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Indonesia (Saladin Armoured Vehicles)
Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many export licences for Indonesia for components and associated equipment for Saladin armoured vehicles have been (a) applied for, (b) granted and (c) rejected since May 1997. [6545]
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Nigel Griffiths: Inquiries are being made and I shall respond to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.
Regulations (Consultation)
Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which new regulations issued by her Department since 1997 have been subject to a consultation period of less than 12 weeks. [7799]
Nigel Griffiths: The DTI has been responsible for over 500 regulations since May 1997, across the full range of its responsibilities, and records relating to these regulations are not held centrally, but by the management unit responsible for the policy area involved. The information requested could be obtained and collated only at disproportionate cost.
Local Shops
Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to implement the recommendations in the recent Better Regulation Task Force report, 'Local Shops; A Progress report on Small Firms Regulation'. [7805]
Nigel Griffiths: We plan to publish a Government response to the recommendations made in this report during October. The response will be laid in the Library of the House.
Independent Company Law
Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will consult on the recommendations made in the report of the independent company law review. [7797]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The Government are studying carefully the recommendations of the Final Report of the independent Steering Group, which was published on 26 July. The report represents the results of three years' detailed work, and has been broadly welcomed. I am very grateful to all those who contributed to it.
A further announcement will be made to Parliament in due course.
Broadband Provision
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on broadband provision throughout the UK in (a) 2001 to 2003 and (b) 2003 to 2006. [6520]
Mr. Alexander: Access to broadband technologies such as ADSL, cable or wireless is rising. Over the period 2001–06, other technologies, such as satellite, are expected to be made available, meaning that broadband services will be available throughout the UK.
The Government are seeking to help make the broadband market extensive and competitive. I recently invited Regional Development Agencies and the devolved administrations to put forward plans for the £30 million fund designed to develop innovative schemes to extend broadband networks. The Government seek to help and facilitate broadband strategies at regional or devolved level wherever possible. In addition, the Government are investigating the scope for aggregated public sector
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demand, and are considering further policies in light of the recommendations of the Broadband Stakeholder Group.
Sakina Security Services Ltd.
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will investigate the activities of Sakina Security Services Ltd; and if he will make a statement. [7554]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The Department may use discretionary powers under the Companies Acts to conduct inquiries on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry where it appears that there has been misconduct in relation to the affairs of a company.
Any evidence which might justify an investigation is given full consideration by the department
Info 2000 Software Ltd.
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on progress with the action being taken concerning Info 2000 Software Ltd. [7672]
Miss Melanie Johnson: Info 2000 Software Ltd. was dissolved on 15 February 2000.
Action against Terrorism
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce fast track procedures to close down companies believed to be involved in supporting terrorism at home and overseas; and if he will make a statement. [7530]
Miss Melanie Johnson: Existing provisions allow for the winding up of companies and I understand my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary will be announcing shortly a number of steps including a package of financial measures to tackle terrorism.
Booking Agencies
Mr. Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if it was the intention for the Employment Business Regulations 2001 in relation to individual booking agents to apply to employment agencies in the entertainment industry. [7857]
Alan Johnson: The provisions of the draft Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2001 will apply to entertainment agents, that is to businesses which provide services in the entertainment sector for the purpose of finding persons employment or of supplying employers with persons for employment by them.
Mr. Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will take steps to outlaw rebooking clauses whereby an agent procures a number of bookings for an artist in a venue for a period of time. [7869]
Alan Johnson: The Government have no intention of outlawing rebooking clauses in contracts between employment agents, their clients and hirers.
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Consumer Credit
Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what plans she has to tighten the regulation of advertising relating to consumer credit; [6634]
- (2) what proposals she has to update the Consumer Credit Act 1974. [6631]
Miss Melanie Johnson: I published a consultation paper "Tackling loan sharks—and more!" on 25 July outlining my plans for updating our consumer credit legislation. In carrying out this review our key objectives will be to develop a new consumer credit regime that:
- targets rogue traders
- reduces burdens on legitimate businesses
- reflects market changes on consumer credit
- provides timely and effective advice to consumers and greater transparency when they take out loans.
Dolphin Communications
Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when officials from the Radiocommunications Agency met representatives of Dolphin Telecommunications Ltd. of Basingstoke to discuss television interference in the vicinity of their mast at Deptford, Wilshire; what advice the Agency gave to (a) local residents and (b) Dolphin Communications; and if he will make a statement. [5863]
Mr. Alexander: Officials from the Radiocommunications Agency (RA) of my Department and Dolphin Telecommunications Ltd. first discussed television interference affecting residents adjacent to Dolphin's mast at Deptford, Wiltshire on 23 February. Subsequently, the RA carried out a detailed investigation into the problem which established that the interference was due to the use of masthead amplifiers fitted to the affected TV installations. The mast head amplifiers were intended to improve reception from the Rowridge TV transmitter but were also inadvertently picking up signals from the Dolphin transmitter.
RA tests showed that a suitable filter fitted between the amplifier and the TV aerial could resolve the interference and the affected residents were recommended to have such filters fitted to their TV installations. The RA established that Dolphin were operating within licence conditions. If any residents still have interference problems they should consult an aerial contractor for advice on fitting a suitable filter.
Timber Products
Mr. Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it a legal requirement that timber products imported and sold in the United Kingdom should have an independent chain of custody certificate showing forest origin of timber. [6654]
Nigel Griffiths: There is currently neither a practicable system nor sufficient consensual support from all stakeholders for an independent chain of custody certificate scheme to be a workable proposition.
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The Government are actively investigating a range of options for intergovernmental agreements to combat illegal logging.
For their own purchases the Government have introduced a policy that requires their buyers actively to seek to buy timber and wood products from sustainable and legal sources.
Regional Development Agencies
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what autonomy is given to RDA boards to spend their own budgets on a local basis. [7619]
Alan Johnson: Presently RDAs spend in accordance with set national programmes. From 1 April 2002 these will be replaced by a single broad programme giving greater freedom, subject to RDAs meeting agreed outcome and output targets. It is for each RDA, in consultation with regional partners, to assess the local priorities within the region in the Regional Economic Strategy and the Corporate Plan.
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