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Works of Art
Mr. Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been spent on (a) the upkeep and (b) the purchase of works of art in his Department for each financial year since 1992. [117472]
Dr. Howells: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Arts on 4 April 2000, Official Report, columns 392-93W.
Utility Meters
Mr. Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to ensure that low-income consumers using pre-payment meters are charged the same amount for their gas and electricity as those who pay by direct debit. [117509]
Mrs. Liddell [holding answer 3 April 2000]: Provision of a gas or electricity supply through a prepayment meter (PPM) is inherently more expensive than via a standard meter because the meter itself is more complex and because of the additional payment infrastructure that is necessary. We have, however, encouraged the regulator and the energy supply industry to bring PPM tariffs closer to the cost of standard credit, so as to reduce the burden on those PPM users who may be on a low income. As part of the new price controls on the Public Electricity suppliers, the Office of Gas and Electricity Management (Ofgem) has proposed a new licence condition limiting the maximum additional annual surcharge for a PPM to £15 above the standard credit tariff. For gas, Centrica, which has about 90 per cent. of gas PPMs, has already reduced its PPM prices so that they are the same as those paid by standard credit customers who have not paid promptly enough to receive a discount for quick payment.
I should point out, however, that the use of PPMs should not be taken as a proxy for fuel poverty: a wide range of people use these meters because they like the control it gives them over payment. Many PPMs are in second homes or holiday lettings. About half of those reckoned to be fuel poor are pensioners; and yet less than 10 per cent. of pensioners use a PPM.
BNFL
Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what commitments he has been given by the management of BNFL regarding the reorganisation of management structure and methods at the company. [117616]
Mrs. Liddell: I have asked the Chairman of BNFL to carry out a "root and branch" review of the company. I expect to receive his proposals shortly.
Mr. Gibb:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the deadlines for implementing the recommendations and requirements of the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate reports published in February
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regarding BNFL, will be met; and if he will list the (a) expected and (b) achieved completion date for each such requirement. [117618]
Mrs. Liddell:
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) published three reports on 18 February. The report of the "team inspection of the control and supervision of operations at BNFL's Sellafield site" requires BNFL to produce a programme within two months to address HSE's recommendations. Their report "into the falsification of pellet diameter data in the MOX demonstration facility (MDF) at the BNFL Sellafield site and the effect of this on the safety of MOX fuel in use" says that the MDF will remain closed until BNFL have met all 15 of HSE's recommendations. The third report, which deals with the storage of liquid high level waste at Sellafield, requires BNFL to produce within six months a strategy to reduce stocks of such waste to a buffer volume by around 2015. Copies of all three reports were placed in the Library of the House on 18 February.
I expect BNFL to respond positively, constructively and on time to all the recommendations in the HSE reports. However, it is for the company, in discussion with HSE, to produce detailed implementation plans.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the proposed EU Directive on Artists' Resale Rights has recently been discussed by EU Ministers; and if he will make a statement. [117401]
Dr. Howells:
The proposal for a Directive harmonising droit de suite went to four Internal Market Councils last year but, on each occasion, a decision was delayed to provide more time to explore ways of overcoming UK concerns. Negotiations have continued this year in the Committee of Permanent Representatives where a workable compromise was finally agreed unanimously on 15 March. This reflects an acceptable balance between the competitiveness of the art trade, the rights of artists and the need to complete the Single Market.
The British Art Market Federation has paid tribute to the Government's achievement in securing a compromise which will greatly limit the damage to Britain's international competitiveness in the global art market. The Directive will now go forward to Council as an "A" point--i.e. for agreement without discussion--and, thereafter, for approval by the European Parliament.
Mr. Neil Turner:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to receive the European Commission's approval of the UK's proposed Objective 2 Structural Fund areas. [118218]
Mr. Caborn:
I am pleased to say that the European Commission approved the UK's Objective 2 Structural Funds map on 30 March 2000. This is confirmation of their agreement in principle on 22 December 1999.
This is good news for UK, and ensures that many of the most needy areas in the UK will benefit from £3 billion of European regional funding between 2000 and 2006.
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Regional partners can now finalise their draft programme plans, which will need to be submitted to the Commission for consideration by the end of April in order for funding to be backdated to 1 January 2000.
Mr. Andrew George:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of cross-departmental co-operation on EU Objective 1 programmes. [116412]
Mr. Caborn:
There has been a great deal of effective inter-departmental co-operation on the Objective 1 Programme, at both ministerial and official level.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish an annual estimate of the costs of Government regulations to businesses which employ fewer than 100 people. [116403]
Ms Hewitt:
The Government have no plans to publish such information.
All Regulatory Impact Assessments (RIAs) contain information on the costs associated with new regulations; copies of all RIAs are placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Mr. Burden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library details of his contacts with BMW and Rover between 1 June 1999 and 16 March 2000. [118219]
Mr. Byers:
I have placed copies of these in the Libraries of the House.
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30. Ms Buck:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his Department's plans for neighbourhood regeneration. [116174]
Ms Armstrong:
The Government's policy responses to neighbourhood regeneration will be brought together through the Urban White Paper later in the year, and through the National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal, a consultation draft of which will be published shortly. We will ensure that programmes such as the New Deal for Communities, Single Regeneration Budget and Sure Start all play their part in delivering the coherent and co-ordinated response needed to deliver sustainable change.
Mr. Kidney:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the number of empty properties in (a) London and (b) England owned by (i) private landlords, (ii) local authorities, (iii) housing associations, (iv) Government Departments and (v) other landlords for each of the last five years. [116697]
Mr. Mullin:
Estimates of the numbers of vacant dwellings in (a) London and (b) England on 1 April are given in the table. Information is collected on the total private sector and it is not possible to distinguish between private landlord and owner occupied empty properties.
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| Private sector (4) | Local authority (4) | Registered social landlords (5) | Other public sector (6) | of which: Government Departments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (a) London | |||||
| 1995 | 109,500 | 19,000 | 7,400 | 1,900 | 1,600 |
| 1996 | 101,800 | 20,800 | 7,000 | 1,900 | 1,600 |
| 1997 | 94,800 | 18,500 | 6,600 | 1,700 | 1,400 |
| 1998 | 88,300 | 15,700 | 6,500 | 2,200 | 1,900 |
| 1999 | 89,300 | 14,700 | 8,100 | 2,100 | 1,800 |
| (b) England | |||||
| 1995 | 689,900 | 71,800 | 20,900 | 20,000 | 17,000 |
| 1996 | 667,400 | 79,600 | 23,600 | 20,000 | 17,000 |
| 1997 | 640,000 | 81,200 | 26,800 | 19,000 | 16,000 |
| 1998 | 623,200 | 81,700 | 29,300 | 19,000 | 16,000 |
| 1999 | 636,800 | 83,900 | 32,600 | 19,000 | 16,000 |
(4) Estimates from the annual HIP Operational Information return from local authorities.
(5) Housing Corporation RSR form from Registered Social Landlords.
(6) Government Departments and estimates from the annual HIP Operational Information return from local authorities.
Note:
A level of vacancy is a usual feature of housing management, reflecting turnover and movement within the stock.
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