support biogas energy as part of the European Commission's proposals for the greening of Pillar One of the Common Agricultural Policy. [58889]
Gregory Barker: The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, my right hon. Friend the Member for Eastleigh (Chris Huhne), is in regular contact with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Meriden (Mrs Spelman), on a number of issues including the Common Agricultural Policy.
Carbon Emissions
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his policy is on measures to address carbon leakage in energy-intensive industries. [58271]
Gregory Barker: The best way to address carbon leakage is a legally binding international climate agreement. In the interim, the EU emissions trading system (EU ETS) directive provides for the free allocation of allowances to sectors deemed at risk. We support the proportionate free allocation of allowances to sectors at risk.
The EU ETS directive also allows member states to compensate sectors at risk of carbon leakage as a result of the indirect costs of the EU ETS (i.e. increases in electricity prices arising from the EU ETS) subject to a revision of the state aid guidelines. The Government recently responded to the Commission consultation on changes to the guidelines. We will take a decision on whether the UK will offer compensation once the Commission has published the revised state aid guidelines.
Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions he has had with devolved Ministers in Northern Ireland in relation to the introduction of a carbon price floor. [58959]
Gregory Barker:
There have been regular discussions at ministerial and official level between the Department and the Northern Ireland Executive on a range of issues, including Electricity Market Reform (EMR).
13 Jun 2011 : Column 577W
The carbon price floor is part of the EMR package. Northern Ireland Executive officials sit on the EMR Steering Board.
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans he has to introduce measures to protect energy-intensive industries from the effects of carbon price support. [59264]
Gregory Barker: As set out in the recent Fourth Carbon Budget statement on 17 May 2011, Official Report, column 176, the Government will announce by the end of the year a package of measures for the energy intensive industrial sector whose international competitiveness is most affected by UK energy and climate change policies. This will focus on reducing the impact of Government policy on the cost of electricity for those businesses which are critical to our growth agenda.
Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme
Nicky Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will discuss with industry representatives any further proposed changes to the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme. [58861]
Gregory Barker: The Department is currently considering responses to the stakeholder dialogue earlier this year on simplification of the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme. We will announce initial conclusions once we have assessed all the responses received.
Climate Change: Disclosure of Information
Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether the UK delegation voted against the decision on confidentiality of draft reports taken at the 33rd session of the Independent Panel on Climate Change. [58998]
Gregory Barker: The decision on confidentiality at the 33rd session was agreed by consensus; a vote was not required.
The UK considers that this IPCC Decision is in line with current IPCC practices for reviewing emerging reports, which seek to balance the need for openness and transparency of the assessment process with the risks of undermining the review process, or misleading the public, by openly exposing draft reports prematurely.
Conscious of the value of further developing transparency and openness, the UK urged the panel to consider ways to widen expert comments in the development of reports. The panel agreed that this would be taken forward as part of the ongoing work of the Task Group on Processes and Procedures.
Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will place in the Library a copy of proposal documents presented to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that informed the decision on confidentiality of draft reports taken at the 33rd Session of the IPCC. [58999]
13 Jun 2011 : Column 578W
Gregory Barker: The documents that were available to IPCC Members of relevance to this decision are publicly available on the IPCC website at the addresses below. These include comments from parties and office holders on an early set of draft proposals for changes to procedures and the final set of draft proposals that were considered at Plenary.
http://www.ipcc.ch/meetings/session33/inf01_p33_review_ report_tg_comments_gov.pdf
http://www.ipcc.ch/meetings/session33/doc12_p33_review_tg _proposal_procedures.pdf
Electricity
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to ensure that his proposals for electricity market reform support (a) non-domestic and (b) industrial energy efficiency measures. [58196]
Charles Hendry: The UK has a range of policies already in place or in development that support energy efficiency measures in the non-domestic and industrial sectors, including the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme, Climate Change Agreements and the Green Deal, which will be available to commercial as well as domestic customers.
A new Office for National Energy Efficiency will be established in DECC to drive forward a step change in energy efficiency across domestic and non-domestic sectors. The new office is expected to be operational by the autumn.
DECC is currently developing a White Paper which will set out proposals for Electricity Market Reform (EMR). We recognise that demand-side measures have an important contribution to make in supporting the transition to a low-carbon generating mix and ensuring security of supply. We are considering views raised in response to the EMR consultation on demand-side issues in development of the White Paper.
Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he has undertaken any analysis of the role of distributed energy from sites greater than 5MW in capacity as part of the Electricity Market Reform project. [58330]
Charles Hendry: We consulted on Electricity Market Reform in December 2010. We are currently developing the White Paper which will set out our proposals. We recognise the importance of generation and supply at all scales in order to meet our long-term objectives for decarbonising electricity generation, ensuring security of supply and managing increasing demand for electricity. This includes consideration of the role of distributed energy.
Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he proposes any measures to increase the uptake of distributed energy from sites of up to 50MW; and if he will make a statement. [58331]
Charles Hendry:
Yes. The Department will be publishing its Microgeneration Strategy, which also covers community-scale energy, later this month. This will be
13 Jun 2011 : Column 579W
in the form of an action plan for tackling barriers to the deployment of small-scale, distributed energy of all types.
For distributed electricity, we consulted on Electricity Market Reform in December 2010. Many respondents stressed the need to ensure that changes we make to the electricity system reflect the importance of electricity supply at all scales of the energy market, including distributed generation. As well as the primary challenge of ensuring sufficient investment and development in the large scale electricity generating capacity, we are also determined to ensure there is liquidity at all scales of the market and to address the issue of barriers to entry for small scale and independent generators.
For combined heat and power (CHP), DECC and Treasury officials are currently working with the industry on assessing suitable rates of relief from the carbon price floor.
Appropriate support for renewable CHP is currently being considered within the context of the banding review of the renewables obligation and work to develop the second phase of the renewable heat incentive, which will also support domestic renewable heat installations.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he has any plans to undertake further analysis of the role that demand side measures could play as part of the UK’s electricity system. [58393]
Charles Hendry: The Government are committed to encouraging and incentivising energy efficiency within the home, and in the public and private sectors, and has a range of policies in place to achieve this including current measures such as the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC), Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) and Community Energy Saving Programmes (CESP), and future measures such as the Green Deal and the Energy Company Obligation (ECO).
DECC is currently developing a White Paper which will set out proposals for Electricity Market Reform (EMR). We recognise that demand-side measures have an important contribution to make in supporting the transition to a low-carbon generating mix and ensuring security of supply. We are considering views raised in response to the EMR consultation on demand-side issues in development of the White Paper.
Energy Saving Trust
Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he plans to take to ensure that the Energy Saving Trust continues to make available to the general public resources funded from the public purse when it becomes a social enterprise. [58567]
Gregory Barker: EST will cease to receive core grant funding from DECC at the end of this financial year. EST are an independent body, but we would expect them, alongside others, to bid for the energy efficiency contracts that DECC will put out to competitive tender in the future.
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Energy: EC Countries
Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he has had with the European Commission on the level of financial support for expansion of the Trans-European Energy Network. [58895]
Charles Hendry: I have discussed the new EU legislation on energy infrastructure, expected this autumn, with the Commission on a number of occasions.
The Trans-European Energy Network programme (TEN-E), which the new legislation will replace, has a small budget and provides modest early-stage funding to those electricity and gas projects which are considered important for EU energy security and market integration. The Government's view is that infrastructure investment should be primarily financed by the private sector and driven by commercial considerations. However, we acknowledge that there could be instances where market failures might justify the award of limited public funding for priority projects. It will, however, be important to ensure that criteria are agreed governing the award of any such funding so that it is properly targeted and does not displace commercial financing.
Energy: Private Rented Housing
Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions his Department has had with representatives from the private rented sector on proposals in the Energy Bill for the Green Deal. [58409]
Gregory Barker: The Department has begun a productive dialogue with representatives from the private rented sector, which we will continue up to and post the launch of the Green Deal in 2012. The sector is also represented on one of the four key industry-led forums for the Green Deal.
Additionally, the Department has commissioned a piece of qualitative research considering domestic and non-domestic tenants' and landlords' reactions to the Green Deal. Findings from the work will be available in autumn 2011 in DECC's consultation paper on the Green Deal.
Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions his Department has had with representatives from tenants’ organisations regarding the proposals in the Energy Bill for the Green Deal to be applied to private rented accommodation. [58410]
Gregory Barker: We want the Green Deal to be an attractive offer to landlords and tenants alike. To this end, organisations representing tenants are feeding into one of the Government's four key industry-led forums for the Green Deal.
Energy: Training
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he has met representatives of (a) the nuclear industry and (b) the offshore wind industry to discuss the adequacy of skills provision to each industry since his appointment. [58305]
13 Jun 2011 : Column 581W
Charles Hendry: I regularly meet with representatives of the nuclear and offshore wind industries to discuss a wide range of issues including skills. In particular, I attended a dinner with the National Skills Academy for Nuclear and employers from across the nuclear sector to discuss the importance of skills to them and what they are collectively doing through the academy to ensure that the work force is appropriately trained for the nuclear industry.
