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Asset Sales
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will provide a detailed breakdown of the accruals to public funds in (a) 1999–2000 and (b) 2000–01 from the sale of fixed assets. [14918]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The Lord Chancellor's Department 1999–2000 resource accounts record a loss on disposal of fixed assets of £473,000. The draft 2000–01 resource accounts show a profit on disposal of £398,000. The 2000–01 accounts are still subject to audit. Details of the assets held by the Department, its agencies and associate public bodies, including significant recent disposals and future disposals strategy, can be found in the National Asset Register published by HM Treasury.
Community Legal Service
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many people have accessed the Community Legal Service website since its creation; and on what issues people most frequently seek advice. [16445]
Ms Rosie Winterton: There have been over 700,000 "page impressions"—the closest proxy for number of users—of the Community Legal Service website, Just Ask!, since its launch in April 2000. Usage of the site has doubled from a weekly average "page impression" rate of 6,000 at inception to over 12,000 at present.
Issues that people have most frequently sought advice on are employment, family matters, housing, consumer affairs, and immigration.
Freedom of Information
Tony Wright: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what representations he has received from the Information Commissioner on a recommended timetable for implementing the Freedom of Information Act 2000. [16387]
Mr. Wills: My noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor invited the Information Commissioner to express her views on a timetable for the implementation of the Act, based on the practical implications for her office. She said that it would be sensible to implement the publication scheme and right of access provisions together on a phased timetable, largely following the structure of Schedule 1 to the Act. She also made it clear that it was for Government to decide on a timetable for implementation.
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The Government reached the view that it was right to implement the publication scheme provisions of the Act first as set out in the Schedule I have placed in the Library of the House.
The Information Commissioner has welcomed the announcement of a firm timetable for the implementation of the Act.
Libra Project
Matthew Taylor: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answer of 12 November 2001, Official Report, column 7521W, on the Libra project, how many MCCs with office automation have retained separate stand-alone terminals to provide access to the legacy systems. [16716]
Mr. Wills: All MCCs in receipt of the Libra Office Automation service have retained one or more stand- alone terminals.
Matthew Taylor: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answer of 12 November 2001, Official Report, column 564W, on the Libra project, if stand-alone terminals will be retained for access for specific local systems where that access was not available on the legacy network, and is not currently available on Libra service. [16731]
Mr. Wills: In all of the Magistrates' Court Committees in receipt of the Libra Office Automation service, access to the main legacy system is achieved, for almost all staff, via the Libra terminal on their desks. In some cases separate stand-alone terminals have been retained to provide access for specific local systems where that access was not available on the legacy network, and is not currently available on the Libra service. This mixture of access is replicated in all MCCs. It is envisaged that the need for access to systems via stand-alone terminals will progressively diminish during the planned transition to the full new Libra service.
Selim Ferhan Onal
Angus Robertson: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when she expects her adjudicators to decide on the appeal for entry clearance by Selim Ferhan Onal. [17717]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The Immigration Appellate Authority has no record of receiving an appeal from the Home Office for Selim Ferhan Onal.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Climate Change Levy
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in what circumstances a butcher's shop could be liable for payments under the climate change levy. [12746]
Mr. Wilson: The climate change levy aims to increase energy efficiency across all sectors of business, including small food retailers, and will help the UK to meet its commitments to reduce greenhouse emissions, including our Kyoto target. Those small businesses, including butchers' shops, which have very low energy
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consumption below the minimum thresholds as defined in the Finance Act 2000 are not liable to pay the climate change levy.
Businesses with energy use higher than the thresholds will be liable to pay the levy. However any such businesses can minimise their levy bills by buying levy-exempt, green electricity, for example from new renewable sources; by taking advantage of energy efficiency advice and support from the new Carbon Trust, which aims to take account of the needs of small businesses; or by investing, using the new scheme of enhanced capital allowances for energy efficiency improvements (which covers items including refrigeration equipment).
Small Businesses (Chorley)
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much funding has been made available to start small businesses in Chorley in each of the last five years. [12990]
Nigel Griffiths: £100,000 has been made available to start small businesses in Chorley in the last five years, £20,000 per year.
Languages for Exports Awards
Mr. Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many entrants there were in the 2001 competition for Languages for Exports Awards, broken down by (a) nation and (b) region. [13168]
Nigel Griffiths: Applications received for this year's competition are as follows:
| Regions | Applications received |
|---|---|
| English: | |
| East | 12 |
| East Midlands | 14 |
| London and South East | 41 |
| North East | 17 |
| North West | 11 |
| Yorkshire and Humber | 10 |
| West Midlands | 15 |
| South West | 8 |
| Scotland | 11 |
| Wales | 10 |
| Northern Ireland | 9 |
| Total | 158 |
Scottish Trade Delegations
Mr. Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for how many trade delegations from Scotland to (a) the Czech Republic, (b) Poland, (c) Hungary, (d) Slovenia, (e) Estonia, (f) Lithuania, (g) Latvia and (h) Slovakia her Department provided support in (i) 2000 and (ii) 2001 to date. [13169]
Nigel Griffiths: I am replying on the basis of information provided by Scottish Development International, a joint venture between the Scottish Executive and Scottish Enterprise.
