Wednesday 29 August 2012

New Rules On E-Waste From The European Commission


The Parliamentary Information Office has reported over the years on industrial and domestic waste management and recycling and is monitoring closely progress across Europe as well as in the UK

Improved rules from Brussels on the collection and treatment of e-waste entered into force last week. E-waste (i.e. waste electrical and electronic equipment, or WEEE) is one the fastest growing waste streams, and it offers substantial opportunities in terms of making secondary raw materials available on the market.
Systematic collection and proper treatment is a precondition for recycling materials like gold, silver, copper and rare metals in used TVs, laptops and mobile phones. The new Directive is a clear step forward in terms of environmental protection and a major boost to resource efficiency in Europe.

Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik said:

"In these times of economic turmoil and rising prices for raw materials, resource efficiency is where environmental benefits and innovative growth opportunities come together. We now need to open new collection channels for electronic waste and improve the effectiveness of existing ones. I encourage the Member States to meet these new targets before the formal deadline."

The Directive introduces a collection target of 45% of electronic equipment sold that will apply from 2016 and, as a second step from 2019, a target of 65% of equipment sold, or 85% of electronic waste generated.
Member States will be able to choose which one of these two equivalent ways to measure the target they wish to report. From 2018, the Directive will be extended from its current restricted scope to all categories of electronic waste, subject to an impact assessment beforehand.

The Directive gives Member States the tools to fight the illegal export of waste more effectively. Illegal shipments of WEEE are a serious problem, especially when they are disguised as legal shipments of used equipment to circumvent EU waste treatment rules. The new Directive will oblige exporters to test whether equipment works or not, and provide documents on the nature of shipments that could be thought illegal.

Another expected improvement is the reduction of administrative burdens through harmonisation of national registration and reporting requirements. Requirements by Member States' registers for producers of e-waste will now be aligned more closely.

Currently only one third of electrical and electronic waste in the EU is separately collected within the documented system. The existing EU collection target is 4 kg of WEEE per capita, representing about 2 million tons per year, out of around 10 million tonnes of WEEE generated annually in the EU. By 2020, it is estimated that the volume of WEEE will increase to 12 million tons. The final target of the new Directive, an ambitious 85% of all WEEE generated, will ensure that in 2020 around 10 million tons, or roughly 20kg per capita, will be separately collected in the EU.

Next Steps

By 14 February 2014 at the latest, Member States will have to amend their existing legislation on WEEE and align it with the new Directive and the new targets. Consumers can then return small e-waste at large retail shops unless existing alternative schemes are shown to be at least as effective. From the date of national transposition onwards, a reversed burden of proof will apply to shipments of used equipment which are suspected to be illegal waste shipments.

From 2016 onwards, Member States will be required to ensure that 45% of electrical and electronic equipment sold in each country is collected.

From 2018 onwards, the scope of the Directive is widened from today's categories to all electrical and electronic equipment.

From 2019 onwards, the collection target is raised to 65 % of electrical and electronic equipment sold, or the alternative measure of 85 % of WEEE generated.

Some Member States will be able to derogate from the new targets for a limited time, where this is justified by a lack of necessary infrastructure or low levels of consumption of electronic equipment.

The Commission will use the powers given in the new Directive to harmonise the frequency of reporting by producers to the national registers, and the format for registration and reporting. The Commission will review certain changes agreed with the new Directive, for example as regards the scope, in order to identify any undesirable effects.

The existing WEEE Directive (Directive 2002/96/EC) has been in force since February 2003. It provides for the creation of collection schemes where consumers return their used e-waste free of charge. The purpose is to prevent harm to human health and the environment from hazardous substances contained in WEEE, and to increase the recycling and/or re-use of products and materials. In December 2008, the Commission proposed a recast WEEE Directive, and this has now been modified and adopted by the Parliament and the Council.

In January this year Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik announced that, according to a European Commission study, full implementation of EU waste legislation would save €72 billion a year, increase the annual turnover of the EU waste management and recycling sector by €42 billion and create over 400,000 jobs by 2020. Illegal waste operations in Member States are causing missed opportunities for economic growth, but stronger national inspections and better knowledge about waste management would bring major improvements.

Mr Potočnik said at the time:

"We need to see waste as a resource – and to bury that resource in the ground is worse than short-sighted. This report shows that waste management and recycling can make a big contribution to economic growth and job creation. If the existing legislation was implemented properly, we could avoid costly clean-up operations, pollution and health problems. And let's not forget that recycled materials are cheaper than virgin ones – and that they reduce greenhouse gas emissions and our dependence on imports."

The Parliamentary Information Office will continue to report on environmental issues and their impact on the UK and our European partners as we go through the months ahead.

Tuesday 28 August 2012

Low Carbon Innovation


As part of its ongoing reports on the Government’s energy and climate change policy the Parliamentary Information Office  has been monitoring the achievements of the Government’s Low Carbon Innovation Coordination Group

Low carbon technologies have been put under the spotlight with the publication last week of three in-depth reports into key areas of innovation.

This new analysis, the Technology Innovation Needs Assessments (TINAs), delves into marine energy, electricity networks and storage, and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). The TINAs examine the potential for innovation in these technologies and assess the economic benefits to the UK. This work will also help inform the prioritisation of public and private sector investment to ensure these technologies reach their full potential.

The work has been undertaken by the Low Carbon Innovation Coordination Group (LCICG), which is made up of a range of different bodies including the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), the Carbon Trust, the Energy Technologies Institute (ETI), the Technology Strategy Board (TSB), the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), and other organisations with significant low carbon innovation interests.

