Invalid Vehicles
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans she has to amend the specification of class 1, 2 and 3 invalid vehicles as defined by the Road Traffic Act 1988; and if she will make a statement. [81005]
Norman Baker: There are no plans to amend regulations relating to class 1 ‘invalid carriages’ (manual wheelchairs). As part of the Department for Transport’s review of the use of powered mobility vehicles, I have asked my officials to undertake further work with transport operators, the mobility vehicles industry and user groups on a range of issues relating to the use of class 2 and class 3 ‘invalid carriages’ (mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs).
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I would also refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Bury South (Mr Lewis) of 26 October 2011, Official Report, column 249W, and my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Mid Dorset and North Poole (Annette Brooke) of 27 October 2011, Official Report, column 284W, for further details on my recent announcement.
Invalid Vehicles: Eyesight
Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether she plans to bring forward proposals to impose a minimum standard eyesight requirement on users of powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters; and whether she has any plans to extend such a standard to cyclists. [81132]
Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons her Department plans to implement a minimum eyesight requirement on users of powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters; and whether she has considered introducing such requirements for cyclists. [81211]
Norman Baker: As part of the Department for Transport's review of the use of mobility vehicles, I have asked my officials to undertake further work with transport operators, the mobility vehicles industry and user groups on a range of issues, including a possible minimum eyesight requirement for mobility vehicle users and incentives for them to meet these requirements. No final decision has been taken.
I would also refer the hon. Members to my answers to the hon. Member for Bury South (Mr Lewis) of 26 October 2011, Official Report, column 249W, and to my hon. Friend the Member for Mid Dorset and North Poole (Annette Brooke) of 27 October 2011, Official Report, column 284W, and for further details on my recent announcement.
There are no plans to require cyclists to meet a minimum eyesight requirement.
Large Goods Vehicles
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the likely cost of the trial of longer semi-trailer heavy goods vehicles in each year of its operation. [81193]
Mike Penning: The Department published a revised Impact Assessment on 11 October which covers the estimated impact of the 10-year trial. The central case estimates that the likely annual cost to Government will be around £40,000. This covers the issuing of Vehicle Special Orders and independent monitoring of the trial.
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the trial of longer semi-trailers for heavy goods vehicles will record the (a) proportion of empty-running vehicles and (b) fuel consumption of vehicles in relation to their load weight. [81196]
Mike Penning: The Department will be discussing the details of the data recording requirements with the independent monitoring body. However, the requirements will include data on fuel consumption and empty running.
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Large Goods Vehicles: Accidents
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how (a) accidents and (b) near-misses involving heavy goods vehicles taking part in the longer semi-trailer trial will be recorded. [81194]
Mike Penning: The Department will be discussing the detail of how these will be recorded with the independent monitoring body.
Motorways: Speed Limits
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which (a) road safety groups and (b) other organisations will be consulted on proposals to increase the national speed limit to 80mph on motorways. [80232]
Mike Penning: We plan to hold a full public consultation on the proposals to increase the national speed limit on motorways in England and Wales. We will invite responses from a broad range of stakeholders and individuals.
Piracy: Brazil
Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment her Department has made of the threat to UK shipping from piracy off the coast of Brazil. [79466]
Mike Penning: The Department is fully involved with discussions at the International Maritime Organisation on piracy issues and supports international counter- piracy activity. The International Maritime Bureau maintains figures on piracy attacks worldwide and, although I am aware of incidents off the coast of Brazil, this area has not been raised as a major concern for UK flagged vessels.
Public Transport: Olympic Games 2012
Bob Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what steps she plans to take to reduce disruption and delays to (a) bus and (b) train journeys in London during the London 2012 Olympic Games; [79729]
(2) what estimate she has made of potential delays to passenger journeys from Bromley into central London by (a) bus and (b) train during the London 2012 Olympic Games. [79734]
Mrs Villiers: Many of London's transport services are being delivered by Transport for London (TfL), as the integrated transport authority for London. Other transport operators, such as Network Rail, and Train Operating Companies also have a key role in ensuring that spectators can get to their events on time.
TfL is leading the work on demand reduction, initially through the travel advice to business programme which is engaging with businesses of all sizes to help them find ways of reducing their travel demand next summer. A further phase of this work, to engage with individual commuters and other travellers, is due to start in the new year.
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The Department for Transport will be leading Government's interests in the delivery of an effective transport system, which is a key part of hosting a successful Olympic Games.
Railways: Franchises
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she received notification that the new operator of the Greater Anglia franchise planned to reduce the overall capacity on its services; when the decision was made to award the franchise to Abellio; what consultations were held with her Department during the franchise bidding process in respect of future capacity; and if she will take immediate steps to require Abellio to maintain as a minimum the current level of service provided by National Express East Anglia. [80166]
Mrs Villiers [holding answer 14 November 2011]: The Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Justine Greening), was briefed on the proposition in line with the process for letting franchises. Following evaluation of bids and a robust analysis of competing bids, a final decision to award the franchise was taken by the Secretary of State on 19 October.
Abellio will provide the same level of service that will be operated by National Express East Anglia (NXEA) from December 2011. The introduction of the 168 train carriages across the Greater Anglia network during the NXEA franchise term has resulted in capacity being provided in excess of current demand. It is therefore possible to deliver the capacity requirements with a small reduction in carriages. This saves costs and is reflected in the premium to be paid to the Department. However, the fleet will be deployed more effectively which should enable crowding to be reduced on some services.
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the unsuccessful bidders for the Greater Anglia franchise had offered to maintain as a minimum the current level of service provided by National Express East Anglia; and if she will make a statement. [80167]
Mrs Villiers [holding answer 14 November 2011]:The Greater Anglia franchise invitation to tender required all bidders to continue to operate the current level of service being operated by National Express East Anglia until this franchise ends in July 2014.
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will decline to sign the franchise agreement with Abellio for the Greater Anglia franchise pending clarification of reports that the company plans to reduce capacity on the Greater Anglia franchise. [80169]
Mrs Villiers
[holding answer 14 November 2011]:The Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Justine Greening), entered into the contract with Abellio on 1 November 2011. Abellio will provide the same level of service that will be operated by National Express East Anglia (NXEA) from December 2011. The introduction of the 188 train carriages across the Greater Anglia network during the NXEA franchise
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term has resulted in capacity being provided in excess of current demand. It is therefore possible to deliver the capacity requirements with a small reduction in carriages.
I would draw the hon. Gentleman’s attention to the service improvements that Abellio will be delivering during its franchise, which are detailed in the press release I made on 20 October.
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much her Department has spent on (a) solicitors and (b) consultants on work on the (i) Northern rail, (ii) Southern rail, (iii) London Midland rail, (iv) South West rail and (v) East Midlands franchise in the last 12 months. [81173]
Mrs Villiers: The information requested is as follows:
(a) In the last 12 months the Department has spent the following amounts on solicitors (external) in connection with the franchises shown in the following table:
|
|
Amount |
The Department, in collaboration with Treasury Solicitors, has incurred legal expenses relating to South West Trains franchise. Estimate of potential charge to the Department is circa £75,000.
