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Blue Arrow

Mr. Peter Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what other DTI investigations into Blue Arrow have been (a) undertaken or (b) commissioned by his Department other than that which led to the report published on 24 September 1992. [114471]

Dr. Howells [holding answer 16 March 2000]: It is my Department's well established practice not to comment on whether or not confidential investigations have been or are being carried out.

Mr. Peter Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) to whom the inspectors' report on Blue Arrow was distributed prior to its publication in September 1992; [114468]

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(2) which (a) companies and (b) individuals who had access to the inspectors' report on Blue Arrow prior to its publication in September 1992 made representations as to its contents; [114469]

(3) if amendments to the draft inspectors' report on Blue Arrow report were made following representations by interested parties prior to its publication. [114470]

Dr. Howells [holding answer 16 March 2000]: It is standard practice to offer the parties involved, which would include the company, those criticised and other principal figures, access to an inspectors' signed report prior to its publication. This is in accordance with section 437(3) of the Companies Act 1985. The practice, which was followed prior to publication of the Blue Arrow report, is a confidential process. Representations were received about the content of the report and its publication but no amendments were made to it prior to publication. The report published was that signed by the inspectors on 4 June 1991.

Phoenix Fund

Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many applications have been received for payments from the Phoenix Fund for the current financial year; how many have been successful; and how much money has been distributed. [114389]

Mr. Caborn [holding answer 13 March 2000]: The only application for payment this year has been in respect of the Business Volunteer Mentoring Association, details of which were set out in the answer on 16 March 2000, Official Report, column 273W.

Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library a copy of the guidance issued to applicants to the Phoenix Fund, pursuant to his News Release of 10 November 1999; and if he will make a statement. [114390]

Mr. Caborn [holding answer 13 March 2000]: In line with the timetable set out in the report of the Policy Action Team 3 (on Enterprise and Social Exclusion), guidance will be published next month. I shall ensure that a copy will be placed in the Library of the House.

Astra

Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he was requested to hand over file bundles 120, 121, 140 and 141 in the Astra case to the JDS tribunal in the case of Gerald James; and what factors underlay his decisions in respect of those file bundles. [115411]

Dr. Howells: No requests for disclosure of information were received from the JDS tribunal in the case of Gerald James.

Pakistan (Exports)

Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the (a) standard and (b) open individual export licences for export to Pakistan that have been granted since 12 October 1999, showing in each case the Military List rating; and how many applications for each category of licence are awaiting a decision. [116124]

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Dr. Howells: For the period 12 October 1999 to 14 January 2000, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 25 January 2000, Official Report, column 202W.

The entry in the relevant legislation under which the export of goods is controlled is known as their rating. The Export Control Organisation's computer databases have been interrogated. Between 15 January 2000 and 17 March 2000, no Standard Individual Export Licences (SIELs) and no Open Individual Export Licences (OIELs) were issued covering the export to consignees or end-users in Pakistan of goods subject to export control by being listed in Part III of Schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994, commonly known as the Military List.

As at 17 March 2000, decisions had not yet been taken on 85 applications for a SIEL and 15 applications for an OIEL to export such goods to Pakistan.

Individual licence applications pending as at 17 March 2000 covering the export to Pakistan of goods on the Military List

Rating	Number of pending applications for SIELs covering goods with this rating	Number of pending applications for OIELs covering goods with this rating
ML1	5	0
ML2	2	0
ML3	4	0
ML4	5	0
ML5	1	0
ML6	5	2
ML9	10	4
ML10	32	7
ML11	2	0
ML13	1	4
ML14	1	1
ML16	4	1
ML17	2	1
ML18	11	0
ML21	0	1
ML22	1	4
PL5001	0	1
PL5017	3	1
End-use	1	0

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, Pakistan is 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 at any time during the period are in the Library of the House.

Regional Aid

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will amend his regional aid map proposals to bring them into line with EU rules. [115839]

Mr. Byers [holding answer 22 March 2000]: Discussions with the Commission on a new regional aid map are continuing. The new regional aid map must be approved by the Commission.

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Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if regional aid can be paid prior to the regional aid map being approved. [115961]

Mr. Byers [holding answer 23 March 2000]: I refer the right hon. Member to the reply which I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, North-East (Mr. Crausby) on 21 December 1999, Official Report, column 465W.

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how large a reduction in the number of people covered by the regional aid map the United Kingdom is required to make. [116595]

Mr. Byers [holding answer 28 March 2000]: I refer the right hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Christchurch (Mr. Chope) on 31 March 1999, Official Report, columns 804-05W.

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if Alchemy has applied for regional selective assistance for the Longbridge site. [116218]

Mr. Byers [holding answer 24 March 2000]: No.

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much regional aid money will be available in the financial year 2000-01 for (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) the UK. [116216]

Mr. Byers [holding answer 24 March 2000]: The figures for England will be set out in the DTI's Expenditure Plans, Command Document 4611, which we expect to publish on 11 April. A copy will be placed in the Library of the House. Expenditure in Scotland and Wales is a devolved matter.

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much regional aid he plans to spend in the budget year 2000-01 in (a) the North-East, (b) Devon, (c) Cornwall and (d) the West Midlands. [115963]

Mr. Byers [holding answer 23 March 2000]: Details of regional aid will be set out in the DTI's Expenditure Plans, Command Document 4611, which we expect to publish on 11 April. A copy will be placed in the Library of the House.

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he plans to meet the EU Commissioner to discuss the regional aid map. [115837]

Mr. Byers [holding answer 22 March 2000]: Commissioner Monti and I have regular contact on a range of issues including the regional aid map. I last met him on 2 March 2000 when we discussed the regional aid map.

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is able to make regional aid available to Alchemy to invest at Longbridge on the same basis as was proposed for BMW. [115838]

Mr. Byers [holding answer 22 March 2000]: The area in which Longbridge is located will qualify for Regional Selective Assistance.

Rover Dealerships

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the number of jobs which are dependent on Rover dealerships. [115962]

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Mr. Byers [holding answer 23 March 2000]: Almost 12,000 people are employed in Rover's 300 franchised dealerships in the UK.

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