House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 27 Jul 1999 (pt 41)

Road Fuel Taxes

Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his oral statement of 22 July 1999, Official Report, columns 1342-44, if he will give details of the arrangements which the European Commission has for publishing international comparisons of pump prices for diesel and petrol and the means by which UK consumers can access such information. [93475]

Mr. Battle: Prices of motor spirits and diesel are published by the European Commission in their weekly Oil Bulletin. "The Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics", to be published by the Department of Trade and Industry on 29 July 1999, will also provide this information for the first time. A copy will be available in the Library of the House.

International Price Comparisons

Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the 100 products which will be the subject of international price comparison, and the date upon which such comparisons will commence. [93370]

Dr. Howells: The list of products which the DTI's research into international price differences will examine will be finalised with the successful contractor. A draft list of the types of product that will be included is as follows.

The commissioning process for the research will have to comply with EC procurement regulations, and we are therefore unable to contract the research until the middle of October 1999 at the earliest. Results will be made available at the end of January 2000.

Draft list of items for collection in a comparison of international prices.

Based on data from the Family Expenditure Survey July 1997-June 1998

FES category/suggested item for collection

Food

Fresh vegetables and salad:

Boneless fresh chicken breasts

Bread:

White loaf

Bread rolls

Sweets and chocolates:

Chocolate bar

Chewing gum

Cakes, buns, currant bread, fruit pies, pastries and scones etc.:

Fruit pie/tart

Croissants

Cold meats, ready to eat meats:

Garlic sausage

Cheese:

Edam

27 Jul 1999 : Column: 312

Beef and veal (uncooked):

Steak

Pickles, sauces, flavourings, colourings etc.:

Mayonnaise

Biscuits, shortbread, wafers, chocolate biscuits etc.:

Choc chip cookies

Fruit juices, squashes:

Orange juice

Fizzy drinks:

Lemonade

Yoghurt and milk based desserts:

Fruit yoghurt

Potato crisps and savoury snacks:

Potato crisps

Breakfast cereals:

Cornflakes

Bacon and ham (uncooked):

Ham joint

Fish (uncooked) and shellfish:

Trout

Meat--ready meals:

Frozen lasagne

Pizzas, quiches, vegetarian pies:

Espresso ground coffee

Women's underwear and hosiery:

Soft floor coverings, carpets, mats:

Doormat

Wool carpet (per sq metre)

27 Jul 1999 : Column: 313

Major electrical appliances e.g. cookers, fridges, vacuum cleaners, showers etc.:

Cooker

Fridge

Fancy decorative goods, mirrors:

Mirror

Curtains, cushions, towels etc.:

Towel (per sq metre)

Paint, wallpaper, plaster, wood:

Paint

Doors, electrical and other fittings:

Light bulb

Detergents, washing-up liquid, washing powder:

Washing powder

Disinfectants, polishes, other cleaning materials:

Bleach

Kitchen equipment, tableware and utensils:

Kitchen scales

China, glassware (not mirrors), pottery, cutlery, silverware, thermometers, clocks:

Dinner plates

Small electrical equipment, e.g. hair dryers, calculators, shavers, irons:

Clock radio

Washing machines, spin dryers:

Washing machine

Other household hardware and appliances:

Electric drill

Bedspreads, blankets, duvets, pillows, sheets (excluding beds and mattresses):

Leisure

Horticultural goods, plants and flowers:

Greetings cards, stationery and paper goods:

Personal computers, printers, calculators:

Printer

Books, maps, diaries:

Road atlas

Photography and camcordersl

35mm camera film

Records, CDs, audio cassettes--hire and purchase:

CD (specified)

Magazines and periodicals:

Women's magazine

Sports and camping equipment:

Tennis racquet

Audio equipment, CD players:

Personal stereo

Personal goods

Cosmetics and related accessories--after shave, sun lotion etc.:

Sun lotion

27 Jul 1999 : Column: 314

Toiletries--cotton wool, toothpaste, tissues, shaving soap etc.:

Soap

Personal effects--jewellery, watches, personal silverware etc.:

Wristwatch

Hair products--shampoo, colour rinses:

Shampoo

Toilet paper:

Toilet paper

Baby toiletries and disposables:

Hire of self-drive cars and vans:

One week's car hire.

Helplines

Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when and where he expects the pilot telephone helplines for consumers to be established; what is the estimated cost; and what restrictions will be placed upon national access to it. [93342]

Dr. Howells: We are discussing these issues with our partners in Trading Standards, Citizen Advice and others, and expect to take decisions on these matters later this year.

Arms Exports (Indonesia)

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the current ECGD exposure on (a) exports to Indonesia and (b) defence-related exports. [93292]

Mr. Wilson: ECGD's estimate of its exposure on Indonesia currently stands at £1,642 million of which £691 million is in respect of defence-related business.

Of ECGD's total future amounts at risk of £16,897 million, defence-related business accounts for £3,857 million.

Market Research

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the funding which his Department has given to (a) the Defence Manufacturers Association, (b) the Association of Police and Public Security Suppliers and (c) other defence, police and security industry bodies to produce market research reports. [93504]

Mr. Battle: Since 1997 the Department has paid the Defence Manufacturers Association £49,631 under the Sector Challenge scheme towards the costs of setting up the Export Opportunities (Defence and Security) Service, which includes provision of market reports. It runs this service jointly with its sister trade association, the Association of Police and Public Security Suppliers. Since 1997 the Department has also paid around £43,000 towards the Society of British Aerospace Companies for their Business Winning Service, which includes market research work for the civil and defence aerospace industry.

27 Jul 1999 : Column: 315

Solar Energy

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what practical research projects he has commissioned into solar energy; what discussions he has had with his counterparts in (i) Japan and (ii) Germany on this subject; and if he will make a statement. [92277]

Mr. Battle: My Department has had a solar energy R&D programme for a number of years, as part of the New and Renewable Energy Programme. The budget for the photovoltaics (PV) element has doubled from £0.5 million to £1 million over the past 2 years.

The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) has also run a significant photovoltaics R&D programme, with a budget of £1 million per annum for the past four years. PV is now included in the EPSRC's new £3.5 million per annum programme on Renewable and New Energy Technologies.

In addition, the Foresight Scolar Programme, which aims to put PV systems onto 100 schools and colleges across the country by 2000, is receiving funding from Government for £1 million of the total £2.5 million costs.

In my speech at the Manchester DTI/EPSRC PV Conference on 17 February, I announced three major new PV initiatives:

a) a call for proposals for the development of PV components and systems, with the aim of enhancing the competitiveness of UK companies;

b) a field trial for at least 100 homes across the country to test a variety of actual PV installations under UK conditions;

c) development of a scheme to demonstrate the use of PV in large-scale commercial building applications.

The total value of these three initiatives is expected to be £15 million, with £5 million coming from the DTI. In the case of the demonstration scheme the final go-ahead will have to await the outcome of the Renewables Review.

The subject of solar energy has not arisen in recent discussions with my counterparts in Japan and Germany, but our embassies in those and other countries keep my officials regularly updated on their programmes in this area.

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