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E-commerce

Mr. Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his plans to assist firms to develop e-commerce capacity. [130166]

Ms Hewitt: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Morecambe and Lunesdale (Miss Smith) on 27 June 2000, Official Report, column 457W, which described plans to support firms to develop e-commerce capacity.

Parliamentary Questions

Mr. Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many parliamentary questions were tabled to his Department between 19 October 1999 and 20 April which requested information, pursuant to his previous answers. [131227]

Mr. Byers: Of the 1,552 parliamentary questions tabled during the period, 56 requested information pursuant to previous answers.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

GM Crops

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to the oral statement by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of 8 June 2000, Official Report, column 501, if he will list the (a) dates on which meetings took place between Advanta Seeds and officials from his Department between 17 April and 17 May, (b) names and functions of the officials attending those meetings, (c) subjects discussed, (d) conclusions reached and (e) advice given by his officials to Advanta Seeds. [128467]

20 Jul 2000 : Column: 253W

Mr. Meacher: Officials from my Department met with representatives from Advanta Seeds Ltd. on 17 April. A note of that meeting, which gives the information requested, is available in the House Library. There were no subsequent meetings.

Genetically Modified Organisms

Jackie Ballard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made on evaluating research commissioned by him on the effect of GMOs in the human and animal food chain; and what representations he has received on such research. [128595]

Mr. Meacher: My Department has not commissioned any research on the effect of the GMOs in the human and animal food chain. Responsibility for this lies with the Food Standards Agency.

MOT Centres

Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list by administrative region for each of the last five years the number of (a) MOT centres that have lost their certification, (b) nominated testers that have lost their accreditation in these centres, (c) nominated testers that have lost their accreditation in centres that have not closed, (d) complaints

20 Jul 2000 : Column: 254W

investigated about MOT centres and the percentage which led to the withdrawal of (i) MOT centre certification and (ii) nominated tester accreditation and (e) routine inspections carried out and the percentage which have led to the withdrawal of (i) MOT centre certification and (ii) nominated tester accreditation. [130021]

Mr. Hill [holding answer 13 July 2000]: The premises at which MOT testing is carried out are known as vehicle testing stations (VTS), operated by an Authorised Examiner (AE), which may be an individual, a partnership or a company. If an examiner's authorisation is withdrawn, the premises can no longer be used as a Vehicle Testing Station and identity as such ceases. Nominated Testers (NT) work under the direction of the Authorised Examiner.

The number of Authorised Examiners that have had their authorisation withdrawn and nominated testers disqualified from testing in the last five years, by region, is shown in the table.

The number of authorisations withdrawn or testers disqualified, following complaint to, or targeted check by the Vehicle Inspectorate, or following a routine check, is not collated by region and could be supplied only at disproportionate cost; the tables show the figures nationally.

The number of nominated testers disqualified from testing at VTS where the authorised examiner's authorisation has not been withdrawn is not held centrally.

20 Jul 2000 : Column: 253W

Summary of authorised examiners withdrawn and nominated testers disqualified following a check by VI

	1999-2000		1998-99		1997-98		1996-97		1995-96
Area	AEs withdrawn	Testers disqualified	AEs withdrawn	Testers disqualified	AEs withdrawn	Testers disqualified	AEs withdrawn	Testers disqualified	AEs withdrawn	Testers disqualified
Scotland	13	23	7	18	10	25	18	35	17	30
North Eastern	13	60	19	44	31	55	25	73	37	67
North Western	13	23	19	27	14	28	17	68	15	53
West Midlands	10	25	32	34	17	37	19	45	12	21
Eastern	8	32	19	31	26	34	21	25	17	28
South Eastern	12	33	15	65	13	64	53	87	35	53
Western	9	24	17	51	17	50	21	66	24	75
South Wales	15	22	15	19	13	7	7	9	10	9
National	93	242	143	289	141	300	181	407	167	336
Total checks	55,561		57,913		74,742		73,642		72,202
As percentage of checks	0.17	0.44	0.25	0.50	0.19	0.40	0.25	0.55	0.23	0.47

Note:

Total checks includes routine visits, targeted checks and inspections following a complaint

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Summary of authorised examiners withdrawn and nominated testers disqualified following a targeted check or complaint

	Number	Targeted checks and complaints	As percentage of checks
1999-2000
Authorised Examiners	67	16,176	0.41
Nominated Testers	232		1.43
1998-99
Authorised Examiners	127	19,567	0.65
Nominated Testers	274		1.40
1997-98
Authorised Examiners	133	25,668	0.52
Nominated Testers	286		1.11
1996-97
Authorised Examiners	145	26,024	0.56
Nominated Testers	381		1.46
1995-96
Authorised Examiners	140	26,888	0.52
Nominated Testers	330		1.23

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Summary of authorised examiners withdrawn and nominated testers disqualified following a routine check by VI

	Number	Routine checks	As percentage of checks
1999-2000
Authorised Examiners	26	39,385	0.07
Nominated Testers	10		0.03
1998-99
Authorised Examiners	16	38,346	0.04
Nominated Testers	15		0.04
1997-98
Authorised Examiners	8	49,074	0.02
Nominated Testers	14		0.03
1996-97
Authorised Examiners	36	47,618	0.08
Nominated Testers	26		0.05
1995-96
Authorised Examiners	27	45,314	0.06
Nominated Testers	6		0.01

20 Jul 2000 : Column: 255W

Vehicle Ownership (Registration)

Mr. Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans his Department has to (a) strengthen and (b) enforce the legal requirement for changes of vehicle ownership to be registered; and if he will make a statement. [130644]

Mr. Hill: The Vehicle Crime Reduction Action Team (VCRAT) has drawn up a number of proposals, which will strengthen vehicle registration requirements. The Government are seeking a suitable opportunity to introduce the necessary legislation.

Both the buyer and seller are required to tell the Secretary of State of a vehicle transfer. DVLA already takes enforcement action against vehicle keepers who do not comply with the requirements to notify acquisition and disposal. Around 39,000 cases were dealt with last year. In addition, a further 12,000 cases were actioned following failure to undertake Statutory Off-Road Notification (SORN).

Mr. Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assistance his Department is giving to councils which, because changes of vehicle ownership have not been registered, are (a) unable to recover the cost of removing abandoned vehicles and (b) cannot take action to prosecute; and if he will make a statement. [130645]

Mr. Hill: No assistance is being given at this time. The existing arrangements with local authorities will be reviewed as we develop proposals for implementing the proposed European End-of-Life Vehicles Directive in the UK.

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