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Deep-mined Coal
Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the change in deep mined coal output in (a) the last quarter and (b) the last year; and how many pits closed in each time period. [69813]
Mr. Byers: Deep mined output in quarter 4 1998 compared with quarter 4 1997 has decreased by 0.8 million tonnes. This compares to a decrease of 3.6 million tonnes in quarter 4 1994 compared to quarter 4 1993.
Deep mined output in calendar year 1998 compared with calendar year 1997 has decreased by 5 million tonnes. This compares to a decrease of 18.5 million tonnes between calendar year 1993 and 1994.
One major pit and four smaller pits closed in quarter 4 1998 and six small pits closed during the first three quarters of the year.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many export licence applications his Department has received in each of the last three years for (a) Iran and (b) other countries. [70063]
Dr. Howells:
The Export Control Organisation's computer databases have been interrogated and the following results were obtained. Between 1 January 1996 and 31 December 1998, 37,478 applications for Standard Individual Export Licences were received.
| Year | Iran | All other destinations |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 146 | 13,382 |
| 1997 | 118 | 12,071 |
| 1998 | 164 | 12,025 |
This information should be considered in light of the answer given by the former Minister for Small Firms, Trade and Industry, my hon. Friend the Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Mrs. Roche), to my hon. Friend the Member for Don Valley (Caroline Flint) on 30 October 1997, Official Report, columns 870-71.
Open Individual Export Licences (OIELs) routinely cover exports to a number of countries (unlike Standard Individual Export Licences, each of which normally covers exports to a single country). Any country initially specified on an OIEL application but not included as a permitted destination on the licence issued is not recorded on the Export Control Organisation's computer databases. Accordingly, as regards OIELs, the information requested could be compiled only by manual examination of the paper records of all 1,515 applications made in the period, which would entail disproportionate cost.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the average length of time taken by his Department to issue export licences; if he will estimate
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the impact on the value of export orders of the length of time taken; and what representations he has received from exporters. [70759]
Dr. Howells:
From time to time, exporters and representative bodies express concern about the time taken to process specific applications or generally. All such cases are carefully investigated and replied to.
The average length of time taken to process individual export licence applications is not recorded. However, performance is monitored against published targets, which were set out to the hon. Member in my answer of 11 February 1999, Official Report, column 404. Data on performance will be included in the forthcoming Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls, and in future reports.
The sensitive issues raised by many applications mean that it is not possible to guarantee that the decision on a particular application can be taken by a specific date. However, the Export Control Organisation does aim wherever possible to give exporters a reasonable indication of the additional time that the processing of their applications is likely to take.
As recognised by the Trade and Industry Committee in its recent report on strategic export controls, the overall performance of the Government's export licensing system depends on contributions from all of the Departments involved. The Government have already taken steps to improve the information provided to exporters on the status of pending licence applications. Within DTI, the Export Control Organisation has in place both formal and informal procedures to encourage the timely provision of advice on urgent or exceptionally delayed applications; in addition, as appropriate, exporters may be put in direct contact with relevant advisers in other Departments.
Finally, the introduction of the ELATE computer system on 1 March should, among other advantages, improve the exchange of licensing information between Departments and is intended to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the licensing process.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it his policy to accept applications for export licences by means of telephone and e-mail. [70758]
Dr. Howells:
As the processing of applications for export licences cannot be completed without relevant supporting documentation, and applications need formally to be signed by specifically designated persons it would be impractical for them to be made by telephone.
The introduction of a new export licence application form and the ELATE computer system on 1 March 1999 is a first step in the process towards the use of electronic data in export licence processing. For the first time, exporters will be able to apply for a standard individual export licence using electronic information transferred on a floppy disk. The information on the disk will be entered into the ELATE system at the DTI and, where applications have to be circulated to the FCO or MoD for advice, the electronic information will be transferred to them via a modem link or on disk. Additional supporting documentation, such as end-user documentation and technical specifications will still be required in paper form.
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Once the effectiveness of ELATE has been proven, the aim will be to extend the transfer of information by disk or modem link to all advisory departments involved in export licence consideration. The Government will work towards full electronic applications where the end-user documentation and technical specifications can be transferred together with the application by electronic mail subject to satisfactory assessment of security and other relevant considerations.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the oral answer to the right hon. Member for Wokingham (Mr. Redwood) of 21 January 1999, Official Report, column 1007, if he will list each company with which the Minister for Small Firms, Trade and Industry has been associated, indicating the dates upon which their annual returns were filed in each year of the company's existence. [70129]
Mr. Wills
[holding answer 10 February 1999]: As my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House made clear on 4 February 1999, Official Report, columns 1091-92, my oral answer to the right hon. Member for Wokingham referred to Attractions Limited. The annual return for Attractions Limited in 1997 was filed on 1 November in compliance with the deadlines set by Companies House. It was returned by Companies House on 5 November for completion of the SIC code and it was registered on 13 November 1997. The annual return for Attractions Limited in 1998 was sent to Companies House on 21 October 1998. It was lost in transit. Companies House sent a reminder on 10 December, setting a deadline of 10 January 1999. A new return for Attractions Limited was received by Companies House on 8 January 1999.
Mr. Pike:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received about takeovers and regional integration in the travel industry; and if he will make a statement. [70921]
Dr. Howells:
I have received a limited number of representations about takeovers in the travel industry.
The Director General of Fair Trading advises on mergers which qualify for investigation under the Fair Trading Act 1973. Where a merger raises concerns in respect of a particular market--whether throughout the whole of the United Kingdom or in a particular region--it can be referred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission (MMC) for investigation.
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the offences or acts of misconduct under which a civil servant in his Department could have his pension removed or reduced; and how often this has happened during the last five years. [70781]
Mr. Byers:
I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office on 15 February 1999, Official
22 Feb 1999 : Column: 89
Report
Mr. Malcolm Bruce:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the items sold by his Department, its agencies and associated public bodies from those listed in the National Assets Register of November 1997; if he will give in each case the amount of money realised; if he will estimate the total cash raised from such sales to date; and if he will make a statement. [70413]
Mr. Byers
[holding answer 11 February 1999]: The information requested by the hon. Member is not available in the form requested.
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