§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on progress with the public service agreement target on levels of energy, security, diversity, sustainability and competitive energy prices. [23168]
§ Mr. WilsonThe public service agreement target to maintain or improve levels of energy security, diversity, sustainability and competitive prices has been updated for 2001–04
To develop strong, competitive markets within a regulatory framework which promotes fairness and sustainability".This was set out in HM Treasury's Public Service Agreements 2001–04 www.hm_treasury_gov.uk/Documents/Public Spending and Services/Public_Service_Agreements_2001–04The energy targets relating to this objective and the progress towards these targets are as follows:
Targets
1. Ensure competitive gas and electricity prices in the lower half of the EU/G7 basket, while achieving security of supply and social and environmental objectives.
2. Improve the environment and sustainable use of natural resources, including by reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 12.5 per cent, from 1990 levels over the period 2008–12and moving towards a 20 per cent, reduction in CO2 emissions by 2010 (Joint target with DEFRA).
Progress
Competitive energy prices:
Overall, in 2000, based on the data available from the International Energy Agency, UK industrial and domestic gas prices, both including and excluding taxes, were in the lower half of the EU/G7 basket. UK domestic electricity prices, including taxes, were also in the lower half of the EU/G7 basket during 2000. However, industrial electricity and domestic, excluding taxes, electricity prices were not in the lower half of the EU/G7 basket. But figures for the UK show that electricity prices have fallen in 2001.
Security:
The Department monitors electricity supply through supply interruptions and lost time. Between 1996–97 and 1999–2000 both the number of interruptions and average time lost have declined. Oil stocks are also monitored, with a target to maintain national emergency oil stocks at, or above, levels required by international obligations. At 472W the end of the third quarter of 2001 the UK held stocks equal to 70 days of consumption, compared with an obligation of 67.5 days.
Diversity:
The Department has a target to achieve 10 per cent, of electricity generated from renewable resources by 2010, subject to the costs to consumers being acceptable. In 2000, renewables accounted for 2.8 per cent, of electricity generated in the UK.
Social:
The Department has introduced a social target of fuel expenditure as a percentage of income (including housing benefit and income support for mortgage interest) for the lowest three income deciles to be reducing and below 5 per cent, by 2003–04. Over the last three years fuel expenditure as a percentage of income has been reducing and in 1999–2000 was 7 per cent.
Sustainability/environment:
Projections suggest that the UK is on course to meet its Kyoto commitment to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by 12.5 per cent, by 2008–2012 from 1990 level. The Department is also on course to meet the sulphur dioxide emissions target of 80 per cent, below 1980 levels by 2010.
§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on progress with the target on the unit cost of investigating bankruptcy and compulsory liquidation cases between 1999 and 2002. [23163]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonAt the end of the last financial year, 31 March 2001, the unit cost of case investigation by the Insolvency Service had been reduced by 10.6 per cent.