(b) In the last 12 months the Department has spent the following amounts on consultants in connection with the franchises shown in the following table:
|
|
Amount |
Road Traffic: Marble Arch
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions (a) she, (b) her Ministers and (c) officials in her Department have had on road traffic at the Marble Arch interchange with (i) representatives of foreign Governments and (ii) Westminster city council; and if she will make a statement. [80172]
Mrs Villiers [holding answer 14 November 2011]:With the exception of ‘trunk roads'; management of the road network in London has been devolved. Roads in London are therefore the responsibility of the local highway authority, either Transport for London or the relevant London borough.
In this instance, the Marble Arch interchange falls under the remit of Transport for London.
Roads
Jackie Doyle-Price:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much the Highways Agency has spent on (a) maintenance of the existing road network, (b)
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administrative and staff costs and
(c)
new road projects in the last three years. [81037]
Mike Penning: Information on the Highways Agency's expenditure on maintenance of the existing road network, administration and staff costs, and new road projects is included in the following table.
| £ million | |||
|
|
2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 |
Rolling Stock: Manufacturing Industries
Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 21 October 2011, Official Report, column 1195W, on Crossrail hire: rolling stock, whether the discussions referred to in the answer included consideration of the desirability of supporting the UK's train manufacturing industry. [78563]
Mrs Villiers: Discussions on Crossrail rolling stock have included consideration that the publication of Invitation to Negotiate documentation for the Crossrail rolling stock and depot procurement be deferred, as a consequence of revisions to the project's approach to commissioning of the new trains. It is recognised by all parties that this deferral will also allow any relevant conclusions of the Government's review of public procurement to be taken into account in the tender process. As required by EU procurement rules, all bids will be judged on a fair and level playing field with all bidders treated equally.
The Government's review of public procurement—part of the Government's growth review—is examining whether the UK is making best use of the application of EU procurement rules. The review will also consider the degree to which the Government can set out requirements and evaluation criteria with a sharper focus on the UK's strategic interest and how the Government can support businesses and ensure that when they compete for work they are doing it on an equal footing with their overseas competitors.
Speed Limits
Steve Brine: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what (a) statutory and (b) advisory guidance her Department issues to local authorities on the creation of new 30 mph speed limits. [79837]
Mike Penning: Local authorities are provided with advisory departmental guidance on setting local speed limits (DFT Circular 01/2006), which was published on 8 August 2006. The Strategic Road Safety Framework of May 2011 indicated that the Department will revise and reissue this guidance with the aim of increasing flexibility for local authorities. Alongside the revised guide there will be an economic tool for local authorities to assess the full costs and benefits of any changes to speed limits.
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Local authorities have a duty under section 85 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to erect and maintain speed limit signs that are either prescribed in the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002 (TSRGD) or authorised by the Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Justine Greening), on roads that they are responsible for. The Department is responsible for TSRGD and has published guidance on the use of speed signs in Chapter 3 of the Traffic Signs Manual.
These documents can be viewed on the Department's website but it is for traffic authorities to decide how to carry out their statutory duty.
Third Sector
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many letters she has received on funding for civil society organisations within her Department's area of responsibility in each month since 1 June 2010; and if she will make a statement. [73985]
Norman Baker: I regret that the information is not held in the format requested. Identification of the number of letters received regarding funding for civil sector organisations would incur disproportionate costs.
Transport: Infrastructure
Mr Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps her Department is taking to monitor transport infrastructure needs in relation to trends in the population to 2050 projected by the Office for National Statistics. [79944]
Mike Penning: The Department identifies potential needs for transport infrastructure using a wide range of evidence sources. This includes transport models which combine our statistics on travel behaviour with long-term projections, including population from the Office for National Statistics, to forecast travel demand.
The Department also collects and publishes a range of official statistics that track changes in people's travel behaviour and their use of transport infrastructure. Most of these statistics are summarised in “Transport Statistics, Great Britain”, the Department's main annual statistical compendium publication.
National Policy Statements (NPS) set out the Government's assessment of the need for different types of infrastructure, including in relation to trends in population. The Department intends shortly to designate an NPS for ports and to launch a consultation on a draft NPS for national road and rail networks.
The Department is also in the process of developing a strategy for a sustainable future for aviation, providing a framework which supports economic growth and addresses aviation's environmental impacts.
Travel: Concessions
Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether provision is in place to provide access to concessionary travel schemes for people who are unable to use scheduled public bus services as a result of disability. [81174]
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Norman Baker: Some community transport services provided under section 22 permits are eligible local bus services for the purposes of statutory concessionary travel. Local authorities are also able to offer travel concessions on any form of community transport on a discretionary basis.
Justice
Bail and Accommodation Support Services
Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent representations he has received on the operation of the joint working protocol on bail and accommodation support services. [80818]
Mr Blunt: Operational guidance on the bail accommodation and support service (BASS) is provided in Prison Service Instruction 34/2010 and Probation Instruction 09/2010 effective from the start of the contract with Stonham on 18 June 2010. Further guidance has not been issued.
I have received no representations.
Food Procurement
Laura Sandys: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department spent on food procurement in each year from 1997 to 2011. [80318]
Mr Djanogly: The Ministry of Justice was formed in 2007; hence details of expenditure on food from 1997 are not available. Information is provided in the following table for each full year to date. From 2010, the Department has restricted catering for internal and external meetings, including in our arm’s length bodies.
The following restrictions apply to all departmental staff:
No lunches, tea or coffees can be ordered for any internal meeting.
For external meetings, catering procurement requires director-level sign-off and are only allowed in exceptional circumstances.
| £ million | |||
|
|
2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 |
| (1) MOJ HQ: Catering costs for external meetings (i.e. including visitors/attendees external to the organisation) and staff training courses. (2) HMCTS: In addition to catering costs for external meetings and staff training courses, the figures also include the cost of catering for judiciary and jurors. (3) NOMS: The cost of food is in respect of public sector prisons, and almost entirely relates to the cost of providing food to the prison population in England and Wales. It does not include any associated costs such as contracted catering services, staff and prisoner labour and training costs, the purchase of kitchen and servery facilities, utilities and other overheads. These figures also include a minor element for the cost of external meetings and staff training courses. (4) OPG: Figures relate to catering costs ordered directly by OPG, for external meetings and staff training courses. Other catering costs are absorbed by the MOJ HQ. | |||
Older Workers
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people his Department employs who are aged over (a) 55 and (b) 65 years. [80828]
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Mr Blunt: On 30 June 2011, the latest date of headcount data published by the Office for National Statistics, the Ministry of Justice employed (a) 14,078 staff aged over 55 and (b) 1,083 staff aged over 65 years of age.
This includes paid staff in MOJ headquarters, the National Offender Management Service, Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service and the Office of the Public Guardian.
Secondary Legislation
Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many (a) statutory instruments, (b) ministerial orders and (c) other pieces of secondary legislation were issued by his Department in (i) 1990, (ii) 1995, (iii) each year since 1999 and (iv) 2011 to date. [78113]
Mr Djanogly: The number of Ministry of Justice statutory instruments issued in each year since 2007 (when the Ministry was created) is shown in the following table.
|
|
Number of statutory instruments issued |
The number of statutory instruments prepared by the Ministry’s predecessor Departments i.e. the Department for Constitutional Affairs (created in 2003) and before then the Lord Chancellor’s Department, and issued in each of the years 1990, 1995 and 1999 to 2007 is shown in the following table.
|
|
Number of statutory instruments prepared |
The figures listed in the above table include ministerial orders, Orders in Council and other types of secondary legislation prepared by the Ministry of Justice, Department for Constitutional Affairs or Lord Chancellor’s Department that were issued as statutory instruments.
