To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much Ofgem (a) collected and (b) transferred to the Scottish Consolidated Fund in respect of the Scottish fossil fuel levy in each of the last three years. (185495)

[holding answer 7 February 2008]: The balances of the Scottish levy account for the last three financial years are as follows:

As at 31 March 2005: £9.3 million

2005-06 (as at 31 March 2006): £18.05 million

2006-07 (as at 31 March 2007): £59.27 million

2007-08 (as at 31 March 2008): £98.21 million

These figures include accumulated interest on the account.

No transfers have been made by Ofgem to the Scottish Consolidated Fund in respect of the Scottish fossil fuel levy as no direction enabling such a transfer has been made by Scottish Ministers under section 187 of the Energy Act 2004.