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Energy Security
Baroness Miller of Hendon asked Her Majesty's Government:
How they intend to replace the 28 per cent of the United Kingdom's nuclear generating capacity which was available in 2000 and which will be shut down by 2014. [HL1258]
Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Government believe that a market-based approach is the best way of delivering energy security, including through the
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provision, maintenance and replacement of electricity generating capacity to meet demand, and that this approach is working well.
We expect that market signals will show when new build is both needed and economically viable.
Recent announcements show that the market is already thinking about the need for new build to meet future demand. For example, Centrica is proposing to build a new power station in south west England and E.ON recently announced plans for an upgrade of its generating facility on the Isle of Grain (from part-time oil-fired generation, to full-time gas-fired generation).
For the market to work effectively, market participants need to know that the Government will let it work. As set out in the energy White Paper, the Government will not intervene in the operation of the market except in extreme circumstances such as to avert, as a last resort, a potentially serious risk to safety.
However, through the Joint Energy Security of Supply Working Group (JESS), the DTI and Ofgem continually monitor developments in the market, and look for ways of helping the market to work effectively to deliver secure energy supplies. We also provide valuable information to market participants, which can help them to plan investment decisions.
Nuclear Power Stations
Baroness Miller of Hendon asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their estimate of the time it would take for a new nuclear power station to become operational from the date when a decision was made to build one (a) on an existing or former site; and (b) on a new site. [HL1259]
Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The estimated time to construct and commission a nuclear power station, from decision to build, through to the electricity generation stage, is between 10 to 15 years. It is difficult to state with more precision the time taken due to many influencing factors including: the location of the site; the type of reactor to be built; the length of time for the approvals processes; and the length of time for any public inquiry. The time taken for the building of a new plant on an existing site would be expected to be less, when compared to a new site, due to the grid connection infrastructure already being in place.
Duchy of Lancaster: Labour Party Officials
Lord Hanningfield asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 25 January (WA 156), how many paid or unpaid Labour Party officials work in the Cabinet Office or in support of the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster; what resources are made available to them; and what expenses they have claimed in respect of each of their activities. [HL1212]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: I refer the noble Lord to the response I gave him on Tuesday 25 January, (Official Report, col. WA 156). There are no paid or unpaid Labour Party officials working in the Cabinet Office in support of the Duchy of Lancaster.
Lord Birt
Lord Hanningfield asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 2 February (WA 53), what is their policy on disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 of the diary records of meetings between the Prime Minister's strategy adviser, the Lord Birt and
Lord Bassam of Brighton: All requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, including information relating to records of meetings are considered on a case-by-case basis. The Freedom of Information Act operates on the presumption that all information held by public authorities should be available, subject to the 24 exemptions of the Act. Whether or not information is exempt under the Act requires the exercise of judgment in each case. The majority of the exemptions also require that the public interest in releasing the information should be weighed against the public interest in withholding it. If the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in withholding it, the information must be disclosed. The assessment of the public interest has to be made in all the circumstances of the case, on a case-by-case basis as far as each request is concerned.
Government Agencies: Retirement Age
Lord Marlesford asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Bassam of Brighton: In line with all employers in the public and private sector, the Government believe that the Civil Service should be allowed to determine retirement age policy with regard to its business needs while giving staff as much choice as possible about when they retire.
Departments and agencies are free to set the normal retirement age for their own staff subject only to the requirement that the minimum age at which civil servants can retire with an unreduced pension is currently 60.
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Against this background, 80 per cent of the Civil Service below the Senior Civil Service now has the option to remain in work until 65, and a further 11 per cent has the option to remain in work on short service concessions.
Although no central record is maintained of the age that individual government agencies require their staff to retire, Building a Sustainable Future, Proposals for changes to the Civil Service Pension Scheme states that the average retirement age across the Civil Service is 62.
The current normal retirement age for the Senior Civil Service is 60. However, heads of departments and agency chief executives have the flexibility to retain members of the Senior Civil Service beyond 60 if they judge it to be in the public interest and are satisfied about the fitness and efficiency of the individual to carry out his or her duties.
Lord Marlesford asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will encourage government agencies to allow employees who wish to continue to work beyond the standard retiring age to be allowed to do so, subject to continued capability of those concerned. [HL1267]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: In line with all employers in the public and private sector, the Government believe that the Civil Service should be allowed to determine retirement age policy with regard to its business needs whilst giving staff as much choice as possible about when they retire.
Departments and agencies are free to set the normal retirement age for their own staff subject only to the requirement that the minimum age at which civil servants can retire with an unreduced pension is currently 60.
Against this background, 80 per cent of the Civil Service below the Senior Civil Service now has the option to remain in work until 65, and a further 11 per cent has the option to remain in work on short service concessions.
Those departments and agencies that have decided that there is a strong case in the current circumstances for retaining a retirement age of 60 for staff will be expected to continue to re-examine the issue and look positively at offering more flexibilities to older staff before they are required to do so by the introduction of regulations in response to the EU Directive on Equal Treatment in October 2006.
The normal retirement age for the Senior Civil Service is 60. However, heads of departments and agency chief executives have the flexibility to retain members of the Senior Civil Service beyond 60 if they judge it to be in the public interest and are satisfied about the fitness and efficiency of the individual to carry out his or her duties. Retirement and pension ages for SCS will be the subject of review before October 2006 to conform with planned legislation.
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Dentist Asylum Seekers
Lord Colwyn asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many people registered as asylum seekers or refugees are currently practising as dentists in the United Kingdom; and what action they are taking to encourage more dentist asylum seekers and refugees to take up practice. [HL1178]
Baroness Andrews: We understand there are currently 122 refugee and asylum seeker dentists on a database that is jointly maintained by the Refugee Council and British Dental Association. Of these dentists, 72 are reported as having taken the international English language test, which a dentist has to pass at level 7 before he/she may take the General Dental Council's (GDC's) international qualifying examination (IQE). So far, 30 dentists have been successful and of these 20 have passed part A of the IQE, 11 part B and 3 have become eligible to practise here by passing part C of the examination.
We have worked with the GDC to reduce the backlog of non-European Union dentists waiting to take the IQE. With our support, the GDC has arranged for twice as many IQE sittings to be made available in 2004 than in 2003. Tenders have been invited for IQE provision in 2005-07 specifying that a guaranteed minimum completion time for dentists taking IQE is required. In addition, the Department of Health has recently agreed to support two extra sessions for retaining and returning advisers in the postgraduate dental deaneries to support dentists who are studying for the IQE, but who may require advice to maximise their chances of passing the exam.
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