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The six authorities listed above were allocated transitional funding for two years only (2006-08) based on 67 per cent and 33 per cent of their last NRF allocation.
The decision on which authorities will receive funding under the new working neighbourhoods fund (the successor to NRF) will be announced as part of the local government finance settlement in December.
Planning: Caythorpe Gas Storage Facility
Lord Skelmersdale asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the reply by Baroness Andrews on 18 October (Official Report, col. 783) regarding a decision on the planning appeal concerning the proposed Caythorpe gas storage facility, whether any Minister has received the inspector's report; which Minister or Ministers will make a decision on the report; and when a final decision is expected to be taken. [HL169]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Andrews): Following the close of the public inquiry on 11 May into the related appeals and orders for the Caythorpe gas storage proposal, an inspector's report has been submitted to the Secretaries of State for Communities and Local Government and for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. Decisions on the appeals and orders will be made by the relevant Secretary of State.
This is a complex case requiring a number of joint decisions by both Secretaries of State, together with other decisions to be determined under a range of consent regimes. Although this planning case is not one with a set statutory timetable, this Government remain acutely aware of the need to ensure that decisions are taken as soon as possible.
Post-Legislative Scrutiny
Lord Norton of Louth asked Her Majesty's Government:
When they will publish their response to the Law Commission report on post-legislative scrutiny, published in October 2006. [HL184]
The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Ashton of Upholland): The Government hope to respond to the report from the Law Commission on post-legislative scrutiny shortly.
Pre-Budget Report
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to section D12.1 of the 2007 Pre-Budget Report, how greenhouse gas emissions are calculated to arrive at the figure of a 19.1 per cent reduction (net of emissions trading) on 1990 levels. [HL173]
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The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): Total emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) from the UK in the Kyoto 1990 base year (1990 for carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, and 1995 for hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride), accounted for using the rules set out for the Kyoto Protocol, were 775.2 million tonnes carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent. In 2005 this figure was 654.1 million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent.
The 19.1 per cent reduction figure is arrived at as follows:
The table below sets out 1990 base year and 2005 GHG emissions in the UK (totals may not agree due to rounding errors). All figures are in million tonnes of CO2 equivalent.
| Species | Base year | Base year emissions | 2005 emissions |
2005 was the first year of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS). Under the EU ETS, UK industries have had to purchase 27.1 million tonnes of CO2 emissions credits more than their allocation for the year.
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to section D12.8 of the 2007 Pre-Budget Report, whether the £400 million contribution to the international element of the Environmental Transformation Fund will be spent overseas; and, if so, in which countries and on what projects.[HL175]
Lord Rooker: As announced in Budget 2007, the £800 million international element of the Environmental Transformation Fund, managed jointly by Defra and the Department for International Development (DfID), will fund overseas development activities.
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The fund will deliver both poverty reduction and environmental benefits in developing countries. At the time of the Budget, it was announced that £50 million will be spent on tackling deforestation in the Congo basin. No specific allocations to other countries or projects have yet been made.
Defra and DfID are currently consulting on how to maximise the impact of this fund, including talking to potential recipient countries and to other potential donors to see whether we can make this into a wider multi-national effort.
Taxation: Capital Gains Tax
Lord Bilimoria asked Her Majesty's Government:
What percentage of the additional revenue to be raised from removing taper relief of 10 per cent and increasing capital gains tax to 18 per cent they estimate will come from private equity firms and hedge funds. [HL246]
Lord Davies of Oldham: The self-assessment tax data available for analysis of capital gains tax are not detailed enough to break down the capital gains taxpayer population by type of employer. The figures requested are not available.
Transport: Traffic Enforcement Cameras
Lord Higgins asked Her Majesty's Government:
Why traffic enforcement cameras are not sited visibly and marked distinctively in a similar way to speed cameras; and whether they will now ensure that they are. [HL261]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: All non-speed related traffic management restrictions should be indicated clearly with appropriate traffic signs and be complied with irrespective of whether they are enforced in a particular way.
For civil traffic enforcement applications, cameras often have to be sited outside a driver's field of view in order to capture both context and detail effectively. In areas subject to camera enforcement, the Department for Transport advises traffic authorities outside London to erect camera enforcement signs as prescribed in the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002. In London, civil traffic enforcement is governed by local Acts of Parliament but London Councils has issued similar guidance.
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