Information regarding the number of ministerial orders and other pieces of secondary legislation prepared by the Ministry of Justice or its predecessor Departments that were not issued as statutory instruments is not held centrally and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.
Duchy of Cornwall
Andrew George:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what information his Department holds on whether under fee simple provisions the freehold of
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property in the county of Cornwall would revert to
(a)
the Crown and
(b)
the Duchy of Cornwall. [80490]
Mr Djanogly: Reverter may occur in the context of escheat or the operation of a right of reverter. When a freehold estate determines (for example by disclaimer) the land escheats to the Crown or, if situated within the Duchy of Lancaster or the Duchy of Cornwall, to the relevant Duchy. Where land is owned subject to an express or implied right of reverter the benefit of the right will vest in the relevant owner.
The Ministry of Justice does not hold information on whether freehold property in the county of Cornwall would, in this sense, revert to the Crown or the Duchy of Cornwall.
Harassment: Offenders
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he has any plans to require individuals convicted under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 to participate in mental health treatment in England and Wales. [79963]
Mr Blunt: There are no plans to specifically require individuals convicted under the Protection from Harassment Act to undergo mental health treatment. However, the courts have comprehensive powers under the Mental Health Act 1983 to assess any mentally disordered defendants during the trial process. This includes powers to divert offenders out of the criminal justice system, ordering their admission to a secure hospital by way of a hospital order.
For those offenders who meet the threshold of a community order, courts may make use of a Mental Health Treatment Requirement (MHTR) as part of a community order to help treat mental health problems. In all cases, an MHTR can only be issued if the offender has been assessed by a senior medical practitioner and they have expressed their willingness to comply.
We are currently taking provisions through the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill to remove the reliance upon the assessment of a senior medical practitioner to allow a wider range of medical practitioners to carry out the initial assessment, which would help reduce unnecessary bureaucracy and delays in the court process.
We are also working with the Department of Health and the Home Office to deliver the Government's commitment to roll out liaison and diversion services that identify mental health problems, and wider health needs, in police custody suites and at courts by 2014.
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether court reports by probation staff on people convicted under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 include social histories. [79964]
Mr Blunt: Pre-sentence court reports are prepared by probation staff where additional information about the offender's circumstances and suitability for a sentence is required. Pre-sentence court reports contain information on the current offence, relevant details of the offender's circumstances and include an assessment of risk posed by the offender, in order to assist the court to decide on the most appropriate sentence.
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Harassment: Victim Support Schemes
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many victims of stalking or harassment were referred to victim liaison units in probation trusts in England and Wales in each of the last five years. [79965]
Mr Blunt: The statutory Victim Contact Scheme is operated by probation trusts for the victims of qualifying serious sexual and violent offences, as defined by schedule 15 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, as amended, where the offender is sentenced to 12 months or more imprisonment, or for victims of certain mentally disordered offenders.
An offender who has been stalking or harassing a victim may have been convicted under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. Offences under section 4 of that Act (putting a person under fear of violence) are qualifying offences for the purposes of the Victim Contact Scheme. But some offenders will have been convicted of other violent or sexual offences as the primary offence. Data are not held centrally on the number of referrals by offence type to victim liaison units in probation trusts. Probation trusts would need to examine individual case files to determine whether the nature of the offence related to stalking or harassment, which would in turn incur disproportionate cost.
Prisons: Construction
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many (a) letters and (b) emails he has received on super prisons in the last 12 months; [80833]
(2) what recent discussions he has on the building of (a) new and (b) super prisons; and if he will make a statement; [80834]
(3) what recent discussions he has had on increasing the number of prison spaces; and if he will make a statement; [80841]
(4) how many flags his Department (a) owns and (b) maintains; and at what cost to the public purse. [80851]
Mr Blunt: ‘Super prison’ is not a term used by the Ministry of Justice for any of its prisons. However, three letters have been received on large prisons in the last 12 months.
The prison capacity programme that delivered its first places in 2007 is nearing completion. Two new prisons will be delivered in 2012 in London and Staffordshire.
Long-term decisions on the prison capacity programme will be taken in the light of future policy developments, but there are no current plans to build further new prisons in England and Wales. A number of contingency plans have been developed to manage fluctuations in the prison population. These contingencies include opening new accommodation early and using extra places in the public and private estate through crowding.
Obtaining information on how many flags the Department owns and maintains could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
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Remand in Custody
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people were remanded in custody in each of the last five years. [80988]
Mr Blunt: The total number of defendants remanded in custody at all courts, England and Wales, 2006-10 can be viewed in the following table. This includes those remanded in custody at any stage of proceedings who may have been granted bail at another stage of proceedings.
| Defendants remanded in custody during proceedings at magistrates courts (1) and remanded in custody at the Crown court, 2006-10 (2) | |||||
| Thousand | |||||
|
|
2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
| (1) Data presented in this table exclude those who failed to appear and committals for trial or sentence to the Crown court. (2) Magistrates courts data for 2010 are estimated. (3) Includes those remanded for part of the time in custody and part on bail. Note: Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services within the Ministry of Justice. | |||||
Social Security Benefits: Tribunals
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the average cost per hour of attendance at a benefits appeal tribunal of (a) the chair of the tribunal, (b) a medically qualified member and (c) an occupational therapy representative. [80692]
Mr Djanogly: The Social Security and Child Support Tribunal employs both salaried and fee-paid judges. Social Security and Child Support Tribunal fee-paid members are paid per session, and each session lasts 3.5 hours. The current session fees are:
(a) Tribunal Judge (Chair)—£218;
(b) Medically Qualified Member—£155 (rising to £185.50 after the member has sat for 20 sessions in the financial year);
(c) The Tribunal does not employ occupational therapy representatives but for certain disability living allowance appeals the panel may include a member with experience of a particular disability who will be paid £96 per session.
Full details of salaried judges' remuneration can be found on the Ministry of Justice website at:
www.justice.gov.uk/publications/judicial-fees-salaries.htm
The composition of Social Security and Child Support Tribunal panels varies according to the type of case being heard and a three member panel is not required for all hearings. The average cost to the Tribunals Service of a completed appeal in the First-tier Tribunal-Social Security and Child Support was £239 in 2010-11.
Mr Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average waiting time is for appeals to the Tribunal Service for cases relating to (a) incapacity benefit, (b) employment and support allowance and (c) disability living allowance. [80736]
Mr Djanogly:
Appeals against decisions made by the Department for Work and Pensions on an individual's entitlement to incapacity benefit, employment and
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support allowance and disability living allowance are heard by the First-tier Tribunal (Social Security and Child Support).
The average length of time taken for these benefit appeal types from receipt by the Tribunal to clearance or disposal in September 2011 (the latest period for which statistics have been published) is as follows:
|
|
Weeks |
These figures include cases that were decided by a tribunal hearing and those that were disposed of by other means (such as being withdrawn, superseded or struck out).
Stalking: Harassment
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether victim personal statements are routinely made available to probation staff completing court reports where the alleged perpetrator was involved in stalking or harassment related behaviour. [72996]
Mr Blunt: Probation staff preparing pre-sentence reports for courts will draw on all available sources of information to complete a full assessment of the offence and offending behaviour. An important element of the assessment is the impact and consequences of the offence(s) upon the victim, one source for which may be the victim personal statement. It is not possible to confirm that such statements are routinely available to probation staff as it is for the victim to decide whether to provide a victim personal statement.
