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Wind Power
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the total subsidy for the generation of power from wind turbines in (a) 1997-98, (b) 1998-99 and (c) 1999-2000. [114913]
Mrs. Liddell
[holding answer 16 March 2000]: The support to wind energy from the Fossil Fuel Levy in England and Wales was:
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| Year | £ million |
|---|---|
| 1997-98 | 36.8 |
| 1998-99 | 35.1 |
| 1999-2000 | (4)6.5 |
(4) estimated
The support to wind energy from the Fossil Fuel Levy in Scotland was:
| Year | £ million |
|---|---|
| 1997-98 | 3.9 |
| 1998-99 | 5.4 |
| 1999-2000 | (5)5.7 |
(5) estimated
Correspondence
Mr. Alasdair Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when Bruce Crawford MSP will receive a reply to his letter, dated 31 January, to the Minister for Energy and Competitiveness in Europe regarding compensation payments to ex-miners. [115534]
Mrs. Liddell: A reply was sent on Friday 3 March 2000.
Mrs. Roe: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the hon. Member for Broxbourne will receive a reply to her letters of 21 September, 20 October, 17 November, 14 December, 11 January and 8 February relating to Mr. James Gardiner, a constituent. [113929]
Mr. Byers [pursuant to the reply, 14 March 2000, c. 341-42]: The hon. Lady's letters of 21 September and 20 October have been traced. The letter of 7 March arrived on 14 March. The other correspondence does not appear to have been received. I replied to the hon. Lady on 16 March.
Post Office
Mrs. Fyfe: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many sub-postmasters there are in the UK; and how many of them are (a) from ethnic minorities and (b) women. [115205]
Mr. Alan Johnson [holding answer 17 March 2000]: There are at present some 16,000 sub-postmasters. A number of these cover more than one post office.
Approximately 40 per cent. of this total are women. The Post Office's estimate is that 12.4 per cent. of sub-postmasters are from ethnic minorities. This estimate derives from data provided on a voluntary basis by sub-postmasters.
Mr. Crausby:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce measures to allow post offices to sell alcoholic drinks. [115484]
Mr. Alan Johnson:
Items such as stationery and greetings cards, which complement postal services, may be sold in post offices by Post Office Counters Ltd. However, where a post office is located alongside a retail outlet, the decision to sell alcoholic drinks rests with the shop owner.
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Mr. Jenkin:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what contracts the Post Office has with haulage contractors for the delivery of UK mail in foreign-registered trucks; and if he will make a statement. [115268]
Mr. Alan Johnson:
The names of the Post Office's contractors are a commercially confidential matter for the Post Office, who tell me that they use a range of hauliers, some UK based, some based in other countries. They have no records of where their suppliers register their vehicles.
Dr. Cable:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what involvement Mr. David Harrison, of the Export Guarantees Advisory Council, had in the decision of the ECGD to support the ACESITA stainless steel strip mill in Timoteo. [114785]
Mr. Caborn
[holding answer 17 March 2000]: In his capacity as a banking member of the Export Guarantees Advisory Council, Mr. David Harrison may be asked for his advice from time to time on cases which are being put forward for underwriting decisions. Such advice is sought only from a Council Member who has no direct business interest in the relevant transaction.
This case did not involve submission to Mr. Harrison or to any other member of the Export Guarantees Advisory Council.
Dr. Michael Clark:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action is he taking to draw public attention to the importance of science and engineering. [114787]
Ms Hewitt
[holding answer 17 March 2000]: National Science Week launched on Friday, now annually attracts well over a million visitors to more than 7,000 events, and is the flagship project of our Public Understanding of Science, Engineering and Technology programme. This programme currently supports 15 pilot projects with a total value this financial year of £1.46 million.
More generally, the Department grant-aids relevant activities throughout the year organised by the Royal Society, the British Association for the Advancement of Science and the Research Councils.
We have also consistently supported the engineering community in its efforts to raise the profile of engineering in the mind of the public and past initiatives such as "Action for Engineering" have received substantial financial assistance. One of the key aims of the latest such initiative to receive DTI support, the "Campaign to Promote Engineering" is to present engineers and engineering as key contributors to the nation's wealth and quality of life. The campaign's patrons include Professional Engineering Institutions, Trade Associations and companies both large and small within all sectors of UK industry. DTI also continues its financial support for SETNET (Science Engineering Technology Mathematics Network) whose key objective is to bring coherence and co-ordination to the myriad schemes and resources aimed at fostering the teaching and learning of engineering related subjects in schools.
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Dr. Michael Clark:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his Department's involvement in activities relating to Science Week commencing on 17 March organised by the British Association. [114788]
Ms Hewitt
[holding answer 17 March 2000]: My Department is a strong supporter of National Science Week and continues to be the main core sponsor of the week. The British Association for the Advancement of Science receives grant aid worth £160,000 each year from the Office of Science and Technology's Public Understanding of Science, Engineering and Technology budget to cover core costs. In addition we have also provided almost £90,000 to support 56 National Science Week projects around the United Kingdom through the COPUS grants scheme.
My Department also runs a small number of events to mark National Science Week, targeted at a Whitehall audience. This year these include an event co-hosted by the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee at the Palace of Westminster on 23 March entitled "Putting Science To Work".
Dr. Cable:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will accept the recommendations of the Competition Commission's report into the acquisition of Cable & Wireless Communications cable business by NTL; to what extent he will be guided in his decision by representations made outside the Competition Commission process; and if he will make a statement. [115244]
Dr. Howells:
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will publish the Competition Commission's report into the acquisition by NTL Incorporated of the cable business of Cable & Wireless Communications as soon as is reasonably practical. In publishing the report he may comment on it.
If the report finds that the merger may be expected not to operate against the public interest, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will have no power to take any action in respect of the merger.
If the report finds that the merger may be expected to operate against the public interest, then the Director General of Fair Trading (DGFT) will advise the Secretary of State on the report. The DGFT's advice will also consider any representations that may have been made subsequent to the CC's report. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will decide on his response to the merger in the light of the CC's report and the DGFT's advice, taking into account any matters which he considers relevant.
Dr. Cable:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he received from (a) BSkyB and (b) News International with regard to the acquisition of Cable & Wireless Communications cable business by NTL (i) before and (ii) subsequent to his receipt of the Competition Commission's report on this subject. [115213]
Dr. Howells:
I do not think it appropriate in general to disclose either the identity of those who make representations on cases or the substance of their views.
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This allows interested parties to comment freely without concern that their comments might then be disclosed, which could prejudice the future supply of information.
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