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Countryside and Rights of Way Bill
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from the farming unions and individuals involved in the industry on the question of the universal access proposals contained in the Countryside and Rights of Way Bill; and if he will make a statement. [118402]
Mr. Mullin: I have been asked to reply.
The Government have received representations on the access provisions of the Countryside and Rights of Way Bill from a range of organisations representing, or associated with, the farming and land management industry, including the National Farmers Union, the Farmers' Union of Wales, the Tenant Farmers Association, and the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs. We have also received representations from a number of individual farmers and others involved in farming. To provide details of representations from individuals would involve disproportionate cost.
Feed Supplements
Mr. Ashdown: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what assessment he has made of the effect on the feed supplements sector in the UK of Regulation 13 of the Feedings Stuffs Regulations 2000; and if he will make a statement; [115388]
- (2) when he will reach a decision on whether to proceed to implement Regulation 13 of the Feeding Stuffs Regulations 2000; and if he will make a statement; [115389]
(3) what assessment he has made of the effect of Regulation 13 of the Feeding Stuffs Regulations 2000 on competition in the European feed supplements sector; and if he will make a statement. [115390]
Ms Stuart: I have been asked to reply.
The consultation on the draft Feeding Stuffs Regulations 2000 specifically requested comments on the proposed Regulation 13 in order that its effect on all sectors could be assessed.
There have been a substantial number of responses and some of these have drawn attention to comparisons with the European feed supplement practices. The Government's response will be drawn up taking account of all the issues raised in consultation, and a decision announced shortly.
13 Apr 2000 : Column: 272W
PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL
Short Money
Mr. Kemp: To ask the President of the Council what steps she takes to ensure that Short money allocated to Her Majesty's Opposition is used exclusively for parliamentary purposes. [118873]
Mrs. Beckett: Recipients of Short money have to furnish the Accounting Officer of the House with the certificate of an independent professional auditor, in a form determined by the Accounting Officer, to the effect that all expenses in respect of which the party received financial assistance during the period ending with that day were incurred exclusively in relation to the party's parliamentary business under the House's resolution.
Mr. Kemp: To ask the President of the Council how much Short money has been allocated to Her Majesty's Official Opposition for each of the last six years. [118874]
Mrs. Beckett: The figures are as follows:
| £ | |
|---|---|
| 1994 | 1,439,802.97 |
| 1995 | 1,489,749.12 |
| 1996 | 1,530,190.51 |
| 1997 | 986,762.82 |
| 1998 | 1,112,885.74 |
| 1999 | 3,377,670.28 |
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
United Biscuits
Mr. Martlew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will refer the bid by Finalrealm for United Biscuits to the Competition Commission; and if he will make a statement. [117610]
Dr. Howells: The size and European dimension of this proposed bid for United Biscuits means that it has fallen to the consideration of the European competition authorities under the EC Merger Regulation (ECMR). The European Commission assesses such cases on competition grounds and member states have a formal role in the ECMR process.
Ilisu Dam Project
Ms Kingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment his Department has made of (a) the number of British jobs that will be created, (b) the number of existing British jobs that may be sustained, (c) which other countries expect to have jobs created, (d) the number of jobs that will be created for persons from other countries, (e) the number of jobs that will be created for local people and (f) the ratio of jobs for local people to jobs that will be available for persons from other countries, including in Britain, as a result of the Ilisu Dam project by Balfour Beatty Construction. [118029]
Mr. Caborn: Contractual negotiations on the Ilisu project are still progressing and therefore we do not have the detailed information sought by my hon. Friend.
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Indeed, such information normally becomes available only some time after contract signature. However, I can say that
- it is estimated that in the region of 2,000 jobs in Britain could be sustained;
- other countries where export credit agencies are considering support are: Switzerland, the USA, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Austria, and Portugal;
- other countries may be involved as sub contractors;
- the potential UK goods and services represent around 10-12 per cent. of the total project cost;
- around half the value of civil works will be expended locally;
- the contractor has advised us that the peak work force on site--most of whom will be local--will be around 5,000 and that the construction period will be approximately seven years.
Mr. Caborn: We understand that a lending syndicate would be led by UBS of Switzerland. As no decision has been taken on the availability of export credit support, discussions have not yet commenced on the financing. If and when a decision is taken to provide support, ECGD will discuss the project with the lending syndicate as part of its normal procedures.