The LCICG’s TINA Project is a collaborative effort involving all members of the LCICG group and aims to identify and value the key innovation needs of specific low carbon technologies, in order to inform the prioritisation of public sector investment in low carbon innovation.

The TINA analytical framework was developed and implemented by the Carbon Trust with contributions from all core LCICG members as well as input from numerous other expert individuals and organisations.

Each TINA analyses the potential role of the technology in the UK’s energy system; estimates the value to the UK from cutting the costs of the technology through innovation; estimates the value to the UK of the green growth opportunity from exports; assesses the case for UK public sector intervention in innovation; and identifies the potential innovation priorities to deliver the greatest benefit to the UK.

Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker said:

“Innovation is key to the growth of the low carbon economy here in the UK. This new analysis will help us better understand the value of these technologies to our growing green economy as well as the barriers to commercialisation, helping us put our available investment in the right place to spur on further innovation.”
Key findings of the Technology Innovation Needs Assessments (TINAs):
  • CCS: Innovation across the CCS technology chain could reduce UK energy system costs by £10-45bn to 2050, and innovation to ensure the security of long-term CO2 storage remains particularly critical to CCS viability. The key technological components of carbon capture, transport and injection have been demonstrated at commercial scale, however, component costs and efficiency penalties remain high and uncertain, and many challenges related to full integration remain to be tackled. Innovation could also help create a UK industry with the potential to contribute further economic value of £3-16bn to 2050.
  • Electricity networks and storage (EN&S): Advanced EN&S technologies have the potential to address new stresses that are likely to be placed on the electricity system, and to do so more cost-effectively than would be possible through traditional methods of grid reinforcement and fossil-fuel-powered system balancing capacity. EN&S technologies could play an important role in the future energy system, supporting the uptake of renewable electricity generation, renewable heat, electric vehicles (EVs), and other low carbon technologies. Innovation in EN&S technologies could save the UK £4-19bn to 2050 and could help create UK-based business opportunities that could contribute an estimated £6-34bn to GDP to 2050.
  • Marine energy: The UK has a large natural resource of marine energy that could make a meaningful contribution to the UK energy mix from around 2025. Cost of energy generated will need to reach around £100/MWh by 2025 for marine energy to be competitive with other technologies. This pathway is ambitious but possible with significant innovation. If successful, innovation in Marine energy could save the energy system approximately £3 - 8bn and help create a UK industry that could contribute an estimated £1-4bn to GDP up to 2050.
The TINA findings will be used to underpin the design and focus of DECC’s and other LCICG’s members’ programmes and activities in these technology areas.

The first TINA on offshore wind was published in February 2012. TINAs for other technology areas including Bioenergy, Industrial Energy Efficiency, Heat, Domestic Buildings, Nuclear Fission and Hydrogen are expected to be published over the next few months.

The Parliamentary Information Office will continue to report on progress as we go through the months ahead.

Friday 17 August 2012

Uk Green Investment Bank


The Parliamentary Information Office has been monitoring progress towards the set up and implementation of the UK Green Investment Bank following the Energy Act last year

The UK is to set up the world’s first investment bank solely dedicated to greening the economy.

The initiative is part of the Government’s commitment to setting the UK firmly on course towards a green and growing economy, while also delivering long-term sustainable growth.

This transition to a green economy presents significant growth opportunities for UK-based businesses, both at home and abroad.

It will require unprecedented investment in key green sectors - an estimated £200 billion is needed for the energy system alone over the period to 2020.

The UK Green Investment Bank (GIB) will be a key component of the progression towards a green economy, complementing other green policies to help accelerate additional capital into green infrastructure.

Its mission will be to provide financial solutions to accelerate private sector investment in the green economy.
Capitalised with £3 billion, the GIB will play a vital role in addressing market failures affecting green infrastructure projects in order to stimulate a step up in private investment.

It will build the necessary deep expertise in financial markets and green investments, working towards a ‘double bottom line’ of both achieving significant green impact and making financial returns.

Following best practice, the UK Green Investment Bank has been established under the Companies Act and will operate at arm’s length from government.

The Government expects to obtain state aid approval for the GIB by autumn 2012. In advance of this, the Government will begin making investments in green projects from April 2012.

The GIB is one of a number of key policies designed help meet environmental objectives and promote economic growth. Other initiatives include the creation of a National Infrastructure Plan, reforms to the electricity market, changes to the climate change levy, the introduction of a renewable heat incentive, the review of waste policy and the reviews of Ofgem and Ofwat.

Several non-green specific policies also support our growth and environmental objectives, including banking reform, support for early stage innovation and skills provision.

Delivery schedule

The UK Green Investment Bank project will evolve over two phases, preceded by a programme of preliminary Government investment in green infrastructure.
  • Preliminary phase: UK Green Investments – from 2012 until state aid approval for GIB is granted, BIS’s UK Green Investments team will make direct investments in green infrastructure projects
  • GIB establishment – GIB will be established as a stand-alone institution following state-aid approval. It is expected that state aid approval will be granted by autumn 2012
  • GIB full borrowing – from April 2015, the GIB will be given full powers to borrow, subject to public sector net debt falling as a percentage of GDP and further state aid approval being granted.
Project Governance

The Department of Business, Innovation and Skills is leading the Government’s work to develop the UK Green Investment Bank. It is working with a number of other government departments including the DECC, DEFRA, HMT, DfT, CLG and Infrastructure UK.

And in May this year the UK Green Investment Bank (UK GIB) moved a step closer to going live. The Business Secretary announced the formation of the public company and the appointment of its top directors.

Lord Smith of Kelvin will be the new Chair of UK Green Investment Bank plc. Currently Chair of SSE and The Weir Group, he has a strong financial services background, chairing the group set up by the Financial Reporting Council in 2003 to clarify the role of audit committees.

