HC Deb 24 July 1991 vol 195 cc575-7W
Mr. Favell

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his latest estimate of the cost of the implementation of European Community draft directive document No. 10445/90 on the oil supply situation to (a) the Exchequer (i) directly and (ii) channelled via the European institutions, (b) industry and (c) the British consumer.

Mr. Moynihan

The Commission has been asked to reconsider its proposals in the light of the views of member states including the United Kingdom. Detailed costing of the proposals as they stand would not therefore be worth while.

Mr. Favell

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his latest estimate of the cost of the implementation of European Community draft directive document No. 9791/90 on hot-water boilers to(a) the Exchequer (i) directly and (ii) channelled via the European institutions, (b) industry and (c) the British consumer.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

The Government have not at this stage estimated the costs of implementation to the Exchequer because the draft is still under discussion and it is anticipated that there will be changes to the draft before there is further progress. On(b) and (c), I refer my hon. Friend to my reply of 17 July 1991, at column 163, to his recent question on this topic.

Mr. Favell

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his latest estimate of the cost of the implementation of European Community draft directive document No. 9025/90 on nuclear fusion research to the Exchequer(a) directly and (b) channelled via the European institutions.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

If implemented in its present form, the Government estimate that the net cost of this programme to the Exchequer could be some £65 million to £70 million, with a further £15 million channelled via the Joint European torus project at Culham.

In practice, the actual United Kingdom contribution to the EC budget for individual programmes will depend not only on the level of expenditure, but on the level and timing of payments, and the relative shares of the programme.

Mr. Favell

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his latest estimate of the cost of the implementation of European Community draft directive document No. 10149/90 on energy efficiency to(a) the Exchequer (i) directly and (ii) channelled via the European institutions, (b) industry and (c) the British consumer.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

European Commission document No. 10149/90 is a communication to the Energy Council on specific action for vigorous energy efficiency—SAVE—accompanied by a proposal for a Council decision on the promotion of energy efficiency in the Community.

It was agreed by the Council of Energy Ministers on 31 May that, subject to the approval of the European Parliament, the decision would have three main components: expenditure by the EC on measures listed in article 2 of the draft decision; various draft directives on energy efficiency—each to be considered separately—and an advisory committee of officials from member states.

The costs of implementing the SAVE decision will be met by the European Commission whose five-year schedule of estimated commitments and expenditure is as follows:

Million ecu
Commitments Payments
1991 4.5 3
1992 6.5 6
1993 8 8
1994 8 9
1995 8 9
TOTAL 35 35

Thirty-five million ecu is approximately £24.5 million.

In principle, the United Kingdom public expenditure cost is likely to be about 18 per cent. of these figures. In practice the actual United Kingdom contribution to the EC budget for individual programmes will depend not only on the level of expenditure, but on the level and timing of payments, and the relative shares of the programme.