§ Mr. WeirTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessments she has made of the likely growth in fossil fuel use in(a) the USA and (b) developing nations over the next 20 years; what impact such growth will have on targets set at Kyoto; and what discussions she has had with her EU counterparts on the ratification of the Kyoto agreement by (i) EU member states, (ii) eastern European nations, (iii) Japan, (iv) Canada and (v) Russia. [6755]
§ Mr. WilsonThe Department has made no independent assessment of the likely growth in fossil fuel use over the next 20 years outside the UK. Assessments of future fossil and other energy uses are, however, undertaken by a number of organisations, including the International Energy Agency and the US Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration. These organisations typically produce annual reports covering such work.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has had no discussions with her EU counterparts on the ratification of the Kyoto Agreement as that issue is the responsibility of the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. I understand that ratification of the Kyoto Protocol will be discussed at the Environment Council on 29 October.