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Lear Corporation

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what Government grants or assistance has been requested by the Lear Corporation since 1996. [62293]

Mr. Battle: No publicly announced grants or assistance are on record.

Business Fees

Mr. Tredinnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Government will announce the fee to be charged to businesses under the proposals in the Competition Bill. [62195]

Dr. Howells [holding answer 3 December 1998]: Any decision on fees will be made in good time before the new prohibition regime is brought into force on 1 March 2000 and following the statutory consultation prescribed in the Competition Act 1998.

Postage Costs

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the cost of (a) first class and (b) second class postage in each of the last 20 years, adjusted to 1998 prices. [62309]

Mr. Ian McCartney: I understand from the Post Office that first and second class postage rates in each of the last 20 years adjusted to 1998 prices were as follows:

Pence
Year1st Class2nd Class
197829.322.8
197926.921.2
198028.823.9
198130.224.8
198230.824.9
198330.423.9
198429.823.1
198529.222.1
198628.620.3
198728.720.8
198827.920.3
198927.220.1
199026.520.1
199127.521.1
199228.221.1
199327.921.0
199428.221.4
199527.320.7
199627.220.8
199726.820.7
199826.020.0

Minimum Wage

Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will publish the results of the consultation on the draft regulations implementing the minimum wage which ended on 6 November. [62978]

8 Dec 1998 : Column: 151

Mr. Ian McCartney: Our final proposals for the National Minimum Wage Regulations will be presented to the House for approval shortly.

Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to reduce the minimum wage payable by those employers who make full board and lodging available to their employees. [62982]

Mr. Ian McCartney: We have no plans to reduce the level of the national minimum wage. We are considering representations on the deductions that could be made in respect of accommodation provided by employers made to us during the consultation process on the draft National Minimum Wage Regulations. The Regulations will be presented to the House for approval shortly.

Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has had from British Activities Holidays Association in respect of the minimum wage; and if he will make a statement. [62979]

Mr. Ian McCartney: The Government have received a number of representations from the British Activity Holidays Association about the national minimum wage.

We have consulted business, employees and others with an interest on the draft National Minimum Wage Regulations. We have listened to the concerns expressed and this will be reflected in our final proposals to be announced shortly. The Regulations will be presented to the House for approval.

Mrs. Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what factors led him to set the accommodation deductor in the draft national minimum wage regulations at its current level. [62939]

Mr. Ian McCartney: The Government accepted in principle the advice of the Low Pay Commission on the amounts which could be offset against the national minimum wage, subject to the practicalities of implementation and the draft National Minimum Wage regulations reflect that position. The maximum amount the Commission recommended to be offset for accommodation only was £20 per week.

Mrs. Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received on the issue of the draft national minimum wage regulations accommodation deductor; and if he will make a statement. [62940]

Mr. Ian McCartney: The Government have received a number of representations on the draft National Minimum Wage Regulation dealing with the treatment of deductions in respect of accommodation provided by the employer.

We have consulted business, employees and others with an interest on the draft National Minimum Wage Regulations. We have listened to the concerns expressed and our final proposals will be presented to the House for approval shortly.

Mrs. Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to lay before the House the statutory instrument regarding the national minimum wage regulations. [62938]

Mr. Ian McCartney: The statutory instrument to implement the National Minimum Wage regulations will be presented to the House for approval shortly.

8 Dec 1998 : Column: 152

Confiscated Assets

Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps the Government are taking to return to victims of Nazi persecution assets which were confiscated in the United Kingdom by Her Majesty's Government under trading with the enemy legislation. [63042]

Mr. Mandelson: This Government are revolted by the treatment meted out by the Nazis to Jews and other minorities during the Second World War. We have the greatest sympathy for the victims and their relatives. This is why, in June 1998, we appointed the right hon. the Lord Archer of Sandwell QC to advise on a Scheme for determining claims from victims of Nazi persecution for the return of assets, where practicable and subject to validation, placed in the UK, which were confiscated by HM Government during the Second World War. We have now received Lord Archer's recommendations and I am pleased to confirm that the Government will quickly put in place a Claims Scheme based on them. A copy of the Government's response to Lord Archer's main recommendations has been placed in the Library of the House.

The Scheme will have the following main features: any victims of Nazi persecution who had assets in the UK confiscated by HM Government under the Trading with the Enemy legislation, and who have not already been compensated, will be eligible to make a claim; the Government will pay compensation at today's values in respect of valid claims to the original owners or their heirs; and claims will be determined by a panel of three independent Assessors comprising a legal Chair; someone with financial expertise; and someone with an understanding of belonging to a minority group.

This Government are aware that time is of the essence to victims of Nazi persecution and their families. We shall therefore establish the Claims Scheme as a matter of urgency so that claims for compensation may be met as soon as possible. The terms of reference of the assessors, a claims form and guidance on how to apply will be made available as soon as is practicable.

My Department has already received a number of potential claims and we shall be writing to these individuals to inform them of the procedure. We shall also be updating my Department's enemy property website, adding further lists of names and details of the Claims Scheme as they emerge. We are also in touch with the main interest groups and together with them we shall ensure that the Scheme gets the widest publicity.

I am grateful to Lord Archer for proposing a solution which allows the Government to meet the claims of victims of Nazi persecution while addressing the real practical problems of meeting the standards of propriety expected in public expenditure in circumstances some fifty years after the event. The UK owes victims of Nazi persecution a debt of honour. That debt can now be repaid.

Gas Consumers

Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent consultations he has held with the Council of Registered Gas Installers concerning the interests of gas consumers; and if he will make a statement. [62399]

8 Dec 1998 : Column: 153

Dr. Howells [holding answer 7 December 1998]: I met the Council of Registered Gas Installers on 24 November, to discuss a number of matters relating to the safe use of gas by domestic consumers.

Oil Industry

Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Director General of Fair Trading will complete his review of the undertakings given by oil companies in 1966; and if he will arrange to publish this review when he receives it. [62402]

Dr. Howells [holding answer 7 December 1998]: I expect to receive the Director General of Fair Trading's advice following his review of the petrol undertakings around the end of the year. The Director General's advice is confidential.

Petrol Industry

Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what conclusions he has reached on the Director General of Fair Trading's report on the wholesale and retail petrol market, published on 18 May. [62403]

Dr. Howells [holding answer 7 December 1998]: The Director General of Fair Trading, in his 18 May report on competition in the supply of petrol in the UK, concluded that the market is competitive and working to the benefit of consumers. It is for the Director General to decide whether or not to make a reference to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. He decided on the basis of his report that a reference of this market was not justified.

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