Sir Adrian Montague has been appointed as Deputy Chair and Senior Independent Director. Sir Adrian, who is chair of companies including 3i and Anglian Water Group, has been chairing the GIB Advisory Group and has been closely involved with the development of the bank.

Business Secretary Vince Cable said:

"The UK GIB is a major new innovation vital to securing investment in what is one of the great challenges of our age, the decarbonisation of our energy supply. It has found two candidates of outstanding calibre well suited to leading the bank through its important early phase."

Lord Smith said:

“It is a pleasure to be asked by the Business Secretary to chair this groundbreaking institution. I look forward to working with Sir Adrian Montague and can’t wait to get started.”

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said:

"Lord Smith and Sir Adrian bring significant expertise and strong track records of delivery. Britain is already a powerhouse in green industries, but we are still not tapping all of our potential. I am determined that the Government will do everything it can to support this burgeoning sector and set the UK firmly on course towards a green and growing economy. The UK GIB will play a key part in this."

Scottish Secretary Michael Moore said:

“The UK GIB is set to play an essential part as we build and invest in a greener future. This is a UK institution headquartered in Edinburgh supported by a strong team in London and the news that Lord Smith and Sir Adrian Montague have been appointed is another step towards the bank opening for business. They bring a wealth of experience to the roles and will bring that to bear as we look to encourage private sector investment in key energy projects.”

The will begin the recruitment of the company’s other directors and senior executive team shortly. The Board is aiming for a fully operational UK GIB this autumn, subject to state aid approval from the European Commission.

Following these appointments, the Advisory Group chaired by Sir Adrian Montague will be disbanded.

The UK GIB headquarters will be in Edinburgh, with an office in London to enable a greater commercial reach nationally than could be achieved from one location.

The Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill includes legislation to set the Bank’s green purpose, embed its independence and make funding provision for the Bank.

The Parliamentary Information Office will continue to report on environmental issues and their impact on the UK as we go through the months ahead.

Thursday 16 August 2012

Scottish Independence Referendum


The Parliamentary Information Office is, with constitutional pundits generally, following closely the progress of the Scottish National Party’s attempts to hold a referendum on Scottish independence.

The Scottish Affairs Committee yesterday published the fourth report in its series of reports about the referendum on separation for Scotland.

This follows on from a Report last week on the legal competence of the Scottish Parliament to hold a referendum on separation. The House of Commons Scottish Affairs Select Committee in that report said that the overwhelming weight of evidence shows that the Scottish Parliament cannot presently legislate to hold a referendum on separation, and that agreement should be reached between Holyrood and Westminster to create the necessary legal powers. Otherwise Scotland risks indefinite legal and political wrangling and uncertainty over its future.

Commenting on yesterday’s report, Chair of the Committee Ian Davidson MP said:

"It is important that any referendum on Scotland's future is clear and decisive. The Committee is of the view that a three option choice would be neither.

“We were surprised how complex the process of a three sided referendum would be; in particular how the wording and layout of the question, and the method of counting, could affect the result. This, together with the uncertainty of how a triangular context could be regulated, opens up the prospect of interminable wrangling over process at the expense of debate on the substance of Separation.

“We believe evolving devolution is the settled will of the Scottish people, as shown in the 1997 referendum and the General Election of 2010. Nevertheless, those who support Separation have, by gaining a majority of seats in the Scottish Parliament in 2011, won the right to put their alternative vision to the vote.

“There is no such mandate for any, as yet identified, pattern of devolution and we believe that while Separation can be agreed unilaterally, changes to the Devolution Settlement must be negotiated multilaterally, consensually and in good faith.

“We believe a clear and decisive referendum requires a binary choice and urge both Governments to get on with it."

Report Summary

Widening the number of options to be put in front of the voters in a referendum may at first sight be an attractive proposition: but it suffers from a number of fatal defects. Leaving aside the charges of political opportunism which can quite fairly be laid against the Scottish Government in pursuing this option, the evidence we heard shows very clearly the challenges and defects of the notion.

The Scottish Government does not have a mandate to hold a referendum on greater devolution. What it promised was a referendum on separation, and we agree they should be enabled to hold that. It is for those political parties and organisations which genuinely support devolution to make proposals for developing it, and propose how put those plans before the electorate.

It is perfectly clear that there are, at present, no developed plans for further devolution. In particular, the idea of "devolution max" is no more than a phrase in search of content. No plans exist, and none are in prospect which could properly be put forward to the voters in any referendum.

A referendum is a way in which the voters make a decision, or a choice. It is entirely appropriate to deal with the question of separation. But changing the devolution settlement is a different kind of choice. A referendum could only deal with the question of more powers if there were a proposal, and if the voters could be assured that, were they to support it, it would be put into effect. That means such a proposal has to be developed and broadly agreed in advance in the UK and the Scottish governments and then. No such proposal exists, and none is being developed.

The Parliamentary Information Office will watch developments with considerable interest and continue to report on this and other constitutional issues.

Wednesday 8 August 2012

Tech City Attracts New Investment


Following the announcement by UKTI of the series of Global Business Summits to take place during the London Olympics, the Parliamentary information Office  has been closely following progress and achievements as the conferences take place 

East London receives a boost today as five ICT firms announce plans to expand their operations in Tech City, Europe’s fastest-growing digital hub. The announcements were made at today’s Global Business Summit at Lancaster House. The new investment will help drive growth by boosting jobs and company start ups in the area, while helping cement the UK’s reputation as a leading player in ICT.

During the six weeks of the Games, the British Business Embassy will host 17 global business summits at Lancaster House, following the annual Global Investment Conference on July 26. Each will be targeted at individual sectors or countries.

