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Civil Service

Mr. Fallon: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list (a) those public servants who have the right of direct access to the Prime Minister and (b) those who may exercise that right through the Head of the Home Civil Service. [139523]

The Prime Minister [holding answer 21 November 2000]: Ministers and officials have access to the Prime Minister in order to carry out their responsibilities.

No. 10 Press Office

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Prime Minister what instructions the No. 10 Press Office has issued to (a) Ministers and (b) Government departments about the handling of European announcements and information. [140279]

The Prime Minister: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given to him by the Minister of State, Foreign

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and Commonwealth Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Vaz), on 24 November 2000, Official Report, column 345W.

Russian Plutonium Disposition Programme

Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister what matters in respect of United Kingdom assistance to the Russian plutonium disposition programme were discussed at his recent meeting with the Russian President. [140514]

The Prime Minister: I did not discuss UK assistance to the Russian plutonium disposition programme at my recent meeting with President Putin. I discussed it with President Putin at the Okinawa Summit in June. There have not been any changes to the UK pledge of assistance since then.

The G8 has established a Plutonium Disposition Planning Group, which will hold regular meetings to develop the Russian plutonium disposition programme. Officials from the FCO and Russia, as well as other G8 countries, will attend. The first meeting of this group will take place on 7-8 December.

President of Russia

Mr. David Atkinson: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his recent meetings with the President of Russia, with special reference to their discussions on Chechnya and missile defence. [140701]

The Prime Minister: I had useful talks with President Putin in Moscow on 20 and 21 November. We covered a range of issues, including Chechnya and missile defence. On Chechnya, President Putin repeated his concerns over the threat to security from Chechen separatists, while on missile defence he repeated publicly that he was ready to continue contacts with the US.

Royal Commission (Child Abuse)

Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Prime Minister if he will establish a Royal Commission on the extent of child abuse; and if he will make a statement. [138764]

The Prime Minister [holding answer 27 November 2000]: The Government have taken firm action to help and protect the most vulnerable children and young people in our society. In our response to the Waterhouse Report we set out a wide ranging policy and legislative programme that includes:

the recently passed Care Standards Act which sets out wide-scale reform of the systems to protect vulnerable people and will regulate and improve standards in children's homes and other care services. The Act also establishes the post of a National Children's Rights Director within the National Care Standards Commission with a remit across all children in receipt of services regulated by the Commission;

the Protection of Children Act 1999 places the Department of Health's Consultancy Index--the list of individuals deemed unsuitable to work with children--on a statutory footing. Regulated child care providers are now required to check the names of anyone they propose to employ in posts involving regular contact with children against the list; and

the £885 million Quality Protects programme which is designed to improve the management and delivery of children's social services. Linked to this programme, the Government are working with the other agencies with child protection responsibilities to identify better ways to safeguard children and promote their welfare.

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TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Minimum Wage

12. Mr. Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of the national minimum wage in poverty reduction. [139544]

Mr. Byers: Figures from the Office of National Statistics show that before the Government introduced the new law in April 1999, around 1.5 million workers were earning less than the minimum wage. By spring this year, that figure had fallen to 300,000. And many of those 300,000 are in receipt of training or accommodation, where lower rates can legitimately be applied.

But poverty among those with jobs is only part of the problem and the national minimum wage is only part of the solution. Initiatives such as tax credits, benefit and pension reform and the New Deal for the unemployed also have an important role to play in reducing poverty.

13. Mr. Rammell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his plans to review the reduced minimum wage for young people. [139545]

Mr. Alan Johnson: We have asked the Low Pay Commission to continue to monitor and evaluate the impact of the minimum wage and to report its findings by July 2001. We have particularly asked the Commission to look at the youth rate and to continue monitoring the 21-year old cut off.

Subcontinent

14. Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what contracts for the supply of goods to the Indian subcontinent have received support from the Export Credits Guarantee Department in the current year. [139546]

Mr. Caborn: The following new contracts involving the supply of goods to the Indian sub-continent have received ECGD support this calendar year.

Bangladesh

The supply of and construction of bridges, contract value £15.7 million.

India

The development of safe mooring infrastructure for a liquefied natural gas terminal for the Dabhol power plant, contract value £15.5 million.

Sri Lanka

The sale of two Airbus A330-200 aircraft, contract value £55 million.

Post Offices (ACT)

15. Mr. Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the impact on the post office network of switching benefit payments to automated credit transfer from 2003. [139547]

Mr. Alan Johnson: We are fully committed to modernisation of the post office network and have made the largest ever investment into the Post Office, of half a billion pounds on post office automation, to make a start

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and with more to follow. When the move to ACT starts in 2003, post offices will be equipped to play a re-invigorated role at the heart of community life.

By accepting all 24 recommendations of the PIU report on the future of the post office network, we have demonstrated our continuing commitment to maintenance of a nationwide network of post offices.

Both before and after the change to ACT, those benefit and pension recipients who wish to continue to collect their benefits money in cash, in full, across a post office counter, will still be able to do so.

Consumer Protection

16. Mr. John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how he plans to enforce consumer protection measures during the pre-Christmas shopping period. [139548]

Mr. Caborn: The Department is working with consumer protection enforcement bodies such as the Office of Fair Trading and Trading Standards Departments and with business to highlight areas of particular concern so that consumers can shop with confidence.

Climate Change Levy

17. Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he made to the Chancellor before the pre-Budget report concerning the climate change levy. [139549]

Ms Hewitt: My Department made representations to HM Treasury in advance of the pre-Budget report on a number of issues including the climate change levy. It has worked with HM Treasury and other Departments in the development and implementation of the levy. The Government have aimed to balance its environmental objectives with the need to safeguard the competitiveness of UK business; and my Department has, in this context, maintained close contacts with business to ensure that its views are taken into account.

Euro

18. Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is recommending small businesses to take in preparation for the United Kingdom joining the single European currency. [139550]

Mr. Caborn: Planning is the key to a smooth and cost-effective changeover. Individual businesses and sectors must make their own commercial and operational judgments about their approach.

Universal Bank

19. Mr. Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on progress towards the establishment of a Universal Bank in post offices. [139551]

Mr. Alan Johnson: The Post Office and the banks are working together to develop the concept of Universal Banking services.

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