Terrorism: Compensation
Tessa Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what his estimate is of the number of people likely to be beneficiaries at any level under a retrospective compensation scheme for victims of terrorism abroad; [81131]
(2) what estimate his Department has made of the cost of retrospective compensation for victims of terrorism abroad at levels comparable to payments made by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme. [81237]
Mr Blunt: The issue of compensation for victims of terrorism overseas is being considered alongside the Government's review of victims’ services and compensation. We intend to make an announcement before Christmas.
Energy and Climate Change
Bell Pottinger Group
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change on what dates he has met representatives of (a) Bell Pottinger Group and (b) its subsidiaries; and what was discussed. [81263]
Charles Hendry: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 9 November 2011, Official Report, column 342-3W.
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Carbon Sequestration
Mr David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department is taking to identify alternative carbon capture and storage projects since the withdrawal of the Longannet project. [79939]
Charles Hendry: The Government remain firmly committed to carbon capture and storage (CCS) and there are a number of promising projects proposed in the UK, including in Scotland. We will launch a streamlined selection process for future CCS projects as soon as possible and my Department will expand on our plans later this year. I can confirm that the £1 billion remains available for this.
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what progress has been made on establishing carbon capture and storage demonstration projects for combined cycle gas turbine power stations. [78987]
Charles Hendry: The Government remain firmly committed to carbon capture and storage (CCS) and there are a number of promising projects proposed in the UK, including in Scotland. We will launch a streamlined selection process for future CCS projects, including combined cycle gas turbine projects, as soon as possible and my Department will expand on our plans later this year. I can confirm that the £1 billion remains available for this.
Carbon Sequestration: Longannet
Mr David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on the future of carbon capture and storage since the withdrawal of the Longannet project. [79938]
Charles Hendry: Ministers meet their counterparts in the devolved Administrations regularly to discuss a range of energy and climate change issues. In addition, my officials hold regular detailed discussions with their counterparts on specific issues relating to the development of carbon capture and storage. A representative from the Scottish Government attended the CCS Development Forum on 2 November 2011 to set out their continuing commitment to new CCS projects.
Freedom of Information Requests
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 his Department has received in each month since May 2010; how many responses given in each such month disclosed (a) the full information requested, (b) part of the information requested, with some information withheld under exemptions in the Act and (c) none of the information requested; and in respect of how many requests received in each such month (i) (A) substantive and (B) holding responses were issued within 20 working days of the date of receipt, (ii) no substantive response was issued within 40 working days of the date of receipt and (iii) no substantive response has yet been issued. [78882]
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Gregory Barker: This information is published on the MOJ website, in quarterly reports. DECC do not hold the information broken down by month as requested. For statistics from March 2010 to June 2011, the information can be found on the MOJ website at:
http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/statistics-and-data/foi/implementation-editions.htm
We are not able to provide data after June 2011 as the official statistics for this period have not yet been published by MoJ. In addition, statistics on time taken to respond to requests over 20 working days will be published in their annual report.
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change in respect of how many responses to requests for information received by his Department under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 the reason of (a) commercially sensitive information, (b) information not held, (c) information too costly to provide and (d) vexatious or repeated requests has been given in response since January 2010. [78883]
Gregory Barker: This information is published on the Ministry of Justice website, in quarterly reports. DECC do not hold the information broken down by month. For statistics from January 2010 to June 2011, the information can be found on the MoJ website at:
http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/statistics-and-data/foi/implementation-editions.htm
We are not able to provide data after June 2011 as the official statistics for this period have not yet been published by MoJ.
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change which Minister in his Department is responsible for determining whether exemptions to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 should apply to responses to requests for information under the Act; and which other Minister is responsible for making such determinations should the subject matter of the request fall within the ministerial responsibilities of the Minister with lead responsibility. [78884]
Gregory Barker: It is DECC policy that departmental officials, in consultation with DECC lawyers where appropriate, would normally determine whether exemptions to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 should apply to responses to requests for information under the Act.
However, the exemption under section 36 (prejudice to the effective conduct of public affairs) can only apply if it is the reasonable opinion of a qualified person (QP) that the exemption applies. In relation to information held by Government, the qualified person must be a Minister or, if held by a non-ministerial department, the persons in charge of that department (for example, the chief executive).
In DECC, all such decisions are referred to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, my right hon. Friend the Member for Eastleigh (Chris Huhne), who will consult with the Minister responsible for the subject matter if he deems this necessary. Should the Secretary of State not be available within the timescales, this would be referred to the duty Minister.
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Departmental Judicial Review
Mr Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what applications for judicial review have been made against his Department (a) in the last Parliament and (b) since May 2010; whether each such application (i) succeeded, (ii) failed and (iii) remains pending; what legal costs were incurred by his Department for each such application; in each failed application whether he applied for costs against the applicant and whether they were (A) awarded and (B) paid; whether his Department (1) paid for and (2) offered to pay for the legal costs incurred by each such applicant; and what the total cost to the public purse was of payment of the legal costs for each such applicant. [80712]
Gregory Barker: The information requested cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.
Departmental Public Expenditure
Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what policies are covered by the control framework for his Department's levy-funded spending. [80440]
Gregory Barker: The control framework for DECC levy-funded spending covers the renewables obligation, feed-in tariffs and Warm Home discount.
Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the spending cap is for each policy covered by the control framework for his Department's levy-funded spending. [80441]
Gregory Barker: The spending caps for the policies covered by the levies control framework are published on the DECC website and summarised in the following table:
| £ million | |||
| Policy | |||
|
|
Renewables obligation | Feed-in tariffs | Warm home discount |
Capabilities Programme
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many full-time equivalent staff work on the energy workstream of the Capabilities programme; and what the staffing level was in each of the last 10 quarters. [79501]
Charles Hendry: Many of the duties and functions of the Energy Resilience Team in the Energy Markets and Infrastructure Group contributes to the energy workstream of the Capabilities programme.
However there are no full-time equivalents who work solely and specifically on the energy workstream.
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change who the lead Minister in his Department is for the energy workstream of the Capabilities programme. [79502]
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Charles Hendry: I am the responsible Minister, as the energy workstream of the Capabilities programme falls within my responsibilities for Energy Resilience.
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the budget was for the energy workstream of the Capabilities Programme in each year since 2005; and what the budget will be during the comprehensive spending review period. [79503]
Charles Hendry: Work on the energy workstream of the Capabilities programme has been carried out within budgetary provision for the Energy Resilience Team part of the Energy Markets and Infrastructure Group. The workstream does not have a specific budgetary allocation.
Prior to the creation of DECC, the work was funded by the budget for the equivalent teams in the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and, before that, the Department of Trade and Industry.
Energy: Infrastructure
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans he has for the renewal of energy infrastructure; and if he will make a statement. [80569]
Charles Hendry: Over the next decade, our latest estimate is that we will lose around a fifth (around 20 GW) of our existing generation capacity as old or more polluting plant close. Up to £110 billion investment in electricity generation and transmission is likely to be required by 2020, more than double the current rate of investment.
The Government set out their policy for the development of nationally significant energy infrastructure in the National Policy Statements for Energy, which were designated by the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Eastleigh (Chris Huhne), on 19 July 2011. The Electricity Market Reform White Paper “Planning our electric future” described the package of reforms designed to deliver the Government's commitment to transform the UK's electricity market to ensure that our future electricity supply is secure, low-carbon and affordable. Copies are available in the House Library.
