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TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Domestic Utility Bills

Mr. Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what were the average annual domestic bills for (a) electricity and (b) gas in the Yorkshire region for each of the last three years broken down by (i) direct debit, (ii) standard quarterly credit and (iii) pre-payment meter payment methods. [126078]

Mrs. Liddell: Average annual domestic bills ¹ for (a) electricity and (b) gas in cash terms in the Yorkshire region ² for each of the last three years are as follows:

¹ Averages are weighted by customer numbers and based on all companies operating in the region.

² Figures are those for the Yorkshire Electricity distribution area and the North East Transco distribution zone.

£

	Payment method
	Direct debit	Quarterly credit	Prepayment meter
Electricity(12)
1997	250	263	289
1998	244	250	281
1999	242	246	281
Gas(13)
1997	307	329	348
1998	277	315	331
1999	268	304	319

(12) An annual consumption level of 3,300kWh has been assumed. Customers with electric central heating are likely to consume considerably more electricity.

(13) Annual consumption level of 18,000kWh has been assumed.

These figures are published annually in the Department's annual "Digest of UK Energy Statistics" and in the "Energy Report".

Assisted Areas Map

Mrs. Browning: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many regional map applications for assisted area status were rejected by the European Commission on first application by Her Majesty's Government in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999 and (d) 2000. [125351]

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Mr. Byers [holding answer 9 June 2000]: No regional map applications for assisted area status were rejected by the European Commission on first application for any of the years in question.

Mrs. Browning: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for what reason he withdrew the proposed map conferring assisted area status on North Staffordshire. [125352]

Mr. Byers [holding answer 9 June 2000]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Trade to my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Walton (Mr. Kilfoyle) on 10 April 2000, Official Report, column 38W.

Postal Services

Mrs. Browning: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the impact of European Commission proposals to liberalise postal markets on domestic user costs. [125598]

Mr. Byers [holding answer 12 June 2000]: The Government support greater liberalisation of the postal market however, it is important that the scope and pace of liberalisation does not undermine the universal service. As recommended by the Trade and Industry Committee we have given responsibility to the new Postal Services Commission to bring forward proposals on future liberalisation of the market in the context of its role to ensure the maintenance of the Universal Service.

Synchrotron

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the plans of Her Majesty's Government to co-operate with the French Government on the building of a new synchrotron in France; where it will be built; and what the cost to Her Majesty's Government will be. [124784]

Mr. Byers: Her Majesty's Government have no plans to co-operate with the French Government on the building of a new synchrotron in France.

Mrs. Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when discussions were last held concerning United Kingdom involvement in synchrotron investment in France; who was present at those discussions; and what was their content. [126439]

Mr. Byers: The issue of a possible French synchrotron was raised when my noble Friend the Minister for Science met with the French Minister for Research in Paris on the 5 May 2000. The discussions were of a general nature and in the context of the overall European requirement for large-scale scientific infrastructure. No specific proposals were discussed and no commitment was made concerning UK Government funding.

Mrs. Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when were discussions last held with French representatives concerning French involvement in synchrotron investment in the United Kingdom; who was present at these discussions; and what their content was. [126440]

Mr. Byers: The last discussions concerning French involvement in the New Synchrotron project were held on the 22 May 2000 at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory.

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The discussions involved officials representing the three partners in the project and wide representation of the user communities. The discussions covered the detailed management arrangements to be put in place to take the project forward and a range of related technical issues.

US Traffic and Arms Regulations

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the benefits to the UK of being granted special status under the US International Traffic and Arms Regulations; and if he will make a statement. [125382]

Dr. Howells: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 15 June 2000, Official Report, columns 667W-68W.

Limited Liability Partnerships

Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consultations he has had with PricewaterhouseCooper and Ernst & Young about the legislation they prepared for limited liability partnerships in Jersey; and what parts of that legislation he has incorporated in the Limited Liability Partnerships Bill [Lords]. [125426]

Dr. Howells: There have been no such consultations; and, while we are aware of the Jersey legislation on limited liability partnerships, this has not provided a model for the Limited Liability Partnerships Bill.

Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if bankrupts under restriction orders as proposed in his White Paper on bankruptcy will be able to become partners in limited liability partnerships. [126038]

Dr. Howells: Under the proposals referred to, the restrictions currently imposed on bankrupts will apply for the duration of the restriction order. As a consequence those subject to restriction orders will not be able to act in the management of a limited company or as a member of a limited liability partnership.

Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry by what means persons reported to the Insolvency Agency by insolvency practitioners as unfit will be prevented from participating in limited liability partnerships. [126046]

Dr. Howells: Section 7(3) of the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 requires insolvency practitioners to report unfit conduct by directors to the Secretary of State. That requirement will exist where insolvency practitioners find misconduct by members of limited liability partnerships.

Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the assets of an insolvent business will be eligible for re-use by its former management trading on the basis of a limited liability partnership. [126037]

Dr. Howells: Provided an insolvent business enters formal insolvency proceedings, then those assets will fall within the estate of the insolvent business, subject to any security held by creditors over those assets. The office holder has a duty to realise those assets in such a way that returns to creditors are maximised. If the failure of the

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business is not the directors' fault, there was no misconduct and they pay the best possible price for the assets, then they should not be prevented from running a successor business utilising those assets.

Where assets have been transferred with the intention of putting them out of reach of its creditors then the "claw-back" provisions currently found in the Insolvency Act 1986 will apply.

Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry by what means he will prevent individuals under the individual voluntary arrangements as envisaged in his White Paper "Bankruptcy: A Fresh Start", from being allowed to become partners in limited liability partnerships. [126039]

Dr. Howells: Undischarged bankrupts are disqualified from acting in the management of a limited company by virtue of section 11 of the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986. It is intended that this disqualification be extended to include acting as a member of a limited liability partnership.

The majority of persons subject to individual voluntary arrangements (IVAs) are not bankrupt and are not therefore subject to this restriction.

The proposals in the White Paper to which the question refers are for the automatic annulment of the bankruptcy on the agreement to the IVA proposal by the creditors. This would then leave the member in the same position as if the bankruptcy order had not been made and they would therefore not be precluded from acting as a member of a limited liability partnership. However, it is likely that there would be a requirement for measures to deal with anyone failing to stick to the terms of his/her IVA. This might include the reinstatement of the bankruptcy order against them.

Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if Company Voluntary Arrangements as provided for in his Insolvency Bill will apply to limited liability partnerships; and what measures he proposes to stop companies operating under a Company Voluntary Arrangements transferring to limited liability partnership status. [126041]

Dr. Howells: The Insolvency Bill does not specifically refer to limited liability partnerships. However, limited liability partnerships will be able to enter company voluntary arrangements (CVAs).

A company that is subject to a CVA is subject to a court procedure. It is likely that the conversion to a limited liability partnership would require the revocation of the CVA prior to any conversion. In considering this application the court would consider whether the aims of the CVA were best served by the company being able to convert.

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