The series of global business summits taking place at the British Business Embassy will be the largest and most ambitious set of trade and investment events ever held in this country.

Over 3,000 Government Ministers, business leaders and policy-makers from the UK and around the world will come through the doors of Lancaster House. These events will allow businesses and Governments to exchange views and ideas, discuss local and international economic challenges, develop strong global partnerships for future growth and showcase the best of British business to the world.

Today’s summit will showcase the best of UK ICT innovation and technology to delegates from around the world, promoting new opportunities for international business. Keynote speakers include Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne, BBC Director General Mark Thompson, and BT Chief Executive Ian Livingston.

Milton Keynes, Sheffield and Ulster will also benefit from multi-million pound international business deals announced at the Global Business Summit on ICT, one of 18 summits organised by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) during the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

International business announced today includes:
  • Vodafone announces new Tech City technology lab
  • Barclays and Central Working set up new club in Tech City to help 22,000 businesses
  • Italian incubator sets up in Tech City, creating 50 jobs
  • GREE mobile social gaming company relocating to Tech City and opening a new development studio
  • Tech City-based USTWO and London-based MPP Global Solutions both set to expand in the UK
  • Airwatch planning to hire 75 more workers in Milton Keynes
  • Tribal Group takes on workers in Sheffield after winning £32m in overseas contracts
  • University of Ulster software spin-out gains $3.7m funding boost.
The Chancellor, George Osborne, said:

“The Government is determined to make Britain the technology centre of Europe, with the London’s Tech City at its heart.

“London 2012 is the perfect stage to show investors and entrepreneurs how much we have already achieved, and the exciting potential of what is to come. We are also proud to demonstrate the world-class innovation of the British tech industry, which is helping to deliver the most digitally-advanced Games in history.”

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said:

“It’s fantastic that more and more companies are taking advantage of the enormous benefits of doing business in London, and I am delighted to welcome these new additions to Tech City. London is at the forefront of the high tech revolution, and the 2012 Games have given us a unique opportunity to showcase the unrivalled opportunities for businesses in the capital.

“The official promotional organisation for London, London & Partners, continue to do a sterling job of promoting the city to our international visitors and I look forward to welcoming many more businesses in the future.”

Ian Livingston, BT Chief Executive, said:

“We are delighted to be participating in the British Business Embassy summits at Lancaster House. This is a unique opportunity for us to showcase our expertise to international visitors and potential new customers in one place.”

Other speakers today include Derek McManus, the Chief Operating Officer of Telefonica O2 UK; and Stephen Leonard, the Chief Executive of IBM UK & Ireland. Seminars will focus on key fields including broadband; digital innovation; multimedia; and next-generation mobility.

The total IT & telecoms workforce in the UK now comprises 1.5 million individuals – five per cent of the total current UK workforce. This is made up of 900,000 specialists within the IT & telecoms supply industry and a further 600,000 working as IT or telecoms professionals in other industries.

The UK is a strong market for technology, with some of Europe’s most voracious consumers of technology.

The UK is Europe’s leading market for software and IT services with a market value of €61 billion in 2011.

London’s Tech City has grown dramatically to become the capital’s leading destination for digital, creative and high-technology companies. In just three years, it has expanded naturally from around 15 companies to over 700 – growth that is set to continue, with the UK Government actively supporting the area’s development.

UKTI helps around 1,200 ICT companies every year to export

The Parliamentary Information Office will continue to monitor and report on progress as we go through the weeks ahead.

Scottish Independence Referendum


The Parliamentary Information Office is, with constitutional pundits generally, following closely the progress of the Scottish National Party’s attempts to hold a referendum on Scottish independence.

In a report published today, Tuesday 7 August 2012, the House of Commons Scottish Affairs Select Committee says the overwhelming weight of evidence shows that the Scottish Parliament cannot presently legislate to hold a referendum on separation, and that agreement should be reached between Holyrood and Westminster to create the necessary legal powers. Otherwise Scotland risks indefinite legal and political wrangling and uncertainty over its future.

In its manifesto for the 2007 Scottish Parliament election, the SNP pledged to hold an independence referendum by 2010. After winning the election, the SNP-controlled Scottish Government published a White Paper entitled Choosing Scotland’s Future, which outlined options for the future of Scotland, including independence.

In August 2009, the SNP announced that the Referendum (Scotland) Bill 2010 would be part of its third legislative programme for 2009-10, which would detail the question and conduct of a possible referendum on the issue of independence. The Bill was to be published on 25 January 2010 (Burns Night), with the referendum proposed for on or around 30 November 2010 (St. Andrew’s Day). The Bill was not expected to be passed, because of the SNP's status as a minority government, and the opposition of all the major parties in the Parliament. In September 2010, the Scottish Government announced that no referendum would occur before the 2011 elections.

Following the SNP's victory in the 2011 election which gave the party an overall majority in the Scottish Parliament, First Minister Alex Salmond stated his desire to hold a referendum "in the second half of the parliament" which would place it in 2014 or 2015.

Then in January 2012, politicians clashed over whether the Scottish Parliament has the power to hold a referendum on independence and Scotland can only separate from the UK if the Scottish people make that decision in a referendum.

Today the Select Committee says any such referendum must have an unchallengeable legal and moral basis, to avoid delays and challenges to the legitimacy of the process and its result. The Scottish Parliament can legislate only on devolved matters, and the Union between Scotland and England is a reserved matter.

The Scottish Government has argued that Holyrood is legally competent to set up a referendum but the Committee can find no evidence for this and the Scottish Government has provided no legal justification for this view. Given that it is clear that the result of a referendum will decide Scotland's position, in or out of the Union, it must have an unchallengeable legal and moral basis. It cannot be described as simply "advisory".

The Committee says any attempt to conduct a referendum on a dubious legal basis would inevitably be challenged in the courts. This could take years to be resolved and would lead to even further damaging uncertainty about Scotland's future. No-one should be allowed to use legal wrangles to put off a referendum even longer than is currently planned. It is vital both that any referendum must be conducted on a sound legal footing and that it takes place within an appropriate time-scale.

The Committee says the best way to ensure a sound legal basis for the referendum is for the UK and Scottish Governments and Parliaments to agree the specific detail of an order under section 30 of the Scotland Act 1998 to give the Scottish Parliament power to conduct a referendum. The committee believes that any Section 30 order proposed by the Government should be subject to pre-legislative scrutiny by the Scottish Affairs Committee and to approval by all of Scotland’s MPs before being proceeded with.

The Committee says it is "highly desirable" that both Governments and both Parliaments should agree the legislative and organisational form of any referendum, to reduce the scope for either side of the argument to claim afterwards that the process was in any way improper or unfair. However, this should not be used to allow those who anticipate being defeated to stall or derail the process.

Chair of the Committee Ian Davidson MP said:

"With a consensus for a referendum on Separation, it is essential that any ballot is held on an unchallengeable legal and moral basis.

“The Labour Government’s referendum in 1997 created the Scottish Parliament and determined that MPs should have control of further constitutional change. These decisions were made by the Scottish people.

“It is clear from our evidence that the Scottish Parliament has no powers to hold either a binding or an advisory referendum on constitutional change. It is also clear that any attempt to do so would result in legal disputes and delay.

“Thus we believe the best way to proceed is for the Government to propose a detailed and specific Section 30 notice, giving the Scottish Parliament powers to conduct a referendum on Separation, and that this S30 notice should be subject to a scrutiny process by the Scottish Affairs Committee and approval by Scotland’s MPs.

“Since the forthcoming referendum will settle the question of Separation for a generation it is important that it takes place legally, speedily and honestly. While delay may be attractive to those anticipating defeat, any effort to stall or derail the process will not be in Scotland’s best interest. Continued uncertainty will neither protect nor create jobs nor will it enhance public services.

The Government should therefore come forward with a proposed Section 30 notice as quickly as possible."
The Parliamentary Information Office will watch developments with considerable interest and continue to report on this and other constitutional issues.

Monday 6 August 2012

Unleashing The Potential Of Low Energy Buildings To Restore Growth


The Parliamentary Information Office is currently gathering news items for major features on sustainable energy and its impact in the current economic climate and has been monitoring progress following the  Rio+20 conference “towards a greener future”

Construction is a crucial sector for the UK and European economy, generating almost 10% of EU GDP and providing 20 million jobs, mainly in micro and small enterprises. Competitiveness in the construction sector can significantly influence the development of the overall economy.

Buildings' energy performance and resource efficiency in manufacturing, transport and the use of products to construct buildings and infrastructures have an important impact on Europeans' quality of life. The competitiveness of construction companies is therefore an important issue, not only for growth and employment in general but also to ensure the sector's sustainability.

Low energy buildings with high CO2 and energy cost saving potential still have a limited market uptake, despite their economic and environmental advantages. Construction comprises of more than 10% of total employment in the EU. Therefore, to promote the construction sector as a driving force in the creation of jobs and for sustained growth for the economy in general, the European Commission tabled today a strategy to boost the sector.

Its main elements include stimulating favourable investment conditions, in particular in the renovation and maintenance of buildings. For example:
  • encouraging the take up of the package of up to €120 billion in loans available from the European Investment Bank (EIB) as part of June's Pact for Growth and Employment
  • boosting innovation and improving worker's qualifications by promoting mobility
  •  improving resource efficiency, by promoting mutual recognition of sustainable construction systems in the EU. Fourthly, providing standard design codes of practice to construction companies making it easier for them to work in other Member States. Finally, fostering the global position of European construction enterprises to stimulate good performance and sustainable construction standards in third countries.
The European Commission Vice President Antonio Tajani, Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship, said:

"In the current severe economic and social crisis, low energy buildings are safe and viable investments for society and private investors. The construction sector should see this as an opportunity to innovate and attract new talent. New technologies offer major potential, not only for new houses, but also for renovating millions of existing buildings to make them highly energy efficient in line with the EU 2020 objectives. Let's not miss this opportunity. The construction sector can become a driver of sustainable growth.”

Why does the EU need a construction strategy?
  • the financial and economic crisis has meant building and infrastructure work fell by 17% between January 2008 and April 2012 across the EU-27
  • the burst of the housing bubble has continued to significantly reduce activity in the sector, generating unemployment
  • the contraction of credit markets and late payment practices put further pressure on construction enterprises' solvency
  • the sector is in constant need of skilled labour
  • the introduction of Nearly Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB), as announced in the recast of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, will be a major challenge for the construction sector
  • efforts to improve energy efficiency and to integrate renewable energy sources are progressing slowly, in particular in the renovation of existing buildings
  • the situation in international markets is critical for EU operators. Difficulties arise from the competition conditions in other countries such as less stringent social and environmental requirements. Non-EU operators also benefit from state aid , e.g. in China, which limit the opportunities for EU operators to access these markets.
A High Level Forum is to be arranged with Member States and sectoral representatives to oversee the implementation of the strategy and make recommendations on any necessary adjustments or new initiatives to be launched. In parallel, thematic and other groups will discuss various approaches for the implementation of specific initiatives, appraise the likely effects of existing actions at national and sectorial level on the specific initiatives and identify opportunities for synergies.

The Parliamentary Information Office will continue to report on environmental issues and their impact on the UK and Europe as we go through the months ahead.

Friday 3 August 2012

Problem Drinking Tackled In Local Communities


The Parliamentary Information Office reported in March the launch of a new £1 million fund to give local communities the tools they need to tackle binge drinking and has been following distribution of the funding 

The new £1 million fund to enable local communities to tackle binge and underage drinking was announced in March by the Government's Champion for Active Safer Communities, Baroness Newlove.

Figures show an ever-growing cost of alcohol to the NHS which currently stands at £2.7bn a year, including £1bn on accident and emergency services. £2.7bn equates to £90 for every taxpayer in the country. This is part of a wider cost to society from alcohol of between £17 billion and £22 billion per annum. In 2010/11 alone there were 200,000 hospital admissions with a primary alcohol-related diagnosis, 40 per cent higher than in 2002/03. The number of patients admitted with acute intoxification has more than doubled to 18,500 since 2002/03. According to a 2010 Home Office Impact Assessment, alcohol-related crime is estimated to cost £8billion - £13billion a year.

In her most recent report, Baroness Newlove set out the importance of tackling the damage associated with problem drinking and announced her intention to give up to ten areas in England the money and extra resources for projects to make their neighbourhoods safer and better places to live. The report also highlighted the good practice already out there, such as the community based projects based in East Belfast, Derry, Maidstone, and Newquay that are successfully dealing with problem drinking head on.

On 14 May 2012, Baroness Newlove announced ten areas that would receive funding available to local authorities to spend over a two-year period with each receiving in the region of £45,000 per year. The ten areas that received this funding were:
  • Bury, Greater Manchester
  • Chelmsford, Essex
  • Cornwall
  • County Durham
  • Lincoln, Lincolnshire
  • Maidstone, Kent
  • Moseley, Birmingham
  • Newcastle
  • Shropshire
  • Wakefield, West Yorkshire
And last week Baroness Newlove announced the names of ten areas across the country that will each be awarded small grants of up to £10,000 to test innovative ideas that will help reduce problem drinking and related antisocial behaviour, improve how communities work together and make real changes to their area.

These new grassroot projects are genuine community coalitions of local police, community activists, local authorities and retailers. Each area has identified the issues that are of greatest concern to their communities and have developed local solutions to test out ideas that can be built on to help transform their neighbourhoods.

The ten successful projects include rural communities and town centres, local parks and residential areas and involve partnerships with for example; local schools, youth centres and hospitals.
The ten areas are:
  • Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent
  • Croydon, London
  • Exeter, Devon
  • Great Yarmouth, Norfolk
  • Horsham, West Sussex
  • Lancaster, Lancashire
  • North Tyneside
  • Nottingham
  • Reading, Berkshire
  • St Helens, Merseyside
Baroness Newlove said:

"I am convinced that the solution to underage and binge drinking and the crime and anti-social behaviour that comes in its wake can only be found when everyone, those affected and those paid to stamp it out, come together with total resolve to tackle it head-on. It's not about huge amounts of money either, some of the best most effective approaches involve pooling resources, sharing information and improving existing communications.

"These ten areas, like the original ten, have impressed me with a local plan involving community activists, police, health workers and the retail trade and I want other communities facing similar problems to learn from their innovative example.

"For too long, a small minority has impacted adversely on our happiness, health and security. We have to change society's tolerance to this unacceptable behaviour and the fight-back will be sown in these grassroots partnerships.

"Their success will be helped by the range of community powers available to them through new Government legislation and I shall be mentoring them and encouraging them throughout."

The ten areas form part of a national network of communities working to tackle binge and underage drinking and anti social behaviour which Baroness Newlove will be supporting, including the ten areas announced in May that are sharing a £1million fund and the 'Newlove Neighbourhoods'.

This network will celebrate and support all the hard work that communities are putting in, allowing them to share ideas and best practice across the country, and together, solve common problems and identify the red tape holding them back.

Among the ten projects that will receive funding are:
  • Horsham, Sussex, the local youth services and the YMCA are developing a project for young people to design and present their own 'mocktails' - non alcoholic cocktails. The project will not only allow local young people to learn about the problems of binge drinking, but will also offer them a chance to develop employment skills.
  • Great Yarmouth is supporting a community project called The Den Life Changes project, where local people support young people and their families to turn their lives around from drug and alcohol abuse. They will also roll out a mentoring project based on the principles of work at The Den.
  • In Nottingham, a local charity is developing a binge drinking awareness project in three city centre schools. The project would be aimed at years 10/11 and include drama workshops, an art campaign, and a health education programme about alcohol, which can then be taken forward in these and neighbouring schools.
  • North Tyneside are building on a project run by the local Primary Care Trust which employs an A&E Link Worker to deal with the issue of alcohol related hospital admissions of young people. This project will establish a package of support with local services for young people including mentoring.
The Parliamentary Information Office will continue to report on the distribution of the fund and its success as this becomes evident.

Thursday 2 August 2012

Renewable Energy Impact On Economy


The Parliamentary Information Office is currently monitoring progress towards targeted growth in the renewable energy sector

Yesterday Edward Davey MP, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change published the Government’s decision on the levels of financial support that will be available through the Renewables Obligation (RO) for large-scale renewable electricity generators from 2013-17. This follows a comprehensive, rigorous and evidence-based review of RO subsidies carried out over the last 18 months.

Mr Davey said “The support we’re setting out today will unlock investment decisions, help ensure that rapid growth in renewable energy continues and shows the key role of renewables for our energy security.”

