HC Deb 21 January 2003 vol 398 cc231-3W
Mr. Andrew Turner

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the extent is of foreign ownership of British(a) gas and oil exploration, (b) electricity generation, (c) oil supply, (d) gas supply, (e) electricity supply and (f) other energy industries. [89569]

Mr. Timms

The purpose of the Broadband Fixed Wireless Access Consultative Group is to advise the Radiocommunications Agency on a wide range of issues relating to the award of Broadband Fixed Wireless Access licences. There are over 200 members, representing telecommunications operators, manufacturers and others with an interest in the development of broadband fixed wireless access. It also has representatives from the Agency and its advisers and from other Government organisations. Members' salaries and expenses are met by themselves or their employers.

Dr. Cable

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry who have been members of the Aerospace Committee since its inception; what(a) expenses and (b) salary each received; and if she will make a statement. [91660]

Alan Johnson

The members of the Aerospace Committee since its inception are listed in the following table.

Aerospace Committee members are unpaid, although travel expenses may be reimbursed.

Mr. Larry Brooke, a member from March 1999 to December 2000, claimed travel expenses totalling £26.10.

No other travel expenses have been requested or paid.

Mr. Wilson

The information is as follows:

  1. (a) Gas and oil exploration is carried out by a range of private companies, most of which operate on a global basis. It would not be meaningful to measure offshore activity in this way, and we do not attempt to do so.
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  2. (b) Based on 2001 volumes of generation and current company ownership, around 55 per cent. of UK electricity generation is foreign owned.
  3. (c) The international nature of the oil market makes this difficult to calculate. Based on 2001 figures, around two-thirds of the oil products produced by oil refineries located in the UK were produced by refineries in foreign ownership (Shell has been treated as British). However, not all of this production is consumed within the UK, and the UK also imports refined products. It is not possible to determine how much of the traded oil products came from foreign-owned oil refineries.
  4. (d) Based on 2001 gas supply figures and current company ownership, around 25 per cent of downstream gas supply is the responsibility of non-UK companies.
  5. (e) Based on 2001 volumes of supply and current company ownership, around 65 per cent. of UK supply is foreign owned.
  6. (f) Information provided by The Coal Authority, based on their principal licensees only, shows that in terms of coal production in 2001, the entire UK coal industry is under UK control.