The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julie Elliott on 2014-05-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many meetings of the Government industry solar strategy group have taken place since it was established in 2012; and on what dates that group met.
Gregory Barker
The Solar PV Strategy Group has met three times, on the following dates:
They plan to meet again early this summer.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Stringer on 2014-05-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what information his Department holds on the (a) level of world deforestation and (b) growth in world biomass power generation over the last 10 years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.
Dan Rogerson
Latest figures, supported by recent publications from the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, are that 13 million hectares of the world’s forest were converted to other uses or lost through natural causes each year in the last decade (2000–10), including 6 million hectares of primary forests.
Defra does not hold information on the growth in world biomass power generation over the last ten years.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Stringer on 2014-05-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the social costs caused by (a) large particulates (PM10), (b) small particulates (PM2.5) and (c) nitrogen dioxide emitted to air in the UK by (i) domestic biomass generation of heat and (ii) biomass for power generation in the latest year for which figures are available.
Dan Rogerson
Defra has not made any direct assessment of such social costs.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Stringer on 2014-05-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the amount of (a) large particulates (PM10), (b) small particulates (PM2.5) and (c) nitrogen dioxide emitted to air in the UK by (i) domestic biomass generation of heat and (ii) biomass for power generation in each of the next five years; and what proportion of the annual national inventory of the respective emissions these represent.
Dan Rogerson
Projections of emissions have been made based on the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory released in December 2012 and the Department of Energy & Climate Change’s energy projections published in October 2013 for the year 2015.
The emissions from domestic combustion in 2015 and their share of national total emissions are estimated to be: (a) for large particles (PM10), 10.1 thousand tonnes and 8.0%; (b) for small particles (PM2.5), 7.2 thousand tonnes and 9.8%; (c) for nitrogen oxides, 0.97 thousand tonnes and 0.087%.
The emissions from power generation in 2015 and their share of national total emissions are estimated to be: (a) for large particles (PM10), 0.022 thousand tonnes and 0.017%; (b) for small particles (PM2.5), 0.011 thousand tonnes and 0.015%; (c) for nitrogen oxides, 1.5 thousand tonnes and 0.13%.
Emissions of nitrogen dioxide have not been separately estimated from those of nitrogen oxides.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Stringer on 2014-05-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what amount of (a) large particulates (PM10), (b) small particulates (PM2.5) and (c) nitrogen dioxide were emitted to air in the UK by (i) domestic biomass generation of heat and (ii) biomass for power generation in the latest year for which figures are available; and what proportion of the annual national inventory of the respective emissions these represent.
Dan Rogerson
The most recent year for which historic emission estimates are available from the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory is 2012. This data was published in December 2013.
The emissions from domestic combustion and their share of national total emissions are estimated to have been: (a) for large particles (PM10), 10.9 thousand tonnes and 9.6%; (b) for small particles (PM2.5), 10.6 thousand tonnes and 13.7%; (c) for nitrogen oxides, 0.96 thousand tonnes and 0.09%.
The emissions from power generation and their share of national total emissions are estimated to have been: (a) for large particles (PM10), 0.65 thousand tonnes and 0.57%; (b) for small particles (PM2.5), 0.55 thousand tonnes and 0.72%; (c) for nitrogen oxides, 4.2 thousand tonnes and 0.4%.
Emissions of nitrogen dioxide have not been separately estimated from those of nitrogen oxides.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2014-05-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether any increase in remuneration of senior managers in the Highways Agency will have to be agreed by him when the Agency is transformed into a government-owned company.
Mr Robert Goodwill
The Government intends to transform the Highways Agency into a government-owned company, as confirmed in the response to consultation published on 30th April. In accordance with TUPE principles, we expect the pay and terms of employment of all staff to remain unchanged once transferred except for the necessary technical amendments to reflect the change to company status.
Staff management arrangements for the company following transition, including pay and reward, are still being worked through within government. We aim to establish appropriate conditions to allow the company to fulfil its functions efficiently and effectively, whilst keeping costs down for the taxpayer. This will reflect the Government’s pay policy, as well as support the delivery of a substantially increased investment programme.
There is no intention to encourage or create opportunities for legal tax reduction schemes as part of Highways Agency transformation.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2014-05-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether senior managers in the Highways Agency will be able to enter into legal tax reduction schemes when the Agency is transformed into a government-owned company.
Mr Robert Goodwill
The Government intends to transform the Highways Agency into a government-owned company, as confirmed in the response to consultation published on 30th April. In accordance with TUPE principles, we expect the pay and terms of employment of all staff to remain unchanged once transferred except for the necessary technical amendments to reflect the change to company status.
Staff management arrangements for the company following transition, including pay and reward, are still being worked through within government. We aim to establish appropriate conditions to allow the company to fulfil its functions efficiently and effectively, whilst keeping costs down for the taxpayer. This will reflect the Government’s pay policy, as well as support the delivery of a substantially increased investment programme.
There is no intention to encourage or create opportunities for legal tax reduction schemes as part of Highways Agency transformation.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2014-05-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Highways Agency will be subject to the Government’s public sector pay policy when it is transformed into a government-owned company.
Mr Robert Goodwill
The Government intends to transform the Highways Agency into a government-owned company, as confirmed in the response to consultation published on 30th April. In accordance with TUPE principles, we expect the pay and terms of employment of all staff to remain unchanged once transferred except for the necessary technical amendments to reflect the change to company status.
Staff management arrangements for the company following transition, including pay and reward, are still being worked through within government. We aim to establish appropriate conditions to allow the company to fulfil its functions efficiently and effectively, whilst keeping costs down for the taxpayer. This will reflect the Government’s pay policy, as well as support the delivery of a substantially increased investment programme.
There is no intention to encourage or create opportunities for legal tax reduction schemes as part of Highways Agency transformation.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2014-05-02.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Highways Agency will be able to recover VAT in the same way as it can as an executive agency of his Department when it is transformed into a government-owned company.
Mr David Gauke
Special provisions apply to Government Departments and health authorities that enable them to recover VAT incurred on certain of their non-business activities. These are set out in section 41(3) of the VAT Act 1994.
New bodies are not automatically covered by the above provisions, but the Treasury keeps all taxes under review.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2014-05-02.
To ask the Ministers for Women and Equalities, what recent progress he has made on the appointment of a business champion for older workers.
Jenny Willott
I refer the Rt. Hon. Member to the answer given on 2 April 2014 Official Report, col 651W.