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20 July 2009 : Column 1029W—continued
Renewable Energy
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what meetings have been held between officials of his Department and the hon. Member for Nottingham, South (Alan Simpson) in his capacity as adviser on the implementation of the feed-in tariff programme. [287541]
Mr. Kidney: No meetings have been held between DECC officials and my hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham, South (Alan Simpson) on feed-in tariffs.
UDM-Vendside
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change on how many occasions (a) officials and (b) lawyers from his Department have visited UDM-Vendside headquarters in Mansfield since 1997. [286708]
Mr. Kidney: Officials and Department's legal advisers have had formal business meetings with UDM/Vendside on a number of occasions but we don't have comprehensive records of these, and an accurate number is not, therefore, available. I should also add that similar business meetings have also taken place with the Claimants' Solicitors Group.
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many meetings (a) his Department and (b) solicitors acting on his Department's behalf have had with UDM-Vendside in each year since 2005. [286867]
Mr. Kidney: Officials have had formal business meetings with UDM-Vendside but we do not have comprehensive records of these, and an accurate number is not, therefore, available. I should also add that similar business meetings have also taken place with the Claimants' Solicitors Group.
Warm Front Scheme
Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many complaints were (a) received and (b) upheld about the 10 Warm Front contractors who received the most work under the scheme (i) in the UK and (ii) in Wandsworth in (A) 2006, (B) 2007, (C) 2008 and (D) 2009. [285191]
Mr. Kidney: The following table details the number of complaints (a) received and (b) upheld about 10 Warm Front contractors who received the most work under the scheme (i) in England and (ii) in Wandsworth in years 2006-07 to 2008-09 and from 1 March to 19 May in 2009-10 (the latest period for which figures are available).
| England | Wandsworth | |||
| Complaints r eceived | Upheld complaints | Complaints r eceived | Upheld complaints | |
| (1) Up to 19 May 2009 | ||||
Wind Power
Mr. Cash: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what criteria are used in the selection of sites for the construction of wind turbines; what assessment is made of the potential environmental effects on the local area of the siting of such turbines; and if he will make a statement. [287702]
Mr. Kidney:
It is for the market to bring forward proposals for sites for onshore or offshore wind farms and these are then considered through the planning
system by the relevant planning authority as to whether it is appropriate to grant development consent. Environmental licences may also be required, for example, under the Food and Environmental Protection Act (FEPA).
Offshore, following a Strategic Environmental Assessment by DECC or the relevant Devolved Administration in Scotland and Northern Ireland, The Crown Estate is responsible for awarding site leases for offshore wind development to the market through a competitive process. Any subsequent proposals are considered through the planning process.
The Government have made clear that wind farms should be located in appropriate places and that local concerns should be listened to in this process. Planning Policy Statement (PPS) 22 on renewable energy(1) makes clear the need to ensure that all renewable energy developments take place within the formal planning procedure, which allows all relevant stakeholders, including members of the public, to put forward their views on the likely impact of any proposal on the environment and the local community. Similar policies are in place in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.
We set out in the Renewable Energy Strategy published this week(2) steps to improve the planning process for renewable and low carbon energy while protecting legitimate environmental and local concerns.
Planning applications should be accompanied by an environmental statement based on an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). This includes details of the likely impact of the project in question on the environment and wildlife, among other things. In considering an application, the planning authority will consult with a range of stakeholders, including the statutory advisers on nature conservation as well as others with an interest in the project. This ensures that decisions on whether to grant consent for a wind farm are considered in the light of the best available information about its likely environmental impacts. Any development of renewable energy must also be seen within the wider context of reducing carbon emissions and improving security of the energy supply.
Where relevant, an Appropriate Assessment will be undertaken to meet the requirements of the Birds(3) and Habitats Directives(4).
