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Private Recruitment Industry
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what assessment his Department has made concerning (a) the potential impact of proposals for the regulation of the private recruitment industry on job seekers over the age of 50 years and (b) the potential effects of restrictions of the charging by recruitment agencies of fees; and if he will make a statement; [99667]
- (2) what assessment his Department has made of the effect of his proposals on the regulation of the private recruitment industry on the ability of hirers to fill vacancies in a timely fashion; [99668]
(3) what plans his Department has to establish a code of practice for the private recruitment industry as an alternative to regulation. [99669]
Mr. Alan Johnson: Except in respect of a few provisions specifically to protect those under 18 the proposals seek to protect the interests of those using bureaux equally, regardless of age. The effect of the proposals to restrict fee charging to hirers in certain circumstances are assessed in the Regulatory Impact Assessment in the consultation document. Changes to the controls on fee charging to workseekers are set out in Annex 1 of the document. The proposals seek to ensure both that bureaux are able to respond to hirers' requirements promptly and that neither hirers, workers nor third parties are put at risk as a consequence of bureaux not doing necessary checks to establish the suitability of those they are supplying. Careful consideration is being given to all the representations received. I have no plans to establish a code of practice. The reasons why this approach is not considered practicable are set out in chapter 4 of the consultation document.
Environmental Impact Assessment
Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library a copy of the environmental assessment questionnaire which companies seeking cover from the ECGD will have to complete from 4 January 2000. [100415]
Mr. Caborn:
A copy of ECGD's "Environmental Questionnaire" is being placed in the Library of the House.
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Mr. Chope:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for what reason the announcement on 23 November imposing a requirement upon companies applying for credit insurance to the ECGD that they must provide an environmental impact assessment of projects in respect of which they seek cover, was not made to the House. [100411]
Mr. Caborn:
The intention to introduce an enhanced environmental screening process was covered in the summer edition of ECGD News and was also mentioned in presentations at successive customer seminars. It is not customary to announce such procedural changes to the House.
Mr. Chope:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry who will judge and against what criteria whether an environmental impact assessment questionnaire completed by an applicant for ECGD cover meets the Government's requirements. [100416]
Mr. Caborn:
The "Questionnaire" is simply designed to help ECGD Underwriters identify whether a case may be environmentally sensitive, and consider appropriate action.
Mr. Chope:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library a copy of the regulatory impact assessment which has been carried out in respect of the new requirement upon companies applying for credit insurance to the ECGD that they must provide an environmental impact assessment of projects in respect of which they seek cover. [100413]
Mr. Caborn:
A regulatory impact assessment is not appropriate in this case since the introduction of the enhanced environmental screening process does not involve Parliamentary legislation.
The environmental screening process being introduced is designed to facilitate the identification of environmentally sensitive cases. Companies will not have to provide an environmental impact assessment in all cases.
Mr. Chope:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consultations were carried out with British industry and exporters prior to his announcement that applicants for credit guarantees to the Export Credits Guarantee Department will have to provide an Environmental Impact Assessment of the projects in respect of which they seek cover. [100412]
Mr. Caborn:
A number of customers were consulted by ECGD about the form of a draft 'Environmental Questionnaire'. Environmental Impact Assessments will not be required in all cases.
Mr. Healey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what will be the (a) maximum and (b) minimum fee received by lawyers for work on any individual claim for compensation for (i) vibration white finger injuries and (ii) chronic bronchitis/emphysema. [100213]
Mrs. Liddell:
Solicitor's costs and the precise circumstances in which those costs are met are detailed in the Handling Agreements for both diseases.
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The agreed costs for most successful vibration white finger claims will be in the range of £600 plus VAT and reasonable disbursements, although in some cases the costs are dealt with on the merits of each case. For respiratory disease the agreed costs per successful claim range from £500 to £1,750 plus VAT and reasonable disbursements.
In addition to these costs the agreements also provide for the payment of costs for claims in particular instances, for example where the disputes procedures have been invoked or where complex special damages are being claimed.
Mr. Healey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much of the provision he has made for the British Coal health liabilities in respect of compensation claims for (a) vibration white finger injuries and (b) chronic bronchitis and emphysema he estimates will be paid to lawyers in fees agreed under the scheme. [100212]
Mrs. Liddell:
Solicitors costs are based on agreed tariffs set out in the Handling Agreements. It is not possible at this stage to forecast accurately the provision to cover these costs. The actual amounts paid will depend on the number of successful claims, the particular characteristics of these claims (for example, whether they have been settled by expedited payments) and the disbursements involved.
Mr. Healey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what fees lawyers will receive under the scheme agreed for compensation for former miners suffering from (a) vibration white finger and (b) chronic bronchitis/emphysema in respect of claims which are unsuccessful. [100206]
Mrs. Liddell:
Under the terms of the Handling Agreements negotiated for compensating former miners for these injuries, the Government meets the costs and reasonable disbursements of solicitors in successful claims. No such costs are reimbursed where the claim is unsuccessful. However, in the case of chronic bronchitis and emphysema in addition to the costs agreed for successful claims the Department has also agreed to make payments in respect of all claims on the Register (some 62,000) held by the Department's claim handlers as at 14 June 1999, whether the claimant is successful or not. These costs range from £25 to £100 per claim depending on the date of claim and number of claims held by the solicitor and are in recognition of client care work carried out after the Judgment and before the signing of the Agreement.
Dr. Harris:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with the UK insurance industry about promoting plain English in insurance policies. [99594]
Miss Melanie Johnson:
I have been asked to reply.
Policy terms and conditions, and the way they are presented, are ultimately matters for individual insurers. However, the use of Plain English is to be encouraged, not least because of the commercial benefits that accrue from customer satisfaction.
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The Association of British Insurers, whose members provide 96 per cent. of insurance in the United Kingdom, has promoted better practice. In this area, its Statement of General Insurance Practice notes that insurers will continue to develop more explicit proposal forms and policy documents, while bearing in mind the legal nature of insurance contracts.
Dr. Harris:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to encourage the insurance industry to provide more information to customers about its practice of premium-loading after claims. [99593]
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