Energy: Mobile Homes
Mr Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent steps his Department has taken to assist people living in mobile homes with their fuel bills; and whether he has considered extending the warm homes discount scheme to them. [81332]
Gregory Barker: The coalition Government are committed to helping people, especially low income vulnerable households, to heat their homes more affordably.
Park home occupiers, eligible for Warm Front assistance, can benefit from draught proofing and the installation or repair of heating systems. The measures will help them heat their homes more efficiently and where possible this may also lead to lower fuel bills. The winter fuel payments and cold weather payments provide additional assistance towards heating bills during the winter months.
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The consultation for the proposed Warm Home Discount Scheme did consider the issue of whether to extend eligibility to energy suppliers' customers who do not pay their electricity bill directly—for example, those who pay it through their rent on a caravan park or park home.
However, due to the administrative complexity of identifying and verifying these individual circumstances, ensuring the benefit of the rebate was made available to the customer and identifying a means of making a payment, it was decided not to include these individuals in the scheme.
Energy: Prices
Ben Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will estimate the effect on the average household's gas and electricity bills in 2020 of his Department's policy decisions since May 2010. [79614]
Charles Hendry: In July 2010, DECC published analysis on the estimated impact of energy and climate change policies on the average household and medium-sized business user's energy bill, available online at:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/media/viewfile.ashx?filetype=4&filepath=What%we%20do/UK%20energy%20supply/236-impacts-energy-climate-change-policies.pdf&minwidth-true
Since July 2010, the coalition Government has made a number of policy announcements which mean that the impact of energy and climate change policies on the average household and medium-sized business user's energy bill is expected to be lower. These announcements include proposals on electricity market reform and the Green Deal, the introduction of the carbon price floor, consultations on new cost-effective levels of support for large-scale renewable electricity and lower tariffs and energy efficiency eligibility requirement for solar PV under the feed-in tariff scheme, the decisions to fund the renewable heat incentive from general taxation rather than through a levy on fossil fuel suppliers and the decision to consider several alternative funding options for the Government's carbon capture and storage commitments rather than through their own levy.
Updated energy bill estimates accounting for all these announcements and proposed changes will be published alongside the forthcoming Annual Energy Statement later this year.
Ben Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will estimate how much (a) an average household and (b) all consumers will save in the cost of energy bills as a result of his policy decisions on (i) feed-in tariffs for large-scale solar installations, (ii) feed-in tariffs for small-scale solar installations, (iii) the renewable heat incentive, (iv) carbon capture and storage and (v) other energy and climate change policies up to 2020. [79615]
Charles Hendry: On 31 October 2011, DECC published a consultation on the Government's proposals for lower tariffs and energy efficiency eligibility requirements for solar PV under the feed-in tariff scheme. The accompanying impact assessment, available online at:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/consultation/fits-comp-review-p1/3416-fits-IA-solar-pv-draft.pdf
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presents the estimated impact of these proposals on all consumers and the average household electricity bill to 2020.
In July 2010, DECC published analysis on the estimated impact of energy and climate change policies on the average household and medium-sized business user's energy bill, available online at:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/media/viewfile.ashx?filetype=4&filepath=What%20we%20do/UK%20energy%20supply/236-impacts-energy-climate-change-policies.pdf&minwidth=true
Since July 2010, the coalition Government has made a number of policy announcements which mean that the impact of energy and climate change policies on the average household and medium-sized business user's energy bill is expected to be lower. These announcements include proposals on electricity market reform and the Green Deal, the introduction of the carbon price floor, consultations on new cost-effective levels of support for large-scale renewable electricity and lower tariffs and energy efficiency eligibility requirement for solar PV under the feed-in tariff scheme, the decisions to fund the renewable heat incentive from general taxation rather than through a levy on fossil fuel suppliers and the decision to consider several alternative funding options for the Government's carbon capture and storage commitments rather than through their own levy.
Updated energy bill estimates accounting for all these announcements and proposed changes will be published alongside the forthcoming Annual Energy Statement later this year.
European Union
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many ministerial-level meetings have been held in his Department during the Government's examination of the balance of existing European Union competences. [80244]
Charles Hendry: There have been no such ministerial level meetings within the Department of Energy and Climate Change.
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many members of staff in his Department are working on the Government's examination of the balance of existing European Union competences. [80245]
Gregory Barker: The examination of these issues draws on existing resources.
Fuel Poverty
Mr Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many and what proportion of households were living in fuel poverty in (a) St Helens South and Whiston constituency, (b) Merseyside and (c) England in each of the last five years. [81333]
Gregory Barker: The sub-regional data requested are available for 2006 and 2008 and are shown in the following table alongside the annually published national data. Figures in brackets show the proportion of all households in that area that were fuel poor.
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| St Helens South and Whiston | Merseyside | England | ||||
|
|
Number | Percentage | Number | Percentage | Number | Percentage |
| n/a = Not available (1) Available 24 November 2011 (2) Data for St Helens South constituency (3 )Combined Liverpool, Knowsley, Sefton, St Helens and the Wirral | ||||||
Gas Fired Power Stations
Mr Binley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many gas-fired combined-cycle gas turbine plants have been approved by his Department since May 2010; and what the (a) name and (b) megawatt capacity of each such plant is. [78695]
Charles Hendry: The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, my right hon. Friend the Member for Eastleigh (Chris Huhne), has granted consent to six combined cycle gas turbines (CCGT) applications since May 2010.
(1) Spalding, Lincolnshire—900 MW
(2) Damhead Creek II, Isle of Grain—1000 MW
(3) Abernedd, Baglan Bay—870 MW
(4) Wellington C, Derbyshire—2000 MW
(5) Manorway, Stanford-le-Hope—900 MW
(6) Thorpe Marsh, Doncaster—1500 MW.
Green Deal Scheme
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he expects to publish the National Occupational Standards for Green Deal assessors. [80976]
Gregory Barker [holding answer 14 November 2011]: We expect to publish the “National Occupational Standards for Green Deal assessors” by the end of the year.
Liquefied Gas
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will take steps to regulate the supply of liquid gas; and if he will make a statement. [80951]
Charles Hendry: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 31 October 2011, Official Report, column 370W, to the hon. Member for Vale of Clwyd (Chris Ruane).
The Office of Fair Trading noted in its report of the Off-Grid Energy Market study, that there has been a generally positive initial impact of the Competition Commission orders from 2009. The orders make it easier for consumers of domestic bulk liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to switch supplier. The OFT will continue to monitor this area and is also engaging with suppliers on consumer protection issues.
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Nuclear Power Stations: Construction
Malcolm Wicks: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment his department has made of the risks posed by construction on new nuclear power stations; and if he will make a statement. [81376]
Charles Hendry: To provide an assessment of the risks posed by construction of new nuclear power stations my Department commissioned “Engineering the Future to produce the Nuclear Lessons Learned” report which is available at:
http://www.raeng.org.uk/news/publications/list/reports/Nuclear_Lessons_Learned_Oct10.pdf
We will continue to work closely with developers to satisfy ourselves they have processes in place to capture and transfer knowledge gained from projects to benefit the UK new build programme.
