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Family Debt
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average level of personal debt per family in Wales. [136617]
Mr. Paul Murphy: This information is not collected centrally.
Capital Return
Mr. Denzil Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what his estimate is of the average return on capital employed by companies in Wales in (a) the latest suitable year and (b) the latest available quarter. [137042]
Mr. Paul Murphy: This information is not available.
Departmental Employees (HIV)
Mr. Wigley: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take steps to ensure that people who are HIV-positive do not suffer discrimination as a result of employment practices followed by his Department. [137789]
Mr. Paul Murphy: My Department's permanent staff are mostly seconded from the National Assembly for Wales and we operate the Assembly's employment policies. The Assembly is an equal opportunities employer. Its policy is that all eligible people should have equality of opportunity for employment and advancement on the basis of their ability, qualifications and suitability for work. All employees are entitled to equal treatment throughout their employment. Individuals should not be disadvantaged by conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be justifiable.
The Assembly also has a well established procedure for dealing with discrimination and harassment complaints from its employees.
Red Diesel
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what factors underlay the decision to allow the sale of red diesel on roadside garage forecourts in Wales. [139587]
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Mr. Paul Murphy: I am not aware of such a decision. However, during the fuel protests in September, Customs and Excise exceptionally issued licences to many holders of red diesel, allowing them to use it in their vehicles after paying the difference in duty between red diesel and road fuel. This enabled many diesel users to overcome the worst of the shortages. Once supplies were re-established, all these licences were withdrawn.
National Plan for Health
Mr. Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly about the implementation of the National Plan for Health in Wales. [139274]
Mr. Paul Murphy: I meet the First Secretary regularly to discuss a range of issues, including health services in Wales.
Jane Hutt, the Assembly Secretary for Health and Social Services, set out her plans for the National Health Service in Wales (NHS Wales) in a statement to the National Assembly on 12 July 2000. Following this, I understand that a Strategy for NHS Wales is in preparation. Its launch is expected early in 2001.
INTERREG Programme
Mr. Wigley: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will make a statement on his responsibilities in relation to the INTERREG programme; [138211]
- (2) what responsibilities regarding co-operation with the Irish Government to maximise the benefit which comes to Wales from the INTERREG Scheme are exercised by him; and what responsibilities are devolved to the National Assembly. [138210]
Mr. Paul Murphy: The United Kingdom Government retains responsibility for negotiating Structural Funds Regulations in the EU Council of Ministers, (involving the devolved administrations as necessary in accordance with the overarching concordat on co-ordination of EU policy issues). It was the UK Government, for example, which secured agreement to the Agenda 2000 package and the continued existence of INTERREG.
The National Assembly for Wales is responsible for the administration in Wales of European Structural Funds programmes and for developing and implementing the INTERREG programme with Ireland.
I am keen to promote the benefits and take-up of Structural Funds programmes in Wales. To that end, I discussed a range of Structural Funds issues during my visit to Ireland with the First Minister earlier this year.
Vandalism and Graffiti
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary and the police authorities in Wales concerning new measures to tackle vandalism and graffiti; and if he will make a statement. [138065]
Mr. Hanson: My right hon. Friend and I meet regularly with the First Secretary to discuss a range of matters, including measures to tackle crime.
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The recent appointment of a Crime Reduction Director for Wales reflects the importance which the Government and the National Assembly place on dealing with problems of anti-social behaviour, including vandalism and graffiti.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Climate Change Levy
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the effect of climate change levy, after rebates, on the manufacturing sector in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) Teesside; and if he will make a statement. [139797]
Ms Hewitt: The climate change levy has been designed with safeguarding the competitiveness of manufacturing industries in all parts of the United Kingdom in mind. The final impact of the levy on individual businesses will depend on the extent to which they take advantage of the various exemptions, whether they take advantage of the new scheme of enhanced capital allowances for energy efficiency, and whether they are eligible for the 80 per cent. discount offered to energy-intensive industries that enter into emission reduction agreements.
Departmental Employees (HIV)
Mr. Wigley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps to ensure that people who are HIV-positive do not suffer discrimination as a result of employment practices followed by his Department. [137784]
Mr. Alan Johnson: As an equal opportunities employer, the Department is committed to fairness and equality of opportunity for all in employment and advancement on the basis of suitability. The Department's equal opportunities statement requires that no eligible job applicant should receive less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or religious affiliation, or because they work part-time. We aim to develop DTI into an organisation that values the diversity of its staff and enables all to realise their potential by valuing the contribution of all and recognising the positive benefits that difference can bring.
UK Arms Brokering
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he plans to bring forward legislation on the control of UK arms brokering. [139799]
Dr. Howells: The Government propose to give effect to new licensing controls on arms trafficking and brokering by means of new primary legislation on strategic export controls. We will announce our proposals for new export control legislation, including details of the
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controls on arms trafficking and brokering, once we have completed the review of proposals in the White Paper on Strategic Export Controls. As to when new legislation will be brought before Parliament, this depends on the availability of time in the legislative programme.
Export Licences
Dr. Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what contacts his Department has had with the Israeli Government, on what dates, to ascertain that equipment and components licensed for export to the Israeli armed forces by Her Majesty's Government since 1990 have not been used (a) against civilians in the Occupied Territories and (b) in Southern Lebanon. [138715]
Dr. Howells: My Department has had no such contact with the Israeli Government.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office would take the lead in any such contact, and I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to her by the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Neath (Mr. Hain), on 13 November 2000, Official Report, column 511W.
Companies House
Mr. Dennis Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 16 February 2000, Official Report, columns 557-58W, if he has concluded the Review of Companies House announced by the Minister for Competitiveness on 16 February. [140496]
Mr. Alan Johnson: The Review of Companies House has now been completed.
I was pleased to announce on 27 July 2000, Official Report, columns 723-24W, that the first stage of the Review confirmed that Companies House was performing well both in meeting its own objectives and targets and in contributing to the achievement of wider Government objectives. Its standards of customer service are high and customers are generally satisfied with the service they get from Companies House.
Stage 2 of the Review, which considered whether any changes should be made to the way in which Companies House operates, has found that its framework is broadly right and its performance is generally effective. Companies House is well advanced in implementing the e-government strategy. The Review identified some aspects of the current framework which present obstacles to a fully effective response to the Modernising Government agenda.
Companies House is now building the findings of both stages of the Review into its Business and Development Plans. This will ensure that Companies House continues to modernise to improve the quality, range and flexibility of its services and responsiveness to customer needs and will lay the foundation for an even more successful next five years.
The report of stage 2 of the Review of Companies House has been placed in the Library.
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