The Renewables Obligation is currently the main financial mechanism by which the Government incentivises the deployment of large-scale renewable electricity generation. Support is granted for 20 years, which balances the need to provide investors with long-term certainty with the need to keep costs to consumers to a minimum.

Since the RO’s introduction in 2002, it has succeeded in supporting the deployment of increasing amounts of renewables generation from 3.1GW in 2002 to 13GW in the first quarter of 2012 and increasing the level of renewable electricity in the UK from 1.8% in 2002 to 9.4% in 2011. It is currently worth around £2 billion a year in support to the renewable electricity industry.

In April 2010, the end date of the RO was extended from 2027 to 2037 for new projects to provide long-term certainty for investors and to ensure continued deployment of renewables to meet the UK’s 2020 target and beyond.

The RO places a mandatory requirement on licensed UK electricity suppliers to source a specified and annually increasing proportion of electricity they supply to customers from eligible renewable sources or pay a penalty. The scheme is administered by Ofgem who issue Renewables Obligation Certificates (ROCs) to electricity generators in relation to the amount of eligible renewable electricity they generate. Generators sell their ROCs to suppliers or traders which allows them to receive a premium in addition to the wholesale electricity price.

Yesterday Ministers said that changes to subsidies for renewable electricity could incentivise between £20 billion and £25 billion of new investment in the economy between 2013 and 2017. The Banding Review for the Renewables Obligation will support jobs and deliver more clean power with a reduction in costs to consumers between 2013 and 2015,

Mr Davey reported that bandings were today set for renewable technologies under the Renewables Obligation for the period 2013-17 (2014-17 for offshore wind). This comes ahead of the Government's Global Investment Conference and series of 17 business summits taking place at the British Business Embassy at Lancaster House during the upcoming Games, which aim to secure further investment into the UK.

Mr Davey said:

“Renewable energy will create a multi-billion pound boom for the British economy, driving growth and supporting jobs across the country.

“The support we’re setting out today will unlock investment decisions, help ensure that rapid growth in renewable energy continues and shows the key role of renewables for our energy security.

“Because value for money is vital, we will bring forward more renewable electricity while reducing the impact on consumer bills between 2013 and 2015, saving £6 off household energy bills next year and £5 the year after.”

The Banding Review sets out that:
  • Support for onshore wind from 2013-17 will be reduced by 10% to 0.9ROCs, as consulted on in Autumn 2011. This level is guaranteed until at least 2014 but could change after then if there is a significant change in generation costs. A call for evidence on onshore wind industry costs will be launched this Autumn and report in early 2013. If the findings identify a significant change, the Government will initiate an immediate review of ROC levels with any new support arrangements taking effect from April 2014, with grandfathering and grace periods for projects already committed. The call for evidence will also consider how local communities can have more of a say over, and receive greater economic benefit from, hosting onshore windfarms
  • Rates of support for offshore wind will reduce as the cost of the technology comes down during the decade
  • Support levels for certain marine energy technologies will more than double from 2ROCs to 5ROCs per MWh, subject to a 30MW limit per generating station
  • There will be a new band to support existing coal plant converting to sustainable biomass fuels. This will increase the amount of renewable energy produced at less cost to consumers and
  • There will be no immediate reduction in support for large-scale solar, but there will be a further consultation this year on reduced support levels given recent dramatic falls in costs.
By 2017, this package could deliver as much as 79 TWh of renewable electricity per annum in the UK - nearly three-quarters (74%) of the way towards the 108TWh of electricity needed to meet the UK’s 2020 renewable energy target.

These proposals are expected to bring forward 11 TWh more renewable energy in 2016/17 than current bandings, and stimulate between £20bn and £25bn of new investment. The proposals also provide industry with the certainty needed to make near-term investment decisions.

Gas
Alongside its plans for renewables the Government is also committed to ensuring that the UK is an attractive location for gas investors.

The Government will set out its gas strategy in the Autumn, and is today confirming that it sees gas continuing to play an important part in the energy mix well into and beyond 2030, while meeting our carbon budgets.
Through the 2020s, and beyond if gas proves cheap, it is expected to continue to play a key role ensuring that we have sufficient capacity both to meet everyday demand and complementing an increasing amount of relatively intermittent and inflexible generation. The role of gas is not expected to be restricted to providing back up to renewables, and in the longer term there is an important role for gas with CCS.

This role will be supported by making best use of UK energy resources and the Government is also today announcing the introduction of a £500m field allowance for large shallow water gas fields, to secure investment in marginal gas fields in the UK Continental Shelf.

The gas generation strategy will set out in more detail how the Government, whilst meeting its broad decarbonisation objectives will ensure investment in gas generation plant and how it will fulfil its commitment to ensure that if gas prices fall UK families and businesses will be able to benefit from lower bills.

As part of 17 Global Business Summits which will take place at the British Business Embassy during the Games, an Energy Summit will take place on 6 and 7 August. Speakers include Energy Secretary Edward Davey, Sam Laidlaw, CEO, Centrica, Steve Holliday, CEO, National Grid PLC, Maria McCaffery, CEO, Renewable UK, Samir Brikho, CEO, AMEC plc and Bob Dudley, CEO, BP.

The series of summits will be the largest set of trade and investment events ever held in this country with over 3,000 business leaders, policy-makers and ministers from around the world attending including half the companies in the FTSE 100.

The Parliamentary Information Office will continue to report on Government action to achieve targets in sustainable energy supplies over the months ahead.

Electoral Fraud


The Parliamentary Information Office is, with constitutional pundits generally, following closely the progress through Parliament of the Electoral Registration and Administration Bill

The Electoral Registration and Administration Bill had its second reading - the first chance for members to debate general aspects of the bill - in the House of Lords earlier this week.