Nuclear Power Stations: Hinkley Point
Malcolm Wicks: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what timetable has been set for the construction stages of a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point; and what recent assessment he has made of progress against the timetable. [81375]
Charles Hendry: In October 2011 the Department of Energy and Climate Change published a refreshed version of the Department's indicative timeline for the first nuclear new build in the UK, including the actions the Government are taking. It indicates a development consent decision in early 2013 and (should such a decision be favourable) commissioning and operation from 2018. It is available here:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/meeting_energy/nuclear/new/new.aspx
However, new nuclear power stations will be constructed by the private sector who will set their construction timetables. EDF Energy's application for development consent contains an indicative construction timetable to be used for planning assessment purposes. The application was submitted to the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) by EDF on 31 October 2011 and the IPC has until 29 November 2011 to decide whether it will accept the application. Once the IPC has decided, the application including the indicative construction timetable will be published and will be available at:
http://infrastructure.independent.gov.uk/projects/south-west/hinkley-point-c-new-nuclear-power-station/
Radioactive Waste: Sweden
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what contractual commitments exist for the repatriation to the UK of radioactive contamination removed from the contaminated metals sent by Studsvik UK Ltd at Lillyall, Cumbria to Studsvik Sweden for decontamination since September 2009; and whether permission was required from the Environment Agency for such shipments. [80876]
Charles Hendry:
All shipments of radioactive waste consigned from the UK to Sweden, since September 2009, are subject to a binding ‘Waste Return Guarantee'
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on the part of Studsvik UK Ltd; under the Transfrontier Shipment of Radioactive Waste and Spent Fuel Regulations 2008.
Permission for Studsvik UK Ltd in Cumbria to send radioactive waste to Studsvik Sweden for decontamination was granted by the Environment Agency, as the competent authority for transfrontier waste shipments, in July 2009, under a registration which remains effective through to 7 July 2012.
Under the covering letter of Studsvik's application to the Environment Agency a guarantee is provided to return the waste residues to the UK.
Renewable Energy
Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the (a) turnover, (b) level of employment and (c) level of exports attributable to the renewable energy sector in each year to 2020. [80021]
Charles Hendry: Renewable energy development offers huge potential for UK economic growth. We estimate that around £100 billion of investment will be needed over this decade to meet the UK's renewables ambitions alone for 2020. The UK Renewable Energy Roadmap(1) published in July sets out the measures the Government are taking to maximise the opportunities for British companies and new investment in the renewable energy sector. The Government are committed to ensuring that cost-effective generation comes forward so that costs to energy consumers are minimised.
We do not break down the growth potential into the headings and timings the hon. Member has listed. But he will be interested to know that in the first half of this financial year alone investments valued up to £1.7 billion have been announced in the UK renewables sector, and the manufacturing and other industries that supply it, creating nearly 10,000 temporary and permanent jobs if all of these plans are delivered. This is not a definitive list of the renewables market activity for this period, but indicates the continuing realisation of growth and investment opportunities in the sector.
(1) ( )http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/meeting_energy/renewable _ener/re_roadmap/re_roadmap.aspx
Renewable Energy: Employment
Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the number of full-time equivalent jobs in the (a) solar photovoltaic, (b) wind and (c) wave and tidal industries in (i) 2009 and (ii) November 2011. [80321]
Gregory Barker: We estimate that, based on the number of (a) solar photovoltaic (PV) installations by the end of October 2011, around 8,000 to 14,000 gross full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs have been supported by solar PV since the introduction of the feed-in tariffs (FITs) scheme. However, the total number of people doing some form of work related to solar PV is likely to be higher than this range because those who are involved in solar PV installations are also likely to undertake other tasks other than solely installing solar PV. We do not have similar estimates for solar PV in 2009.
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Estimates by K-Matrix (2011) for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills(1) show around 550 jobs in wave and tidal technologies and around 90,000 in wind energy. These estimates include the supply chain. K-Matrix's bottom-up methodology reveals more low carbon and environmental activity than standard industrial classification coding, and other previous estimates. It therefore risks double counting companies who produce goods or services for more than one environmental market. K-Matrix compare their numbers to validated and verified data sources to mitigate this risk.
In addition, we are aware of a number of assessments by external bodies on the future employment potential of the renewable energy sector, including:
RenewableUK estimates in ‘Working for a Green Britain Vol 2: Future employment and skills in the UK wind and marine industries’ that under a medium scenario, there could be around 10,300 direct and 6,100 indirect jobs in the onshore wind sector in 2021.
The Carbon Trust estimates that the offshore wind sector could employ up to 66,000 people in the UK by 2020 with a possibility of up to 230,000 by 2050.
The Carbon Trust's ‘Focus For Success’ report estimates that the wave sector alone could create around 16,000 direct jobs by 2040, with 25% supporting UK exports.
Given these and other independent reports, I have no plans to commission further evidence but will keep this under review. The Government fully recognise the employment opportunities that the growth of renewable energy can create.
(1) K Matrix, 2011, ‘Low Carbon and Environmental Goods and Services Report 2009/10’, available at:
http://www.bis.gov.uk/policies/business-sectors/low-carbon-business-opportunities/market-intelligence/market-data
Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the statement by the Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change of 31 October 2011, Official Report, column 609, (1) if he will make it his policy to make an immediate exemption, lasting until April 2012, for Industrial and Provident Societies and Community Benefit Societies from the changes proposed to the feed-in tariff announced in the written statement of 31 October 2011, Official Report, column 26WS; [79195]
(2) if his Department will assess how community-based solar photovoltaic schemes can be supported by the Government in addition to the provision of a special feed-in tariff; and if he will make a statement; [79196]
(3) if he will make it his policy to introduce a special feed-in tariff for community-based solar photovoltaic schemes that is higher than standard feed-in tariff rates; and if he will make a statement. [79197]
Charles Hendry:
The Government's current consultation on feed-in tariffs (FITs) for solar photovoltaics (PV) is seeking views on whether more could be done to enable genuine community projects to achieve real benefits
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from feed-in tariffs and whether, for example, a definition of community scheme is required and, if so, how this should be defined. We will provide more detail on FITs for community-based schemes as part of a second consultation on the comprehensive review which we plan to publish at the end of the year.
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the contribution by the Minister of State for Climate Change of 31 October 2011, Official Report, column 609, on feed-in-tariffs, when he (a) last met and (b) next plans to meet the Co-operative Group to discuss feed-in-tariffs. [79851]
Charles Hendry: Details of meetings between DECC Ministers and external organisations are published quarterly on the DECC website.
During the development of our proposals for the Feed-in Tariff Comprehensive Review Phase I Consultation, I and other Ministers met a number of representatives of the solar power industry.
Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many (a) solar photovoltaic installations, (b) wind turbines, (c) hydroelectricity, (d) anaerobic digesters and (e) micro combined heat and power systems have been installed in the UK under the feed-in tariff scheme. [79986]
Gregory Barker: The Ofgem Central FITs Register shows the following number of installations registered for FITs as at 8 November 2011:
| Installations | |
| Technology | Number |
Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the budget is for the feed-in-tariff scheme for each year from 2010 to 2015. [81189]
Gregory Barker: The spending envelope for the feed-in tariffs (FITs) scheme over the current spending review period is set out in the following table (with annual allocations in nominal prices). It is important to note that the figure for each year is effectively cumulative, because it must cover the costs of paying for projects accredited in previous years of the scheme as well as new projects that year. The figure for 2014-15 reflects the agreement made through last year's spending review that savings of 10% would be found in that year.
| FITs | £ million |
15 Nov 2011 : Column 796W
This information is published on our website in a question and answer document which details the spending envelope for all the DECC levies-funded policies and can be viewed at:
www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/funding-support/fuel-poverty/3290-control-fwork-decc-levyfunded-spending.pdf
Solar Power
Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what proportion of (a) the UK, (b) the West Midlands and (c) Staffordshire's electricity needs could be met by solar photovoltaics. [80116]
Gregory Barker: The 2050 Calculator developed by the Department suggests that solar PV could contribute up to 127 TWh of electricity a year by 2030 and 140 TWh by 2050. This would be an extremely ambitious level of deployment without precedent anywhere else in the world, equivalent to covering 1.3% of the UK in solar panels by 2050—approximately the same area as that currently covered by buildings. Without accompanying electricity storage infrastructure, it could also only generate electricity during daylight hours.
Were the electricity generation of 2010 (381 TWh)(1) to be maintained out to 2050, this level of deployment would meet up to 37% of total electricity daytime demand. However, the 2050 Pathways Analysis(2) published by the Department earlier this year suggests that electricity demand is likely to increase in the future, so this maximum potential figure is likely to be far lower in reality.
(1) MMG, DUKES 2011-Chapter 5, 2011
(2) HMG, 2050 Pathways Analysis: the Government's Response to the Call for Evidence—Part I, 2011
Solar Power: Feed-in Tariffs
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent estimate his Department has made of the level of growth in the solar industry in (a) the last 15 years and (b) since the introduction of feed-in-tariffs. [79097]
Charles Hendry: DECC does not keep long-term records of employment levels in the solar PV sector.
We estimate that, based on the number of solar photovoltaic installations by the end of October 2011, around 8,000 to 14,000 gross full-time equivalent jobs have been supported by solar PV since the introduction of the feed-in tariffs (FITs) scheme. The total number of people doing some solar PV work is likely to be higher than this range because those who are involved in solar PV installations are also likely to undertake other tasks linked to their employment.
An impact assessment has been published to support the consultation on FITs for solar PV. This includes an assessment of the economic impacts of the consultation proposals, including the impact on jobs. The impact assessment is available at:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/consultation/fits-comp-review-p1/3416-fits-IA-solar-pv-draft.pdf
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent estimate he has made of average installation times for those ordering solar photovoltaic installations (a) nationally and (b) in each nation and region. [79892]
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Gregory Barker [holding answer 10 November 2011]: The Department does not hold formal data on solar photovoltaic installation times, as installations are commercial arrangements between a customer and an installer. Installation times will vary between sites, depending on a number of factors including the nature of installation and the company carrying it out. Typical installation times for domestic systems (up to 4 kW) are around two to three days, with larger installations taking longer.
Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the likely effect on employment of a reduction in the feed-in tariff for solar photovoltaic installations before 31 March 2012. [79992]
Charles Hendry: An impact assessment has been published to support the consultation on feed-in tariffs for solar photovoltaics (PV). This includes an assessment of the economic impacts of the consultation proposals, including the impact on jobs. The impact assessment is available at:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/consultation/fits-comp-review-p1/3416-fits-IA-solar-pv-draft.pdf
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the effect the changes in subsidy under the feed-in tariff scheme will have on future investment in the solar industry. [80624]
Gregory Barker: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Cambridge (Dr Huppert) on 14 November 2011, Official Report, column 595W.
Mr Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what information his Department holds on the proportion of solar panels installed on domestic houses which were manufactured in (a) China and (b) the UK in each of the last three years. [81065]
Gregory Barker: This information is not held by the Department.
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Tidal Power
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans he has to support the DeltaStream tidal demonstration project. [78932]
Gregory Barker: The Government have recently increased their support to the wave and tidal energy sector: first through this Department's investment of up to £20 million for the demonstration of arrays of wave and tidal devices, subject to a value for money assessment; and most recently through the renewables obligation consultation, which proposes increasing the revenue support for wave and tidal technologies to 5 ROCs/MWh (renewable obligation certificates per megawatt hour). This proposed level of support will help stimulate further investment into the marine energy sector.
Earlier this year, I established a new UK Marine Energy programme, which allows us to work with the sector to remove barriers to development and to bring forward a programme of policies across Government, led by DECC, to enable the sector to move to commercial deployment over the coming five years.
I want to raise the ambition for marine energy in the UK and hope that these measures will catalyse the industry, including the DeltaStream tidal demonstration project.
Warm Front Scheme: St Helens
Mr Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many households in St Helens South and Whiston constituency have received assistance under the Warm Front scheme in each of the last five years; and what the average level of grant provided under the scheme was in each such year. [80955]
Gregory Barker: The following table indicates the number of households assisted by Warm Front and the average level of grant provided under the scheme in St Helens South and Whiston(1) and the average spend nationally in each of the last six years;
|
|
2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 |
| (1) St Helens South and Whiston is a new parliamentary constituency. The information prior to 2010-11 relates to the former constituency of St Helens South. | ||||||
Business, Innovation and Skills
Apprentices: Tees Valley
Ian Swales: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the change in the number of people undertaking apprenticeships in (a) Redcar constituency and (b) the Tees Valley since May 2010. [80981]
Mr Hayes [holding answer 14 November 2011]: There has been a substantial growth in the number of people undertaking apprenticeships both nationally and in the Redcar constituency and Tees Valley since May 2010. This is very encouraging and shows employers are continuing to use apprenticeships as a means of developing the skills they need for their businesses.
Table 1 shows the number of Apprenticeship programme starts in (a) Redcar constituency and (b) Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, and Stockton-on-Tees local authorities which comprise the Tees Valley sub region, between May 2010 (2009/10 academic year based on final year data) and July 2011
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(2010/11 academic year based on provisional data), the latest period for which data is available.
Table 2 shows the number of apprenticeship starts in (a) Redcar constituency and (b) Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, and Stockton-on-Tees local authorities which comprise the Tees Valley sub region in 2008/09 and 2009/10, the latest years for which final data are available.
| Table 1: Apprenticeship programme starts in Redcar c onstituency and the Tees Valley, May 2010 to July 2011 (Provisional) | |||
| 2009/10 | 2010/11 | Total | |
|
|
Quarter 4 May 2010 to July 2010 (Final) | Full year August 2010 to July 2011 (Provisional) | May 2010 to July 2011 (Provisional) |
| Table 2: Apprenticeship programme starts in Redcar constituency and the Tees Valley, 2008/09 to 2009/10 (Provisional) | ||
|
|
2008/09 (Final) | 2009/10 (Final) |
| Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest ten. 2. Geographic information is based upon home postcode of the learner. 3. Tees Valley sub region is comprised of Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, and Stockton-on-Tees local authorities. Figures for Tees Valley sub region are based on the sum of unrounded data for these local authorities. 4. Provisional estimates for 2010/11 can not be compared with final figures for earlier years. Source: Individualised Learner Record | ||
Information on the number of apprenticeship starts is published in a quarterly Statistical First Release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 27 October 2011:
http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current
Arms Trade: Bahrain
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent assessment he has made of UK arms exports to Bahrain; and if he will make a statement. [76339]
Mr Prisk: Following reports of human rights abuses in Bahrain earlier this year, all extant strategic export licences were reviewed and as a result a total of 41 Standard Individual export licences (SIELs) and Open Individual export licences (OlELs) were revoked.
