HC Deb 22 May 1997 vol 294 c149W
Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate his Department has made of the impact a reduction in VAT on domestic fuel to 5 per cent. would have on carbon dioxide emissions the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [1004]

Mr. Meacher

We have estimated that the reduction in VAT on domestic fuel to 5 per cent. will result in an increase in carbon dioxide emissions of about 0.9 million tonnes per year (equivalent to about a quarter of a million tonnes of carbon) by 2010. This represents about 0.15 per cent. of current carbon dioxide emissions.

Mr. Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what research his Department has commissioned into the increases in carbon dioxide emissions which would result from a programme of building clean coal plants. [1013]

Mr. Meacher

Extensive research on the effects of clean coal plants is available from ETSU (formerly the Energy Technology Support Unit) and the International Energy Agency Greenhouse Gas Research and Development Programme. The impacts that clean coal technology would have on carbon dioxide emissions would depend on the number of plants built and which other options for electricity generation they displace.

Mr. Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what modifications he proposes to make to the United Kingdom climate change action programme to achieve the Government's target of a 20 per cent. reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from 1990 levels by 2010; and if he will make a statement. [1005]

Mr. Meacher

The Government will lead the fight against global warming at the Kyoto Conference on climate change this December, through our target of a 20 per cent. reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2010. We will review the United Kingdom's Climate Change Programme in that light looking for improvements in areas such as domestic and industrial energy efficiency, an integrated transport strategy to tackle the projected growth in emissions from road transport, and a large increase in the amount of electricity generated from renewable sources and combined heat and power schemes.