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North Korea
Mr. Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what contribution her Department made to the World Food Programme and other agencies for famine relief and food distribution in North Korea in the last financial year. [9816]
Hilary Benn: The Department for International Development did not make any contribution to the World Food Programme (WFP) for North Korea in the last financial year. However we did provide a total of £500,000 towards famine relief and related activities in North Korea. This included £200,000 through World Vision for restoring the food production capacity of six co-operative farms under the United Nations Development Programme's Agricultural Recovery and Environmental Protection Programme. We also allocated £300,000 directly to UNDP in support of two parts of AREP.
Mr. Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what measures are taken by the World Food Programme and other multilateral agencies that distribute famine relief in North Korea to ensure that the food is consumed by those for whom it is intended. [9817]
Hilary Benn: The World Food Programme (WFP) is the only multilateral agency involved in the distribution of food aid in North Korea, apart from a small input through UNICEF. WFP's food aid programme is targeted at vulnerable groups including children under five, primary and secondary school children, orphans and children in other health institutions, pregnant women and the elderly. WFP work only in provinces to which they have access (currently 167 out of a total of 211). This is essential for carrying out assessments of need, and to undertake monitoring. WFP run an intensive programme of monitoring visits to beneficiaries.
Mr. Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps are taken to monitor the distribution of food for famine relief by the agencies responsible in North Korea. [9819]
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Hilary Benn: The World Food Programme (WFP) is the lead UN Agency for food relief distribution within North Korea. WFP works with the Food Aid Liaison Unit within the Government's Public Distribution System which co-ordinates the work of non-governmental organisations involved in the sector. This includes the monitoring of food aid through these agencies. WFP monitors food both on its arrival in North Korea and at distribution points. The programme averages 300 monitoring visits per month.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Terrorist Attacks
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the economic impact on (a) the UK aerospace industry and (b) UK airlines of the events of 11 September. [9389]
Mr. Wilson: Officials in the Department of Trade and Industry are in close contact with the UK industry and are continuing to evaluate and monitor developments in the aviation industry in co-operation with the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions. When the economic impacts have been fully assessed, we will be in a position to consider the most appropriate response.
Aerospace Industry
John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what assessment the Government have made of the impact of the events of 11 September on the aerospace industry; [11181]
- (2) what action the Government are taking to protect jobs in the aerospace industry. [11180]
Mr. Wilson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Pendle, (Mr. Prentice), question number 9389.
Fireworks
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received from (a) the firework industry and (b) local authorities regarding fireworks being stored in unlicensed premises and sold illegally door to door. [9791]
Miss Melanie Johnson [holding answer 24 October 2001]: The Department has received representations from the British Pyrotechnists Association regarding fireworks being stored in unlicensed premises, but no representations from local authorities. No representations have been received regarding door to door sales.
Regulations (Consultations)
Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which regulations issued by her Department since 27 November 2000 have been subject to a consultation period of less than 12 weeks. [8775]
Ms Hewitt: The Code of Practice on Consultations announced by the Prime Minister on 27 November 2000 applies to all consultations launched after 1 January 2001.
Two regulations introduced since 27 November 2000 were subject to a consultation period of less than 12 weeks launched since 1 January 2001.
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In the case of 'The Working Time (Amendment) Regulations 2001' there was a short one-month consultation, running from 28 June to 27 July 2001. The 12-week period was reduced on the grounds of the urgent need to amend a UK law, following a judgment by the European Court of Justice that the annual leave qualifying period contained within the original regulations was contrary to the Working Time Directive.
In the case of 'The Electricity (Class Exemptions from the Requirement for a Licence) Order 2001', there was a one-month consultation period, which reflected the original intention of having the order in force by June 2001. Three previous consultations on the individual elements of this measure (dealing with electricity generation, distribution and supply) had taken place in November 1999, March 2000 and July 2000.
Consultation lasting fewer than 12 weeks was undertaken prior to the introduction of the Consultation Code in respect of the following regulations, which were then introduced after 27 November 2000:
- The Unsolicited Goods and Services Act 1971 (Electronic Communications) Order 2001;
- The Offshore Combustion Installations (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Regulations 2001;
- The Patents (Amendment) Rules 2001: Implementation of Articles 13 and 14 of Directive 98/44/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the legal protection of biotechnological inventions;
- The Sex Discrimination (Indirect Discrimination and Burden of Proof) Regulations 2001;
- The Batteries and Accumulators (Containing Dangerous Substances) (Amendment) Regulations 2000;
- The Competition Act 1998 (Public Transport Ticketing Schemes Block Exemption) Order 2001.
Enterprise Insight Campaign
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will outline the steps the Enterprise Insight Campaign will take to promote enterprise. [10163]
Nigel Griffiths [holding answer 29 October 2001]: The Government strongly support Enterprise Insight, a 10-year private sector-led national campaign for enterprise. The campaign is led jointly by the British Chambers of Commerce, Confederation of British Industry and Institute of Directors in partnership with enterprise programme providers including Young Enterprise, Shell LiveWIRE and the Prince's Trust. Its aim is to promote enterprise by fostering an entrepreneurial spirit across the UK through four key initiatives: Enterprising Education, Enterprising Communities, Enterprising Media and Enterprising Business.
The first step started with the launch of the Enterprising Education campaign in July 2001. Since its launch, 246 businesses have registered their interest in promoting enterprise within schools. A further 750 are expected to
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do so by 2002. The aim over the next two years is to get 40,000 more young people engaged in enterprise learning in schools and 5,000 new business people to support its delivery. This will be achieved through a number of activities including roadshows and the development of a website enabling businesses to register their interest online. In addition, the Entrepreneurs in Residence scheme, which matches businesses to local enterprise projects, is under way and the first five matches have already been made.
Enterprise Insight also aims to promote enterprise positively across society and, in particular, plans to work with the media, using case studies and role models, to help spread knowledge about entrepreneurship and business.
Small Business Service
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the priorities are for the Small Business Service in the coming year. [10161]
Nigel Griffiths [holding answer 29 October 2001]: The Small Business Service's strategic objectives for 2001–04 are set out in its strategy for 2001–04. They are to:
- Be a strong voice for small business at the heart of government, ensuring that government is aware of the needs of Business;
- Strive for a regulatory framework which minimises the burdens of business;
- Develop and maintain a world class business support service to enhance competitiveness and profitability of small businesses;
- Champion entrepreneurship across society particularly in under-represented and disadvantaged groups.
The SBS Strategy and the SBS Business Plan for 2001–02 are available on www.sbs.gov.uk.
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much funding has been made available to companies by the Small Business Service. [10091]
Nigel Griffiths: From April 2000, when it was set up, until September this year the Small Business Service programme expenditure amounted to £365 million. Of this, expenditure under the Phoenix Fund, the Enterprise Fund and the Smart scheme, whereby grants may be made directly to small businesses, amounted to £96 million.
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