(3) Council Directive 79/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds:
(4) Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora:
Written Questions: Government Responses
Mr. Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he plans to answer questions (a) 285519 and (b) 285520, tabled on 6 July 2009 on the proposed national deep-level geographical repository for radioactive waste. [287738]
Mr. Kidney: I refer my hon. Friend to the answers I gave on 15 July 2009, Official Report, columns 420-21W.
Cabinet Office
Alcoholic Drinks: Death
Sandra Gidley: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many deaths in which alcohol was an underlying cause were recorded in each health trust area within the ceremonial county of Hampshire in each of the last five years. [287764]
Angela E. Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, July 2009:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many deaths in which alcohol was an underlying cause were recorded in each health trust within the Ceremonial County of Hampshire in each of the last five years. (287764)
The table attached provides the number of deaths with an alcohol-related underlying cause in Hampshire, Portsmouth City Teaching and Southampton City primary care organisations, from 2004 to 2008 (the latest year available). These primary care organisations are located within the area covered by Hampshire county, Portsmouth unitary authority and Southampton unitary authority, which together comprised the County of Hampshire prior to local government reorganisation.
| Table 1: Number of deaths with an alcohol-related underlying cause( 1) in primary care organisations in Hampshire county, Portsmouth unitary authority and Southampton unitary authority( 2) , 2004-08( 3, 4) | |||||
| Primary care organisation | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |
| (1) Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). The specific causes of death categorised as alcohol-related, and their corresponding ICD-10 codes, are shown in box 1. (2) Based on boundaries as of 2009. (3) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year. (4) Figures for 2008 are provisional. | |||||
| Box 1. Alcohol-related causes of death-International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) | |
| Cause of death | ICD-10 code(s) |
Census: Fines
Robert Neill: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people were fined for not supplying information in their 2001 Census return. [288260]
Angela E. Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated July 2009:
As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many people were fined for not supplying information in their 2001 Census return. (288260)
Of the 38 people that were successfully prosecuted for non-completion of 2001 Census returns, fines were imposed in 32 cases. Prosecutions were carried out in a Magistrate's Court and the imposition and amount of the fine was at the discretion of the Magistrate within the limits of the standard scale under the Criminal Justice Act.
Census: Travelling People
Robert Neill: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps are planned to collect information from Travellers in the 2011 Census. [288261]
Angela E. Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated July 2009:
As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what steps are planned to collect information from Travellers in the 2011 Census. (288261)
We are making special preparations to enumerate the Gypsy and Traveller community and these will be trialled in the Census Rehearsal which takes place on 11 October 2009 in areas within Newham, Lancaster and Isle of Anglesey. In developing the plans we are working closely with local authorities' Gypsy and Traveller Liaison Officers, and are liaising with Gypsy and Traveller community groups.
Advance information about traveller sites will be gathered including any requirements for help with literacy or sight or hearing impairment issues. Authorised sites will be visited as pre-arranged with the site manager to hand deliver questionnaires. Transit sites and any temporary roving caravans, travelling fairs and circuses will also be visited on Rehearsal day to complete both delivery and collection of questionnaires.
Following face-to-face meetings with a number of Roma and Romani community leaders and support organisations, plus direct meetings with representations of Travellers and Gypsy communities, we are planning to recruit directly from those communities to help overcome issues of literacy, language and concerns about confidentiality. The community leaders themselves have also offered to support our Census awareness campaign.
Following the Rehearsal the procedures will be evaluated and adapted as necessary prior to the 2011 Census. We are continuing to improve contact with Gypsy and Traveller groups through the community liaison programme.
The proposed 2011 Census ethnic group question includes for the first time a specific category for 'Gypsy or Irish Traveller'. A write-in option is also available for those Travellers who may wish to identify themselves in any other way.
Civil Servants: Manpower
Graham Stringer: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office with reference to box 2.6 of the White Paper, Your region your choice, Cm 5511, how many civil servants were employed in each region in each year from 2003. [287729]
Angela E. Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated July 2009:
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