Longannet Power Station
Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he expects to announce the result of the bidding process for Longannet Power Station to develop carbon capture storage. [58820]
Gregory Barker: Negotiations with the Scottish Power consortium on the UK's first carbon capture and storage demonstration project are ongoing, with contract signature expected before the end of 2011.
Microgeneration
Stephen Mosley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his Department has set a timetable for the inclusion of life cycle analysis disclosure in respect of domestic microgeneration installations as a requirement of qualification for (a) feed-in tariffs and (b) the renewable heat incentive. [59683]
Gregory Barker: Life cycle analysis is currently not reflected in the eligibility criteria for the feed-in tariffs (FITs) scheme. However, all aspects of the scheme including eligibility for FITs, are under consideration as part of the comprehensive review of the scheme this year.
We are currently considering the eligibility criteria for the renewable heat incentive. No final decisions have yet been taken and the criteria will be published for consultation at the end of the year. Details of the Renewable Heat Premium Payments scheme, including its eligibility criteria, will be set out shortly.
Renewable Energy
James Wharton: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether the target for renewable energy to supply 10 per cent. of UK electricity in 2010 was met. [58610]
Charles Hendry: Provisional figures for 2010 indicate that the percent of renewable electricity, as calculated on the basis specified by the 2001 Renewables Directive, was 7.2% in 2010.
The coalition Government are introducing a range of measures to encourage investment in renewables and the UK is on track to meet the 2011-12 interim target under the 2009 Renewable Energy Directive.
Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he has had with the European Commission on support for large-scale renewable energy installations. [58893]
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Gregory Barker: The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, my right hon. Friend the Member for Eastleigh (Chris Huhne) and the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Meriden (Mrs Spelman), wrote to the Energy and Environment Commissioners at the end of last year to ask them to give greater clarity to investors on the application of environmental protection legislation to large-scale renewable energy projects. Officials from DECC and DEFRA met Commission officials for discussions on this issue at the end of February.
Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs
Mr Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will bring forward proposals to compensate organisations which did not apply for the Low Carbon Buildings Programme in cases of inaccurate advice given by the Office for Renewable Energy Deployment about eligibility for payments under the feed-in tariff. [58348]
Gregory Barker: The Department cannot take responsibility for decisions taken by individuals or organisations about whether or not to apply for a public grant. This is a matter for the individuals and organisations concerned to consider on the basis of the available information, and bearing in mind the potential implications for eligibility for feed-in tariffs (FITs).
FITs are intended to replace, not supplement, public grant schemes as the principal means of incentivising small-scale low-carbon electricity generation. Advice from my Department has consistently made this clear. It has also consistently provided the most up to date information on exceptions to the general preclusion of FITs and grants in combination, and acknowledged uncertainty where that existed. For example, we provided clear advice at the start of the scheme that the European Commission's state aid decision on FITs would be relevant but that this was still pending.
James Wharton: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the cost to energy consumers of the feed-in-tariff scheme in each of the next five years following the implementation of proposed changes to tariff levels. [58538]
Gregory Barker: One of the primary objectives of the current review of feed-in tariffs is to ensure that the Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) scheme does not cost more to consumers than the amount set in last year's spending review (i.e. around £900 million over the period 2010-11 to 2014-15 in nominal undiscounted prices). This includes a saving of £40 million (around 10%) in 2014-15 compared with original projections carried out before the start of the scheme. It also represents a significant further saving compared with our estimation of likely spend in the absence of a review this year.
The spending review envelope for each year is shown in the following table. It is important to note that each year's figure includes the ongoing cost associated with installations commissioned in previous years.
13 Jun 2011 : Column 583W
|
|
Envelope (£ million) |
James Wharton: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will estimate the cost to energy consumers of the feed-in tariff scheme in 2020 if (a) no changes were made to the scheme announced in February 2010 and (b) the proposed changes to tariff levels are implemented. [58601]
Gregory Barker: Analysis undertaken for the Impact Assessment accompanying the Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) fast track review consultation estimated that the cost to energy consumers of the FITs scheme in 2020 could be £700 million to £800 million higher under unchanged tariffs compared to costs under the proposed fast track tariffs for large solar PV and farm-scale AD (in 2011 prices, discounted).