HC Deb 06 January 2003 vol 397 cc12-3W
Alan Simpson

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will place in the Library copies of information supplied to her indicating that the proportional improvements in energy efficiency required by Climate Change Levy agreements have been maintained. [82870]

Mr. Meacher

The information supplied to the Secretary of State indicating that the proportional improvements to energy efficiency have been maintained is in the form of corrected energy consumption and production data for the baseline period. Targets are recalculated on the corrected baseline using the same principles on which the original targets were calculated. The Secretary of State is intending to consult with the sector associations about whether they have objections to its disclosure and if so to justify their objections.

Mr. Wray

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what targets she has on improving energy efficiency; and how she intends to achieve these targets. [86302]

Mr. Morley

The UK's Climate Change Programme details the policies and action we are taking to meet our target under the Kyoto Protocol to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 12.5 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2008–12, and move towards our domestic goal to reduce carbon dioxide emissions 20 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010. Energy efficiency measures are an integral means of meeting these targets, several of which have their own targets as follows.

The Fuel Poverty Strategy has a PSA target to reach 600,000 low income householders between 2001 and 2004. There are various measures in place that will help deliver this including the Warm Front Scheme and the Energy Efficiency Commitment (EEC). The EEC's will result in a reduction in carbon emissions of an estimated 400,000 tonnes a year by 2005. Combined Heat and Power (CHP) has a 2010 target of at least 10,000 megawatts of installed Good Quality CHP capacity. Government consulted on a draft CHP Strategy to 2010 earlier this year setting out the measures thought sufficient for the target to be met. All Government Departments have an interim target to contribute to the target of a 1 per cent. per annum on-going reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from Government Estate buildings. Longer-term targets on energy efficiency are due to be set as part of the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate, the first parts of which were published in July 2002.

Decisions about future targets and policies to improve energy efficiency will be considered as part of the Energy White Paper process, which the Government aims to publish in the new year.