HL Deb 17 December 2003 vol 655 cc156-7WA
The Duke of Montrose

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When they expect to issue their draft plan for the implementation of the European Union carbon emissions trading arrangements. [HL277]

Lord Whitty

The UK intends to publish a draft National Allocation Plan (NAP) for consultation in January 2004. The draft NAP will set out the total quantity of allowances which the UK intends to issue, a list of installations and their indicative allocations of carbon allowances or the duration for the first phase of the scheme, together with details on the treatment of new entrants.

The EU Emissions Trading Directive requires all member states to submit their national allocation plans to the European Commission by the end of March 21004 and to make final decisions on the allocation of allowances by the end of September 2004.

The Duke of Montrose

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the proposal for the licensing of carbon emissions would begin with actual historic levels or would be calculated on the basis of actual historic levels. [HL278]

Lord Whitty

The EU Emissions Trading Scheme is due to begin in 2005. The UK intends to publish a draft National Allocation Plan (NAP) for consultation in January 2004; in which the method for allocating carbon allowances will be set out.

The EU Emissions Trading Directive requires that the total level of emissions reductions required from the scheme is consistent with member states achieving their Kyoto Protocol emissions targets and with their national climate change policies. Therefore, historic levels of emissions, output or input metrics may be used to allocate this total level of emissions to sectors and installations.