Astra
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library file bundles 120, 121, 140 and 141 in the Astra case. [118393]
13 Apr 2000 : Column: 274W
Dr. Howells: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 22 March 2000, Official Report, column 611W. It is well established that material obtained through the use of compulsory powers is subject to duties of confidentiality. Disclosure can be made only in certain circumstances and for certain specified purposes. While I am unable to make such material available to the Library of the House, the inspectors' concluded views were set out in their report published in June 1993.
Employment and Tribunal Claims
Ms Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many employment and tribunal claims in (a) Wales, (b) England and (c) Scotland in each year from 1995 to 2000 in (i) sex discrimination, (ii) equal pay, (iii) race discrimination and (iv) disability discrimination cases (A) were lodged, (B) were settled through ACAS, (C) were privately settled, (D) were withdrawn, (E) reached a hearing and (F) were successful at hearing; what was the distribution of compensation awards in successful cases separately distinguishing compensation for injury to feelings; and how many individuals were represented at tribunals. [118736]
Mr. Alan Johnson: The following tables set out the information requested. The statistics are produced on a Great Britain basis.
| 1995-96 | 1996-97 | 1997-98 | 1998-99 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sex Discrimination | 2,880 | (2)-- | 3,440 | 6,203 |
| Equal Pay | 1,482 | (2)-- | 1,845 | 5,018 |
| Racial Discrimination | 1,774 | (2)-- | 2,578 | 2,746 |
| Disability Discrimination | n/a | (2)-- | 959 | 1,430 |
(2) Due to changes to the database system of the ETS in 1996, statistics are not available for 1996-97.
n/a = DDA Act did not come into force until 2 December 1996
13 Apr 2000 : Column: 273W
| 1995-96 | 1996-97 | 1997-98 | 1998-99 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sex Discrimination | ||||
| Cases disposed of | 3,677 | (3)-- | 2,839 | 4,025 |
| ACAS settled | 1,464 | (3)-- | 1,005 | 1,791 |
| Withdrawn or privately settled | 1,508 | (3)-- | 1,070 | 1,334 |
| Reached a hearing | 574 | (3)-- | 676 | 797 |
| (of which) successful | 218 | (3)-- | 224 | 270 |
| Equal Pay | ||||
| Number of cases | 694 | (3)-- | 1,483 | 1,530 |
| ACAS settled | 128 | (3)-- | 253 | 517 |
| Withdrawn or privately settled | 456 | (3)-- | 1,069 | 650 |
| Reached a hearing | 82 | (3)-- | 91 | 316 |
| (of which) successful | 36 | (3)-- | 18 | 7 |
| Racial Discrimination | ||||
| Number of cases | 1,737 | (3)-- | 2,194 | 2,694 |
| ACAS settled | 405 | (3)-- | 661 | 813 |
| Withdrawn or privately settled | 656 | (3)-- | 727 | 871 |
| Reached a hearing | 562 | (3)-- | 653 | 837 |
| (of which) successful | 109 | (3)-- | 119 | 131 |
| Disability Discrimination | ||||
| Number of cases | n/a | (3)-- | 337 | 858 |
| ACAS settled | n/a | (3)-- | 140 | 365 |
| Withdrawn or privately settled | n/a | (3)-- | 123 | 284 |
| Reached a hearing | n/a | (3)-- | 69 | 189 |
| (of which) successful | n/a | (3)-- | 4 | 33 |
(3) Due to changes to the database system of the ETS in 1996, statistics are not available for 1996-97
n/a = DDA Act did not come into force until 2 December 1996
Note:
It should be noted that the ETS statistical years follow the financial, not calendar years and as yet, the statistics for 1999-2000 are being collated and are not available.
(4) Statistics on Equal Pay and Disability Discrimination cases are not
collated separately.
(5) Due to changes to the database system of the ETS in 1996, statistics are not available for 1996-97
n/a = DDA Act did not come into force until 2 December 1996
Note:
Statistics on compensation awards for injury to feeling are included in the above details but can not be separately identified.
13 Apr 2000 : Column: 275W
13 Apr 2000 : Column: 275W
| Year | None or Self (6) | Other | Legal | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995-96 | 10,342 | 3,983 | 4,520 | 2,374 |
| 1996-97 | (7)-- | (7)-- | (7)-- | (7)-- |
| 1997-98 | 11,579 | 2,532 | 4,142 | 1,814 |
| 1998-99 | 9,413 | 2,743 | 4,545 | 4,223 |
(6) Includes cases where the parties failed to attend.
(7) Due to changes to the database system of the ETS in 1996, statistics are not available for 1996-97.
Source:
ETS--April 2000
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