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Embedded Generation Working Group
Mr. Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the function of the Embedded Generation Working Group is. [9562]
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Mr. Wilson: The Embedded Generation Working Group provided advice about access for small generators to distribution networks. It made its final report in June.
Ofgem is presently consulting on regulatory issues arising from the report. A Co-ordination Group is being established to ensure that the wider recommendations are addressed.
Biological Weapon Production
Dr. Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she has taken to ensure that pharmaceutical companies in the United Kingdom are not engaged in the production of biological weapons. [9576]
Ms Hewitt: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced on 15 October 2001, Official Report, column 923, the legislative measures that he intends to introduce in the very near future to counter international terrorism threats. The legislation will include clauses to cover the intention to use, produce, possess or participate in unauthorised transfers of chemical and biological as well as nuclear and radiological materials.
Newspaper Distribution Industry
Mr. Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what recent representations she has received on restrictive agreements in the newspaper distribution industry; and if she will make a statement; [11767]
- (2) if she will ask the Director General of Fair Trading to investigate possible restrictive agreements in the newspaper distribution industry; and if she will make a statement. [11885]
Ms Hewitt: Under UK competition legislation, the Director General of Fair Trading is responsible for monitoring markets and considering allegations of anti- competitive behaviour. The Director General has considered complaints about anti-competitive behaviour in the newspaper distribution industry but has so far taken the view that the industry is highly competitive overall. Representations received about restrictive agreements in the newspaper distribution industry have been passed to the Director General.
Multinational Companies
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with her EU counterparts regarding the mandatory use of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development guidelines for multinational companies. [11151]
Nigel Griffiths: None. The Government support the voluntary nature of the OECD guidelines and are not aware of any plans by EU partners to make them mandatory.
Trade Trends
Sir Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the trends are in the export and import of goods in the current year; and if she will make a statement. [9556]
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Nigel Griffiths: The latest estimates of trend produced by the Office for National Statistics (based on data to August), show both the value of exports and imports falling in recent months. This follows record levels of trade in 2001 quarter 1.
Energy Efficiency
John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action her Department took in recognition of Energy Efficiency Week. [11516]
Ms Hewitt: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment, on 30 October 2001, Official Report, column 592W. My Department is fully committed to supporting energy efficiency, achieving an improvement of some 50 per cent. in energy efficiency at standard prices in 1997–98 compared with 1990–91. An energy audit is currently under way with a view to making further improvements.
Registered Designs Regulations
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if she will propose an amendment to the law to provide a definition of "Royal Family" for the purposes of Section 1(1)(c) of Schedule A1 of the Registered Designs Regulations 2001; [11883]
- (2) for what reason the Registered Design Regulations 2001 provide that registration of any representation or colourable imitation of any member of the Royal Family shall be refused registration under the Registered Designs Act 1949. [11936]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The Registered Designs Regulations accord with the views taken by Parliament when concluding the Trade Marks Act 1994, which implemented equivalent provisions of another directive. In particular, this provision is exactly equivalent to section 4(1)(c) of that Act, which specifies a public interest exception to trade mark protection.
There is no statutory definition of "Royal Family" provided by the 1994 Act or these Regulations. It is a matter for the courts to decide how far this public interest exception to protection extends.
Electricity Trading
Dr. Desmond Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make an announcement on the Government's response to Ofgem's reports, 'The New Electricity Trading Arrangements-Review of the First Three Months' and 'Report to the DTI on the Review of the Initial Impact of NETA on Smaller Generators' of 31 August. [12614]
Mr. Wilson: The Government believe that NETA has been a success in its own terms. The introduction of a more efficient regime into a more transparent, inclusive and efficient pricing system has meant that wholesale electricity prices are up to 25 per cent. lower than the artificially high prices that existed under the Pool arrangements. In addition, Ofgem's findings show rapid emergence of a strong and liquid forward curve—this will contribute to UK's longer-term security of energy supply by providing reliable longer-term price signals for investors to use in planning new generation.
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The Government recognise the issues faced by smaller generators under NETA. The Government remain strongly committed to renewable and combined heat and power generation. At the same time, we are committed to the regulatory framework set out in the Utilities Act 2000, the principles and structure of NETA, which has already delivered a good deal of real benefit to consumers, and promises to do so in future as well.
The Government have reviewed and considered Ofgem's reports, as well as views put forward by industry, both in the course of Ofgem's review, and to DTI. In light of these, I have issued a consultation document today, seeking views on the issues raised by Ofgem's reports and specific proposals. The Government's key proposals are, broadly:
- ensuring imbalance prices are genuinely cost reflective—this will reduce the risk for everyone, but for smaller and unpredictable generators in particular; and
- ensuring that effective consolidation services emerge—this will reduce the risks for smaller generators further. The Government have proposed setting up a working group that will look urgently at obstacles to market driven consolidation, including the possibility of encouraging consolidation.
I have placed copies of the consultation document in the Libraries of the House.
Employment Tribunals
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the number of cases dismissed by employment tribunals on the grounds that they were scandalous, frivolous or vexatious in each of the past 10 years. [9728]
Alan Johnson [holding answer 24 October 2001]: It would not be possible to measure the number of cases dismissed by employment tribunals on the grounds that they were scandalous, frivolous or vexatious in each of the past 10 years.
Such information is not available from the employment tribunals service database, which only records the outcome of each case and not the reasons for the outcome.
However, survey evidence suggests that in 2000–01 there were between 2,600 and 5,200 tribunal cases where the applicant was advised against taking their case forward.
Icelandic Trawlermen (Compensation)
Mr. Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many claims under the Icelandic Trawlerman's Compensation Scheme have not been processed due to claimants sailing on Icelandic water vessels after 1979; and if she will make a statement. [10458]
Ms Hewitt: There were 1,115 claims on hold from trawlermen who continued fishing after 1979 on vessels that formerly fished in Icelandic waters. I have decided to amend the rules of the scheme so that such fishing no longer disqualifies men from receiving compensation.
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Aggregates Tax
Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the (a) benefits and (b) costs to the construction industry are of the aggregates tax. [10645]
Mr. Boateng [holding answer 30 October 2001]: I have been asked to reply.
The environmental benefits of the aggregates levy will be more efficient use of virgin aggregate and a greater use of recycled alternative. This will reduce the environmental impacts of virgin aggregate extraction—such as damage to biodiversity and visual intrusion. In addition, all revenues raised will be recycled to business through a 0.1 percentage point cut in employers' national insurance contributions and a new £35 million sustainability fund aimed at delivering local environmental benefits to areas subject to the environmental costs of aggregates extraction.
The levy will be charged at £1.60 per tonne on the commercial exploitation of virgin aggregates in the UK, including those imported from abroad. Aggregates exported from the UK will be exempt.
A full regulatory impact assessment was published at the time of Budget 2000. The impact on the actual costs to the end user will be dependent on the commercial decisions of those in the supply chain.
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