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South West Water
Sir Peter Emery: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will take action to ensure that South West Water reduces its increase in consumer bills. [87138]
Mr. Meacher
[holding answer 16 June 1999]: Under the Water Industry Act 1991, the regulation of water and sewerage undertakers' price limits is for the Director General of Water Services. Changes in average charges for water and sewerage services must remain within limits
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set by the Director General for each company for each year. The price limits governing South West Water in 1999-2000 are those determined on appeal in 1995 by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission (RPI + 1% on average).
The Director General is currently conducting his periodic review of prices for the period 2000 to 2005. The Government have given guidance to the Director General on the environmental and water quality improvements to be delivered by 2005. We believe that these can be secured while offering reductions of around 10 per cent. in average water and sewerage bills. The Director General expects to announce draft price limits for each undertaker in July.
Mr. John Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of the Regional Development Agencies. [86510]
Mr. Meale:
The Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) inherited the main part of their staff and programmes on 1 April 1999, so it is too early for a formal assessment of their impact. However, early indications are that the RDAs are making good progress on building partnerships with regional stakeholders. They are also on target for producing draft regional strategies for consultation over the summer.
Mr. Burgon:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to appoint a new Chairman for British Waterways; and if he will make a statement. [87636]
Mr. Meale:
Dr. George Greener, ex-group chief executive, Hillsdown Holdings, will succeed Bernard Henderson as Chairman of British Waterways (BW) on 10 July. The appointment will be for three years.
The new Chairman's main priority will be to steer BW in its new direction following my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister's announcement on 18 February about the Government's decision on the future status and direction for BW. Dr. Greener will need to ensure that BW develops successful and innovative partnerships with the public, private and voluntary sectors and maximises its contribution towards the Government's objectives for transport, regeneration, conservation and amenity.
Dr. Greener's strong commercial background and previous experience of strategic leadership will be invaluable at what is a significant time for BW. He will continue to hold a small number of non executive directorships.
I would like to acknowledge the commitment and enthusiasm Bernard Henderson has brought to BW over the past five years and the important contribution he has made during the Government's review of options for the future of BW.
I am issuing a news release today announcing Dr. Greener's appointment.
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17. Mr. Kidney:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his proposals for reducing the burdens on small businesses. [86511]
Mr. Wills:
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has recently announced a number of deregulatory measures which will benefit small business:
18. Mr. Hopkins:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received in response to his Department's paper on renewable energy. [86512]
Mr. Battle:
We have received well over 200 written responses from a wide variety of interests including Members of Parliament, the renewable energy and electricity industries, renewable energy trade associations, academia and business institutions, developers and designers, environmental lobby groups, and members of the public. The responses are presently being analysed.
19. Mr. Browne:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress his Department has made on the implementation of the part-time work directive. [86514]
Mr. Ian McCartney:
The Employment Relations Bill contains powers for the Secretary of State to make regulations and issue codes of practice which will implement the Directive. The Department will consult on implementation over the summer, with a view to bringing the measures into force by the deadline of 7 April 2000.
20. Mr. Win Griffiths:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to ensure that United Kingdom companies can compete in European Union energy markets. [86515]
Mr. Battle:
We are driving forward the agenda to create a single European market in gas and electricity. At the Energy Council on 11 May I stressed the importance of creating a single open and competitive market in Europe rather than 15 individual and separate open
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markets for each member state. I also stressed the need for the Council to regularly review progress and the Commission resolved to provide progress reports.
21. Mr. White:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to ensure fair and open competition between companies in the United Kingdom. [86516]
Mr. Ian McCartney:
The Competition Act 1998 will introduce tough new powers to deal with anti-competitive agreements and abuses of market dominance when its main provisions are brought into force on 1 March 2000. These include strong powers of investigation, a power to take interim measures where necessary pending the completion of an investigation, powers to direct undertakings to bring infringements to an end and powers to impose penalties for breaches of the prohibitions. The Director General of Fair Trading has the main responsibility for enforcement of the new Act and extra resources have been provided to the Office of Fair Trading for that purpose.
22. Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how he plans to improve the international competitiveness of British manufacturers. [86517]
Mr. Ian McCartney:
The 77 commitments of Government action in the Competitiveness White Paper published last December are aimed at increasing the competitiveness of all business and many are directly relevant to manufacturers. Fifteen commitments have already been delivered and work is well underway on all the others, which collectively represent a long-term agenda for Government and industry. Manufacturing will play a key role in this work.
23. Mr. Brady:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimates his Department has made of the cost of the (a) social chapter's parental leave directive, (b) works councils directive and (c) part-time work directive to British business. [86518]
Mr. Ian McCartney:
The Regulatory Impact Assessment for the Employment Relations Bill estimated the recurring compliance costs to business of the Parental Leave to be £28.8 million.
A Compliance Cost Assessment was attached to the Explanatory Memoranda submitted to this House and another place on 28 October 1997 in relation to the European Works Councils Directive. The Government are carrying out further work to update and refine those estimates which will be published shortly as part of a consultation exercise on the implementation.
A Compliance Cost Assessment was attached to the Explanatory Memorandum submitted to this House on 17 March 1998 in relation to the part-time work directive. As stated in the Regulatory Impact Assessment for the Employment Relations Bill, there is evidence to suggest that discrimination is not wide
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spread and costs should therefore be low. A Regulatory Impact Assessment will accompany the draft Regulations.
24. Mr. Plaskitt:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to ensure the prosecution of employers paying their staff less than the national minimum wage. [86519]
Mr. Ian McCartney:
The Inland Revenue enforce the national minimum wage on behalf of this Department. Inspectors have powers to inspect records and to issue enforcement and penalty notices. They can prosecute the worst offenders for the criminal offence of 'refusal or wilful neglect' to pay the minimum wage, and for offences relating to record keeping and obstruction of officers. The decision to prosecute in a particular case will be a matter for the Revenue.
Enforcement Officers respond to complaints from workers and from other employers, and will shortly begin targeted inspections of low-paying employers.
25. Mr. Rammell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his actions to enforce the minimum wage. [86521]
Mr. Ian McCartney:
The Secretary of State has made arrangements with the Inland Revenue to enforce the national minimum wage on behalf of this Department. Enforcement is carried out through a helpline, a compliance co-ordination team and by a network of minimum wage inspectors in the regions.
the draft National Minimum Wage regulations were amended to reduce record keeping requirements;
supplementary guidance will be produced on the Working Time Regulations to make it clear that for the vast majority of British businesses, existing documentation and systems already meet the record-keeping requirements;
we will consider using sunset clauses in some future regulations causing them to lapse after a fixed term unless renewed; and
in addition I have today published a consultation paper which sets out our proposals for a new service to help small employers get to grips with running a payroll.
These measures will benefit thousands of businesses, in particular small businesses, and significantly reduce their costs. My right hon. Friend has made clear his intention to announce further measures to reduce burdens on business over the coming weeks.
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