| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Cold Calling (Utility Companies)
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what plans he has to regulate cold calling by utilities, with specific reference to older residents; [139690]
- (2) what safeguards exist for customers who have agreed to change utility companies as a result of a cold call. [139691]
Mrs. Liddell [holding answer 21 November 2000]: The Consumer Protection (Cancellation of Contracts Away from Business Premises) Regulations 1987 give consumers a seven-day cooling off period when buying goods or services worth over £35 during an unsolicited home visit or telephone call. It is an offence not to tell consumers of these rights.
22 Nov 2000 : Column: 199W
There are additional safeguards in respect of gas and electricity supply. In 1998, with the Government's encouragement, the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (OFGEM) introduced a licence condition for gas and electricity suppliers governing sales and marketing practices. This includes rules on the proper selection and training of sales staff who are in direct contact with domestic customers, and on the auditing of sales activities. The condition was extended for a further two years in March 2000, and OFGEM is currently consulting on strengthening it. OFGEM also works closely with individual companies on an ongoing basis to resolve problems that lead to customer complaints. The new Gas and Electricity Consumer Council established under the Utilities Act 2000 has said it will also be a vigorous advocate of the consumer interest in this area.
Detailed regulation of the privatised utilities is a matter for the sectoral regulator. However, the Government are always concerned that consumers, particularly the vulnerable, should be protected against the distress and confusion that inappropriate selling techniques can cause.
This is reflected in the Utilities Act 2000 which gave OFGEM and the Gas and Electricity Consumer Council a specific responsibility to have regard to the interests of vulnerable individuals, including the disabled, the chronically sick, the elderly, those on low incomes and those in rural areas.
Science Budget
Mr. Nigel Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the allocation of the science budget. [139831]
Mr. Byers: As a result of the Spending Review, the science budget has been increased by £725 million over the next three years. This represents an increase in the Government's investment in science of an average of 7 per cent. per year in real terms over the next three years. Once again the Government are making it clear that they regard a healthy science and engineering base as critical to the nation's well-being.
After taking advice from the Director General of the Research Councils, I have decided that the science budget should be allocated as follows. A total of £356 million is for investment in science and engineering research; of this, £252 million is to be spent over three years on three high-profile programmes across the Research Councils.
22 Nov 2000 : Column: 200W
The three programmes are as follows.
- Genomics: a £110 million investment to increase understanding of gene function and related applications. This should lead to the development of new diagnostics, drugs and materials.
- E-science: a £98 million investment to solve key problems of processing, communicating, storing and accessing data across a range of scientific disciplines, with additional investment to develop core generic technologies. This investment is absolutely essential for large scale, modern science, but I expect it to have important industrial implications over the coming decade.
- Basic technology: a £44 million investment to build up the UK's technology capability. This has value in itself but will also act as the springboard for more advanced science.
The remaining £100 million of SRIF will be invested in Research Council Institutes and large science facilities. The allocations I am announcing today to the Research Councils include £32 million of this. The remainder will be allocated later this year.
There will be a new £140 million Higher Education Innovation Fund to encourage exploitation of knowledge by Higher Education Institutions. This will incorporate the current Higher Education Reach Out to Business and the Community Fund (HEROBC). This total includes around £60 million from the Department for Education and Employment, and £80 million from the science budget. There is also £20 million from the science budget for the University Challenge and Science Enterprise Challenge Schemes.
£34 million is being allocated to the Research Councils to fund increases in the basic PhD stipends from £6,800 this academic year to £9,000 in 2003-04. This represents an increase of 23 per cent. in real terms over the period, following the Comprehensive Spending Review in 1998. It sends another clear signal that the Government believe that postgraduate research should no longer be seen as a Cinderella career choice.
The detailed allocation is as follows. Further details are available in a report I am publishing today, "The Science Budget 2001-02 to 2003-04", which I have placed in the Library of both Houses.
22 Nov 2000 : Column: 199W
(1) Excluding Cross-Council programmes
22 Nov 2000 : Column: 201W
22 Nov 2000 : Column: 201W
Post Offices
Mr. Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action is being taken by the Post Office to improve security measures at Weoley Castle sub-post office in Birmingham and to re-open the premises. [139107]
Mr. Alan Johnson: I understand from the Post Office that in interviewing potential candidates to take over the running of Weoley Castle sub-post office, security measures will be discussed.
Mr. Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action the Post Office will take to maintain the availability of accessible counter services to residents during temporary closure of urban sub-post offices. [139108]
Mr. Alan Johnson: The Post Office have advised that they use a range of measures to try to minimise inconvenience to customers when sub-post offices close temporarily. According to the circumstances, these measures may include: appointing a temporary sub-postmaster who can operate the sub-post office until a permanent solution can be found, subject to availability of existing or alternative premises; managing the office directly with Post Office staff; redirecting customers to nearby post offices. In some circumstances the use of a mobile sub-post office service may be an option.
Mr. Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many sub-post offices have sufficient storage and handling space to act as collection, return and payment points for e-commerce. [138040]
Mr. Byers: The Post Office have begun a six month trial in some 800 post offices in the South West offering customers the facility to nominate a post office as an alternative collection point for packets and parcels. An objective of the trial is to assess the operational implications, including the space required at post offices, of offering this service throughout the network.
22 Nov 2000 : Column: 202W
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |