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Honda, Swindon
Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what Government financial support was (a) requested and (b) given for Honda's investment in Swindon announced on 6 July. [90545]
Mr. Battle: There was no Government financial support requested or given for Honda's further investment in their Swindon plant.
Agency Steering Board
Mr. Gibb:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if private sector representatives on the Agency Steering Board will be remunerated. [90298]
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Mr. Wills
[holding answer 8 July 1999]: Private sector representatives on Agency Steering Boards are not remunerated, but receive an honorarium.
Mr. Gibb:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if members of the Enterprise Council will be remunerated. [90297]
Mr. Wills
[holding answer 8 July 1999]: No decision has been taken. The proposal to create the Enterprise Council, its composition and related matters are covered by the consultation exercise currently underway on the Small Business Service.
Mr. Gibb:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to advertise the post of the Small Business Service Chief Executive. [90296]
Mr. Wills
[holding answer 8 July 1999]: We are hoping to advertise the post of Chief Executive of the Small Business Service in the near future. The post will be publicly advertised.
Mrs. Browning:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to abolish the floating charge. [90329]
Mr. Byers
[holding answer 8 July 1999]: A re-assessment of the relative rights and remedies of secured creditors in insolvencies, including the position of creditors secured by floating charges, is part of the Terms of Reference of the Joint Department of Trade and Industry and HM Treasury Review of Company Rescue Mechanisms which I announced on 2 February 1999, Official Report, column 580. It was subsequently agreed that the review should make a final report by the end of 1999.
Mrs. Browning:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what changes he intends to make in respect of (a) the Inland Revenue and (b) Customs and Excise as priority creditors in bankruptcy cases. [90330]
Mr. Byers
[holding answer 8 July 1999]: A re-assessment of the position of the Crown as a preferential creditor in insolvencies is part of the Terms of Reference of the Joint Department of Trade and Industry and HM Treasury Review of Company Rescue Mechanisms which I announced on 2 February 1999, Official Report, column 580. It was subsequently agreed that the review should make a final report by the end of 1999.
Mrs. Browning:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will define responsible risk-takers for the purpose of proposed changes in bankruptcy law; and if he will make a statement. [90331]
Mr. Byers
[holding answer 8 July 1999]: I intend to issue a consultation document on this issue in the future.
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Mr. Derek Foster:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when his Department will publish the results of the consultation on competition in connections in the street lighting sector. [90382]
Mr. Battle:
The consultation was carried out by the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (OFGEM). I understand that it is OFGEM's intention to publish a follow up document, outlining their proposals resulting from the consultation, in the near future.
Mr. Loughton:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the future role of the Office of Fair Trading in the monitoring of the financial services industry. [89319]
Dr. Howells
[holding answer 1 July 1999]: The duties of the Director General of Fair Trading (DGFT) in relation to the financial services industry under the Consumer Credit Act 1974 will not change under the Financial Services and Markets Bill. When the prohibitions in the Competition Act 1998 come into force on 1 March 2000, agreements between undertakings, decisions by associations of undertakings, and concerted practices which may affect trade in the UK and have as their object and effect the restriction, distortion or prevention of competition will be prohibited subject to certain exclusions. Any conduct on the part of one or more undertakings which amounts to the abuse of a dominant position affecting trade within the UK and which may affect trade in the UK will also be prohibited. These prohibitions will apply to the financial services industry subject to certain exemptions and exclusions. The DGFT will have powers to carry out investigations if he has reasonable grounds for suspecting either of these prohibitions has been infringed, to bring infringements to an end, and to impose penalties. The DGFT will continue to scrutinise the rules of the Financial Services Authority, self regulatory organisations, investment exchanges and clearing houses using his powers in section 122 of the Financial Services Act 1986 and will report to the Treasury on any that appear to him to restrict, distort or prevent competition to a significant extent.
Mr. Wigley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals he has to encourage the development of the generation of electricity from photovoltaic roofing tiles; and if he will make a statement. [89189]
Mr. Battle:
Photovoltaic (PV) systems which may be incorporated into the fabric of buildings offer the prospect of clean and silent electricity production and are a form of renewable energy which is clearly suited to an urban environment. However there are a number of barriers to the deployment of PV, of which the most significant is the current high cost of the modules. My Department is working with the PV industry to reduce the barriers. In February I announced three new PV initiatives: a call for R&D proposals for components and systems; a field trial of 100 domestic PV systems and the design of a scheme to demonstrate PV on large commercial and industrial buildings. A total of 28 responses to the call for proposals
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have been received, of which 14 are related to building integrated PV. In addition there are two PV roofing product development projects currently underway with support from DTI. The domestic PV field trial scheme is currently under discussion with the industry. I hope to make an announcement regarding the third initiative later in the year.
Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost of the opening of the Scottish Parliament on 1 July. [89926]
Dr. Reid:
The costs which will be borne directly by the Scottish Office, the Scottish Executive and the Scottish Parliament Corporate body are expected to be in the region of £670,000. Some invoices have yet to be received and therefore the final cost cannot be identified at present.
Mr. Davidson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list, for each local authority in Scotland, the gross (a) contribution to and (b) receipts from the non-domestic rates pool for 1998-99. [90093]
Mr. Macdonald:
The information requested is given in the table. As the non-domestic rates pool operates across years, contributions and receipts are not directly comparable in any single year. The pool ensures that each authority receives its share of central government support (Aggregate External Finance) each year according to its relative need as assessed by Grant Aided Expenditure levels.
(5) Contributions = Provisional Contributable Amounts adjusted to take into account flows in and out of NDR Pool in 1998-99 for previous years.
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