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This Government take their arms export responsibilities extremely seriously and operate some of the most rigorous export controls in the world.
All export licences are considered on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria taking account of all prevailing circumstances at the time of the application. A licence will not be issued where to do so would be inconsistent with the Criteria or other relevant announced commitments. In particular Criterion Two concerns the ‘respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the country of final destination' and states that the Government will not issue an export licence if there is a clear risk that the proposed export might be used for internal repression.
As events change, the risk assessment also has to change. This was the case with a number of licences issued to Bahrain. Export licences have been revoked where they are now, as a result of the situation that emerged in the region, assessed to be inconsistent with the Criteria.
Conditions of Employment
Mrs Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many (a) full-time and (b) temporary staff in his Department are working on the (i) Employment Law Review and (ii) review of Government's workplace rights compliance and enforcement arrangements. [80327]
Mr Davey: There are 3.25 full-time equivalent members of staff leading work on the Employment Law Review and 1.5 full-time equivalent members of staff leading the Workplace Rights, Compliance and Enforcement Review. As both reviews cut across a number of policy areas, other teams are involved in specific elements of the reviews as part of their general policy maintenance and development responsibilities.
There are no temporary staff working on either review.
Mrs Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which external consultants are advising his Department on the (a) Employment Law Review and (b) review of Government's workplace rights compliance and enforcement arrangements; and what the (i) duration and (ii) cost is of any such advice. [80328]
Mr Davey: The Department has not employed any external consultants to advise on the Employment Law Review or the review of workplace rights compliance and enforcement arrangements.
Departmental Procurement
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had with the (a) Secretary of State for Transport and (b) Minister for the Cabinet Office on the letting of Government contracts to companies based (i) in the UK and (ii) overseas; and if he will make a statement. [73155]
Mr Prisk:
The Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Justine Greening) and the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and
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Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable) have discussed the matter and also jointly wrote to the Prime Minister to highlight the issue of public procurement and how we should manage the process in the public sector to sustain a competitive supply base that meets the UK's strategic needs within EU procurement rules. The Government are now looking at this area in the current phase of the growth review. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills, met the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham (Mr Maude) to review progress on this work on 26 October 2011. The procurement work continues within the Government.
Exports: Licensing
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he expects a decision to be taken on export licence application reference number SIE2011/008293 made by Nu Instruments of Wrexham. [80638]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 14 November 2011]: This application is currently being considered and we hope to make a decision shortly.
Green Deal Scheme
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if his Department will include an option for the Green Deal to be financed through the Green Investment Bank as part of its application for state aid clearance. [80975]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 14 November 2011]: Our current intention is to seek a state aid approval for the Green Investment Bank that would enable it to make investments on fully commercial terms (meaning in accordance with the Market Economy Investor Principle) across the green economy. If approved, this would provide scope to support projects delivering the Green Deal once that measure is in place.
Green Investment Bank
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what internal approval criteria will be used to assess the value for money of Government financial interventions in the Green Investment Bank. [76926]
Mr Prisk: All Government interventions must be compatible with state aid law and all products will be tested for value for money, green impact and additionality. The Green Investment Bank (GIB) will operate to a double bottom line of achieving environmental impact and making positive financial returns. Detailed value for money criteria are currently being developed.
Nuclear Suppliers Group
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many notifications the Government has made of refusal of export licences to the Nuclear Suppliers Group in the last 12 months for which records are available. [80640]
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Mr Prisk [holding answer 14 November 2011]: The Government have made 32 refusal notifications of export licences in the last 12 months to the Nuclear Suppliers Group.
Regional Growth Fund
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of the Regional Growth Fund (a) has been paid and (b) will be paid to professional services firms to undertake due diligence for each grant provided; and if he will make a statement. [80277]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 14 November 2011]: It is for successful bidders to pay the cost of due diligence.
Regulation
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what regulations have been abolished under the Red Tape Challenge. [80586]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 14 November 2011]: This exercise has looked at 378 regulations relating to the retail and hospitality sectors. As of 9 November we have announced plans to remove or simplify 220 of these (over half). All regulations affecting business will be featured on the website on a rolling basis.
Solar Power
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate his Department has made of the contribution of the UK solar industry to gross domestic product. [80974]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 14 November 2011]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the right hon. Member for Don Valley (Caroline Flint) on 9 November 2011, Official Report, column reference 348W.
Trade Promotion: Saudi Arabia
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the name is of each company whose representative accompanied Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint and the Special Representative for International Trade and Investment to Saudi Arabia in September 2011. [75931]
Mr Prisk: Neither the Minister of State for Trade and Investment, my noble Friend the Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint, nor HRH the Duke of York, the Special Representative for International Trade were accompanied from the UK by business representatives during their visit to Saudi Arabia in September 2011.
Training
Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to support the domestic (a) train manufacturing industry and its supply chain and (b) onshore engineering skills. [75235]
Mr Prisk:
The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), and the Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Justine
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Greening), have asked their officials to work together with the sector and key delivery partners, such as UK Trade & Investment, to support the train manufacturing sector and the wider rail supply chain in securing more sustainable UK jobs through clearly identified business opportunities such as the Intercity Express Programme, Thameslink, Crossrail and High Speed 2.
The Technology Strategy Board recently announced a £4 million Accelerating Innovation in Rail funding competition to support the development of technologies that are able to address the challenges facing the rail industry, as well as meeting customer requirements in both UK and international rail markets. It marks the start of a long-term strategic partnership between the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) and the Technology Strategy Board.
Additionally the Department's Solution's for Business offers a range of publically-funded products and services designed to help businesses to overcome key challenges and UK Trade & Investment explore export opportunities.
Furthermore, on 14 October, we also announced details of the new £57 million contract to deliver the Manufacturing Advisory Service which works with manufacturers to identify and implement productivity and innovation improvements to improve their competitiveness. It will be a national service locally delivered and tailored to meet the needs of individual businesses and local economic circumstances. The new service will focus on helping small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) manufacturers in England to develop advanced manufacturing capabilities and could help create an estimated £1.5 billion in economic growth, 23,000 jobs and safeguard 50,000 over three years. It will start in January 2012.
In order to boost technical and vocational skills for the engineering sector at all levels we are (i) doubling to 24 the number of university technical colleges we will establish by 2014; (ii) investing an extra £180 million to deliver at least 250,000 more apprenticeships over the next four years than the previous Government planned; and (iii) encouraging the development of new degree-equivalent higher level apprenticeships, which will include recognised engineering status.
Venture Capital
Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to encourage angel investors. [80412]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 14 November 2011]: Business angels are becoming an increasingly important source of start-up and early stage venture capital for businesses with high growth potential, particularly for businesses wishing to raise funding up to £250,000.
The Government are supporting the development of a new £50 million Business Angel Co-investment Fund as part of a successful bid to the Regional Growth Fund. The fund will be available to invest, alongside Business Angel networks or syndicates, into eligible small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and is due to launch by the end of the year.
Tax incentives, including the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and Venture Capital Trusts (VCTs), support business angel investment. Changes in March's Budget
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were announced to the rules relating to EIS and VCTs, further encouraging individual investors. HM Treasury has just completed a consultation on changes to EIS and VCTs including a proposal to provide additional help for early stage companies, investments that Business Angels often undertake.
Government also continue to support the early stage market through Enterprise Capital Funds which can include angel finance as part of the private investment leverage generated in these funds.