Heating Fuel (VAT)
Mr. Hurst:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what analysis he has made of the annual financial benefit in respect of pensioners resulting from the reduction of the rate of VAT on heating fuel; and if he will make a statement. [127586]
Mr. Timms:
I have been asked to reply.
Customs and Excise estimate that households in which the head is of State Pension Age and economically inactive will benefit on average by around £13 in 2000-01 due to the reduced rate of VAT on fuel and power.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Corruption and Bribery
Mr. Austin:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 26 June 2000, Official Report, column 351W, on corruption and bribery, if he will list the number of cases in the last five years where the ECGD judged (a) the level of commission to be excessive and (b) the payment procedures unusual, indicating the companies concerned and the reasons why cover was refused. [128571]
Mr. Caborn:
In the last five years there have been no cases where the levels of commission were deemed to be excessive or where there were unusual payment procedures.
Our customers understand and abide by our procedures in this regard.
3 Jul 2000 : Column: 17W
Deer Management Qualifications Ltd.
Mr. Beggs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when his Department was informed that Deer Management Qualifications Ltd., Registration Number 3449049, was continuing to trade from a new registered office at Wrexham. [128568]
Dr. Howells:
Deer Management Qualifications Ltd. has not informed Companies House of any change of address of their registered office, and remained at 381 Kingsway, Hove, East Sussex, the original address, until struck off and dissolved in September 1999.
A representative of the former company subsequently wrote from Wrexham on 28 December 1999 claiming that the organisation of that name was still trading. Information on restoration was sent in January 2000, but no application for restoration has been received to date.
In the interim, a new company, Deer Management Communications Ltd., Registration Number 4019145, has been incorporated.
MCI WorldCom Sprint Merger
Dr. Cable:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations his Department has received regarding the proposed merger of MCI WorldCom and Sprint. [128493]
Dr. Howells:
This case fell to the consideration of the EC competition authorities under the EC Merger Regulation (ECMR) and the Commission prohibited the proposed deal on 28 June.
It is not our policy to disclose the identity or content of representations on cases so that interested parties may comment freely without any concern that their comments might then be disclosed.
Dr. Cable:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations the Government have made to the European Commission regarding the MCI WorldCom Sprint merger. [128494]
Dr. Howells:
This case fell to the consideration of the EC competition authorities under the EC Merger Regulation (ECMR) and the Commission prohibited the proposed deal on 28 June.
3 Jul 2000 : Column: 18W
Member states have a formal role in the ECMR process. However, in order to protect the integrity of the ECMR process, member states do not disclose the line they took on individual cases.
Malaysia
Mr. Alan Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will make a statement on the licensed production agreement between Pains Wessex (Schermuly) and SME Ordnance in Malaysia for the production of (a) low enforcement pyrotechnics, (b) CS irritant cartridges and (c) CS canisters; [128281]
(2) if he will list the licensed production agreements between British and Malaysian defence companies. [128280]
Dr. Howells:
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Cynon Valley (Ann Clwyd) on 22 March 1999, Official Report, column 117W.
However, I would also refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the then Under-Secretary of State for Small Firms, Trade and Industry, on 12 January 1999, Official Report, columns 149-50W. The response to the Committee, referred to in this answer, was published on 23 February 1999, HC270.
Staff Secondments
Mr. Don Foster:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Harrogate and Knaresborough (Mr. Willis), of 11 February 2000, Official Report, column 313W, on secondments, if he will give the names, grades and job titles of the staff seconded into his Department from each organisation mentioned, stating in each case the name of the section they were seconded to and a summary of the work that they were involved with. [128244]
Dr. Howells
[holding answer 29 June 2000]: Giving the information in the format as set out in my answer of 11 February, details of the DTI grades of the posts filled and the Directorate in which the secondees were placed are given in the table.
For data protection and privacy reasons it is not possible to give names of individuals.
The Department has a long-standing programme of interchange with the private sector to promote the exchange of people and good practice between the Civil Service and other organisations. Before a secondment can occur, all parties must be satisfied that no conflict of interest arises.
