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The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 does not impose any specific obligation on the HFEA to destroy data. However, the HFEA has advised that, in common with many organisations, it operates a retention policy, which sets out the time periods for which it will continue to retain certain categories of information. This policy is based on best practice, including guidance issued by the National Archives. In relation to personal data, the HFEA is required to comply with the principles in the Data Protection Act 1998, as amended, and, in particular, with principle five which provides that personal data processed for any purpose shall not be kept for longer than is necessary for that purpose.

Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool

Lord Darzi of Denham: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has advised me that it does not, itself, determine whether embryos are dead. However, the HFEA has also informed me that embryologists are likely to class an embryo as dead if cell division and development has ceased for at least 24 hours.

Energy: Carbon Capture and Storage

Question

Asked by Lord Dykes

The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): Our consultation document, A Framework for the Development of Clean Coal, published on 17 June (www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/clean_coal/clean_coal.aspx) sets out our proposals for supporting the large-scale demonstration of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies.

It also sets out our rationale for prioritising the demonstration of CCS on coal-fired power stations and our proposals for a levy on electricity suppliers that will provide the necessary funds to support the demonstration of CCS.



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Our current view is that because the funds will derive from a levy on electricity suppliers it seems reasonable that only projects that supply electricity to the public supply should benefit. This would not necessarily preclude industrial-based power projects being considered for support under these arrangements and we would welcome views on this point as part of the consultation that closes on 9 September.

Energy: Electricity Prices

Question

Asked by Lord Reay

The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): DECC's analysis estimates that the benefits to the UK as a whole of measures to help avert climate change could outweigh the costs by more than 10 times. Where these measures lead to an international climate agreement consistent with delivering a 450 ppm stabilisation of GHG atmospheric concentrations, we estimate the total benefits at £241.9 billion. This compares with total costs of £20.6 billion. The impact assessment can be found at www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/what_we_do/lc_uk/carbon_budgets/carbon_budgets.aspx.

The Government are committed to ensuring that policies to avert climate change are cost-effective.

For household consumers, approximately 12 to 14 per cent of current average electricity bills for medium-sized consumers is attributable to climate change legislation (the renewables obligation, the EU Emissions Trading Scheme and the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target). However the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target supports energy efficiency measures for households and so will deliver over time an overall saving greater than its total cost to consumers.

For industrial consumers, approximately 15 per cent of current average electricity bills for a medium-sized industrial consumer is attributable to climate change legislation (the renewables obligation and EU ETS). Actual proportions for individual industrial consumers will vary from this average according to actual prices paid and consumption sizes.

With reference to estimates for 2020, a DECC assessment on the impact of the renewables obligation and the EU Emissions Trading Scheme on electricity prices in 2020 was published in April as part of the impact assessment on the EU Climate and Energy Package. This information is available at http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/what_we_do/lc_uk/carbon_budgets/carbon_budgets.aspx.

An energy and climate change strategy setting out the proposals and policies for meeting carbon budgets will be laid before Parliament in the summer. This report will put the Government's carbon reduction strategy in the context of the overall programme for delivering secure and low-carbon energy, transport

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and housing, in a way which benefits the UK economy into the future. An estimate of the cost of the proposed financial mechanism for carbon capture and storage demonstration will also be published as part of the impact assessment alongside the consultation in the summer.

Energy: Nuclear Power

Question

Asked by Lord Trefgarne

The Minister for International Defence and Security (Baroness Taylor of Bolton): The policy of Her Majesty's Government was published in the White Paper, The Future of the United Kingdom's Nuclear Deterrent (Cm 6994) on 4 December 2006. It states that the UK's nuclear forces must remain fully operationally independent. This remains extant government policy.

Energy: Power Stations

Question

Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon

The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): The cost of building power stations depends on a number of factors which investors will take into account in deciding whether to build coal, gas or nuclear plants. These include the cost of raising finance, the length of construction as well as the materials. Load factors will depend on commercial decisions taken by companies when assessing how to run their power stations-these will be driven by fuel and other operational costs relative to electricity prices.

Energy: Wind Generation

Questions

Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon

The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): My Written Ministerial Statement to Parliament of 24 June

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(Official Report, col. WS 115-17) announced the Government's decision to proceed with a draft plan/programme for some 25 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind farm leasing, in addition to the 8GW already planned.

Under this draft plan offshore wind has the potential to meet more than a quarter of the UK's electricity needs. This assumes a load factor of 30 per cent for offshore wind power which takes into account the variability of wind power and the non-availability of turbines due to breakdown and routine maintenance.

Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The department has not undertaken any forecasting on the costs of the infrastructure needed for 25GW of additional offshore wind power. However, any such calculation would be dependent on a number of factors including the location of future offshore wind farms (distance from the shore and water depth), turbine, supply chain and installation costs, and planning costs.

The combined onshore and offshore cost of connecting the 25GW of Round 3 offshore wind generation projects is estimated by National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) to be £10.4 billion (http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/round3_connection_study.pdf).

EU: Budget

Question

Asked by Lord Vinson

The Financial Services Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Myners): The Government's latest forecast of UK net contributions to the EC Budget in 2008-09 and 2009-10 were published in table C9 (page 238) of the 2009 Budget (HC 407). A more detailed breakdown of these contributions and an estimate of UK contributions in 2009 will be included in the 2009 European Community finances White Paper which will be published later this month.

Euro

Question

Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon



7 July 2009 : Column WA131

The Financial Services Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Myners): The Government's policy on membership of the single currency remains unchanged. As stated by the previous Chancellor in October 1997, "Whenever this issue arises, under this Government there will be a referendum. Government, Parliament and the people must all agree".

Gaza

Question

Asked by Lord Dykes

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Malloch-Brown): The Government are aware of President Carter's recent visit to Gaza but have not requested a briefing from President Carter.

Government Departments: Bottled Water

Question

Asked by Baroness Warsi

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): The department is committed to reducing the environmental impact of its official activities. The department's policy is not to supply bottled water unless it is essential for health and safety reasons.

Government Equalities Office

Question

Asked by Lord Dholakia

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Baroness Royall of Blaisdon): In common with Cabinet Office rules for the Senior Civil Service, senior civil servants in the Government Equalities Office are eligible for non-consolidated performance payments for delivery of priority business objectives.

Gurkhas

Questions

Asked by Lord Selkirk of Douglas



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The Minister for International Defence and Security (Baroness Taylor of Bolton): Insufficient information is held to enable a reliable estimate to be made of the number of Gurkhas who retired from the Armed Forces before 1997 and who have now passed away. Many generations of Gurkhas have served with great distinction in the UK Armed Forces, since they were first permitted to volunteer for British military service in the 1815 peace treaty that ended the Anglo-Nepalese war of 1814-15. Between 1948, when the Brigade of Gurkhas was formed as part of the British Army and 1 July 1997, when the brigade became UK-based, it is estimated that some 37,100 Gurkhas served in and were discharged from the brigade. We also estimate that from those years there remain 34,700 Gurkhas and Gurkha widows, who are in receipt of a Gurkha pension.

Asked by Lord Selkirk of Douglas

Baroness Taylor of Bolton: There are around 5,000 veterans and veterans' widows who do not qualify for a service pension but who receive a welfare pension from the Gurkha Welfare Scheme, which is the field arm of the independent charity, the Gurkha Welfare Trust. The welfare pension is paid from donations made to the Gurkha Welfare Trust which allows them a sustainable lifestyle. The Ministry of Defence grants the Gurkha Welfare Trust more than £1 million per year, which covers most of its administrative costs in Nepal.

There are around 7,000 veterans who did not serve for long enough to qualify for a service pension and who are not yet old enough or needy enough to qualify for a welfare pension. On leaving the Brigade of Gurkhas, they would have received a gratuity but no pension. If these veterans fall on hard times they too become eligible for a welfare pension.

All veterans receive free primary healthcare and those without Gurkha Pension Scheme or AFPS payments receive free secondary healthcare, all through the Gurkha Welfare Scheme.

Asked by Lord Selkirk of Douglas

Baroness Taylor of Bolton: Provision in the Gurkha Pension Scheme is higher for the vast majority of British Gurkhas than that provided to Indian Gorkhas. The main area for change arising from the Indian 6th Central Pay Commission affects those pensioners aged 80 or over, the most vulnerable group, who are to receive an increase of at least 20 per cent.



7 July 2009 : Column WA133

Health: Contaminated Blood Products

Question

Asked by Lord Morris of Manchester

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Darzi of Denham): Question HL4191 was answered on 29 June 2009 (Official Report, col. WA 14).

Health: Diabetes

Question

Asked by Baroness Wilkins

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Darzi of Denham): In April 2007, the department published Making Every Young Person with Diabetes Matter, the report of the children and young people with diabetes working group, which looked at ways to improve diabetes services for children and young people. This report includes guidance to commissioners on the planning, design and provision of diabetes services for children and young people. A copy of this document has already been placed in the Library.

The children and young people with diabetes working group's recommendations are now being taken forward by an implementation group led by the National Clinical Director for Children. The group's membership includes Diabetes UK, parents of children with diabetes, clinicians and other key partners with an interest in children and diabetes.

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