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European Structural Funds
Barbara Follett: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the role of social partners in the implementation of European structural funds in the United Kingdom. [10380]
Mrs. Roche:
The Government see the advantages of a wider social partnership, bringing employers' and trade union representatives into local European structural funds partnerships. We will expect the social partners to make a real contribution to the programmes, as existing partners do. The precise way in which they participate will be for each monitoring committee to determine locally.
22 Jul 1997 : Column: 501
Ms Roseanna Cunningham:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the experience that the members of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission's committee investigating Scottish Residential Estate Agency Services have in respect of (a) Scots law and (b) the Scottish property market. [9953]
Mr. Nigel Griffiths:
The role of the members of an inquiry group investigating a reference made to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission is to bring to that investigation a mixture of expertise in legal, economic, industrial, financial and other relevant disciplines. It has not been their function to have detailed expertise and knowledge of a particular market under investigation. In carrying out the investigation, the MMC obtains information from a wide range of experts in relevant fields as required and often retains consultants to provide expert advice.
The chairman of the MMC informs me that the MMC group investigating this case had access to expert advice on Scottish law and the Scottish property market.
Mr. Brady:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the Government's policy on the regulation of the private health insurance sector. [8180]
Mr. Nigel Griffiths:
The private health insurance sector is regulated through a combination of statutory legislation and industry best practice. Underwrites of health insurance are subject to prudential supervision under the Insurance Companies Act 1982; insurance intermediaries active in this field are subject to regulation under the Insurance Brokers (Registration) Act 1977 or industry-regulation under the Association of British Insurers general business code of practice. The Government continue to keep this under review.
Sir Richard Body:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade in what way she plans to implement the product safety directive concerning the mixing of unwrapped non-food articles with food products; what is the purpose of this legislation; what representations she has received from the food industry on this issue; what food products will be exempted; and if she will make a statement. [10204]
Mr. Nigel Griffiths:
The general product Ssfety directive lays down general rules for assessing the safety of consumer products. There is concern that if unwrapped non-food items are sold mixed in with food products there would be a possibility that consumers could accidentally ingest them with consequent risk of injury. It has been agreed that European member states will ascertain whether such products are on sale within their national territories and inform the European Commission accordingly. My Department is investigating the position in the UK. I have received no representations from the food industry on this subject.
22 Jul 1997 : Column: 502
Mr. Quinn:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what progress is being made towards providing improved facilities for the National Physical Laboratory under the private finance initiative. [10379]
Mr. Battle:
I am pleased to announce that I have today confirmed Laser--a joint venture between John Laing and Serco--as preferred tenderer for the redevelopment of the National Physical Laboratory's site at Teddington. Laser will now proceed to develop detailed plans to provide serviced accommodation for NPL and I hope to enter into a formal contract with it by November this year.
Mr. Coaker:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the level of coal imports into Britain for each of the last 10 years; and what percentage of these imports are used in British power stations. [9291]
| Year | Coal imports into United Kingdom(2) (3) | Percentage of imports used in UK power stations(4) (5) |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 9,781 | -- |
| 1988 | 11,685 | -- |
| 1989 | 12,137 | -- |
| 1990 | 14,783 | 29.5 |
| 1991 | 19,611 | 37.2 |
| 1992 | 20,339 | 37.9 |
| 1993 | 18,400 | 28.1 |
| 1994 | 15,088 | 24.4 |
| 1995 | 15,896 | 27.0 |
| 1996 | 17,799 | 39.0 |
(2) The 1993 import figure includes an additional estimate for unrecorded trade.
(3) Source: HM Customs and Excise
(4) Sources: Data for Great Britain from April 1990 provided by Eastern Merchant Generation Ltd., National Power, PowerGen and Scottish Power. Data for Northern Ireland prior to March 1992 provided by Northern Ireland Electricity. Data for Northern Ireland from March 1992 provided NIGEN.
(5) This information was not collected before April 1990.
Southampton University
Mr. Colvin: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will visit Romsey to discuss with students of Southampton university the employment effects of the Government's minimum wage policy; and if she will make a statement. [9196]
Mr. Ian McCartney: I have no plans at present to visit the students of Southampton university. The national minimum wage will be introduced sensibly taking account of the economic circumstances prevailing at the time. The independent Low Pay Commission will recommend to Government the level at which the minimum wage might be introduced having considered all relevant economic circumstances, including the possible effect on employment, before formulating its recommendation.
Consumer Credit Licensing
Mr. Rowlands:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the key functions of the consumer credit licensing appeals system; when the system was established; and by what authority. [9634]
22 Jul 1997 : Column: 503
Mr. Nigel Griffiths:
Under the Consumer Credit Act 1974 the Director General of Fair Trading can decide not to grant, or to revoke, a consumer credit licence.
In the event that the director general decides to refuse an application for a licence, or to revoke an existing licence, the Act provides for a right of appeal to the Secretary of State. The procedure for appeals is set out in the 1976 appeals regulations.
I am considering making revisions to the 1976 regulations to speed up the appeals procedure and improve the decision making process. I have issued a consultation paper and will finalise the policy when I have considered the responses. A copy of the consultation paper is in the Library of the House.
Mr. Rowlands:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the key functions of the advisory committee on arbitration law; when the committee was established; by what authority; and if she will list the names of the chairman and the Secretary. [9632]
Mr. Nigel Griffiths:
The departmental advisory committee on arbitration law was set up in March 1985 by the then Secretary of State with the following terms of reference:
(i) To consider the draft model law on international commercial arbitration adopted by a working group of the United Nations commission on international trade law in February 1984 and, in the light of any representations made by British interests, to advise the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry:
(a) Upon any modification which the committee consider should be proposed by Her Majesty's Government to the text of the draft model law prior to its adoption by the commission;
(b) If and when a model law is adopted by the Commission, upon whether, and to what extent, the provisions of the model law should be implemented in England and Wales and upon what associated changes should be made to the law of England and Wales:
(ii) To examine the operation of the Arbitration Acts 1950 to 1979 in the light of the model law and to recommend to the Secretary of State any legislative or other steps which the committee considers should be taken to improve the system of arbitration in England and Wales;
(iii) To advise the Secretary of State, where appropriate, upon the implications which any changes resulting from their recommendations for arbitration in England and Wales may have for arbitration in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
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