---

Car Pricing Order

Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps have been taken to monitor the implementation and impact of the car pricing order; and if a progress report will be published. [5309]

Miss Melanie Johnson: In the year to the end of May 2001 the average of prices fell by 7.9 per cent., according to figures published by the Alliance and Leicester in association with What Car? magazine. This decrease reflects the effects of the monopoly inquiry into the supply of new cars and the Supply of New Cars Order 2000.

The Director General of Fair Trade is monitoring the new car market and compliance with the Order.

20 Jul 2001 : Column: 591W

Departmental Events

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what (a) national and (b) international awareness events her Department has participated in since June 1997 in the form of (i) sponsorship, (ii) departmental attendance, (iii) similar departmental activities and (iv) a message of support. [5034]

Ms Hewitt: Information on the Department's participation in awareness events is not held centrally and could not be produced without disproportionate cost.

Miners' Compensation

Mr. Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many respiratory specialists work on the medical assessment process for compensating former miners. [5447]

Mr. Wilson: Healthcall, the company responsible for carrying out the Medical Assessment Process, currently employs 250 respiratory specialists. A further 49 people are currently undergoing training on the MAP and will commence work shortly.

Mr. Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment her Department has made of the total number of former miners in Merseyside potentially eligible for the compensation schemes for (a) vibration white finger and (b) respiratory diseases. [5446]

Mr. Wilson: Nationally, over 1,300 new claims are being initiated each week across both schemes, and it is difficult to estimate the eventual total number of claims in Merseyside. The total number of claims registered to date in Merseyside is 778 in relation to vibration white finger (VWF) and 1,383 in relation to respiratory disease. To date 55 per cent. of VWF claimants and almost 45 per cent. of claimants for respiratory disease have attended for a medical assessment.

Andy Burnham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many compensation claims by former miners living in the (a) Leigh constituency and (b) Wigan metropolitan authority have yet to be settled. [4524]

Mr. Wilson [holding answer 19 July 2001]: IRISC, the Department's claims handlers, advise me that, in the Leigh ¹ constituency, 1,995 claims have been registered in respect of respiratory disease. To date, 426 interim payments and 134 payments in full and final settlement have been made. With regard to vibration white finger, (VWF), 969 claims have been initiated, 270 interim payments have been made and 172 claims have been settled.

In the Wigan metropolitan authority ² , 3,214 claims have been registered in respect of respiratory disease. 683 interim payments and 134 final settlements have been made to date. In relation to VWF, 1,456 claims have been initiated and 415 interim payments and 243 final settlements have been made so far.

¹ Leigh constituency as defined by all postcodes with prefixes WN2–4,6,7

² Wigan metropolitan authority as defined as all postcodes with prefixes WN 1–7, WA3, M28–29, 46

20 Jul 2001 : Column: 592W

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the compensation payments for (a) chronic bronchitis and emphysema and (b) Vibration white finger made to recipients in Nottinghamshire. [5898]

Mr. Wilson: As at the end of June 2001, IRISC, the Department's claim handling agents, have made 1,235 final and 3,328 interim payments, in respect of respiratory disease, amounting to £17.7 million in Nottinghamshire. In addition IRISC have made 3,818 final and 5,474, interim payments amounting to £52.3 million to vibration white finger claimants in Nottinghamshire.

"Your Britain, Your Europe, Your North West"

Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how EU structural funding has helped over 50,000 small and medium sized enterprises, according to her Department's document, "Your Britain, Your Europe, Your North West". [4326]

Alan Johnson [holding answer 19 July 2001]: EU Objective 1 and 2 funding in the north-west region for 2000 to 2006 totals £1.33 billion. Of this, £499 million is specifically for business support. This support is delivered principally through the Small Business Service (SBS). The SBS works with a range of other recognised business support agencies throughout the region to deliver business advice, training for employees, provision of accommodation and provision of finance to enable growth.

Combined Heat and Power

Mrs. Brinton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures the Government will take to ensure that the new electricity trading arrangements do not penalise combined heat and power and renewable generators. [5773]

Mr. Wilson: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham, South (Mr. Simpson) on 18 July 2001, Official Report, columns 263–64W.

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many CHP plants that have been given section 30 consent in the last two years are now under construction; and what installed capacity these represent. [5183]

Mr. Wilson [holding answer 19 July 2001]: This information is not readily available at present. Developers generally have five years in which to commence development. It is a commercial decision for them when to do so.

Mrs. Brinton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many CHP plants that have been given section 10 consent in the last two years are under construction; and what installed capacity these represent. [5774]

Mr. Wilson: This information is not readily available at present. Developers generally have five years in which to commence development. It is a commercial decision for them when to do so.

20 Jul 2001 : Column: 593W

Mr. Colman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action she proposes to take to ensure that the new market arrangements in the electricity industry do not (a) act to increase carbon emissions and (b) deter new investment in CHP and renewables. [5290]

Mr. Wilson [holding answer 19 July 2001]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, West (Mr. Thomas) on 16 July 2001, Official Report, column 40W.

Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will announce her decision on the proposal for combined heat and power schemes at the British Salt works at Middlewich, the Sudbrook Paper Mill Caldicot and the iXguardian site at Hounslow. [6463]

Mr. Wilson: Today, I have given clearance under section 14(1) of the Energy Act 1976 to three combined heat and power schemes at the British Salt works at Middlewich, the St. Regis Paper Company, Sudbrook Paper Mill at Caldicot and the iXguardian site at Hounslow.

Combined heat and power plants are designed to produce both electricity and usable heat in a single process. Therefore they have environmental benefits due to their high levels of energy efficiency and also help business reduce their costs and stay competitive.

The decision demonstrates the Government's continuing commitment to promote CHP and reduce carbon emissions.

Copies of the Press Notice and the decision letter are being placed in the Library of the House.

Lackenby to Shipton Transmission Line

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations she has received in respect of the granting of wayleaves to facilitate the construction of the Lackenby to Shipton overhead transmission line; and what steps are being taken to ensure that landowners will be able to reach a negotiated agreement before construction of the line commences. [5428]

Mr. Wilson: The National Grid Company recently sought clarification of access rights under compulsory wayleaves and a copy of the Department's response has been seen by the objector's group, REVOLT. Given that the crucial development decision has been taken, in March 1998, and compulsory wayleaves covering access granted after due consideration, parties should already be co-operating in the implementation of the development decision.

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will take steps to ensure that the NGC respects the legal entry onto farmland in connection with the Lackenby to Shipton overhead transmission line. [5427]

Mr. Wilson: The National Grid Company has been granted compulsory access to land in certain places along the route of the North Yorks power line and I would expect all parties to behave lawfully in the exercise of that right.

20 Jul 2001 : Column: 594W

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations she has received on the proposal for the Lackenby to Shipton overhead transmission line; and if she will make a statement. [5431]

Mr. Wilson: The Department receives continued representations on the subject of the North Yorks power line. Development consents for that line were granted in March 1998 and there is no machinery for now reviewing those consents.

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will take steps to ensure that no further work will continue on the Lackenby to Shipton overhead transmission line until foot and mouth has been eradicated. [5429]

Mr. Wilson: The National Grid Company is in touch with the county council and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and will be consulting them before re-starting any of its site-based works.

---