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European Charter for Small Enterprises

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made in implementing the principles behind the European Charter for Small Enterprises in the United Kingdom. [13682]

Nigel Griffiths: The UK is firmly committed to a full implementation of the European Charter for Small Enterprises. We believe that since its adoption in June 2000 useful progress has been made in the United Kingdom under all 10 lines for action contained in the charter. Recent examples include proposals for the revision of company law, proposals for the reform of competition rules and insolvency law, continuing action under the UK online for business initiative, and the opening of the 'smallbusinesseurope' office in Brussels. Details of these and many other relevant UK actions can be found in a recent report provided to the European Commission, entitled "The European Charter for Small Enterprises—A Review of relevant actions and measures in force in the United Kingdom". Copies of this report have been placed in the Library of the House. At a wider European level, the UK co-organised with the European Commission a conference on top-class business support services in Cardiff in October.

While we believe that real progress has been made in some areas, we recognise that more needs to be done if we are to meet our own and the EU's goals for creating

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the best possible environment for small firms. We will continue therefore to take action which will help us and encourage our European partners to achieve these goals.

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the principle embodied in the European Charter for Small Enterprises relating to the exemption of small enterprises from certain regulatory obligations. [13683]

Nigel Griffiths: The Government agree with the principle embodied in the European Charter for Small Enterprises that legislative simplification can help reduce the burden of compliance for small business. In the UK the approach has been to adopt "Think Small First" principles—all those considering regulation must first consider alternatives to regulation as well as whether exemptions for small firms are appropriate, the case for exemptions for small firms from regulatory obligations is then made on a case by case basis.

Exemptions for small enterprises from certain regulatory obligations can be a useful way of reducing burdens on business e.g. on audit thresholds, the requirement to consult on redundancies, the need to have works councils and most recently the draft Information and Consultation Directive. There are a range of regulations, such as those relating to food safety, the national minimum wage, environmental protection and health and safety where this is less likely to be appropriate (because of the need to safeguard the rights of employees and protect consumers) and may in fact create a barrier to growth for small firms.

Export Licences (Israel)

Mr. Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many standard individual export licences have been issued for exports to Israel during (a) May, (b) June, (c) July, (d) August, (e) September and (f) October; and if she will make a statement. [13670]

Nigel Griffiths: The number of Standard Individual Export Licences (SIELs) issued to end users in Israel was as follows.

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Month	Number
May	0
June	0
July	81
August	17
September	16
October	25

All export licence applications to Israel continue to be considered against the consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria in light of the circumstances prevailing at the time of the application. This means inter alia we will not issue licences where there is a clear risk that the equipment might be used for internal repression, international aggression, adversely affect regional stability or prolong internal conflict.

Ministerial Visit (China and Japan)

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the people met by the Energy Minister on his recent visit to China and Japan; and if she will place in the Library copies of documents made available to the Minister's hosts by her Department during the trip. [14258]

Mr. Wilson: The information is as follows:

BEIJING

State Development and Planning Commission (SDPC), Vice Chairman Mr. Wang Chunzheng

President, AVIC: Mr. Liu Gaozhuo

Vice President, AVIC 2: Mr. Liang Zhenhe

Minister, CAAC: Mr. Liu Jianfeng

Director General, Foreign Capital Utilization Department: Mr. Mu Hong

Director General, Foreign Affairs Department: Mr. Xu Tongmao

President, BP Amoco China: Dr. Gary Dirks

LNG Technical Manager, Shell Gas and Power: Mr. Nizoo Visram

Chief Executive, Rolls-Royce: Mr. John Rose

Vice Minister, State Economic and Trade Commission: Mr. Zhang Zhigang

President and CEO, China National Petroleum Corporation: Mr. Ma Fucai

Chairman and CEO, China National Offshore Oil Corporation: Mr. Wei Liucheng

President and CEO, China National Chemicals Import and Export Corporation: Mr. Liu Deshu

President, China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation: Mr. Li Yishong

Ambassador's Dinner

Chief Representative, BNFL Westinghouse: Mr. Gavin Liu

XRJ Consulting (Advisers to International Power) Mr. Ian Stones

PR Manager, China, British Airways: Mr. Peter Liver

General Manager, China, Virgin Atlantic: Mr. Jonathan Harding

Deputy Director-General of the International Co-operation Department, State Economic Trade Commission

Deputy Head, China Britain Natural Gas Working Group: Mr. Wang Shanchuan

Deputy Director-General Foreign Affairs, PetroChina: Mr. Bao Qiping

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SHANGHAI

Vice Mayor Han Zheng, Shanghai Municipal Peoples' Government

Chairman, China Eastern Airlines: Mr. Ye Yi Ghan

Director, Shanghai Airlines; Zhou Chi

CEO East China Gas and Power, BP China Ltd.: Mr. Alistair Ferguson

Deputy Project Director, Shanghai Ethylene Cracker Complex (SECCO), BP South East Asia Ltd.: Mr. Tony Atkins

JAPAN

Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry

Mr. Yoshihisa Ohshima, Senior Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry

Mr. Hirobumi Kawano, Director General, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy

Ministry of the Environment

Ms Yoriko Kawaguchi, Minister of the Environment

Mr. Kenji Kamiigawara, Private Secretary to the Minister

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Civil Aviation Bureau

Mr. Kenichi Fukaya, Director General

Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO)

Mr. Nobuya Minami, President

Mr. Ryoichi Shirato, Vice-President

The Kansai Electric Power Company Inc.

Mr. Yohsaku Fuji, President

Mr. Tetsuji Kishida, Managing Director

Japan Airlines Co Ltd.

Mr. Katsuo Haneda, Senior Vice President

All Nippon Airways Co Ltd.

Mr. Hiromechi Toya, Executive Vice President

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd.

Mr. Yasutada Sasaki, Senior Manager, civil Aircraft and Aeroengine Department

Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd.

Mr. Fumitake Kadowaki, Vice President, Gas Turbine and Machinery Company

Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Ltd.

Mr. Teiichi Tamaki, Board Director and Vice-President of Aeroengine and Space Operations

Airbus Japan KK

Mr. Patrick Caroll, OBE, President

Rolls-Royce International Ltd.

Mr. Bob Moore, Regional Director, Japan

Other junior representatives of public and private sector organisations in the energy and aerospace sectors (at a dinner and luncheon hosted by Her Majesty's Ambassador).

No documents were made available to the Minister's hosts by the Department during the trip.

Regional Venture Capital Funds

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what response her Department has made to points raised by the Commission regarding United Kingdom practice in regional venture capital funds in Com 2001/712 EC. [14797]

Nigel Griffiths: Com 2001/712 EC was the document issued by the European Commission granting State Aid clearance to the Regional Venture Capital Fund programme. It was not necessary for the UK Government to respond to the document.

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In common with any programme of this kind, the Regional Venture Capital Funds had to be approved by the European Commission under State Aid guidelines. DTI and SBS officials have worked together with EU officials to enable the European Commission to grant this approval.

Atomic Energy Police Force

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many and what makes of vehicles are operated by the Atomic Energy police force; and what is the purchasing policy on UK-built vehicles by the Atomic Energy police. [15161]

Mr. Wilson: The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority Constabulary (UKAEAC) currently operates 46 vehicles consisting of 22 Ford, seven Landrover, six Vauxhall, five LDV, three Volkswagen, two Mitsubishi and one Peugeot. The UKAEAC's policy is to buy the correct vehicles for its operational needs, with the option for purchasing UK-built vehicles when this is consistent with securing value for money.

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