HL Deb 04 June 2003 vol 648 cc176-7WA
Lord Jenkin of Roding

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why the figures for greenhouse gas emissions published by the Office for National Statistics are estimated on a basis which differs from that used to monitor progress against the Kyoto protocol target for the reduction of greenhouse gases; and whether they will now publish the latest figures for such emissions estimated on the Kyoto protocol target basis. [HL3039]

Lord McIntosh of Haringey:

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.

Letter from John Pullinger, Executive Director, Office fir National Statistics, dated 4 June 2003.

The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question concerning the ONS (Office for National Statistics) estimates of UK greenhouse gas emissions. I am replying in his absence. (HL3039)

ONS publishes estimates of UK greenhouse gases emissions on a National Accounts basis i.e. it includes all emissions made by UK residents regardless of where the emissions take place and excludes emissions made in the UK by non-residents. The estimates published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), which are used for monitoring against the Kyoto protocol target, record all emissions taking place in the UK regardless of the nationality of the source and exclude emissions made by UK residents abroad.

ONS will continue to publish green house gas emissions on a National Accounts consistent basis so that users can compare emissions by economic sector against sectoral breakdowns of measures such as gross output and gross value added.

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