§ Mr. BrakeTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the potential for increased British exports under the Clean Development Mechanism of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. [112067]
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§ Ms HewittThe UK Government fully support the aims of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM): to help achieve sustainable development and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We wish to see the CDM operate in a way that fully encourages business involvement to help achieve these goals.
It is too early usefully to quantify the effect of CDM activity on UK exports, since the rules for its operation will not be agreed until the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Sixth Conference of the Parties in November 2000.
However, we are already promoting business awareness of the CDM through, for example, our work with the Advisory Committee on Business and the Environment (ACBE) and a joint DTI-DETR website and named contact points. Furthermore, British Trade International are appointing an Export Promoter for Energy and the Environment, who will work closely with the Power Sector Working Group and with two existing renewable energy Export Promoters, to raise awareness of, and developing, export opportunities arising from the Kyoto provisions.
§ Mr. BrakeTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations he or officials of his Department have received from representatives of the British or foreign nuclear industry concerning the eligibility of nuclear power projects under the Clean Development Mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol. [112068]
§ Ms HewittMy Department has received representations from a number of organisations, including representatives of the British nuclear industry, about the eligibility of nuclear power projects for the Clean Development Mechanism and has noted their concerns. Neither I, nor my officials, have received any representations from representatives of foreign nuclear industry.