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Consumer Protection

27. Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what further steps her Department is taking to protect the interests of consumers. [2061]

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Miss Melanie Johnson: The Enterprise Bill will promote the interests of consumers through creating a more enterprising economy, taking swift action against rogue traders and clamping down on anti-competitive practices.

Coal Industry

28. Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the future of UK deep-mined coal in the context of competitive energy markets. [2062]

Mr. Wilson: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced on 25 June 2001, Official Report, column 18W, that he has asked the Performance and Innovation Unit to undertake a review of the options for meeting our long-term energy objectives. We will examine all aspects of energy policy, including the role of coal in our future energy balance. I shall be chairing an Advisory Group for the project which will report to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister by the end of the year. It would therefore be premature for me to make a statement on the future of UK deep-mined coal now.

Hat Industry

29. Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with the UK hat industry about its prospects. [2063]

Mr. Wilson: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has not yet had an opportunity to discuss competitiveness issues with representatives of the UK hat industry but I can confirm that the Chairman of the British Hat Guild wrote to my right hon. Friend on the 19 June informing her of the problems facing the industry and seeking financial support.

Officials in the Department's Consumer Goods and Services Directorate have been in dialogue with the Guild and as part of that process had a meeting with the Guild earlier this year. Officials are currently updating a competitiveness analysis of the sector with a view to identifying appropriate project opportunities for the Guild to develop. The letter from the Guild Chairman contributes to developing and continuing this constructive dialogue.

Climate Change Levy

30. Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received from business about the impact of the climate change levy on business. [2064]

Mr. Wilson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given earlier today by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for E-Commerce and Competitiveness to the hon. Member for Southend, West (Mr. Amess), Official Report, column 914.

Mobile Telephones

31. Mr. Allan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with Oftel concerning the cost of landline to mobile telephone connections. [2065]

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Mr. Alexander: Oftel and DTI Ministers regularly discuss their respective responsibilities for telecommunications. In this context, the Director General of Telecommunications has briefed me on current Oftel issues. These include Oftel's mobile market review and calls to mobile review. Landline to mobile telephone connections costs are covered in the latter. A decision on this issue is solely a matter for Oftel.

Gas Prices

32. Mr. Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the impact of increased non-domestic gas prices upon UK manufacturing. [2066]

Ms Hewitt: The Government are very much aware that, despite the recent easing of wholesale gas prices, many manufacturing companies have seen a substantial increase in their gas bills over the past year. We consider that the main reason behind this price increase is arbitrage across the UK-Belgian interconnector with high oil related gas prices in Europe. This has been made worse by the lack of liberalisation in Europe and the consequent absence of competition between gas suppliers.

The Government are pressing a three-point strategy to address this issue—working for greater liberalisation in Europe, improving the GB market, and taking action against any anti-competitive behaviour.

Small and Medium-sized Enterprises

33. Mr. Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps are being taken to provide support to small and medium-sized enterprises. [2067]

Nigel Griffiths: The Government's support for small and medium enterprises is delivered through the Small Business Service, which was created in April 2000 to act as the focal point within Government for all small business issues and services. During its first year, it has developed a number of new services in areas such as venture capital, support for farmers and services to tackle social exclusion and encourage enterprise. It has restructured the local Business Link network and developed a national Business Link network and developed a national Business Link contact centre and website. It has also ensured that the concerns of small firms are understood and promoted within Government. It will be further developing and extending these services in the current year.

Trade Unions

35. Mr. Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she last met representatives of the TUC to discuss trade unions. [2070]

Alan Johnson: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry met Mr. John Monks, General Secretary of the TUC, on Monday 11 June.

Huntingdon Life Sciences

Dr. Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to publish details of her Department's financial support for Huntingdon Life Sciences; what precedent she intends her support to set; and if she will make a statement. [2322]

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Ms Hewitt: My Department has undertaken to operate banking facilities for Huntingdon Life Sciences, which—owing to intimidation of bank staff by animal rights extremists—has been unable to find commercial facilities in the UK, while negotiations with banks continue. It is not giving overdraft facilities or other financial support to Huntingdon Life Sciences. My Department will be recovering the direct costs of providing this service from the company.

My Department is operating the banking facilities in particularly unusual circumstances. The intimidation and harassment of providers of financial services to a particular company carrying out a legitimate and strictly regulated business is, the Government believe, unique. It is not intended that Government should become a "supplier of last resort" for any company that experiences temporary difficulties. However, the Government as a whole are determined that vital research and safety testing should not be disrupted and legitimate businesses should not be forced out of business by the criminal activities of animal extremists.

Petrol Retailing

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent analysis she has made of the state of competitiveness within the petrol retailing sector. [2049]

Miss Melanie Johnson: Under UK Competition legislation, the Director General of Fair Trading is responsible for monitoring markets and considering allegations of anti-competitive behaviour.

The DGFT has investigated the petrol retail industry a number of times in recent years and has found it to be competitive. He has said that he will continue to monitor the market very closely.

Compulsory Share Purchase

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is her estimate of the value of shares which privatised companies were given the power to obtain compulsorily but which the shareholder refused to sell since 1991; what has happened to those shares and what the arrangements are under which they are held; what plans the Government have to end this compulsion element; and if she will make a statement. [2721]

Miss Melanie Johnson: No figures relating to the value of shares in privatised companies which have been compulsorily purchased under the terms of the Companies Act 1985 are readily available and any estimate of the value could only be ascertained at disproportionate cost. Shareholders who have refused to sell shares which have been subject to a compulsory purchase notice will have had their shares transferred to the purchaser and the money to buy the shares held in trust until it is paid over to them.

The compulsory purchase of shares has been considered by the Company Law Review. The Review's conclusions will be set out in its final report which is due to be published in the summer.

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Consumers' Rights

Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps her Department is taking to promote consumers' rights. [2042]

Miss Melanie Johnson: The Enterprise Bill will promote the interests of consumers through creating a more enterprising economy, taking swift action against rogue traders and clamping down on anti-competitive practices.

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