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Gas Network
Mr. Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many households in the UK do not have access to the gas network; and what initiatives he plans to encourage companies to extend it. [153456]
Mr. Hain: Approximately 5 million households in GB do not have access to the gas network.
The legislative position is that under the Gas Act 1986 (as amended) a Gas Transporter only has a duty to connect premises 23 meters from the gas mains. The same Act gives Ofgem a duty to ensure that all reasonable requests for gas through pipes are met, providing this can be done economically.
The Gas Act 1995 provided three ways a household can be connected to the mains. First, a consumer can go to one of the many competing Gas Transporters. Secondly, the Gas Transporter can apply to Ofgem to use a system of supplemental charges where the cost of making the gas connection is recovered over a period of typically 20 years by means of an additional charge on each unit of gas. Thirdly, the consumer can purchase the pipes and hire a specialist company to lay them for him--the so called "self-lay" system.
The Government are aware that many households which are not currently connected to the mains would like to be and, in the coming months, they will be working with Ofgem and the industry to ensure that the gas network provides the widest viable coverage.
Departmental Policies (South Shields)
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the South Shields constituency, the effects on South Shields of his Department's polices and actions since 2 May 1997. [153083]
Mr. Caborn: It is not possible to quantify the direct effect of all the Department's policies and actions. However, we do hold statistical information on the programmes administered by the Department and the expected effects of that funding in the South Shields constituency are set out.
13 Mar 2001 : Column: 542W
| Nature of funding | Number of companies | Amount offered | Jobs created | Jobs safeguarded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-98 | ||||
| Regional Selective Assistance | 5 | 485,000 | 68 | 82 |
| Enterprise Grants | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SMART | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998-99 | ||||
| Regional Selective Assistance | 2 | 42,000 | 10 | 0 |
| Enterprise Grants | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SMART | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999-2000 | ||||
| Regional Selective Assistance | 3 | 131,000 | 54 | 2 |
| Enterprise Grants | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SMART | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2000-01 | ||||
| Regional Selective Assistance | 2 | 610,000 | 169 | 80 |
| Enterprise Grants | 1 | 19,500 | 0 | 17 |
| SMART | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Colombia
Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the export credit guaranties given to UK firms trading with Colombia for each of the last five years. [153118]
Mr. Caborn [holding answer 9 March 2001]: The information is as follows:
| Year | Company | Details | Value of ECGD cover £ million |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | International Gas Apparatus Ltd. | Gas pressure reducing and metering stations | 5.5 |
| 1997 | British Aerospace | Two Airbus A3202 | 22.5 |
| 1998 | None | None | 0 |
| 1999 | None | None | 0 |
| 2000 | None | None | 0 |
Industrial Gas Prices
Mr. Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will made a statement on the change in industrial gas prices over the past six months; and what steps he is taking to help the UK's heavy industry deal with this change. [148302]
Mr. Hain: I apologise for the delay in replying but I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to his question, number 148300, on 6 February 2001, Official Report, columns 464-65W. The delay was caused by an administrative error.
Footwear Industry
Dr. Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the future of the footwear industry in (a) the UK and (b) Norwich. [152824]
Ms Hewitt: Although UK footwear manufacturers supply only 10 per cent. of the UK market, the industry features some world-renowned brands and overall remains
13 Mar 2001 : Column: 543W
buoyant. Despite the weak euro, exports continue to rise and currently account for 54 per cent. of UK production. I hope that these positive trends in exporting can continue.
In Norwich, two leading footwear manufacturers have taken part in a DTI-supported project which included supply chain management. A manufacturer has also made a substantial investment in new machinery. Another company is the world's leading manufacturer of ballet and dancing shoes. I remain confident that through strategic planning such companies have the best chance of remaining internationally competitive and leading in the market sectors or niches in which they operate.
