To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what funding his Department has allocated for green energy technologies in each of the next five years; to which programmes; and for what purpose in each year. (181852)

[holding answer 24 January 2008]: The following funding programmes announced by my Department are expected to continue spending over part or all of the next five years:

Bioenergy Capital Grants Scheme

Hydrogen, Fuel Cell, and Carbon Abatement Technologies Demonstration Programme

Low Carbon Buildings Programme Phase 1

Low Carbon Buildings Programme Phase 2

Offshore Wind Capital Grants Scheme

Severn Tidal Power Feasibility Study

Marine Renewables Deployment Fund

The Department has also announced its intention to fund a Carbon Capture and Storage Demonstration project.

Expenditure is demand-led and the Department does not make specific allocations for each year. These programmes have different expected lifespans: some will complete spending within five years and some will continue beyond that period. My Department’s budget for low-carbon energy technologies over the comprehensive spending review period (the three years from April 2008-March 2011) is £200 million, through the new Environmental Transformation Fund. Spend under the programmes listed will be met from this budget, as will the estimated £9 million cost for the Severn Tidal Power feasibility study whose terms of reference I announced on 22 January. My Department’s budget beyond March 2011 depends on the next central Government spending review.