Written question asked by Sian C James (Labour) on Tuesday, 8 July 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 10 July 2008. It was answered by Malcolm Wicks (Labour) on Monday, 15 September 2008 on behalf of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.

Carbon Emissions: Energy

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment he has made of progress made by UK energy companies in reducing their carbon dioxide emissions.

Answer: Information on carbon dioxide emissions from the UK energy supply sector are published annually by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on their website at:"http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/statistics/globatmos/gagccukem.htm."The latest available data relate to the calendar year 2006, and they show that emissions from this sector were 220.835 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, which represents a reduction of 8.9 per cent. since 1990. The energy supply sector accounts for 39.7 per cent. of all carbon dioxide emissions in the UK.

Secondary information