Large Combustion Plants Directive (Hansard, 20 October 2003)

§ Mr. Grogan
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what assessment the Department has made of the impact on jobs in the deep mine coal industry of the implementation of the Large Combustion Plants Directive through(a) a national emission reduction plan and (b) emission limit values as proposed on the present consultation; [132401]
(2) what analysis the Department has made of the impact on the deep-mined coal industry of the implementation of the Large Combustion Plants 399W Directive by (a) a national emission reduction plan and (b) emission limit values as proposed in the current consultation. [132413]

§ Mr. Bradshaw
The Government has just completed a consultation on a proposal to implement the Large Combustion Plants Directive for plants first licensed before July 1987 using a national plan. Officials have discussed the potential impact of the alternative implementation routes with representatives of the UK coal industry and have received consultation responses from the Confederation of UK Coal Producers and other bodies and organisations with an interest in UK coal mining. The Government will take a decision on the most appropriate implementation approach after considering all of the consultation responses.

§ Mr. Grogan
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what modelling the Department has conducted of the financial dynamics of a sulphur dioxide trading scheme resulting from the implementation of the Large Combustion Plants Directive by a national emission reduction plan approach. [132407]

§ Mr. Bradshaw
The Government has just completed a consultation on a proposal to implement the Large Combustion Plants Directive for plants first licensed before July 1987 using a national plan. Analysis conducted for my Department suggested that such an approach would lead to significant cost-savings when compared to the alternative implementation approach. The financial dynamics of a trading scheme will depend on the decisions of operators of plants who take part in such emissions-trading. An outline of how such a trading scheme might operate was included in the consultation document but further consideration would be needed before the scheme could be introduced.

§ Mr. Grogan
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with(a) the UK mined coal industry and (b) trade unions about the likely impact of the Large Combustion Plants Directive implementation options proposed in the current consultation. [132409]

§ Mr. Bradshaw
Officials have discussed the potential impact of the alternative implementation routes for the Large Combustion Plants Directive with representatives of the UK coal industry, who have also responded formally to the Government's consultation paper. Consultations closed on 29 September but some responses are still being received. The Government will take a decision on the most appropriate implementation approach after considering the responses to the consultation.

§ Mr. Grogan
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to announce the Government's decision on the implementation options of the Large Combustion Plants Directive. [132410]

§ Mr. Bradshaw
The Government will take a decision on the most appropriate implementation approach after considering the responses to the consultation. If the UK is to adopt the national plan approach, the plan has to be with the European Commission by 27 November 2003.