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Compact Discs
Mr. Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received on the retail price of compact discs. [152098]
Dr. Howells: Following DTI's first International Price Survey officials have been monitoring developments in the CD market. Officials have had discussions with record companies, retailers, consumer organisations and the Office of Fair Trading.
A competition inquiry into the supply of compact discs was launched by the Office of Fair Trading on 9 February. The inquiry will consider whether the way in which the record companies have responded to imports of cheaper CDs from elsewhere in the EU amounts to a breach of the Competition Act 1998. The inquiry is expected to take six months.
Departmental Policies (Don Valley)
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Don Valley constituency, the effects on Doncaster of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [153525]
Mr. Caborn: The Department has provided the following support for businesses in Doncaster since May 1997. Information at constituency level is not available in all cases.
Regional Selective Assistance (RSA)
RSA is a capital investment grant linked to the creation or safeguarding of jobs in designated areas of need. 57 RSA grant offers totalling £4.0 million have been made to businesses in the Doncaster district, to support projects with a total capital expenditure of £5.4 million, and to create and safeguard a total of 991 jobs. Within these figures 12 offers related to the Don Valley constituency where grant of £0.3 million was offered against capital spend of £2.8 million and the creation/safeguarding of 87 jobs.
The Enterprise Grants scheme is a simplified scheme that was introduced in April 2000 to help small firms undertake fixed capital investment projects. Five offers totalling £106,500 have been made to firms in the Doncaster district, of which two were in the Don Valley constituency.
Smart awards are designed to help small firms with the introduction of new products and processes. Ten Smart awards totalling £576,444 have been made to firms in the Doncaster district, of which five were in the Don Valley constituency.
Doncaster Chamber of Commerce and Business Link have provided services to small businesses in the Doncaster area (including the Don Valley constituency) since 1997. These include general and specialised advice
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to help businesses grow, export development counselling, ICT advice, and a full range of specialist information. From April 2001 these services will be provided by the Small Business Service operating through a new South Yorkshire Business Link with local concessions, including one in Doncaster. This new service will be more customer focused ensuring that services are driven by local need.
Departmental Policies (Jarrow)
Mr. Hepburn: 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 Jarrow of his Department's actions since 2 May 1997. [153564]
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 Jarrow constituency are set out in the table.
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Post Office
Mr. Page: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the overseas companies in which the Post Office has investment, with the date of each investment and the amount. [153181R]
Mr. Alan Johnson [holding answer 12 March 2001]: The Post Office has advised that it has made investments in overseas companies as listed in the table.
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| Company | Post Office shareholding per cent. | Total investment £ million | Date investment completed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citymail Group (Sweden) | 11.2 | 4 | Summer 1998 |
| German Parcel (Germany) | 100 | 308 | January 1999 |
| Der Kurier (Germany) | 100 | 9 | April 1999 |
| Williames Group of Companies (Ireland) | 100 | 10 | December 1999 |
| Citipost (Europe, North America, Pacific Rim) | 100 | 28 | January 2000 |
| Crie Group (France) | 100 | 15 | February 2000 |
| Pakke-Trans A/S (Denmark) | 100 | 20 | March 2000 |
| General Parcel Austria & Slovenia | 100 | 14 | March 2000 |
| Nederlandse Pakket Dienst (The Netherlands) | 100 | 72 | April 2000 |
| Extand SA (France) | 100 | 97 | May 2000 |
| Citymail Sweden | 67 | 22 | June 2000 |
| Domberger Pakket Dienst (Germany) | 100 | 45 | June 2000 |
| Direzione Gruppo Executive SpA (Italy) | 49 | 29 | December 2000 |
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CABINET OFFICE
Public Service Opening Hours
Ms Ryan: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what plans she has to extend public service opening hours in line with modernising Government commitments. [154039]
Mr. Ian McCartney: I am pleased to announce that I am launching a booklet entitled "Open all Hours, service hours at times to suit" on Thursday 15 March. The report showcases a number of first-rate examples of public services that have extended their opening hours so as to be more accessible to the consumer.
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I have placed copies of the booklet in the Libraries of both Houses.
