House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 20 Dec 2000 (pt 18)

ITT Skills

Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the cost was of the implementation of the ITT skills tests in numeracy, literacy and ICT; and if he will make statement. [143634]

Ms Estelle Morris: The cost of the introduction of the ITT numeracy skills tests in summer 2000, and development work on the computerised ITT skills tests in numeracy, literacy and ICT for introduction in 2001 thus far, is £2.45 million. This will ensure that all new teachers have the necessary knowledge and skills in these key areas.

Student Support

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what support will be available to students in England and Wales in the academic year 2001-02. [143895]

Mr. Wicks: The level of support available to students in 2001-02 will be 2.4 per cent. higher than for 2000-01, in line with forecast price increases. I am today placing a Memorandum in the Library giving details of the new loan, grant and fee rates for 2001-02. These rates will be incorporated in the Education (Student Support) Regulations, which cover support for eligible students under the current arrangements, and in the Education (Mandatory Awards) Regulations and Education (Student Loans) Amendment Regulations, which cover the small number of students who are still eligible for support under the previous arrangements. These Regulations will all be laid before Parliament in due course.

TREASURY

Official Publications

Mr. Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his Department's spending on official publications was for (a) 1996-97, (b) 1997-98, (c) 1998-99, (d) 1999-2000 and (e) 2000-01; and what the planned expenditure was for 2001-02. [141453]

Miss Melanie Johnson [holding answer 11 December 2000]: The spending on official publications since April 1996--which includes the costs incurred by the Department in publishing, preparation, production and purchase of copies for official use--is estimated to be

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£2,138,100. Figures for 2001-02 are not available as the Department is in the process of planning expenditure for that financial year.

Climate Change Levy

Mr. Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 12 December 2000, Official Report, column 118W, on the climate change levy, what the time scale is for his work with the Commission in respect of obtaining state aid clearance for the climate change levy. [143078]

Mr. Timms: Paragraph 6.30 of the November 2000 pre-Budget report reports progress in obtaining state aids clearance for the climate change levy package. The Government are continuing to work with the Commission to ensure a timely approval of its application.

Mr. Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the number of firms covered by the exemption for the domestic sector as a result of being small consumers of energy in respect of the climate change levy; and what proportion of small and medium sized enterprises such firms represent. [143074]

Mr. Timms [holding answer 18 December 2000]: All small energy users who benefit from the reduced 5 per cent. rate of VAT on fuel and power will be exempted from the CCL. It is not known how many of these are small businesses, rather than domestic customers.

Mr. Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the cost of the climate change levy for UK salt manufacturers; and what representations he has received from them. [143624]

Mr. Timms: During the development of the climate change levy, the Government have received many representations from business and other interested parties and these views have helped to refine the design of the levy. The financial impact on any sector will depend on a number of factors, including its future energy consumption, the level of employment, eligibility for discounts, use of renewable or combined heat and power energy, and take up of enhanced capital allowances.

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Marine Aggregate Extraction

Mr. Caton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Sustainability Fund is available to areas subject to the environmental costs of marine aggregate extraction. [143538]

Mr. Timms: The main purpose of the Sustainability Fund is to deliver environmental benefits to areas subject to the environmental costs of aggregates extraction. Marine aggregate extraction is not excluded. Any decisions on the allocation of resources for devolved matters would rest with the relevant devolved Administration and Parliament or Assembly.

Aggregates Levy

Mrs. Ewing: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what plans he has to introduce a lower levy rate in respect of the aggregates levy for quarries that generate lower environmental costs; [143185]

(a)

(b)

Mr. Timms: Budget 2000 announced that the aggregates levy would be introduced from April 2002 at a prudent and cautious rate of £1.60 per tonne to ensure that the price of aggregates extraction better reflects its social and environmental costs. It will be introduced at a uniform rate in order to keep it simple and to give a clear signal to purchasers of primary aggregates to use more sustainable materials. The Quarry Products Association has proposed at some future stage a lower rate of levy for quarries that generate lower environmental costs. Officials will be discussing this proposal with the Association.

Petrol (Northern Ireland)

Mr. Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of criminal activity affecting the petrol retailing sector within Northern Ireland. [141763]

Dawn Primarolo: Customs continually assess the criminal threats to all their responsibilities to inform their operational response.

As part of this ongoing assessment Customs have increased their activity in Northern Ireland to tackle all forms of oils fraud.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary gave to the hon. Member for Galloway and Upper Nithsdale (Mr. Morgan) on 7 November 2000, Official Report, column 122W.

PRIME MINISTER

Lord Levy

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Prime Minister (1) what (a) practical and (b) financial support the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and British embassies provided to Lord Levy during his visit to Latin America; and what was the cost of this support, broken down by the principal items of expenditure; [142078]

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The Prime Minister [holding answer 11 December 2000]: Lord Levy paid his own travel expenses, including all his air travel.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office arranged programmes and provided briefing. The Embassies in the countries concerned provided practical support such as accommodation and local road transport, the cost of which is not individually itemised. Lord Levy was accompanied by a Foreign and Commonwealth Office official from London throughout his visit.

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Prime Minister to which Minister Lord Levy reports. [142073]

The Prime Minister [holding answer 11 December 2000]: Lord Levy reports to my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and to me.

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Prime Minister what further visits he has asked Lord Levy to undertake in his capacity as the Prime Minister's personal envoy. [142072]

The Prime Minister [holding answer 11 December 2000]: Lord Levy will continue to act as my personal envoy from time to time but at this moment there are no plans for further visits.

Mr. Maude: To ask the Prime Minister what are Lord Levy's engagements on his behalf in Latin America. [141395]

The Prime Minister [holding answer 11 December 2000]: Lord Levy visited Mexico, Venezuela, Uruguay, Bolivia and Ecuador between 8-23 November. He met a range of senior figures, including President Zedillo and President-elect Fox in Mexico, President Chavez in Venezuela, President Batlle in Uruguay, President Banzer in Bolivia and President Noboa in Ecuador. Lord Levy delivered a personal message from me to each Head of State.

Mr. Maude: To ask the Prime Minister (1) on what date the Foreign Secretary was informed of Lord Levy's diplomatic mission to Latin America; [141393]

The Prime Minister [holding answer 11 December 2000]: The Foreign Secretary proposed earlier this year that Lord Levy should visit Latin America as my personal envoy.

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Prime Minister on which occasions during Lord Levy's visit to Latin America he (a) made public statements and (b) talked to foreign media, as a representative of (i) the Prime Minister and (ii) the United Kingdom. [143326]

The Prime Minister [holding answer 18 December 2000]: When travelling abroad as my personal envoy Lord Levy has on occasion spoken to the press.

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Prime Minister (1) what the cost to public funds was of Lord Levy's visit to Latin America; what contribution to the costs was made by Lord Levy; and what the purpose was of his visit; [143287]

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(3) from which officials Lord Levy has received briefings on Latin America. [143325]

The Prime Minister [holding answer 18 December 2000]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her today. Official Report, column 236w.

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Prime Minister on what issues Lord Levy has represented the British Government during his visit to Latin America. [143308]

The Prime Minister [holding answer 18 December 2000]: None. Lord Levy travelled as my personal envoy to develop the United Kingdom's bilateral relations with the countries visited.

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Prime Minister with whom Lord Levy had unscheduled meetings in his role as personal envoy during his visit to Latin America. [143305]

The Prime Minister [holding answer 18 December 2000]: Nobody.

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Prime Minister what authority Lord Levy had to negotiate on behalf of the UK Government during his visit to Latin America. [143306]

The Prime Minister [holding answer 18 December 2000]: Lord Levy travelled as my personal envoy. He was not negotiating.

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Prime Minister if Lord Levy has passed messages between Latin American political leaders in his role as the Prime Minister's personal envoy. [143309]

The Prime Minister [holding answer 18 December 2000]: No.

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Prime Minister with which Latin American political figures Lord Levy held talks (a) on behalf of the Prime Minister and (b) in pursuit of British interests during his visit to Latin America. [143303]

The Prime Minister [holding answer 18 December 2000]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to her right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham (Mr. Maude) today, Official Report, column 236.

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Prime Minister what private business Lord Levy conducted during his visit to Latin America; and what steps he has taken to ensure that no conflict of interest occurred between Lord Levy's business interests and his mission to Latin America as the Prime Minister's envoy. [143289]

The Prime Minister [holding answer 18 December 2000]: Lord Levy does not conduct private business while travelling as my personal envoy. Lord Levy has no business interests in Latin America.

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Prime Minister (1) what recent meetings he has had with Lord Levy to discuss Latin America; [143302]

(a)

(b)

(c)

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The Prime Minister [holding answer 18 December 2000]: Lord Levy liaises regularly with me, the Foreign Secretary, and other Ministers in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. I have spoken to Lord Levy on a number of occasions as has the Foreign Secretary.

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Prime Minister what mechanism exists to ensure information gathered by Lord Levy on his visit to Latin America is communicated to him and to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; and if he will make a statement. [143301]

The Prime Minister [holding answer 18 December 2000]: Lord Levy's visits abroad as my personal envoy are reported to me and the Foreign Secretary in person by Lord Levy and by telegram from Ambassadors in the countries concerned.

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Prime Minister what expert knowledge of Latin America Lord Levy has. [143307]

The Prime Minister [holding answer 18 December 2000]: Lord Levy serves a useful role in carrying messages on my behalf to other leaders.

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