| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Consumer White Paper
Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consultations he has had with Yellow Pages over the proposals in the Consumer White Paper. [93366]
Dr. Howells: Officials met with Yellow Pages as part of the consultations that led to the White Paper.
Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if The Times industrial correspondent was briefed by Government sources on the Consumer White Paper prior to his oral statement on 22 July 1999, Official Report, columns 1342-44; [93326]
- (2) which newspapers were briefed prior to his oral statement on 22 July 1999, Official Report, columns 1342-44, on the publication of the Consumer White Paper. [93235]
Dr. Howells:
Members of the press were invited to a briefing at 12.00 pm Tuesday 22 July. As is normal practice, they were locked in until my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State spoke in the House.
27 Jul 1999 : Column: 316
Mr. Gibb:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the codes of practice which he regards as unsatisfactory and which his Consumer White Paper refer to as little more than sales devices. [93369]
Dr. Howells:
No. There is currently a wide spectrum of codes ranging from the comprehensive and effective, through those which are well intentioned but do not work as well as they could, to those which exist as adjuncts to seemingly legitimate logos but have no practical effect. The Director General of Fair Trading has no power to disapprove codes at present, merely to encourage the preparation and dissemination of consumer codes. The Consumer White Paper "Modern Markets: Confident Consumers" (Cm 4410) proposes to give the OFT a power to give a seal of approval to codes that put the core principles into effect so that consumers, including those with poor literacy skills or who do not speak English, can see at a glance which codes are satisfactory; and that OFT will publicise decisions to approve or reject codes.
Mr. Gibb:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the consumer legislation he intends to review. [93368]
Dr. Howells:
The Government intend to mount a rolling programme to review all consumer protection legislation. This process began with the publication of a consultation document on weights and measures law on 22 July 1999.
Mr. Grieve:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what increase or decrease in the amount of energy used per annum in providing street lighting nationally has occurred since (a) 1980, (b) 1985, (c) 1990 and (d) 1995. [93347]
Mr. Battle:
Total electricity supplied for use in public lighting in the United Kingdom and the percentage changes in the quantity used are shown in the following table:
| Year | Consumption GWh | Percentage change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 2,252 | 1980 to 1997: +19 |
| 1985 | 2,335 | 1985 to 1997: +15 |
| 1990 | 2,588 | 1990 to 1997: +4 |
| 1995 | 2,443 | 1995 to 1997: +10 |
| 1997 | 2,679 | -- |
Source:
Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics 1998
Mr. Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much energy in kilowatts was consumed in the provision of street lighting in the past financial year in (a) built-up areas and (b) outside built-up areas. [93348]
Mr. Battle:
In 1997 total electricity supplied for use in public lighting in the United Kingdom amounted to 2,679 GW hours. Figures are not available for built up areas separately.
27 Jul 1999 : Column: 317
Mr. Harvey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what export licences his Department has issued for HMX explosives since September 1998; and how many applications are pending; [93425]
Ann Clwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will list the export licences granted for the export of armoured vehicles, spare parts, components and weapons to Singapore since 1988, where the end use destination was (a) Indonesia and (b) another country; [93509]
(3) if he will list the export licences granted for the export of armoured vehicles, spare parts, components or weapons to Sierra Leone since 1988; [93507]
(4) if he will list the export licences granted for the export of armoured vehicles, spare parts, components or weapons to Malaysia since 1988, where the end use destination was for Indonesia. [93506]
Dr. Howells:
I will write to the hon. Members as soon as possible, and place a copy of that Letter in the Library of the House.
Mr. Mackinlay:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the countries visited by himself and his predecessors since 1 May 1997. [92803]
Mr. Byers:
The countries visited are listed as follows:
Mr. Byers:
I recognise the importance of these countries and hope to visit them as soon as possible.
27 Jul 1999 : Column: 318
Miss McIntosh:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the former MMC's conclusion that the reform of the milk selling system could not produce a competitive market for milk. [93331]
Dr. Howells:
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made clear in his statement on 6 July 1999, Official Report, column 455-56 that reform of the milk sales system was essential if the raw milk market was to function as effectively and fairly as possible. Both Milk Marque and the processors have indicated that they are in favour of reform of the selling system. Both sides have a common interest in devising a system which enjoys the confidence of all.
Miss McIntosh:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of Milk Marque's application to extend its operations into processing. [93329]
Dr. Howells:
The MMC concluded that Milk Marque's planned increase in its milk processing capacity may be expected to operate against the public interest, by enhancing its ability to exploit its monopoly power. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State concluded that, while Milk Marque remained a monopoly supplier of raw milk to the processing sector, it should not be allowed to extend its milk processing activities in this way. The Secretary of State therefore asked the Director General of Fair Trading to seek undertakings from Milk Marque that it would not take any further steps towards making or carrying out any agreement to acquire or build a processing plant without the prior agreement of the Director General, as the MMC recommended.
Miss McIntosh:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the effect of the Competition Act 1998 on his proposals for Milk Marque. [93249]
Dr. Howells:
Milk Marque will be subject to the Competition Act 1998 when it comes fully into force on 1 March 2000. It will continue to be under an obligation to comply with any remedies resulting from the monopoly investigation into milk.
Miss McIntosh:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for what period, following the rejection of the former MMC's recommendation that Milk Marque be broken up, the Government plans that the interim measures will apply. [93330]
Dr. Howells:
The interim measures will apply until a satisfactory long term solution has been agreed to the adverse effects of the existing way milk is sold by Milk Marque.
Judy Mallaber:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what powers he has to ensure that members of the public are able to reach Oftel on their inquiry lines. [93057]
Mr. Wills:
As is the case for any organisation, public or private, it is for Oftel itself to ensure that it can be reached by members of the public. In recent months there has been a large increase in the number of consumers
27 Jul 1999 : Column: 319
telephoning Oftel with complaints and queries. Five additional staff were recruited in June and an action plan has been put in place to improve the service.
(2) pursuant to his answer of 26 May 1999, Official Report, column 200, what is the stated end use as indicated on Form A, part 1: Export Licence Application Section D7 of each of the licences, granted or pending, for the export of RDX to (a) China, and (b) the USA. [93317]
(2) if he will list the export licences granted for the export of armoured vehicles, spare parts, components and weapons to Singapore and Malaysia since 1988; [93508]
Australia
Belgium
China
France
Hong Kong SAR
India
Italy
Japan
Pakistan
Russia
Singapore
South Africa
Spain
Switzerland
USA.
Mr. Mackinlay:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he intends to visit (a) Poland, (b) Hungary, (c) the Czech Republic, (d) Slovenia and (e) Estonia. [92689]
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |