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Parental Leave Directive
Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what evaluation he has made of the use by each member state of the European Union of the protective provisions for small businesses under the Parental Leave Directive. [87361]
Mr. Ian McCartney: Information we have been able to access suggests that there are some limited variations on some aspects of the provisions for small businesses across EC member states. For example, in Belgium, where there is a requirement to allow employees to take their leave on a part-time basis for six months, there is an exemption applying to companies with fewer than 10 employees. In the Netherlands, parental leave can be postponed in a small company if a replacement cannot be found.
Energy Use
Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into trends in energy use in the office and commercial business sectors. [87362]
Mr. Battle: My Department and the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) have commissioned work on services sector energy consumption in recent years.
At the request of officials in my Department the Building Research Establishment (BRE) has been commissioned to investigate methods for estimating energy consumption in the office and commercial business sectors. The report on this work is in progress and is expected to be completed during the summer of 1999.
In order to assess the pattern of energy end uses and what emission reductions may be achieved to tackle climate change the DETR has commissioned BRE to carry out work to improve the understanding of energy use in non-domestic buildings. This ongoing project resulted in the publication in January 1998 of the "Non-Domestic Building Energy Fact File". The results of this project underpin the work described in the previous paragraph.
Statisticians in DTI have produced an analysis of trends in services sector energy consumption. This provided information for the private commercial sector as a whole and was published in December 1997 by the Stationery Office in "Energy Paper 66: Energy Consumption in the United Kingdom". Information on services sector energy consumption is also routinely published in the "Energy Report Volume 2" and in the "Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics".
Mr. Chaytor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much his Department has spent in each of the last five years in supporting British Nuclear Fuels plc's efforts to secure foreign contracts (i) in total and (ii) for the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel in the United Kingdom. [86967]
Mr. Battle:
There is no specific financial assistance for BNFL to support its efforts to secure foreign commercial contracts.
17 Jun 1999 : Column: 210
Mr. Andrew George:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to ensure that adequate match funding arrangements are in place in Objective 1 areas. [86508]
Mr. Wills:
Match funding will continue to be the responsibility of the grant applicant. This ensures local ownership and commitment to the projects. There are numerous possible sources for match funding including local authorities, TECs, government schemes, the voluntary sector and also the private sector. Organisations such as the European Investment Bank can make loans to local authorities for use as match funding. In some areas innovative loan and equity funds such as the Merseyside Special Investment fund have been set up to draw in resources from commercial banks.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many officers of what ranks and from which police force make up the inquiry team into the murder of Mrs. Rosemary Nelson. [85452]
Mr. Ingram
[holding answer 25 May 1999]: The make-up of the team investigating Rosemary Nelson's murder is a matter for Deputy Chief Constable, Colin Port. He is leading the investigation. The Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary has given him authority to draw together whatever team he requires. The number of officers making up the inquiry team varies as the needs of the investigation dictate. Officers from up to nine police forces, other than the Royal Ulster Constabulary, have been involved in this investigation.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the Royal Ulster Constabulary sought the permission of Mr. Paul Nelson, husband of the late Rosemary Nelson, before publishing on the RUC web site, the home address of the Nelson family. [85454]
Mr. Ingram
[holding answer 25 May 1999]: The RUC judged it as essential to give these details, which were already in the public domain, to attract possible witnesses with the aim of catching those responsible for murdering Mrs. Nelson.
Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what rules and guidelines govern the decision-making process of the Northern Ireland Housing Council in its nominations to the board of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive; what was the breakdown of those nominated by (a) perceived community origin and (b) gender in each year that nominations have been made; and what actions she will take to promote parity of esteem and equality in this area. [87170]
Mr. Paul Murphy
[holding answer 16 June 1999]: Under paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 to the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1981, three members of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (the Executive) shall be persons nominated by the Northern Ireland
17 Jun 1999 : Column: 211
Housing Council (the Council) from its members. Under paragraph 2 of Schedule 2 of the same Order, the Council may regulate its own proceedings.
Since its inception in 1973, except in 1995 when an SDLP member, perceived to be from the minority community was nominated, the Council has always nominated Unionist members, who are perceived to be from the majority community. In 1996, the first woman member, perceived to be from the majority community, was nominated for appointment, was re-nominated in 1997, and served until the Department received notification of her resignation on 2 June 1998, to stand in the election to the new Northern Ireland Assembly. In 1998, all three nominations were male, perceived to be from the majority community.
Draft legislation in preparation would allow the Department to regulate the nomination process in order to achieve a broader balance. Progress of any legislation will, however, be a matter for consideration by the devolved Administration.
Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Lagan Valley (Mr. Donaldson) of 29 March 1999, Official Report, column 479, if she will provide a breakdown of the moneys spent under the heading, media and publicity advice and services, listing the consultancies and individuals providing services and the moneys received by each and describe the process of selection of consultants and purchased services. [87169]
| £ | |
|---|---|
| Item (financial years 1997-98 and 1998-99) | Amount |
| Fees | 103,170.90 |
| Expenses | 3,683.70 |
| Printing | 2,353.97 |
| Work relating to the website/database | 5,544.23 |
| Hire of locations (for press conferences, etc.) | 3,511.72 |
| Transportation (Commission briefings in USA) | 2,466.27 |
| Sundries | 1,595.73 |
| Total | 122,326.52 |
(b) The Media Adviser contracted to the Parades Commission is Gordon Corporate Communications Ltd. The firm arranges for all the Commission's work relating to media and publicity advice and services, sub-contracting work as necessary.
(c) The Parades Commission uses the services of the Government Purchasing Agency in establishing contracts for the provision of goods and services. Standard procedures are used for all aspects of the contracting process.
Mr. John D. Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans she has to meet the Irish Prime Minister to agree a joint British-Irish funding body for organisations involved in reconciliation between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. [86151]
17 Jun 1999 : Column: 212
Marjorie Mowlam:
None. I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the reply given to him by the Under-Secretary, my hon. Friend the Member for Dumbarton (Mr. McFall) on 15 June 1999, Official Report, column 67.
Mr. John D. Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland at which locations nursery units have been provided under the first tranche of the childhood funds; how many of these units are associated with the Council of Catholic Maintained Schools; and what assessment she has made of the extent to which the EU peace package for peace and reconciliation is being used for cross-community nursery units. [86312]
Mr. McFall:
19 nursery units have been provided in the following locations:
Twelve of the units are located at schools in the Catholic-maintained sector.
West Winds Primary School, Newtownards
Kilcooley Primary School, Bangor
Old Warren Primary School, Lisburn
Bushmills Primary School
Harpur's Hill Primary School, Coleraine
St. James' Primary School, Whiteabbey
St. John's Primary School, Carnlough
College Farm Nursery School, Armagh
St. Patrick's Primary School, Newry
St. Patrick's Primary School, Dungannon
St. Patrick's Primary School, Crossmaglen
St. Patrick's Primary School, Cullyhanna
St. Joseph's Primary School, Newry
Barrack St. Boys Primary School, Strabane
St. Ronan's Primary School, Lisnaskea
St. Patrick's Primary School, Castlederg
Ashlea Primary School, Londonderry
Enniskillen Nursery School
Glendermott Primary School, Londonderry
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