To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate the Government have made of the cost of carbon allowances under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme in (a) 2012 and (b) 2020. (243540)

The Government use the forward market to estimate the cost of carbon allowances up until 2012, under Phase II of the EU Emission Trading System (EU ETS).

The EU ETS post-2012 is being revised as part of the EU Energy and Climate Package.

There is no forward market as yet for Phase III. The UK Government do not comment on prices while negotiations on the package are continuing.