| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Sudan
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many UK companies have approached her Department for advice on investing in Sudan in 2001. [17903]
Nigel Griffiths: We estimate that 30 inquiries relating to Sudan were received from 1 January to 30 September. We have no detailed breakdown of these inquiries between trade and investment.
5 Dec 2001 : Column: 304W
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the UN initiative, UN Global Compact, and its implications for companies operating in Sudan. [17917]
Mr. Bradshaw: I have been asked to reply.
The Global Compact is the UN Secretary General's initiative on global corporate social responsibility involving a number of leading international companies and NGOs. It encourages companies to take nine core human rights, labour and environment principles into consideration in their business in the developing world. We fully support the UN Global Compact and were one of the first Governments to do so. The Global Compact is a voluntary instrument aimed at developing best practice that goes beyond compliance frameworks and encourages creative responsibility on the part of companies. We encourage firms operating in developing countries like Sudan to consider how they can best implement the principles behind the compact. The compact offers the potential to make a tangible improvement to the quality of life of people affected by UK company operations around the globe, but particularly in the developing world.
Bilateral Aid
Mr. Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the level of bilateral trade is with (a) Yemen, (b) Oman, (c) India and (d) Pakistan. [20251]
Nigel Griffiths: The information is as follows:
(a) British exports of goods to Yemen from January to September 2001 amounted to £56.7 million, an increase of 39 per cent. on the same period last year. Imports from Yemen for the same period were £4.1 million, a decrease of 28 per cent. The last full year figures for 2000: British exports were £52.5 million. British imports were £6.2 million.
(b) British exports of goods to Oman from January to September 2001 amounted to £219.8 million, an increase of 38 per cent. on the same period last year. Imports from Oman for the same period were £51.1 million, a decrease of 12 per cent. The last full year figures for 2000: British exports were £278.3 million, and British imports were £97.4 million.
(c) British exports of goods to India from January to September 2001 amounted to £1,404.8 million, a decrease of 14.3 per cent. on the same period last year. Imports from India for the same period were £1,394.7 million, an increase of 10 per cent. The last full year figures for 2000: British Exports were £2,055.8 million. British Imports were £1,712.1 million.
(d) British exports of goods to Pakistan from January to September 2001 amounted to £178.4 million, an increase of 20.1 per cent. on the same period last year. Imports from Pakistan for the same period were £317.3 million, an increase of 16.9 per cent. The last full year figures for 2000: British exports were £205.9 million. British imports were £378.1 million.
Insolvency Service
Mr. Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the staffing levels of the Insolvency Service. [20249]
5 Dec 2001 : Column: 305W
Miss Melanie Johnson: As at 1 November 2001 the number of staff in post in the Insolvency Service was 1,359 (full-time equivalent).
Women's Employment and Pay
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the report by the Deputy Competition Commissioner into women's employment and pay. [21321]
Ms Hewitt: I welcome this report, which examines non-legislative and cost effective measures to improve women's employment prospects and participation in the labour market and to achieve greater equality of pay.
I welcome too the Government-sponsored research report, "The Gender Pay Gap", which analyses the causes of the pay gap. Both of these reports are being published today.
A number of Government initiatives are already under way to tackle this important issue, including key elements of the Employment Bill and the work of the fair pay champions in supporting equal pay initiatives in their sectors. We welcome the contribution both these reports make to understanding and to reducing the gender pay gap.
We will also be publishing the Government's full response to the 14 recommendations made in the Deputy Competition Commissioner's report today.
I am placing copies of both reports and the Government's response in the Libraries of the House.
Motor Vehicles
Mr. Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her answer of 27 November 2001, Official Report, column 785W, on motor vehicles, what radical pro-consumer change she is advocating to the block exemption for motor vehicles; and what consultation she has had with the retail motor industry and motor manufacturers on this. [20374]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The current block exemption is not working satisfactorily. If consumers are to obtain value for money, then change is needed to secure an effective single European market in new cars and to provide more competition in the retailing of new cars and in their servicing and repair. My officials have had a series of discussions with motor industry trade associations and individual manufacturers and retailers, as well as with the Consumers Association.
Fireworks
Ms Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what measures she has taken to ensure that fireworks are sold only close to specific dates such as 5 November and 31 December; [21062]
- (2) what recent guidelines she has provided retailers selling fireworks; [21061]
(3) how many (a) children and (b) adults were injured by fireworks in (i) 1995 and (ii) 2001 to date; [21303]
5 Dec 2001 : Column: 306W
Mr. Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people were injured by fireworks in (a) the UK, (b) the north-east and (c) south Tyneside in each year since 1997. [20975]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The powers available under the Consumer Protection Act 1987 allow for regulations to be made that address the intrinsic safety of goods but do not allow for the periods of sale to be regulated. We have, therefore, entered into a voluntary agreement with the industry that fireworks should only be made available for general retail sale for a period of three weeks around the 5 November and for a similar period around new year.
Our fireworks Safety Toolkit includes advice to retailers as to their responsibilities under the Fireworks (Safety) Regulations 1997, the voluntary agreement on the period of sale and best safety practice.
Data on firework injuries for this year (2001) are still being collated, therefore the latest data available are for 2000. Firework injuries in 1995 and 2000 are as follows:
- In 1995: Children (under 18 years) 929, adults 556, not specified 45;
In 2000: Children (under 18 years) 557, adults 415.
| 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Britain | 908 | 831 | 1,056 | 972 |
| Northern and Yorkshire Region | 143 | 144 | 167 | 142 |
| South Tyneside Healthcare NHS Trust | 3 | 5 | 2 | 3 |
Small Businesses
Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action she has taken in response to the recommendation in the Better Regulation Task Force annual report 2000–01 that her Department should become an effective champion for small retailers. [20677]
Nigel Griffiths [holding answer 4 December 2001]: The Government Response to the Better Regulation Task Force (BRTF) report gave me this role, which I have for all small firms. We are now considering how this can best be done.
We will certainly engage with key stakeholders in seeking to improve the competitiveness and productivity of the small retail sector, as well as to encourage small retailers to take advantage of the full range of support schemes appropriate to them.
Employment Tribunals
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in employment tribunal cases where parties were required to pay a deposit, what the mean average deposit was at a preliminary hearing as a condition of continuing to proceed with the case in (a) 1998, (b) 1999 and (c) 2000. [20660]
5 Dec 2001 : Column: 307W
Alan Johnson [holding answer 4 December 2001]: The mean average deposit required at a pre-hearing review as a condition of continuing to proceed with the case was:
| Year | £ |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 89.51 |
| 1999 | 83.31 |
| 2000 | 95.82 |
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many employment tribunal claims, where a deposit at a preliminary hearing was required as a condition of proceeding, were proceeded to a full hearing in (a) 1998, (b) 1999 and (c) 2000, broken down by deposits required from applicants and respondents; and in how many such cases (i) the claimant won and (ii) the case was withdrawn and (iii) the case was settled before a full hearing. [20661]
Alan Johnson [holding answer 4 December 2001]: Most of the information requested is displayed in the table.
| 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of cases which withdrew after a PHR deposit order | 6 | 7 | 7 |
| Number of cases which settled after a PHR deposit order | 11 | 1 | 7 |
| Number of cases which proceeded to a full hearing after a PHR deposit order | 30 | 9 | 7 |
| Of which, successful at full hearing | 8 | 1 | 1 |
The ETS database cannot provide information according to whether the deposit was required by an applicant or respondent.
A claim may be brought under more than one jurisdiction or subsequently amended/clarified in the course of proceedings, but will only be counted once in the table (against the main jurisdiction).
- Source:
- Employment Tribunals Service
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |