asked Her Majesty's Government:

What safeguards are in place to ensure that claimants whose only income is from contribution-based employment and support allowance (ESA) do not find themselves disadvantaged compared to those on income-based ESA because they will not have entitlement to local authority concessionary schemes and the Social Fund and will need to make separate claims for help with prescription charges and legal aid. [HL1030]

The Welfare Reform Act 2007 provides that people on income-related employment and support allowance (ESA) will have access to all the income-related passported benefits that those who currently qualify for income support do. Customers whose only income is contributory ESA will also be able to apply separately for passported benefits.

We are working with colleagues in the Department of Health to make access to its low-income scheme easier for those who are not eligible for automatic passporting. This includes the potential for simplifying the claim form and making the process less complex. We are also considering options for those elements of the Social Fund unavailable to customers not in receipt of qualifying benefits.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have made an assessment of the number of retired miners and widows in the British Coal litigation whose solicitors required them to pay fees to third parties, to include the Union of Democratic Mineworkers and Vendside Ltd; and, if so, whether those solicitors have been required by the Solicitors Regulation Authority to indemnify their clients and to pay them compensation. [HL802]

No such assessment has been made.

The primary role of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) in relation to the miners' health compensation scheme is to investigate possible misconduct by solicitors who have handled claims and, where appropriate, prosecute them before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. The SRA does not have the power to require solicitors to indemnify clients or to pay them compensation.

If solicitors refuse to pay compensation to clients as directed by the separate Legal Complaints Service, however, the SRA would request the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal to order enforcement of the compensation decision.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will propose other alternative forms of power generation to coal-fired power stations, following the Bali outline agreement of 14 December. [HL1053]

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs made a Statement in another place on the Bali action plan on 18 December 2007 (Official Report, col. 725). The Bali action plan is an historic agreement in which for the first time all the countries of the world agreed to negotiate a new climate deal after the Kyoto Protocol's first commitment period ends in 2012. These negotiations will begin early next year and will be concluded in Copenhagen in 2009.

The Government's energy policy is set out in the White Paper on energy Meeting the Energy Challenge, published in May 2007. The UK has a liberalised energy market in which the private sector makes investment decisions. The Government's role is to ensure an effective energy and carbon market and that support mechanisms such as the renewables obligation incentivise low-carbon technologies. We are also supporting the construction of one of the world's first commercial-scale carbon capture and storage power plants in the UK because we recognise that fossil fuels, including coal, will continue to have an important role to play in the energy mix both here and across the world. We support innovation and the development and deployment of new technologies to reduce the carbon emissions from energy.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What are the “business as usual” estimates for United Kingdom carbon emissions in the period of the second phase of the European Emissions Trading Scheme. [HL739]

Projections of UK carbon emissions to 2020 which include the period of the second phase of the European Emissions Trading Scheme were updated and published in May 2007, supporting the energy White Paper. A baseline projection provided at the time which excludes the impact of the EU ETS and the additional proposals in the energy White Paper suggests that UK emissions are to be 146.5, 149.4 and 151.2 MtC (million tonnes of carbon) in 2010, 2015 and 2020 respectively.

Estimated UK emissions projections including the impact of the EU ETS assumed through to 2020 and the impact of the proposed energy White paper measures suggest 135.7, 132.2 and 126.5 MtC (million tonnes of carbon) for 2010, 2015 and 2020 respectively. This central projection is based on a level of carbon price assumed to be €25 per tonne of CO₂ by 2020 and includes estimates of additional carbon allowances purchased through the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 20 July (WA 55), whether the sum of £50 million by way of financial correction in relation to the single farm payment scheme payments between 30 June 2006 and 30 March 2007 was a final figure; or whether there have been further penalties imposed subsequently. [HL974]

The £50 million referred to in my Written Answer on 20 July (WA 55) related to late-payment penalties incurred as a result of the RPA missing the EC target of making 96.154 per cent of payments in respect of SPS 2005 by 30 June 2006. This figure has since increased to £63 million for payments made after 30 June 2006 in regard to SPS 2005. This amount was included as an accrual in Defra's 2006-07 resource accounts and has since been paid. A further £7 million was also noted in the accounts as a contingent liability in regard to potential subsequent payments.

Defra also included provisions totalling £348 million in the same accounts in respect of potential financial corrections (disallowance) imposed by the European Commission for breaches of EC regulations in making payments for SPS 2005, SPS 2006 and other precursor common agricultural policy schemes. The Commission has yet to make any proposals regarding disallowance relating to the single payment scheme. Defra continues to review its potential liabilities on an ongoing basis.

Detailed discussions will take place with the Commission over an extended period, possibly two or three years, before a final figure is reached on any disallowances. The outcome will be disclosed in the department's resource accounts in the year in which any financial corrections are imposed.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What support they intend to give to the latest proposals for anti-corruption legislation, especially in the context of private donations to political parties and politicians. [HL1052]

The Government welcome the publication of the Law Commission's consultation paper on reform of the law of bribery. We look forward to receiving the Law Commission's report and draft Bill in the autumn. We shall then consider its report and draft Bill closely and will be seeking to bring forward proposals as soon as parliamentary time allows.

The Government note the recent report by the Public Administration Select Committee, Propriety and Peerages. The Government will consider the report and its recommendations carefully and publish a response in due course.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many coal mines are still mining coal in the United Kingdom; what are their names and regions; what is their total output; and how many coal-miners these mines employ. [HL1058]

According to Coal Authority records, at the end of November 2007 there were seven large, two medium and nine small deep mines together with 33 surface mines producing coal or in development in the United Kingdom. A further five underground mines (one large and four small) and two surface mines were also under licence but on care and maintenance.

Details of the names, locations, forecast 2008 output and employment at the developing and producing mines is given in the table below.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Given the sharp decline in grant applications under the low-carbon buildings programme, what consideration is being given to other policies that will encourage micro and decentralised energy generation. [HL875]

The low-carbon buildings programme (LCBP) phase 1, with a £36 million budget, has successfully supported a number of microgeneration installations since April 2006. We have completed nine rounds of calls for larger scale projects under stream 2, committing funds to over 200 projects. We have seen a slow-down in applicants for household projects over the last eight months and are working with industry to promote the household stream to increase uptake. We continue to monitor uptake before making decisions on future developments.

The LCBP phase 2, with a £50 million budget, continues to make good progress supporting the public sector and not-for-profit organisations.

In addition, we already have policies in place and under development to encourage decentralised energy and help it become cost-competitive. These include:

strengthening the market price for carbon—so technologies are better recognised for their carbon benefits;

rewarding renewable electricity generation—through the renewables obligation;

support for combined heat and power—such as better treatment in the EU ETS phase 2;

the Prime Minister announced in November that we will publish a call for evidence on new measures to bring forward renewable heat in January;

Defra published new regulations on the CERT earlier this month, which builds on the success of the EEC and will allow support of microgeneration, community level CHP and biomass-fuelled district heating;

CLG published the new climate change PPS on 17 December 2007, which will ensure that more local authorities put the need for distributed energy at the forefront of their thinking for new developments, building on the lead taken by Merton Council; and

the zero-carbon new homes policy and drive for sustainability in new non-domestic buildings will also provide a strong pull in future.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the total annual subsidy for the generation of electricity through wind turbines, including renewable obligation certificates; and what estimate has been made of the cumulative amount by 2020. [HL895]

The renewables obligation is the Government's main mechanism for supporting renewables generation. It is a market-based instrument and the amount received by generators is set by the market. It is therefore not possible to say with certainty how much support has been received by wind generation.

The tables below, however, provide an indication of the amount that the RO has provided to support wind generation. This is based on renewables obligation certificates’ (ROCs) value to suppliers. The ROC value is the buyout price avoided and the amount of money recycled from the buyout fund.

Multiplying the number of ROCs issued for wind generation by the ROC value therefore gives you a nominal figure for the total support for wind generation between 2002-03 and 2005-06.

Modelling carried out by Oxera published alongside the energy White Paper in May 2007 suggests proposals to band the renewables obligation will deliver 16.7 terawatt hours of offshore wind and 12.4 terawatt hours of onshore wind by 2015. As our proposals will allow us to change the amount of support given for future developments in line with market conditions, it is not possible to estimate how much support wind generation will receive up to 2020.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many jobs in goods and services in the rest of the European Union depend on European Union exports to the United Kingdom. [HL1077]

The Government do not have an estimate for how many jobs in the rest of the European Union depend on European Union exports to the United Kingdom, and such an estimate could only be provided at disproportionate cost. However, as stated in the European Commission's publication Steps Towards a Deeper Economic Integration: The Internal Market in the 21st Century, the single market has created an additional 2.75 million jobs across the European Union and boosted prosperity by €225 billion in 2006 by removing cross-border barriers to the free movement of goods, services, capital and people, and by strengthening competition.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the United Kingdom's latest published trade deficit in goods and services with the European Union. [HL1076]

Figures for the United Kingdom's trade position with the EU are published by the Office for National Statistics. The most recent release is available in table C of www/statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/bop1207.pdf.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What public policy objectives are served by allowing value added tax exemption under the low-value consignment relief scheme for personal imports from the Channel Islands of food supplements and herbal remedies which, if placed directly on to the United Kingdom market, would be illegal by virtue either of their composition or of the claims made about them. [HL1090]

Goods imported into the United Kingdom from the Channel Islands are subject to import VAT in the same way as goods imported from any country outside the European Union.

However, under European Community legislation, import VAT is not payable on commercial consignments if the total value of the goods in the consignment does not exceed £18.

The de minimis limit was implemented by the UK many years ago to simplify import procedures, and reduce the administrative and operating costs for businesses, and similar costs for consumers, involved in importing low-value goods.

There is no prohibition on the importation of food supplements for personal use within the EC food supplement directive, with the exception within the UK of kava-kava containing foodstuffs. Therefore UK Customs must apply the VAT exemption rules until the policy on the import of such goods is changed.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Which categories of products would be illegal if placed upon the United Kingdom market but qualify for relief from value added tax under the low-value consignment relief scheme when imported for personal use from the Crown dependencies. [HL1091]

Any goods which can legitimately be imported for personal use and which fulfil the relevant criteria may benefit from the low-value consignment relief scheme if the total value of the consignment does not exceed £18.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why they continue to permit value added tax exemption under the low-value consignment relief scheme for personal imports from the Channel Islands of food supplements and herbal remedies which, if placed directly on to the United Kingdom market, would be illegal by virtue either of their composition or of the claims made about them; when they next intend to review their policies on this matter; and what assessment they have made of the impact of such exemptions upon the United Kingdom health food retailers and mail order companies. [HL1092]

Goods imported into the United Kingdom from the Channel Islands are subject to import VAT in the same way as goods imported from any country outside the European Union.

However, under European Community legislation, import VAT is not payable on commercial consignments if the total value of the goods in the consignment does not exceed £18.

There is no prohibition on the importation of food supplements for personal use within the EC food supplement directive, with the exception within the UK of kava-kava containing foodstuffs. Therefore UK Customs must apply the VAT exemption rules until the policy on the import of such goods is changed.

No assessment has been made on specific products imported under the import VAT accounting scheme, but the scheme is very closely monitored, taking into account the revenue consequences and the impact on the UK market.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In the case of the Scotland Office, how many (a) voluntary and (b) compulsory redundancies have been taken to date as a result of the Gershon review; what is the total departmental bill for each type of redundancy; and what is the natural wastage during the Gershon period to date for the department. [HL1064]

All the staff in the Scotland Office are on loan from other government departments and redundancy issues are a matter for the parent departments.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will instruct the Boundary Commission to consider a unitary county option for local government in Suffolk. [HL826]

We will be requesting the Boundary Committee for England to advise whether there is a unitary arrangement for Ipswich and the whole or part of the surrounding area that would deliver the outcomes sought by the Government. It will be for the committee to determine what, if any, solution to propose.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the period of contract and remit for the NHS Supply Chain; and [HL1000]

What savings NHS Supply Chain expects to make over its contract period; and what savings have been achieved so far. [HL1001]

The agreement for National Health Service Supply Chain to provide procurement and logistics services for the use of the NHS commenced on 1 October 2006 and runs for 10 years. There is an option to extend for a further five years, subject to the agreement of both parties. In addition to the remit to provide procurement and logistics services, NHS Supply Chain will grow sales and expand the range available to the NHS over the 10-year term.

NHS Supply Chain expects to make savings for the NHS in excess of £1 billion over the 10-year contract period. These savings grow exponentially over the period as more contract renewals take place and sales grow. At the end of the first year, savings to the NHS are £9 million compared to the year 1 target of £1 million.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Jones of Birmingham on 10 December (WA 14), and the letter from Mr Alan Cook, managing director of Post Office Ltd, dated 11 December, how much the Post Office paid for (a) the creative costs for its share of the “people's Post Office” campaign; (b) how much each celebrity appearing in the campaign was paid; and (c) what is the advertising budget for the campaign. [HL1025]

This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. Alan Cook, the managing director, has been asked to reply direct to the noble Lord. Copies of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Jones of Birmingham on 10 December (WA 14), and the letter from Mr Alan Cook, managing director of Post Office Ltd, dated 11 December, how much Royal Mail paid in creative costs for its share of the “people's Post Office” campaign run by Post Office Ltd. [HL1026]

This is an operational matter for Royal Mail and Post Office Ltd. I have asked Alan Cook, the managing director of Post Office Ltd, to co-ordinate a reply direct to the noble Lord. Copies of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.