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World Trade Organisation
25. Mr. Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he will take to ensure that consideration is given to environmental protection and sustainable development at the Seattle round of the WTO. [95849]
Mr. Caborn: The UK and EU are committed to ensuring that sustainable development is a key objective for the new round and that the relationship between trade and the environment is included as a subject of negotiations.
26. Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the EU position in respect of the WTO negotiations. [95850]
Mr. Caborn:
The UK's and EU's priority for the WTO Ministerial Conference in Seattle later this year is to secure the launch of an ambitious, comprehensive round of negotiations aimed at a substantial package to remove trade barriers and so promote growth and jobs in the world economy. Our particular priorities for these negotiations include agriculture, services, industrial tariffs, regulatory standards, trade facilitation, government procurement, intellectual property rights, investment, competition and the environment. Throughout the round we shall want to ensure that the interests of developing countries are taken fully into account. The EU's position for Seattle was discussed at an informal meeting of EU Trade Ministers on 1 October in Florence and at the General Affairs Council on 11 October. Formal Council Conclusions were agreed on 26 October.
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27. Ms Kelly:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he has taken to encourage British firms to take part in the regeneration of the Kosovo and other Balkan economies. [95851]
Mr. Caborn:
On the initiative of the Secretary of State, a joint Government/private sector Taskforce was set up by British Trade International--the recently established joint DTI/FCO trade promotion organisation--to co-ordinate and promote the UK's response to the reconstruction opportunities arising in Kosovo. Its prime objective is to ensure that UK companies are well placed to play a role in the rebuilding of Kosovo. The Taskforce has achieved much. Arising out of its activities, a consortium of UK companies has, with financial support from British Trade International, been awarded the concession to manage the power sector over the next seven months; this will help ensure that there is sufficient power to enable the people of Kosovo to get through the forthcoming harsh winter. It was clear from my recent visit to Kosovo that the good will arising out of this contract should help UK companies compete for other business, not only in the power sector but also in other areas of activity.
British Trade International have seconded an official to the British Office in Pristina to assist UK companies seeking business in Kosovo. In order to keep the business community abreast of developments in Kosovo, the Department has also established a Kosovo website; its address is: www.brittrade.com/kosovo/. This includes information on the activities of the Taskforce and the international funding agencies working there. The well publicised activities of the Taskforce have played a major role in generating UK company interest in Kosovo; nearly 1,000 companies have registered on British Trade International's Kosovo database. British Trade International has been praised widely by the private sector for all its initiatives on Kosovo. Kosovo has been its first test; one which it has come through with flying colours.
Kosovo is seen as the springboard to the wider South East Europe region (the Balkans) which presents significantly more business opportunities. In due course, the role of the Taskforce is likely to focus on this wider region. Through promotional events such as a seminars support for trade fairs and missions, British Trade International continues to draw the attention of UK companies to commercial opportunities in the other markets of the region.
28. Mr. Gill:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department has taken to extend the derogation for loose from bulk goods in imperial measures. [95852]
Dr. Howells:
On 26 July 1999, Official Report, columns 678-79, I announced the result of our reappraisal of the use of metric units of measurement in the UK and placed a copy of the report in the Library of the House. As that report made clear, we have concluded that there would be no benefit in seeking a postponement of the date (31 December 1999), agreed by the previous administration, after which loose from bulk goods should
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be priced and weighed in grams and kilograms. It will still be possible for retailers to indicate imperial units alongside metric and for consumers to express in imperial units the quantity they wish to buy.
29. Mr. Nicholas Winterton:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's policy on encouraging global free trade. [95853]
Mr. Caborn:
The United Kingdom supports the launch of an ambitious, comprehensive round of negotiations aimed at a substantial package to remove trade barriers and so promote growth in the world economy and jobs for our people. This should go a long way to realising global free trade consistent with the principle of sustainable development.
30. Mr. Martyn Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he is taking to ensure an increase in the Government's total spending on science. [95854]
Ms Hewitt:
This Government have shown a clear commitment to science in their spending plans agreed following the Comprehensive Spending Review. In this three-year period, Government will invest over £20 billion in science, engineering and technology. This level of investment is higher in real terms than at any time this decade.
31. Mr. David Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on enforcement of the national minimum wage. [95855]
Mr. Alan Johnson:
We are confident we have put in place one of the world's most professional and organised systems of minimum wage enforcement. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for City of Chester (Ms Russell) below.
36. Ms Christine Russell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to prevent employers from ignoring the national minimum wage. [95860]
Mr. Alan Johnson:
National Minimum Wage (NMW) Inspectors have dealt with over 3,000 cases of suspected underpayment of the minimum wage. Every call is followed up, including anonymous calls and third party tip-offs. In addition, Inspectors are now targeting low paying employers based on detailed risk analysis. Changes to the law mean that our Inspectors are now able to use information gathered for income tax, Nl and Working Families Tax Credit purposes.
The Government recognise that it is vital that employers are aware of their obligations under the law. In January this year the Inland Revenue included information about the NMW in their employer's annual pack, which was sent to all 1.2 million tax-registered employers. In March, once the Regulations had been approved by Parliament, we made detailed guidance available, along with leaflets for employers and employees. So far over
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1 million copies of the guidance and leaflets have been sent out to individuals and organisations, as well as many thousands which have been downloaded from the minimum wage website.
Around £5 million was spent on advertising the minimum wage in March and April. Independent research shows the campaign met or exceeded the targets set; awareness of the minimum wage following advertising peaked at 95 per cent. among employers.
Mr. Sarwar:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the impact of the National Minimum Wage. [97578]
Mr. Alan Johnson:
The Government have asked the Low Pay Commission to monitor and evaluate the introduction and impact of the national minimum wage. The Commission have undertaken a wide-ranging consultation and fact-finding exercise and have commissioned a series of research projects.
We have submitted and published our own evidence to the Low Pay Commission.
32. Mr. Gapes:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when (a) he and (b) officials in his Department last met representatives of the Post Office to discuss international postal services. [95856]
Mr. Alan Johnson:
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I regularly meet with the Chairman and Chief Executive of the Post Office to discuss a range of issues, including international postal matters. Officials also regularly discuss international postal matters with the Post Office.
33. Dr. Gibson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what success he has had in developing incubator companies of clusters. [95857]
Ms Hewitt:
My Department supports the UK Business Incubation Centre (UKBI), which promotes and encourages the uptake of business incubation, spreads best practice and improves networking and coordination between incubators. DTI also supports some sectoral incubation activities, for example through the Biotechnology Mentoring and Incubator Challenge and the Software Business Incubator (a virtual incubator). In addition, the "Reach-Out" fund has invited proposals for enhanced interaction between Higher Education Institutions and business, including support for university- based incubator facilities. Business incubators are often but not exclusively, located within industrial clusters.
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