Written question asked by Greg Clark (Conservative) on Tuesday, 10 January 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 16 January 2006. It was answered by Elliot Morley (Labour) on Wednesday, 18 January 2006 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Microgeneration

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what work her Department undertakes on the promotion of microgeneration, with particular reference to the promotion of crops for microgeneration; and how many civil servants in her Department are dedicated full-time to such work.

Answer: [holding answer 16 January 2006]: The Department of Trade and Industry leads for the Government on microgeneration. DEFRA works closely with them in the identification and development of cost effective measures to help new and existing microgeneration technologies make a significant contribution to our energy policy goals. DEFRA has a particular interest in micro-combined heat and power (CHP) and is supporting the Carbon Trust in its assessment of the carbon saving potential of this technology.DEFRA is keen to promote the use of biomass for heat and power generation. Grants are available to establish energy crops and to set up producer groups and supply chains for biomass. Farmers can receive the Single Payment for energy crops grown on set-aside or where the €45/ha energy aid payment is claimed for crops on non set-aside land. Research to improve disease resistance and crop yields is being undertaken. A cross-departmental team is looking carefully at the recommendations from the Biomass Task Force on ways to overcome the barriers to developing biomass energy. The Government will publish a full response by April.A number of officials work on the promotion of CHP and biomass energy, which includes issues relevant to microgeneration.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 42017; 441 c1340W
Session: 2005-06
Subjects: Crops Combined heat and power Biofuels EU grants and loans Publicity Subsidies
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk