Chamber and committees

This matter will be looked at again once the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee has considered the National Audit Office Report.

This matter will be looked at again once the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee has considered the National Audit Office Report.

As has already been explained, allegations about the FADEC software were not made until after the Fatal Accident Inquiry had taken place. The Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence explained to the House of Lords on 1 November 1999 (HL Debs, Col 656), that Boscombe Down was unable to evaluate FADEC because it did not have the necessary equipment. In answer to a request from the Crown Office for information about the allegations about FADEC, the Ministry of Defence also explained that for that reason the evaluation had been contracted out to those who did have the necessary equipment and that it had been found that FADEC posed no flight safety risks. The solicitors, who had raised the question about FADEC, were advised in writing of the position.The recent National Audit Office report bearing on this matter is under consideration and the matter will be looked at again following the consideration of that report by the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee.

Provision for the introduction of "green" certificates is made in the Utilities Bill, which is currently in its Committee stage in the House of Commons. Under the proposed renewables obligation, trade in them is expected to take place between renewable electricity generators and electricity suppliers. It is envisaged that a market will begin to operate at a UK level, but since the Government will not be involved in these transactions, which will be between companies, no revenues will accrue to Government. It is likely, however, that revenues from renewable generation in Scotland will represent an important source of income for Scottish renewable projects.

The information is as follows:

	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999*
UK**	8.2	8.8	9.4	9.6	7.9	7.9	8.2	8.3	8.0	7.5
Europe***	0.56	0.52	0.55	0.54	0.53	0.56	0.57	0.57	0.53	0.54
World***	0.35	0.34	0.36	0.33	0.33	0.33	0.33	0.34	0.32	0.33

* Estimated

** Both domestic and overseas tourism within the UK*** Excludes domestic tourism

Officials of the then Scottish Office were part of the Utilities Review team set up by the Government to look at the regulation of utilities, and have since worked closely with the Department of Trade and Industry in preparing the Bill. As in England and Wales, the Bill, once enacted, will make changes to the structure of the electricity supply industry which are expected to lead to reductions in electricity bills. The Bill also makes provision for a separate renewables obligation in Scotland, and for the continuation of the arrangements that ensure electricity consumers in the North and West do not pay more for their electricity solely because of their geographical location.

As a tax measure, the Climate Change Levy is a matter reserved to the UK Parliament. However Scottish companies are expected to benefit from reductions in Employers National Insurance contributions funded from CCL revenue, and from a share of the £100 million to be allocated each year from the CCL to provide Enhanced Capital Allowances to businesses making a range of approved energy efficient investments.In addition, £50 million each year from the CCL will be used for the development of energy efficiency and renewable energy measures across the UK. The Scottish Executive will receive a share of that money to be spent on such measures. Negotiations on the precise amount will proceed as part of the 2000 spending review.

The Scottish Executive does not hold the information requested. The Larkhall to Milngavie project is the responsibility of Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority as the public transport body for the area.

PQ S1W-2475 was answered today.

I understand that a study concerning the feasibility of the Glasgow Cross Link project has been commissioned by Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive. The findings of this study are expected later this year.