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Trade Partners UK services in Scotland are delivered by the Trade Division of Scottish Development International. It, along with other members of the export support network in Scotland, organises overseas trade missions.
In June 2000 there was one trade mission to Hungary and Slovenia led jointly by Export Partnership Forth Valley and Lanarkshire Export Partnership. In 2001 to date there have been two visits to Poland, one in April led by Export Partnership Forth Valley and a sector based mission in June concentrating on food and drink led jointly by Scottish Development International and the Seafood Industry Authority. A visit to Estonia took place in September supported by Renfrewshire and Inverclyde Exports followed by a further mission to Slovenia in October led by Lanarkshire Export Partnership.
In addition, a delegation of Scottish business people interested in developing links with the Czech Republic accompanied the Scottish Minister for Finance during his visit there this September when he formally launched the second twinning covenant for Preparation for Structural Funds.
Companies based in Scotland are also able to take part in any other UK supported trade missions.
Fur Imports
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what quantities of material classified as other fur were imported into the UK from (a) China, (b) the Philippines, (c) Korea and (d) Hong Kong in the last five years. [13799]
Nigel Griffiths: Information on UK imports of "other fur" from China, the Philippines, Korea and Hong Kong in each of the last five years is given in the table:
| Year | China | Philippines | South Korea | Hong Kong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 13,666 | 0 | 812 | 7,727 |
| 1997 | 3,348 | 0 | 1,560 | 12,871 |
| 1998 | 1,776 | 0 | 0 | 3,808 |
| 1999 | 4,010 | 0 | 411 | 5,240 |
| 2000 | 11,785 | 0 | 0 | 10,063 |
(10) "Other fur" is defined as headings 212.29 and 613.19 of the Standard International Trade Classification, Revision 3 (SITC Rev. 3)
Definitions:
SITC 212.29 Other furskins (raw), whole, with or without head, tail or paws
SITC 613.19 Other furskins (tanned or dressed), whole, with or without head tail or paws, not assembled
Source:
DTI analysis of data from HM Customs and Excise
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the average value is of material classified as (a) other fur and (b) all fur imported into the UK from (i) all countries and (ii) China in the last three years. [13797]
Nigel Griffiths: Information on the average value of UK imports of "other fur" and all fur from all countries and China in each of the last three years is given in the table.
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| All countries | China | |
|---|---|---|
| UK imports of "other fur" | ||
| 1998 | 29 | 76 |
| 1999 | 19 | 36 |
| 2000 | 14 | 69 |
| UK imports of all fur | ||
| 1998 | 77 | 79 |
| 1999 | 42 | 51 |
| 2000 | 38 | 60 |
(11) "Other fur" is defined as headings 212.29 and 613.19 of the Standard International Trade Classification, Revision 3 (SITC Rev 3).
(12) All fur is defined as headings 212 and 613 of the Standard International Trade Classification, Revision 3 (SITC Rev 3).
Definitions:
1. SITC 212 Furskins, raw (including heads, tails, paws and other pieces or cuttings, suitable for furriers' use), other than hides and skins of group 211.
2. SITC 613 Furskins, tanned or dressed (including heads, tails, paws and other pieces or cuttings), unassembled, or assembled (without the addition of other materials), other than those of heading 848.3.
3. SITC 212.29 Other furskins (raw), whole, with or without head, talk or paws.
4. SITC 613.19 Other furskins (tanned or dressed), whole, with or without head tail or paws, not assembled.
Source:
DTI analysis of data from H. M. Customs and Excise
23 Nov 2001 : Column: 558W
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what quantities of fur have been imported into the United Kingdom as parts of made-up garments for the last five years; and if she will list (a) the exporting countries involved and (b) the type of fur involved. [13792]
Nigel Griffiths: Information on UK imports of made- up garments containing fur in each of the last five years is given in the following table:
Note:
Made-up garments containing fur consist of
Commodity code 43031010—articles of apparel of furskins of whitecoat pups of harp seal or of pups of hooded seal (blue-backs)
Commodity code 43031090—articles of apparel and clothing accessories of sheep or lambskin other
Commodity code 43039000—other furskin articles other than clothing accessories
There was no trade in commodity code 43031010 for the years 1996–97
Source:
DTI analysis of data from HM Customs and Excise
23 Nov 2001 : Column: 559W
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what quantities of domestic (a) dog and (b) cat fur have been imported into the UK over the last five years. [13806]
Nigel Griffiths: The information requested is not available because the system of classification used to record trade does not separately identify cat and dog fur.
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will ban the trade in domestic (a) dog and (b) cat fur. [13798]
Nigel Griffiths: Bans on trade in goods such as dog and cat fur are a matter of exclusive European Community competence and the UK cannot act unilaterally.
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