3 Jul 2000 : Column: 17W
| Company names | Grade | Section
|
|---|
| 1 May 1997-30 April 1998 | |
|
| The Export Association | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| North Cape (Scotland) Ltd. | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| Bank of Ireland | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| Rover Group Ltd. | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| Reyrolle Projects Ltd. | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| Grant Thornton | PR 7 | Small and Medium Enterprise Policy
|
| Drinks Marketing Consortium | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| European Gas Turbines-GEC Alstrom | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| Ericsson Ltd. | PR 11 | Communication and Information Ind Dir
|
| Prince Associates | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| British Telecom plc | SCS | Communication and Information Ind Dir
|
| Littlejon Frazer | PR 9 | Company Law and Investigations
|
| The Institute of Export | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| Arthur Andersen | PR 8 | Insurance Directorate
|
|
|
| Deloitte and Touche | PR 10 | Regional Assistance
|
| NHS Supplies | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| British Nuclear Fuels plc | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| Herbert Smith | PR 10 | Consumer Affair Competition Policy
|
| Mobil | PR 10 | Oil and Gas
|
| Hyder plc | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| EPSRC | PR 7 | Chemicals and Biotechnology
|
| PricewaterhouseCoopers | PR 9 | Company Law and Investigations
|
| ERTL Europe Ltd. | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| British Telecom plc | PR 10 | Invest in Britain Bureau
|
| BT International Business | PR 10 | Invest in Britain Bureau
|
| Nuclear Electric plc | PR 10 | Nuclear Industries Directorate
|
| Frank Roberts and Sons Ltd. | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| Barclays Bank plc | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| Silver Altman | PR 9 | Company Law and Investigations
|
| Guinness Brewing Worldwide Ltd. | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| PricewaterhouseCoopers | PR 10 | Insurance Directorate
|
| Anglian Water International UK | PR 10 | Infrastructure and Energy Projects
|
| Hambros Bank Ltd. | SCS | Regional Assistance
|
| General Accident/CGU Insurance | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| Beaumont Colson Ltd. | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| AWE plc | PR 10 | Nuclear Industries Directorate
|
| Epinet Communications plc | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| Matra Marconi Space | PR 10 | British National Space Centre
|
| Barclays Bank plc | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| PricewaterhouseCoopers | PR 10 | Regional Assistance
|
| Reuters Ltd. | PR 10 | Communication and Information Ind Dir
|
| Lee and Allen Consulting plc | PR 9 | Company Law and Investigations
|
| CERN | SCS | Simpler Trade Procedures
|
| HSBC Holdings plc | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| University of Greenwich | PR 10 | Low Pay
|
| Toyoboshi UK Ltd. | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| Institute of Exports | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| Westcountry Development Corporation | PR 10 | Government Office South West
|
| Hydro Technologies Ltd. | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| Crown Agents Overseas Government and Administration | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| ICI Chemicals and Polymers Ltd. | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| Cable and Wireless plc | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| GEC Marconi Avionics Ltd. | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| Cookstown Enterprise Centre Ltd. | PR 11 | Export Promotion
|
| Sonic Communications | PR 11 | Export Promotion
|
| Unipart International | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| Natural Animal Feeds Ltd. | PR 11 | Export Promotion
|
| Russo-British Chamber of Commerce | PR 11 | Export Promotion
|
| Eschmann Bros and Walsh Ltd. | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| Arthur Andersen | PR 10 | Invest in Britain Bureau
|
| The Hosiery Manufacturing Co. Ltd. | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| Delamore Associates Ltd. | PR 11 | Export Promotion
|
| Lockstair Ltd. | PR 10 | Engineering Industries Directorate
|
| | |
|
| 1 May 1998-30 April 1999 | |
|
| The British Petroleum Company plc | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| British-Israel Chamber of Commerce | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| Matheson and Co Ltd. | PR 11 | Export Promotion
|
| Lloyds TSB Group plc | PR 10 | Small and Medium Enterprise Policy
|
| The Hosiery Manufacturing Co. Ltd. | PR 11 | Export Promotion
|
| The British Petroleum Company plc | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| ICL | PR 10 | Communication and Information Ind Dir
|
| East European Trade Council | PR 11 | Export Promotion
|
| British Aerospace plc | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| British Telecom plc | PR 10 | Invest in Britain Bureau
|
| British Marine Equipment Council Ltd. | PR 11 | Export Promotion
|
| E A Technology Ltd. | PR 11 | Export Promotion
|
| AEA Technology | PR 10 | Office of Science and Technology
|
| Slaughter and May | PR 7 | Communication and Information Ind Dir
|
| Glaxo Wellcome Research and Development | PR 10 | Office of Science and Technology
|
