§ Mr. BellinghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much subsidy was paid by the Government to electricity generators as a result of their renewable energy policy(a) in total and (b) to generators using wood-fired power stations in (i) 2001 and (ii) 2002; what the payments are estimated to be in 2005; and if she will make a statement. [125112]
§ Mr. TimmsFor 2001–02 and 2002–03, the Government paid the following amounts in support for research and development into renewable energy through the DTI's Renewable Energy Programme and through the Research Councils:
£ million (a) All renewable DTI R&D programme (b) Biomass Research Councils DTI R&D programme Research Councils 2001–02 11.32 8.30 1.33 0.73 2002–03 16.69 19.00 1.59 10.79 1 Estimates Estimates for 2005 are not available. The figures show payments to all recipients: figures for payments to electricity generators are not readily available.
My Department and the New Opportunities Fund have set up a £66 million Bioenergy Capital Grants Programme. While grants from this programme have been announced, no payments relating to these have been made to date.
515WOther forms of support for renewable energy, such as the Renewable Obligation and the Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation, are not subsidies paid by Government.