| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Coal Reserves
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what provisions have been made to make use of reserves of coal in the UK that are readily available. [9144]
Mr. Wilson: Provisions of the Coal Industry Act 1994 vested ownership of the nation's coal reserves in the Coal Authority. In carrying out its function of licensing coal-mining operations, the Authority must have regard to its statutory duty to endeavour to maintain and develop an economically viable domestic coal-mining industry.
Turkish Banks (Union Recognition)
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement concerning the tactics adopted by Turkish banks in the City relating to union recognition. [8667]
Alan Johnson: The Central Arbitration Committee is currently considering an application for recognition involving Turkiye Is Bankasi. The committee is independent and the Government do not intervene in its consideration of individual cases under the statutory recognition procedure.
Small Business Service
Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress the Small Business Service has made in identifying barriers faced by women and ethnic minority entrepreneurs since April 2000; and what action has been taken as a result. [8239]
Nigel Griffiths: The Small Business Service (SBS) has undertaken research and taken action to identify and tackle the barriers faced by women and ethnic minority entrepreneurs.
Firstly, SBS has commissioned research to explore the evidence of barriers (as part of research strategy on socially excluded groups). Reports on women and ethnic minority entrepreneurs have been completed and the reports are now publicly available. Other research projects are ongoing.
Secondly, SBS has sponsored two events to help identify barriers:
- a Kingston University Seminar on 1 May 2001 to examine ethnic minority businesses; and
- sponsorship of a three-day female entrepreneurship conference at Durham, 10–12 September 2001.
Fourthly, SBS is supporting projects through the Phoenix Development Fund to encourage innovative ways of promoting enterprise in deprived areas, and among
22 Oct 2001 : Column: 9W
groups of people currently under-represented in terms of business ownership. Of the 96 projects currently supported, 37 directly target women or ethnic minorities.
All SBS and Business Link services aim to meet the needs of all existing and "would-be" entrepreneurs, regardless of their gender or ethnicity. We will continue to research barriers which exclusively or disproportionately affect women or ethnic minority entrepreneurs, and where appropriate will take prompt and efficient action to remove these or reduce their impact.
Railtrack
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what investigations she has carried out into the management of Railtrack Group plc and Railtrack plc. [8182]
Ms Hewitt [holding answer 18 October 2001]: It is not the policy of my Department to comment on the affairs of particular companies.
Where I consider it to be in the public interest I may use discretionary powers under the Companies Acts to conduct inquiries if it appears that there has been misconduct in relation to the affairs of a company. If the hon. Member provides my officials with evidence that he considers justifies an investigation, my officials will give it full consideration.
Manufacturing
Mr. Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on employment in manufacturing in Worcestershire. [8989]
Alan Johnson: The latest Labour Force Survey figures show that in Worcestershire over the last 12 months there were on average around 5,000 more manufacturing jobs than in the previous 12 months.
Advantage West Midlands
Mr. Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of Advantage West Midlands' budget will be spent in Worcestershire in the current financial year. [8635]
Alan Johnson: Advantage West Midlands spend in Worcestershire for the financial year 2001–02 is around £2.2 million. This amounts to around 1.3 per cent. of its total budget for the period.
General Agreement on Trade in Services
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to inform local government of the Government's negotiating position on the General Agreement on Trade in Services, with particular reference to the application of the agreement to measures taken by central, regional or local governments and authorities. [R] [6472]
Nigel Griffiths: The Government will, as part of the normal consultation process, consult with bodies such as the LGA in relation to any requests made of the European Community that touch on local government interest. I am aware that the Scottish Parliament is also considering this.
22 Oct 2001 : Column: 10W
Plutonium
Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what value was put on British Nuclear Fuels'- owned stocks of (a) plutonium and (b) reprocessed uranium, in the entry for British Nuclear Fuels at page 490 of The National Asset Register, CM5221. [8764]
Mr. Wilson: These items were given a nil value.
Ilisu Dam (Turkey)
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will extend the consultation period on the Ilisu Dam project in South East Turkey to November. [5969]
Ms Hewitt [holding answer 15 October 2001]: I do not intend to extend the closing date for comments on the Environmental Impact Assessment Report. This Report was made publicly available on 3 July 2001 and the public were informed that comments received by 7 September 2001 would be taken into account when I make my decision regarding ECGD support for the Ilisu Project. A number of comments have been received during this period and these are being reviewed.
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment her Department has made of the Environmental Impact Assessment on the Ilisu Dam project in south-east Turkey; and if she will make a statement. [5968]
Ms Hewitt [holding answer 15 October 2001]: ECGD has commissioned consultants' reports on the Environmental Impact Assessment Report on the Ilisu Dam Project and also on the Resettlement Action Plan. These reports are being studied, together with the comments received from non-governmental organisations and the public. The reports and the comments received will be the subject of discussion with other interested Government Departments, in particular the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport prior to any decision being taken regarding ECGD support.
Renewable Energy
Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will lay before the House the order to establish the renewable obligation on electricity suppliers; and if she will make a statement. [9764]
Mr. Wilson: We published our Statutory Consultation on the Renewables Obligation in August. The consultation period has just ended and we are now analysing the responses received with a view to bringing forward an Order in the House before Christmas, subject to availability of parliamentary time and State Aid clearance from the European Commission.
Wind Turbines
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of wind turbines operating in the UK were manufactured domestically. [7877]
22 Oct 2001 : Column: 11W
Mr. Wilson [holding answer 15 October 2001]: The proportion of wind turbines operating in the UK that were manufactured domestically is estimated to be just under 6 per cent. The proportion containing UK components is estimated to be at least 43 per cent.
Much more British manufacturing of wind turbines and components is expected in the future. Aerolaminates have moved into a new larger factory with much greater capacity on the Isle of Wight. As well as blades, they are now supplying some complete turbine rotors to their parent company, NEG-Micon. Cambrian Engineering have manufactured, or have orders, for 95 per cent. of the wind turbine towers to be installed in the UK this year. Vestas, who are among the world-leaders in wind turbine manufacture, announced in June that they are to start UK operations at Machrihanish near Campbeltown in the west of Scotland where their new factory will create 124 direct jobs and 44 associated jobs.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |