Mr. Gareth ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the impact of the New Electricity Trading Arrangements on the CHP sector. [86198]
§ Mr. WilsonThe most recent data on CHP output can be found in the DTI and National Statistics Publication, the "2002 Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics".734W This states that 'good quality' CHP electricity output in 2001 had declined by 17 per cent. on the level recorded in 2000 and that the annual growth rate of installed capacity slowed to about 0.8 per cent.
May I also refer my hon. Friend to the Government's response of 4 April 2002 to the consultation on NETA and smaller generators and to Ofgem's review of the first year of NETA, where the impact of NETA on CHP is discussed in the chapter concerning smaller generators.
I am also concerned about the impact on manufacturing investments to the energy sector. The forthcoming Energy White Paper will give the opportunity to discuss these issues in more depth.