Departmental Policies (Houghton and Washington, East)
Mr. Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effects on Houghton and Washington, East of his Department's actions since 2 May 1997. [152990]
Mr. Caborn: It is not possible to quantify the direct effect of all the Department's policies and actions. However, we do hold statistical information on the programmes administered by the Department and the expected effects of that funding in the Houghton and Washington, East constituency are set out in the table.
| Nature of funding | Number of companies | Amount offered (£) | Jobs created | Jobs safeguarded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-98 | ||||
| Regional Selective Assistance | 15 | 1,080,000 | 373 | 1 |
| Enterprise Grants | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SMART | 1 | 45,000 | (19)-- | (19)-- |
| 1998-99 | ||||
| Regional Selective Assistance | 25 | 2,984,000 | 683 | 70 |
| Enterprise Grants | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SMART | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999-2000 | ||||
| Regional Selective Assistance | 21 | 2,238,000 | 480 | 15 |
| Enterprise Grants | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SMART | 0 | 178,400 | 5 | 33 |
| 2000-01 | ||||
| Regional Selective Assistance | 4 | 4,606,000 | 242 | 3,500 |
| Enterprise Grants | 6 | 185,250 | 30 | 0 |
| SMART | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
(19) Not known
Departmental Policies (Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East)
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effect on the Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East constituency of his Department's policies and action since 2 May 1997. [153285]
Mr. Caborn [holding answer 12 March 2001]: It is not possible to quantify the direct effect of all the Department's policies and actions. However, we do hold statistical information on the programmes administered by
13 Mar 2001 : Column: 544W
the Department and the expected effects of that funding in the Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East constituency are set out.
| Nature of funding | Number of companies | Amount offered (£) | Jobs created | Jobs safeguarded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-98 | ||||
| Regional Selective Assistance | 13 | 1,308,000 | 340 | 0 |
| Enterprise Grants | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SMART | 1 | 176,721 | (20)-- | (20)-- |
| 1998-99 | ||||
| Regional Selective Assistance | 9 | 1,378,000 | 476 | 0 |
| Enterprise Grants | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SMART | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999-2000 | ||||
| Regional Selective Assistance | 8 | 665,000 | 163 | 26 |
| Enterprise Grants | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SMART | 2 | 90,000 | 4 | 0 |
| 2000-01 | ||||
| Regional Selective Assistance | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Enterprise Grants | 4 | 43,435 | 15 | 0 |
| SMART | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
(20) Not known
Promotional Campaigns
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the television, newspaper and radio advertising and other promotional campaigns conducted by (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its departmental public bodies, in each of the past five years, showing for each the expenditure incurred by his Department; and if he will make a statement. [153413]
Mr. Byers [holding answer 12 March 2001]: (a) Departmental television, radio and newspaper advertising through COI was as follows:
(21) To 31 January 2001
13 Mar 2001 : Column: 545W
Information on other Departmental promotional campaigns is not held centrally and could be produced only at disproportionate cost.
Since its establishment in May 1999, British Trade International, which brings together international trade and investment support previously led by the DTI and FCO, has made the following expenditure on Trade Partners UK advertising:
| Year | Amount £ |
|---|---|
| 1999-2000 | 0 |
| 2000-01 | 1,586,000 |
(b) Agency expenditure
13 Mar 2001 : Column: 546W
| Year | Amount £ |
|---|---|
| 1996-97 | 255,246 |
| 1997-98 | 245,316 |
| 1998-99 | 282,500 |
| 1999-2000 | 391,012 |
| 2000-01(22) | 381,584 |
(22) To date
| Year | Amount £ |
|---|---|
| 1995-96 | 1,963 |
| 1996-97 | 1,719 |
| 1997-98 | 8,908 |
| 1998-99 | 12,364 |
| 1999-2000 | 2,951 |
| Total | 28,175 |
Note:
Expenditure to date for current financial year is £5,116
The Small Business Service has spent £111,899 on directory advertising since its inception on 1 April 2000.
The Employment Tribunal Service, the Insolvency Service, and the National Weights and Measures Laboratory have not incurred any expenditure on television, newspaper or radio advertising or on any other promotional campaigns during the last five years.
(c) Information on advertising and other promotional campaigns by NDPBs is not held centrally and could be produced only at disproportionate cost.
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