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TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Computers (Century Date Change)
Mr. David Atkinson:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on her Department's timetable for dealing with the Year 2000 Computer Problem; who is in charge of the project; how many staff are working on it; what is the projected cost of resolving the problem; and whether the project is on schedule. [7141]
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Mrs. Roche:
Following an impact assessment study in 1996, a programme of remedial projects and related activities was initiated earlier this year. The total cost is expected to be of the order of £2.7 million over the period to Spring 1999. The programme covers the core Department's IT systems and separate programmes are in place to deal with the issue in Next Steps agencies.
The core Department's Year 2000 programme is being overseen by a steering group chaired by the Department's Director of Information Management and Technology. The resources involved vary according to the requirements of individual projects and will peak at 16 personnel in September/October 1997. Those resources are being provided by private sector contractors and the programme is being supervised by the Department's own Project Manager. All required parts of the core programme are currently on schedule.
Mr. MacShane:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many Business Links have been set up. [6982]
Mrs. Roche:
There are 89 Business Link partnerships and 241 separate Business Link outlets.
Mr. Reed:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has for the future of local telecommunications advisory committees; and if she will make a statement. [6164]
Mr. Nigel Griffiths:
On 30 June the President announced an inter-departmental review of utility regulation which will include an examination of the various models of consumer representation currently operating in the utilities, including in the telecommunications industry. If the review concludes that changes are necessary we will publish a consultation document setting out the options and reasons underlying the case for change.
In addition OFTEL is currently considering the responses received to its consultation document on the role of organisations who represent consumers on telecommunications matters, including the telecommunications advisory committees, and will publish a statement of its recommendations shortly. We will consider any recommendations on the telecommunications advisory committees as part of the inter-departmental review.
Jane Griffiths:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is her Department's policy towards multi-level marketing. [6252]
Mr. Nigel Griffiths:
Legitimate multi-level marketing schemes give people the opportunity to run their own small businesses and are therefore to be welcomed.
We do, however, need to guard against those pyramid selling schemes whose structures and reward mechanisms are such that individuals can be exploited. My Department has taken action successfully to wind up companies which are running illegal schemes.
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Mr. Hancock:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations she has made to the Government's legal officers concerning the prosecution of United Kingdom companies involved in the export of instruments of torture. [6629]
Mrs. Roche:
The investigation and prosecution of any breaches of UK export controls is a matter for HM Customs and Excise and we would urge anyone in possession of information which might suggest that offences have been committed to make it available to them.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations she has received concerning the export by United Kingdom companies of electric shock devices. [6636]
Mrs. Roche:
My Department regularly receives representations from individuals and organisations proposing that the Government should ban the export of such devices. We are committed to preventing British companies from manufacturing, selling or procuring equipment designed primarily for torture and to press for a global ban. Work is in hand on how best to take forward this commitment.
Ms Beverley Hughes:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the Government's policy towards the requirement for employers to obtain re-authorisations from their employees every three years for the deduction of trade union subscriptions direct from pay. [7645]
Mrs. Beckett:
The Government believes this requirement is unnecessary and burdensome for employers and unions. We propose to repeal it by a deregulation order under the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994. After we have consulted with interested parties this summer on the scope and content of a deregulation order, we intend to start the Parliamentary stages in the autumn, and complete the repeal next year.
Mrs. May:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the terms of reference given to those undertaking the review of the Post Office and the timetable set for the review; and what interim requirements have been set for the review. [7271]
Mr. Ian McCartney:
The terms of reference for the review of the Post Office are to identify practical options for introducing greater commercial freedom in accordance with our election manifesto commitment. A scoping exercise is currently in progress to establish what changes can be introduced quickly and to set a timetable for addressing more complex issues. I hope to announce the results of the initial exercise in the Autumn.
Mrs. May:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade when she expects the review of the Post Office to be completed. [7270]
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Mr. McCartney:
We are aiming to make good progress but it is too early yet to say when the review will be completed.
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what sanctions his Department is able to impose on individuals criticised in DTI inspectors' reports. [6470]
Mr. Nigel Griffiths:
A criminal investigation and/or disqualification proceedings may be commenced against individuals criticised in inspectors' reports. The reports may also be disclosed to recognised professional and regulatory bodies.
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many individuals from accountancy firms criticised by the DTI inspectors are currently seconded to her Department; and at what cost to public funds. [6469]
Mr. Griffiths:
There are currently 3 individuals seconded to the Department from accountancy firms which have in the past been criticised in Inspectors' reports. The annual cost is approximately £120,000 plus VAT. None of the individuals have been personally criticised by Inspectors. The criticism of their firms was in reports published prior to 1993.
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will establish an inquiry into the auditing of Resort Hotels plc. [6059]
Mr. Ian McCartney:
Resort Hotels plc collapsed in 1994 with substantial debts. The managing director of Resort Hotels, Mr. Robert Philip Feld, was found guilty on 1 April 1997 of fraud and forgery and was jailed for eight years; the audit of the accounts was referred to during his trial. Under Part II of the Companies Act 1989 the Recognised Supervisory Bodies (RSBs), are responsible for dealing with complaints against registered auditors. In the case of Resort Hotels the responsible RSB is the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales who are inquiring into the auditing of Resort Hotels in the light of Mr. Feld's trial. I shall write to my right hon. Friend when I hear the outcome of their inquiries.
Mr. Rapson:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will set out her assessment of the prospects for future inward investment in the United Kingdom.[5736]
Mr. Ian McCartney:
The UK faces increasing competition to attract inward investment to and within Europe and I expect that to continue. Our record as Europe's number one location for investment from the US, Japan and Korea remains intact but we shall maintain it only by consolidating and building on the UK's attractions as an international investment location. The Invest in Britain Bureau's 1996-97 report will be published on 16 July and will contain further details of the UK's current performance.
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17. Mr. Jim Marshall:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next intends to meet his EU and WEU counterparts to discuss closer links between the two organisations. [5746]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
I expect to meet my EU and WEU counterparts, to discuss strengthened links between the two bodies, when we are ready to finalise a WEU Declaration which will complement the Amsterdam Treaty.
27. Mr. Laurence Robertson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to consult the electorate before ceding further powers to the European Union. [5756]
Mr. Henderson:
On 1 May the electorate gave its overwhelming support to the present Government and its manifesto which included a commitment to a fresh start in Europe.
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