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TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Lackenby to Shipton Pylon Line
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate his Department has made of the final total cost to public funds of improving the approach roads to the National Grid Company's Lackenby to Shipton transmission line. [100725]
Mrs. Liddell: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to her by my hon. Friend the Member for Stretford and Urmston (Ms Hughes), the Under-Secretary on 8 November 1999, Official Report, column 391W.
World Trade Organisation
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to ensure legitimate concerns about health, environmental and animal welfare issues can be effectively accommodated with the rules of the World Trade Organisation. [100698]
1 Dec 1999 : Column: 217W
Mr. Caborn:
Existing WTO rules allow Governments wide scope to impose trade restrictions as a means of addressing concerns about health and many environmental issues. However, the Government, along with its EU partners, believe there is room for some improvements in the rules, particularly better to accommodate environmental and animal welfare concerns, and are pressing for these subjects to be included in the forthcoming negotiations.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry who is the business representative on the Government's delegation to the World Trade Organisation meeting in Seattle. [100697]
Mr. Caborn:
The business representative is the Chairman of the CBI's Trade Policy Working Group.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what (i) discussions he has had with and (ii) communications have been received from industry and business associations in respect of the World Trade Organisation meeting in Seattle. [100700]
Mr. Caborn:
Ministers and officials have had many discussions with and communications from industry and business associations in respect of the meeting in Seattle. Broadly, industry is very supportive of the launch of a new comprehensive round of trade negotiations, recognising the importance to the UK economy of open markets and removing barriers to trade.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what position the Government will be adopting at the World Trade Organisation ministerial meetings in Seattle in respect of the previously agreed end to the multi-fibre arrangement. [100699]
Mr. Caborn:
In the Government's view, the terms of the phase-out of the multi-fibre arrangement set out in the GATT Uruguay round agreement on textiles and clothing (ATC) should not be reopened and all signatories should implement the agreement in full.
Mr. Crausby:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Government's discussions with the banks concerning their future remuneration under ECGD's fixed rate export finance scheme. [101287]
Mr. Byers:
These discussions are now concluded. The previous arrangements expired on 30 November.
A new scale of remuneration, which seeks an equitable balance between the interests of the banks, the taxpayer and the exporter, has been introduced with effect from 1 December.
A copy of the memorandum which sets out the details of the new arrangements has been placed in the Library of the House for information.
Mr. Jack:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what financial support has been provided for the ECGD in each of the last five years from public funds. [100513]
1 Dec 1999 : Column: 218W
Mr. Caborn:
ECGD receives funds from three votes--administration, public expenditure and trading. The actual outturn as reported in the appropriation accounts for the last five years is outlined in the table.
| Year | Administration Vote | Public Expenditure Vote | Trading Vote | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994-95 | 28,002 | (25,080) | (17,295) | (14,373) |
| 1995-96 | 24,582 | 15,789 | (264,105) | (223,734) |
| 1996-97 | 22,824 | 17,771 | (122,197) | (81,602) |
| 1997-98 | 22,627 | 40,077 | (53,152) | 9,552 |
| 1998-99 | 22,885 | (12)318,959 | (110,135) | 231,709 |
(12) The increase in the Public Expenditure Vote in 1998-99 is in respect of a loan from Treasury to enable the refinancing of outstanding export finance which will bring future financial benefits to the Exchequer.
Notes:
1. Figures in brackets indicate a net contribution to the exchequer
2. Figures for 1998-99 have been certified by the NAO but not laid before Parliament
Mr. Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what role the ECGD plays in the securing of (a) military aircraft export orders and (b) overseas sales of commercial aircraft. [100512]
Mr. Caborn: ECGD's guarantees to exporters and banks help UK exporters to secure contracts including in the aerospace field.
Mr. Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list those categories of commercial transactions which do not qualify for ECGD support. [100516]
Mr. Caborn: ECGD provides guarantees for finance products of two years or more. These finance products are applicable to exports of a capital or semi-capital nature plus related services. ECGD does not normally provide support for exports that only justify less than two year credit terms.
ECGD also provides insurance-based products:
Mr. Jack:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which OECD countries have export insurance schemes providing the same categories of cover as are presently available via the ECGD. [100507]
Mr. Caborn:
The majority of OECD countries have export credit insurance schemes which are broadly similar to that provided by the ECGD, although not all have privatised their short-term credit insurance operations. In respect of medium and long-term business (involving credit terms of two years or more) there is a common system to classify the sovereign and country credit risk of buyer/borrower countries under an agreement concluded through the OECD--the Arrangement on Guidelines for Officially Supported Export Credits.
1 Dec 1999 : Column: 219W
Miss McIntosh:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many civil servants were employed by his Department in (a) 1999, (b) 1998 and (c) 1997. [99052]
Mr. Wills:
The number of civil servants employed by the Department for Education and Employment in 1999, 1998 and 1997 were as follows:
1. to exporters who have cash or near cash contracts of a capital or project nature plus related services;
2. as the provider of reinsurance to the commercial insurance market when required; and
3. through its Overseas Investment Insurance scheme.
| 1 April 1997 | 1 April 1998 | 1 April 1999 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Department for Education and Employment | (13)4,679 | 4,061 | 4,251 |
| Government Office | (13)n/a | 673 | 624 |
| Employment Service | 31,550 | 30,796 | 32,675 |
| Total | 36,229 | 35,530 | 37,550 |
(13) At 1 April 1997, the Government Office staff were included in the figures for DfEE.
Note:
The figures are based on full-time equivalents and include casual staff.
The increase in staff shown by the Employment Service is a direct result of using more personal advisers and New Deal activities.
Departmental running costs for the periods in question are as follows:
| £ million | |
|---|---|
| 1996-97 | 264.8 |
| 1997-98 | 237.2 |
| 1998-99 | 255.9 |
| £ million | |
|---|---|
| 1996-97 | 929.2 |
| 1997-98 | (14)853.7 |
| 1998-99 | (14)911.1 |
(14) Includes impact of the "Windfall Tax". This is the one-off receipt raised on the excess profits of the privatised utilities. The tax is being used to fund the Welfare to Work programme. The Welfare to Work programme incorporates all the "New Deal" activities and is designed to extend new work opportunities to people detached from the labour market.
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