| Knight Piesold Ltd. | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| AEA Technology plc | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| Knight Piesold Ltd. | PR 11 | Export Promotion
|
| EPSRC | PR 7 | Chemicals and Biotechnology
|
| PWR (Electrical Services) Ltd. | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| British Nuclear Fuels plc | PR 10 | Nuclear Industries Directorate
|
| Hewlett-Packard Ltd. | SCS | Office of Science and Technology
|
| East Europe Trade Council | PR 11 | Export Promotion
|
|
|
| Enterprise Ayrshire | PR 10 | Infrastructure and Energy Projects
|
| British Telecom | PR 7 | Communication and Information Ind Dir
|
| Herbert Smith | PR 10 | Utilities Review Team
|
| British Consulate General Osaka | PR 10 | Invest in Britain Bureau
|
| Polish Social and Cultural Association Ltd. | PR 11 | Export Promotion
|
| Moody Cashmere Ltd. | PR 11 | Export Promotion
|
| Abercairn of Scotland Ltd. | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| Grant Thornton | PR 9 | Small and Medium Enterprise Policy
|
| Financial Service Authority | PR 6 | Insurance Directorate
|
| GK Communications Group Ltd. | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| AEA Technology plc | PR 10 | Office of Science and Technology
|
| British American Tobacco Company | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| Aspen Waite Chartered Accountants | PR 11 | Export Promotion
|
| ICI Group | PR 9 | Office of Science and Technology
|
| Masters International (UK) Ltd. | PR 11 | Export Promotion
|
| GKN Westland Helicopters | PR 10 | Engineering Industries Directorate
|
| Gardenex | PR 11 | Export Promotion
|
| British Aerospace Aviation | PR 10 | Infrastructure and Energy Projects
|
| Trade Development Ltd. | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| ACO Technologies plc | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| Independent Power Corporation plc | PR 11 | Export Promotion
|
| Freeman Rich Chartered Accountants | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| SMMT Ltd. | PR 11 | Export Promotion
|
| Ernst and Young Services Ltd. | PR 10 | Regional Assistance
|
| Reuters Ltd. | PR 10 | Communication and Information Ind Dir
|
| Elizabeth Emanuel Enterprises Ltd. | PR 10 | European Policy
|
| East European Trade Council | PR 11 | Export Promotion
|
| Simmons and Simmons | PR 6 | Communication and Information Ind Dir
|
| ICL | PR 10 | Futures Unit
|
| Oracle Corporation UK Ltd. | SCS | Communication and Information Ind Dir
|
| Brown and Root AOC | PR 11 | Infrastructure and Energy Projects
|
| LGC Ltd. | PR 8 | Chemicals and Biotechnology
|
| | |
|
| 1 May 1999-8 February 2000 | |
|
| Rover Group Ltd. | SCS | Export Promotion
|
| Moy Park Ltd. | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| Robson Rhodes | PR 10 | Regional Assistance
|
| The Building Centre Ltd. | PR 11 | Export Promotion
|
| Newbrook Engineering Co. Ltd. | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| Medical Research Council | PR 6 | Ministerial Parliamentary Support
|
| Mott MacDonald Group Ltd. | PR 11 | Export Promotion
|
| Darwin Instruments Ltd. | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| MacAlister Elliott and Partners Ltd. | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| The Beaver Housing Society Ltd. | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| GKN plc | PR 11 | Export Promotion
|
| William Santus and Co. Ltd. | PR 11 | Export Promotion
|
| The Wellcome Trust | PR 7 | Office of Science and Technology
|
| Knight Peisold Ltd. | PR 11 | Export Promotion
|
| PricewaterhouseCoopers | PR 9 | Company Law and Investigations
|
| The Export Association | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| Proactive Associates Ltd. | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| British Telecom | PR 7 | Communication and Information Ind Dir
|
| Reuters Ltd. | PR 10 | Joint Export Promotion
|
| West India Committee | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| David Stanley Associates Ltd. | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| Mivan Ltd. | PR 11 | Export Promotion
|
| Natwest Group | SCS | Regional Policy
|
| Shaw Trust Ltd. | PR 11 | Export Promotion
|
| British Telecom | PR 10 | Invest in Britain Bureau
|
| AstraZeneca | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| British Nuclear Fuels plc | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| Black Isle Consultants Ltd. | PR 11 | Export Promotion
|
| Unipath Ltd. | PR 8 | Office of Science and Technology
|
| The Symphony Group plc | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| Binnie Black and Veatch Ltd. | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| John Laing International Ltd. | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| Simmons and Simmons | PR 6 | Communication and Information Ind Dir
|
| Shell UK Exploration and Production | PR 10 | Oil and Gas
|
| AstraZeneca | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| Grant Thornton | PR 10 | Small and Medium Enterprise Policy
|
| ONE North East | PR 6 | Invest in Britain Bureau
|
| BHP Petroleum Ltd. | PR 10 | Futures Unit
|
| Phoenix Timber Group plc | PR 11 | Export Promotion
|
| Biwater International Ltd. | PR 11 | Export Promotion
|
|
|
| Gardenex | PR 11 | Export Promotion
|
| Linklaters and Alliance | PR 10 | Competition Policy
|
| Middle East Association | PR 10 | Export Promotion
|
| Science Systems (Space) Ltd. | PR 10 | British National Space Centre
|
| Trades Union Congress | PR 11 | Employment Relations
|
| KCA Drilling Ltd. | PR 8 | Oil and Gas
|
| Imperial Chemical Industries plc | PR 10 | Chemicals and Biotechnology
|
3 Jul 2000 : Column: 23W
3 Jul 2000 : Column: 23W
