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Departmental Initiatives
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the initiatives launched by his Department since May 1997 under which specific grants are allocated, indicating in each case and for each financial year the funding provided by central Government. [109316]
Mr. Byers [holding answer 10 February 2000]: A detailed breakdown of the Department's activities is given in the annual Expenditure Plans Reports Trade and Industry: The Government's Expenditure Plans (Cm 3905, Cm 3605, Cm 4211), published by the Stationery Office Limited.
Paid Parental Leave
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many recent representations he has received in support of paid parental leave from (a) hon. Members and (b) others. [110466]
Mr. Byers: From the start of the consultation on the Maternity and Parental Leave Regulations on 4 August 1999, we have received approximately 310 representations in support of paid parental leave. This includes the consultation responses and around 260 letters received by the Department.
In addition to these representations, we have discussed this issue with key representatives and we are setting up a group to monitor and evaluate the take-up of unpaid parental leave. Its findings will influence our future thinking.
Retail Price Comparisons
Mr. Martlew:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the total net price in sterling of the 56 items surveyed in the AC Nielsen report for each of the four countries included in the project. [111059]
22 Feb 2000 : Column: 952W
Dr. Howells:
Information on the net price of each of the 56 items is included in AC Nielsen's report on international retail price comparisons, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House. It is also available on the Internet.
The research was designed to provide item by item comparisons and comparisons of totals for any sub-group of items, or for the list as whole, are not valid.
Mr. Pollard:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many arms export licences for Indonesia have been (a) applied for, (b) granted and (c) rejected since May 1997, in each case listing the categories of equipment they cover. [110772]
Dr. Howells:
Details of export licensing decisions between 2 May 1997 and 31 December 1998 were set out in the Government's Annual Reports on Strategic Export Controls published by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in March and November 1999; copies are in the Library of the House.
| Rating | Number of SIELs issued covering goods with this rating | Number of OIELs issued covering goods with this rating |
|---|---|---|
| ML1 | 1 | 0 |
| ML2 | 2 | 0 |
| ML3 | 1 | 0 |
| ML6 | 0 | 1 |
| ML9 | 1 | 3 |
| ML10 | 8 | 3 |
| ML11 | 2 | 1 |
| ML14 | 1 | 0 |
| ML21 | 0 | 1 |
| ML22 | 0 | 2 |
| PL5017 | 0 | 1 |
No new licences were issued for the export to Indonesia of goods on the Military List during the four month period of the EU arms embargo which expired on 17 January 2000.
22 Feb 2000 : Column: 953W
| Rating | Number of pending applications for SIELs covering goods with this rating | Number of pending applications pending for OIELs covering goods with this rating |
|---|---|---|
| ML4 | 0 | 1 |
| ML5 | 0 | 2 |
| ML9 | 1 | 3 |
| ML10 | 6 | 5 |
| ML11 | 0 | 4 |
| ML13 | 0 | 2 |
| ML14 | 0 | 1 |
| ML15 | 0 | 4 |
| ML17 | 0 | 1 |
| ML18 | 0 | 1 |
| ML22 | 1 | 1 |
| PL5001 | 0 | 1 |
| PL5017 | 1 | 2 |
This information should be considered in light of the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Kingswood (Mr. Berry) on 27 July 1999, Official Report, columns 307-08W.
In addition, between 2 May 1997 and 15 September 1999, Indonesia was a permitted destination on certain Open General Export Licences covering the export of goods on the Military List; copies of all Open General Export Licences valid during this period are in the Library of the House.
Dr. Cable:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans the Government have to bring forward legislation to better regulate the brokering of arms. [110962]
Dr. Howells:
The Government do have the powers to control trafficking and brokering under the United Nations Act 1946 where this is necessary to implement a binding UN Resolution. Under the European Communities Act 1972 the Government have the power to provide for enforcement of a Council Regulation prohibiting trafficking and brokering of specified goods, e.g. dual use goods where there is Community competence. However, competence to prohibit trafficking and brokering of arms or military equipment lies with the member states.
The Government's White Paper on Strategic Export Controls, published in July 1998, proposed new legislation to extend the Government's power to control trafficking and brokering in several areas, including with respect to the supply of military equipment to destinations subject to any form of arms embargo and the supply of
22 Feb 2000 : Column: 954W
equipment, the export from the UK of which has been banned because of evidence that goods of the same type have been used in torture.
The Government will announce proposals for new export control legislation in due course, following conclusion of the review of the White Paper proposals in the light of responses received.
Mr. Crausby:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of documentation used by his Department is (a) made from recycled paper and (b) collected for recycling. [111609]
Dr. Howells:
This Department purchases 44 per cent. recycled paper and 81 per cent. of waste paper is recycled.
Mrs. Dean:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his estimate of the percentage of adults in the UK who are credit blacklisted. [110733]
Dr. Howells:
Most lenders use credit scoring techniques to help them decide whether they will lend to particular individuals. The Office of Fair Trading research for its 1999 report "Vulnerable Consumers and Financial Services" found that over six million households (out of a total of 24 million) were defined as having low or very low household income. Of these, 3.5 million did not use any form of credit. I would estimate that many of these would not satisfy the credit scoring test.
Mr. Maclennan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress he has made in reaching agreement with the European Commission on the determination of the new assisted areas map for Great Britain; and if he will make a statement. [111333]
Dr. Howells:
Discussions with the Commission on the proposals for new Assisted Areas are continuing. We will announce the new map as soon as possible.
Mrs. Browning:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many officials in his Department are on gardening leave. [111623]
Mr. Byers:
On 22 February 2000, two officials in the Department's headquarters were at home on full pay pending appointment to a new position in the Department.
Mrs. Browning:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) when his Department first informed 10 Downing Street that the matter of Transfer Technology grants was being referred to the West Midlands Police; [111627]
(3) when he was first advised that the matter of Transfer Technology grants should be referred to the West Midlands Police. [111624]
22 Feb 2000 : Column: 955W
Mr. Byers:
I received advice on this matter from one of the Department's Directors on 3 February 2000.
In accordance with normal procedure the No.10 Press Office was informed after I had taken my decision.
Mrs. Browning:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the grant paid to the hon. Member for Coventry, North-West (Mr. Robinson) in respect of Transfer Technology Ltd. as reference WMR 46414/Z1/1 was repaid. [111629]
Mr. Byers:
A grant paid to Transfer Technology Ltd. under reference WMR 46414/Z1/1 has not been repaid.
No grant has been paid to my hon. Friend the Member for Coventry, North-West.
(2) what was the grade of the official who advised that the matter of Transfer Technology grants should be referred to the West Midlands Police; [111625]
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