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Mrs. Gillan: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations she has received from business about the advantages of retaining the aid and trade provision. [6882]
Mrs. Roche: I have received a number of representations from business about the advantages of retaining the Aid and Trade Provision scheme.
Mr. Redwood: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the role of the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe in respect of competition issues relating to the oil, chemical, petrochemical and biotechnology industries. [7423]
Mrs. Beckett: None. Competition issues affecting these and all other industries are determined by the Under-Secretary for Competition and Consumer Affairs and myself, as appropriate.
Dr. Tonge: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if an export licence (a) has been granted or (b) is expected to be granted, in respect of the 1996 contract with Indonesia for an additional 16 British Aerospace Hawk aircraft. [5889]
Mrs. Roche [holding answer 9 July 1997]: Export licences were granted in November 1996 to British Aerospace for 16 Hawk aircraft and equipment for Indonesia. These covered a contract signed in 1996, and represent the second phase of Hawk sales to Indonesia agreed in principle in 1993. They cover the 16 aircraft subject to the second of the contracts referred to in the then Minister for Defence Procurement's answer on 5 February 1997, Official Report, column 621, to my hon. Friend the Member for Cambridge (Mrs. Campbell).
My predecessor had been wrongly advised when, in announcing the grant of these licences on 21 November 1996, Official Report, column 676, he referred to them as covering the second consignment of Hawk aircraft in respect of the 1993 contract. Licences for 24 aircraft under
11 Jul 1997 : Column: 647
the 1993 contract had already been granted as announced by the then Minister for Trade on 19 December 1995, Official Report, column 1081.
The error arose from a mistaken interpretation on the part of officials that the 1993 contract covered both the original order of aircraft and equipment licensed in 1995, and the second phase to follow. This second phase had, however, separate contractual arrangements.
Thus, export licences have been issued on two occasions, first, covering 24 aircraft and equipment (announced 19 December 1995) and secondly covering 16 aircraft and equipment (announced 21 November 1996).
Procedures are being reviewed with a view to avoiding a repetition of this regrettable error.
Mr. Wilkinson:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade in what circumstances a Minister in her Department with company shareholdings would be prevented from entering into collective ministerial discussions on those companies. [5629]
Mrs. Beckett
[holding answer 1 July 1997]: In all circumstances, except where shares are in a blind trust.
Mr. Burstow:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has to legislate to give OFTEL the power to require BT and other telecom providers to make available (i) textphones and (ii) similar items of equipment to their customers. [6452]
Mrs. Roche
[holding answer 9 July 1997]: My Department has no plans at present to introduce legislation to give OFTEL such powers. There is a competitive market developing for provision of such equipment with features that would benefit those people with special needs. I also understand that the Typetalk service is currently the subject of discussions between the Director-General for Telecommunications, BT and Typetalk which are likely to result in a significant improvement in service. My officials will continue to maintain their close contacts with the UK organisations representing people with special needs.
Mr. Fallon:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the grants made under the Industrial Development Act 1982 since her appointment. [7676]
Mrs. Roche
[holding answer 10 July 1997]: Information on Regional Selective Assistance grants, the principal scheme, is commercially confidential until the first payment has been made. In line with established procedures, details of such grants, over £75,000, are regularly published in Labour Market Trends. Of a total of 212 offers of grant made since 2 May 1997, information can be given on the following case:
Company | Travel to work area | Grant offered |
---|---|---|
Worton Mile Ltd. | Wakefield & Dewsbury | £245,000 |
(General mechanical engineers) |
11 Jul 1997 : Column: 648
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what her Department is doing to promote the Young Consumer of the Year competition and National Consumer Week. [7780]
Mr. Nigel Griffiths [holding answer 10 July 1997]: Both National Consumer Week and the Young Consumer of the Year competition are organised by the Institute of Trading Standards Administration (ITSA). I have already agreed to take part in a "phone in" on national radio on 25 November as one element of this year's National Consumer Week (24-28 November 1997) and my Department is exploring with ITSA what other useful involvement we could offer.
I understand I am the first Minster for consumer affairs formally to address the finalists. My Department is discussing with ITSA what assistance might be helpful in promoting next year's competition and I urge all hon. Members to encourage their local schools to participate.
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is her Department's definition of the Information Society. [7776]
Mr. Battle [holding answer 10 July 1997]: The Information Society is a concept encompassing the converging information technology, electronics and communications industries, their products and services and the infrastructure of the connecting networks. It involves the ability electronically to access very large quantities of information and entertainment on demand, to interact with and manipulate large quantities of data, to transact remotely and to communicate while on the move. It is a society where interactions and events are no longer determined by geographical position or physical separation. It will have a major impact on the economic and social fabric of our lives, and should be developed to create opportunities and benefits for all citizens.
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much will be spent on reinforcing the work of her Department's Investigations Unit and the Insolvency Service. [7782]
Mr. Nigel Griffiths [holding answer 10 July 1997]: The Comprehensive Spending Review will look at all aspects of public expenditure to ensure that taxpayers' money is being spent so as to fulfil the Government's manifesto commitments. It would not be appropriate to comment on individual areas of expenditure prior to its conclusion. Within the DTI, the Review will include the work of the Insolvency Service and of Investigations and Enforcement Directorate and the resources devoted to these areas.
Mr. Gillan:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade how her Department proposes to name and publicise directors who are disqualified by the courts. [7779]
11 Jul 1997 : Column: 649
Mr. Nigel Griffiths
[holding answer 10 July 1997]: Following the making of a disqualification order the court concerned must notify the Registrar of Companies so that the details can be entered of the Register of Disqualified Directors. My officials in Companies House and the Insolvency Service are considering what further information relating to disqualified directors could be made available and in what form. When a disqualification order is made a local press release is issued which gives the full names of the directors disqualified, the name, trading style and address of the company (or companies) which failed together with summary of the unfit conduct found by the court.
The Department also issues a quarterly press release to the main media outlets covering disqualification statistics and notable disqualification cases which occurred during the period. This release is also copied to number of accountancy, legal and business journals which follow up particular cases which interest them. I am concerned to ensure that the profile of this area of the Department's activities remains as high as possible and that the public generally are made more aware of the steps which are being taken to deal with directors who abuse the privilege of limited liability.
Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to develop a system of consumer education; and what budget will be allocated to the project. [7786]
Mr. Nigel Griffiths
[holding answer 10 July 1997]: A wide range of current activity on consumer education and information is supported by the Government. This ranges from our support for advice and information from the Citizens Advice Service to specific advisory campaigns such as those on fireworks safety. We are placing increasing emphasis on providing consumers with information on their rights under new legislation, such as that on Timeshare, from the point of introduction of the legislation. Consumer education will be subject to review, as will all policy areas, under the comprehensive spending review of my department.
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