Special Advisers
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement on the increase in the number of special advisers in Government Departments since 1997. [153405]
Mr. Ian McCartney: The Government's response to the sixth report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, published in July 2000, sets out the position on the appointment of special advisers.
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CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
Civil Servants (Salary Increases)
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the average percentage increase in salaries of non-industrial civil servants, excluding members of the senior civil service, was in his Department for 2000-01. [152799]
Mr. Chris Smith: In my Department the average performance-related increase in salaries for staff below the senior civil service was 4.5 per cent. in the 2000-01 pay round. Negotiations are continuing in the Royal Parks Agency on their settlement.
Pensioners (Free TV Licences)
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many pensioner households in the north-east region of England are in receipt of a free television licence. [153081]
Janet Anderson: TV Licensing, which administers this concession for the BBC as licensing authority, is not able to provide geographical breakdowns of the number of free licences issued. Estimates based on the 1991 census indicate that there were approximately 158,000 people aged 75 or over living in the North East Government Office region, although television licences cover households rather than individuals.
Compulsory Purchase (Rochford)
Sir Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he received the application by Rochford district council to permit it to purchase compulsorily the premises at 35, 37 and 39 West road in Rochford; when he will reply; and what time limit applies to the consideration of such applications. [153506]
Mr. Alan Howarth [holding answer 13 March 2001]: An application to the Secretary of State to confirm a compulsory purchase order in respect of these premises was received on 16 June 2000 and, following an objection by the owner, a (postponed) public inquiry was held on 9 and 18 January 2001. The Inspector's report was received on 15 February 2001 and is being considered. There is no time limit for making a decision, but we shall handle the matter as expeditiously as possible.
Royal Parks Police
Mr. Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) if the Royal Parks police will introduce a grievance procedure similar to that of the Metropolitan police service; [153468]
- (2) if he will make a statement on the number of initiatives on equal opportunities, community and race relations awareness and training in the Royal Parks police in the last three years; [153469]
(3) how many officers and staff there are in the Royal Parks police, broken down by sex and ethnicity; [153466]
(4) how many outstanding employment tribunal claims from officers and staff of the Royal Parks police there are, indicating which will be heard more than a year after submission of the claims; [153467]
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(5) when and for what reason there was a change in the Chief Officer of the Royal Parks police; and if he will make a statement; [153465]
(6) what briefing he has received from the Royal Parks police on the employment situation of Pepe Kaur; and if he will make a statement. [153470]
Mr. Alan Howarth: Responsibility for the subject of these questions has been delegated to the Royal Parks Agency under its Chief Executive, William Weston. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from William Weston to Mr. Peter Bottomley, dated 14 March 2001:
- I have been asked by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to reply to your six Parliamentary Questions about the Royal Parks Constabulary (RPC) because this is an operational matter for which the Agency is responsible.
- A review of the RPC by former Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Anthony Speed recommended that the senior management of the Force should be restructured and its Chief Officer should be a Superintendent. The then Chief Officer who was a Commander, was made redundant in February. An Acting Chief Officer has been appointed.
- All probationer officers have equal opportunities training as part of their probationer training. Established RPC officers are required to attend mandatory training in equal opportunities. A course was run in 1997/98 for all officers, which ensured compliance with National Police Training. Officers also attend a two-day legislation refresher course every year, which takes account of community race relations and equal opportunities issues. Over the past three years this has included training on the race relations implications of Stop and Search and guidance on the definition of a racist incident. This year's legislation refresher course (January-April 2001) includes community race relations awareness. A community and race relations/diversity programme is currently being developed for delivery in 2001/2. Gay liaison training has been given to appointed gay liaison officers.
- There is one outstanding employment tribunal claim from a police officer. The claim was made to the Employment Tribunal on 15 September 2000. The hearing is scheduled for 24 September 2001.
- There are 157 officers in the Constabulary. 109 are male and of those, 6 are from ethnic minorities. Of the 48 female officers, 3 are from ethnic minorities.
- I informed Ministers that Pepe Kaur, a probationer WPC, had brought a claim to the Employment Tribunal alleging racial discrimination against the Agency and that she has been absent on sick leave since last July.
- The Royal Parks Agency is currently updating its grievance procedure and has sought advice from the Metropolitan Police Service on aspects relating to the Constabulary.
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