HC Deb 05 May 2000 vol 349 c237W
Mr. Stunell

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the impact on carbon emissions of the Restricted Consents Policy for new gas-fired electricity generation(a) for the last two years, and (b) for the next two years. [119677]

Mrs. Liddell

No such calculations have been made.

Our White Paper, "Conclusions of The Review of Energy Sources for Power Generation and Government response to fourth and fifth Reports of the Trade and Industry Committee", Cm 4071, stated that it was not possible to quantify the impact of the new energy framework on emissions. This is because the aim of the policy is not to achieve any particular outcome in terms of fuel mix in generation, but to create a level playing field so that all forms of generation can compete equally and as a temporary precautionary measure to ensure the artificial encouragement for new gas plant that has arisen from distortions to the electricity market does not artificially undermine security and diversity of supply.

I announced on Monday 17 April that I would be lifting the stricter consents policy in October 2000 as soon as the new electricity trading arrangements were in place. The Government are determined to meet the UK commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 12.5 per cent. below 1990 levels in 2008–12. The stricter consents policy and the timetable for its lifting are entirely consistent with meeting that target, and with moving towards our goal of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent. on 1990 levels.