In the programme for Government, the administration committed to an individual electoral registration system that would "Reduce electoral fraud by speeding up the implementation of individual voter registration."

In June 2011 the Government published a White Paper and draft legislation on Individual Electoral Registration. A public consultation was held on the proposals and the Political and Constitutional Reform Committee (PCRC) carried out pre-legislative scrutiny. Also, in July and September 2011, the Government published draft legislation in relation to certain provisions concerning the administration and conduct of elections for pre-legislative scrutiny by the PCRC. The Government responded to the PCRC report and the public consultation in February.

The clauses and schedules in Part 1 of the Bill relating to Individual Electoral Registration will:
  • Provide that each elector must apply individually to be registered to vote after the transition to the new system.
  • Make transitional arrangements over two years, including using data matching to verify entries, and providing for the ‘carry forward’ of electors who are not automatically verified and fail to register under the new system in the first year, so that they remain on the first register published under the new system (likely to be the register used for the 2015 general election).
  • Create a legislative framework to allow alternative channels for registration, such as online registration, to be offered.
  • Provide for the use of data matching to verify applications, check existing entries in registers and find individuals who do not currently appear on the register.
  • Make provision for an annual canvass which is compatible with the new registration system and provide a power to amend or abolish the annual canvass in future, subject to a report by the Electoral Commission and an order requiring the approval by a resolution of each House of Parliament.
  • Ensure that all those wishing to vote by post or proxy will need to be registered under the new registration system to utilise these voting methods after the first annual canvass under the new system.
  • Introduce a civil penalty for those who fail to make an application when required to do so by an Electoral Registration Officer ("ERO").
The Bill also includes provisions in Part 2 in relation to the administration and conduct of elections, a number of which were published for pre-legislative scrutiny by the PCRC. The provisions in the Bill are intended to improve the way elections are run, increase voter participation, and further improve the integrity and robustness of the electoral system. The clauses relating to the administration and conduct of elections will:
  • Extend the electoral timetable for UK Parliamentary elections from 17 to 25 working days which will also have the consequence of altering a number of the deadlines within the timetable (in particular the date for delivery of nominations) which are fixed to the start of the electoral timetable. This will allow more time for the postal vote process and facilitate the administration of elections more generally.
  • Provide for there to be two interim publication dates at UK Parliamentary elections and other specified polls, where an election is pending, on which notices of alteration to the electoral register must be published.
  • As a consequence of an extended electoral timetable, move the deadline for appointing polling and counting agents at UK Parliamentary elections from 2 to 5 days before polling day.
  • Make changes to the timing of polling place reviews in Great Britain to bring them in line with the five year Parliamentary terms established by the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011, and the five year cycle for UK Parliamentary boundary reviews implemented by the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011.
  • Address an oversight in existing legislation to enable a UK Parliamentary election candidate jointly nominated by two or more registered political parties to use, on the ballot paper, an emblem registered by one of the nominating parties.
  • Allow Police Community Support Officers ("PCSOs") to enter polling stations (as police constables can currently).
  • Remove the automatic postponement of parish and community council elections in England and Wales that currently occurs when a Parliamentary or European Parliamentary general election falls on the ordinary day for local government elections.
  • Enable regulations to be made to place EROs under a duty to give notifications about rejected postal votes, and specify the circumstances where this duty arises. It is proposed that the regulations place EROs under a duty to inform (after an election) electors whose postal votes have been rejected because the postal vote identifiers (that is, signature and date of birth) did not match those stored on record for that elector. This will help voters who submit their postal ballot packs in good faith to avoid their vote being rejected at successive elections.
  • Provide that the Secretary of State may, upon a recommendation from the Electoral Commission, withhold or reduce a Returning Officer’s fee for reasons of poor performance.
The debate this week was opened by Lord Wallace of Saltaire (Liberal Democrat). He outlined the purpose of the bill and explained:

“The aim of the bill is to tackle electoral fraud, to increase the number of people registered to vote, to give people greater ownership of their own registration and to improve the integrity of the register.

“The bill also includes provisions to improve the administration and conduct of elections, which will serve to increase voter participation, and to make a number of improvements to the running of elections.”

Lord Falconer of Thoroton (Labour) commented on the first part of the bill, the timetable and the approach to the introduction of individual voter registration. He compared it to the current system and said:

“Individual electoral registration means that you have to fill in a form individually and produce proof - including a national insurance number, date of birth and something else - that you are the person who lives at the particular address. This is much more difficult - not remotely impossible but more difficult - and the consequence is almost bound to be that fewer people will register.”

In the introduction to his speech, Lord Baker of Dorking (Conservative), spoke of the independent role of the House of Lords in electoral matters. He said:

“My Lords, it is entirely appropriate that this unelected second chamber should be debating, probing, examining and questioning the electoral system in our country. As none of us is elected, we can approach this with a degree of objectivity and dispassion.”

Lord Wills (Labour), who has introduced individual electoral registration in the past, spoke from his experience. He said:

“As we have heard, the latest estimate suggests that at least 6 million people eligible to vote were not registered to do so in December 2010. The problem is all the worse because those eligible voters who are not on the register are disproportionately concentrated in particular groups: young people and students, people with learning disabilities, people with disabilities generally, those living in areas of high social deprivation, and ethnic minorities.”

The debate will continue with line by line scrutiny in committee stage after the summer recess. Lord Wallace of Saltaire concluded:

“We will return to many of these issues in committee. We have taken on board everything that has been said in the debate. We are confident that by going through the transition process and learning from the Northern Irish experience, we will come out with a register that is at least as complete as it is at the moment, and more accurate.”

The Parliamentary Information Office will watch the committee stages with considerable interest and report on the outcome.
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