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Personal Computers
Dr. Palmer: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will ask the Competition Commission to review the retail personal computer market, with particular reference to exclusive supply arrangements; [118565]
- (2) if he will seek a meeting with representatives from the Dixons group of stores to discuss their exclusive supply arrangements with manufacturers of personal computers; and if he will make a statement. [118566]
Dr. Howells: Under UK competition law in the first instance it is the responsibility of the Director General of Fair Trading (DGFT) to investigate allegations of anti-competitive behaviour and possible abuses of a dominant position.
The Office of Fair Trading announced on 10 April that it would be seeking further information from those that have raised concerns about this market, and will be meeting with them shortly.
13 Apr 2000 : Column: 276W
Mr. Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will refer the retail market for personal computers to the Competition Commission; and if he will make a statement. [118583]
Dr. Howells: Under UK competition law in the first instance it is the responsibility of the Director General of Fair Trading (DGFT) to investigate allegations of anti-competitive behaviour and possible abuses of a dominant position.
The Office of Fair Trading announced on 10 April that it would be seeking further information from those that have raised concerns about this market.
Miners' Pension Funds
Mr. Alan W. Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the names of the trustees of the miners pensions funds, giving the date of their appointment and the length of their term in office. [118744]
Mrs. Liddell: The Mineworkers Pension Scheme (MPS) has 10 Trustees, while the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme (BCSSS) has eight. Half of the Trustees in each Scheme, including the Chairmen, are appointed by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in his role as Guarantor to the Schemes. The remaining Trustees are elected by the Scheme membership. Details are as follows:
British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme
Appointed Trustees
Mrs. S. Gleig (Chair)--appointed for three years to 30 April 2000
Mr. R. Dennis--appointed for three years to 30 April 2000
Mr. D. Brandick--appointed for three years to 30 April 2000
Mr. M. Atkinson--appointed for three years to 31 December 2001
13 Apr 2000 : Column: 277W
Elected Trustees
Mr. B. Hancock--elected for three years to 30 September 2000
Mr. D. McIntosh--elected for three years to 30 September 2000
Mr. S. Jukes--elected for three years to 31 March 2002
Dr. R. Chappell--elected for three years to 31 March 2002
Mineworkers Pension Scheme
Appointed Trustees
Mr. N. Braithwaite (Chair)--appointed from 1 September 1999 to 13 February 2003
Mr. D. H. Tucker--appointed for three years to 13 February 2003
Mr. P. J. Keenan--appointed from 6 October 1998 to 30 September 2001
Mrs S. Gleig--appointed from 6 October 1998 to 30 April 2000
Mr. M. Atkinson--appointed for three years to 31 December 2002
Elected Trustees
Mr. J. Perry--elected for three years to 31 March 2002
Mr. J. Stones--elected for three years to 31 March 2002
Mr. G. Bolton--elected for three years to 30 September 2000
Mr. N. Greatrex--elected for three years to 30 September 2000
Mr. J. Wills--elected for three years to 31 March 2002.
Mr. Alan W. Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations he has received from the trustees of the miners' pension funds concerning arrangements for the showing of surpluses between Government and beneficiaries. [118745]
Mrs. Liddell: I met the Chairmen of the Trustees of the coal pension schemes (the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme and the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme) recently and discussed how the Government and Trustees could build on the arrangements put in place at privatisation to the mutual benefit of both Scheme members and the Government. These discussions are continuing.
Miners (Compensation)
Mr. Alan W. Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the total amount paid by his Department for the miners' compensation scheme for chest diseases and vibration white finger (a) to solicitors, (b) in interim payments to miners and (c) as final settlement with miners. [118743]
Mrs. Liddell: As at 9 April the Department has made payments for chest diseases amounting to:
- £13.2 million to solicitors, including £9.8 million in trial costs;
- £50.6 million in interim and bereavement award payments; and
- £5.4 million in final settlements.
- £12.1 million to solicitors, including £4.4 million in trial costs;
- £25.4 million in interim payments; and
- £55.1 million in final settlements.
Energy Prices
Mr. Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the average cost of (a) 650 therms of gas and (b) 8,000 units of electricity to consumers (i) paying by direct debit and (ii) paying by means of a pre-payment meter in each of the last 10 years, excluding the last 12 months for which figures are available. [118365]
13 Apr 2000 : Column: 278W
Mrs. Liddell [holding answer 10 April 2000]: The information to produce estimates of costs on this basis for the last ten years is not readily available. Estimates of these costs for the years for which this information is available (1998 and 1999) are given in Table 1 as are equivalent bills for customers on standard credit terms. The majority of customers are still on standard credit terms. The available information on bills for earlier years is presented in Table 2. This is based on different levels of consumption to those stated in the question.
| Payment method | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard quarterly credit | Monthly direct debit | Pre-payment meter | |
| Gas (650 therms) | |||
| 1998 | 331 | 292 | 349 |
| 1999(9) | 320 | 281 | 336 |
| Electricity (8,000 kWh) | |||
| 1998 | 600 | 580 | 611 |
| 1999(9) | 594 | 574 | 608 |
(8) Average UK bills, including VAT
(9) Provisional
| Payment method | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard quarterly credit | Monthly direct debit | Pre-payment meter | |
| Gas (650 therms) | |||
| 1998 | 329 | 289 | 345 |
| 1999(12) | 320 | 281 | 336 |
| Electricity (8,000 kWh) | |||
| 1998 | 610 | 590 | 624 |
| 1999(12) | 594 | 574 | 608 |
(10) Average UK bills, including VAT
(11) Real 1999 terms calculated using the GDP (market prices) deflator
(12) Provisional
| Payment method | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard quarterly credit | Monthly direct debit (14) | Pre-payment meter | |
| Gas (18,000kWh, 614 Therms) | |||
| 1990 | 285 | n/a | 303 |
| 1995 | 327 | 311 | 347 |
| 1996 | 330 | 308 | 350 |
| 1997 | 328 | 307 | 348 |
| 1998 | 315 | 277 | 331 |
| 1999(15) | 305 | 267 | 318 |
| Electricity (3,300kWh) | |||
| 1990 | 245 | n/a | 264 |
| 1995 | 300 | 295 | 319 |
| 1996 | 297 | 295 | 317 |
| 1997 | 285 | 277 | 302 |
| 1998 | 268 | 258 | 285 |
| 1999(15) | 265 | 256 | 282 |
(13) Average UK bills, including VAT where payable, VAT was charged at 8 per cent. from 1994 and at 5 per cent. from September 1997
(14) The monthly direct debit payment method was not widely available in 1990
(15) Provisional
13 Apr 2000 : Column: 279W
| Payment method | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard quarterly credit | Monthly direct debit (17) | Pre-payment meter | |
| Gas (18,000kWh, 614 Therms) | |||
| 1990 | 381 | n/a | 405 |
| 1995 | 368 | 350 | 391 |
| 1996 | 360 | 336 | 381 |
| 1997 | 348 | 325 | 369 |
| 1998 | 324 | 285 | 340 |
| 1999(18) | 305 | 267 | 318 |
| Electricity (3,300kWh) | |||
| 1990 | 328 | n/a | 354 |
| 1995 | 337 | 332 | 359 |
| 1996 | 324 | 322 | 345 |
| 1997 | 302 | 294 | 320 |
| 1998 | 275 | 265 | 293 |
| 1999(18) | 265 | 255 | 282 |
(16) Real 1999 terms calculated using the GDP (market prices) deflator
(17) The monthly direct debit payment method was not widely available in 1990
(18) Provisional
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