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Written Answers to Questions
Thursday 1 July 1999
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Climate Change Levy
Mr. Pearson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of (a) the cost of the climate change levy to his Department and (b) the savings from the reduction in national insurance contributions that will occur when it is introduced. [88864]
Mr. Battle: The net impact of the climate change levy and the associated reduction in main rate of employers' National Insurance Contributions on the Department of Trade and Industry will depend on the rates of the climate change levy. The final rates of climate change levy will not be set until Finance Bill 2000.
In addition, the Government are still considering a number of detailed issues on the tax treatment of different energy products which could have a significant impact in some instances. It is, therefore, not possible to give definitive figures about the impact of the climate change levy on this Department.
Rover
Mrs. Browning: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the criteria under which Government investment in Rover will be expected to meet best value. [88502]
Mr. Byers [holding answer 28 June 1999]: The Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) scheme from which the majority of the aid will be funded (£129 million) rigorously assesses the economic probity of aid and the ability of the potential investment to deliver value for money. In the Rover case the factors taken into account included:
Winning a significant investment of over £1 billion for the UK;
safeguarding of many tens of thousands of jobs both at Rover and in the region as a whole;
Maintenance of Rover/Land Rover and their full R&D capability as an operational entity in the UK;
enhancement of the UK's position in the global automotive market;
and raising the skills and productivity levels within Rover and its suppliers.
Internal Market Council
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the outcome of the Internal Market Council held in Luxembourg on 21 June. [89805]
Mr. Byers:
My noble Friend the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe represented the UK at the Internal Market Council in Luxembourg on 21 June.
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The Commission introduced an open debate on the future direction of the single market. There was general agreement on the need to define strategic objectives against which the development of the single market could be monitored and on the priority areas for action (including public procurement, electronic commerce and mutual recognition). The Scoreboard was confirmed as a tool for monitoring progress; the latest version showed that the deficit in the transposition of directives was being reduced.
The Commission reported on the progress of SLIM IV (Simpler Legislation in the Internal Market), the review of the SLIM initiative and the prospects for SLIM V. The Netherlands introduced a joint paper from the Netherlands, Denmark and the UK and there was agreement from other member states that there was a need for improvements to help realise the potential of SLIM.
The Council reached political agreement on the Orphan Drugs Regulation (which provides incentives for the development of drugs for the treatment of rare diseases) and Customs 2000, and agreed Conclusions on Tourism and Employment. With the exception of a Spanish Gibraltar-related reservation on the designation of competent authorities, there was unanimous political agreement on the substance of the Takeovers Directive, which included the text that the Government had sought dealing with the issue of litigation. There was no agreement on the new chocolate directive, despite a qualified majority in favour of the Presidency's compromise, because of Commission objections to the proposed comitology provisions.
The Commission introduced Communications on the Environment and the Internal Market and on Mutual Recognition. There was a brief debate on international exhaustion of trademark rights following a Commission presentation. The Council took note of progress reports on Standardisation; the Copyright and related rights in the Information Society Directive; the Electronic Commerce Directive; and the Commission's oral report on Counterfeiting and Piracy. The Council took note of a progress report on the reform of Customs Transit Systems and adopted a Resolution. The Commission announced the imminent publication of an amended proposal on Community Design.
Ministers discussed the Artists' Resale Right Directive. The Council agreed to give more time to discussions in order to find a solution to the remaining difficulties some member states have with the proposed directive.
Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with the aerospace industry concerning research into new technologies; and if he will make a statement. [89537]
Mr. Battle:
I am aware of the importance of technology to the aerospace industry and saw many examples of high-technology products on the stands of UK companies during my recent visit to the Paris Air Show. Under the Department's Civil Aircraft Research and Technology Demonstration (CARAD) Programme, DTI officials maintain a close dialogue with the industry in various fora about research into aeronautics technologies.
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Mr. Nigel Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will assess the advantages and disadvantages to the British tourism industry of reducing the rate of VAT on (a) hotel rooms, (b) restaurants and (c) other tourist attractions. [88792]
Janet Anderson:
I have no plans to assess areas of tax policy that are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. I understand the industry has submitted views on this matter, which are being considered.
Ms Walley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what research his Department has commissioned on the condition of historic public buildings in urban parks. [88902]
Mr. Alan Howarth:
Neither my Department nor the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions have commissioned any such research. English Heritage's buildings at risk register contains information on all the grade I and II* listed buildings known to them to be 'at risk' through neglect and decay or vulnerable to becoming so.
Ms Walley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to (a) discuss the protection of non-listed historic public buildings in urban parks with local authorities and (b) publish guidance on the conservation of non-listed historic public buildings in urban parks. [88903]
Mr. Alan Howarth:
Neither my Department, nor the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions has any such plans at present. Unlisted buildings in urban parks are in some cases likely to be covered by conservation area controls, guidance on which is included in Planning Policy Guidance Note 15: Planning and the Historic Environment.
Mr. Leslie:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he intends to undertake a review of the Royal Parks Agency. [89802]
Mr. Alan Howarth:
The Royal Parks Agency (RPA) was established on 1 April 1993 as an Executive Agency of my Department with responsibility for managing and policing the Royal Parks in London and some other related areas.
I have today announced the start of our review of the Agency, which was postponed during the completion of the Comprehensive Spending Review. This will include an evaluation of its performance since launch and a review of the options for the best management of its functions. We aim to complete the review by the end of November 1999. A copy of the announcement has been placed in the Libraries of the House.
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Jane Griffiths:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will give an estimated completion date for the Thameslink 2000 scheme; and what the implications are for the Crossrail project. [88738]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
The current estimate for the start of Thameslink 2000 services is May 2006. There is nothing planned within the scope of the scheme which would prevent the introduction of the Crossrail project.
Mr. Randall:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the current estimate is of the legal costs incurred to date by London Transport in the case of Mr. P. Marlow v London Underground Ltd. and the associated counter-claim. [88598]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
London Underground Ltd. has incurred legal fees amounting to £15,000 to date in defending proceedings commenced by Mr. Marlow and in pursuing a counterclaim against him.
Mr. Sheerman:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures he is taking to alleviate problems caused by the closure of the Circle Line. [88445]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
My right hon. Friend the Minister for Transport and I met the managing director of London Underground (LU) last week. He satisfied us that LU are operating additional services on the Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan Lines, along part of the route where Circle Line services usually run, and a normal District Line service along most of the rest of the Circle Line. All stations remain open. Additional buses are also running on routes 16, 23 and 52. Underground tickets and passes are valid on these buses. We have asked him to inform us immediately if this should change.
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