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ECGD
Mr. Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether it is the financial objective of her Department that the ECGD should operate within a break even framework. [27218]
Ms Hewitt: Yes. ECGD aims to maintain a ratio of its reserves to its estimates of Expected Loss on amounts at risk under its guarantees of at least 1.5. Last year ECGD contributed, after expenses, £205 million to the Exchequer.
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Mr. Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether it is the policy of her Department to eliminate subsidies from export credits. [27219]
Ms Hewitt: Yes. ECGD charges premium to cover its costs and expected losses such that a Reserve Coverage Ratio (ratio of accumulated reserves to expected losses) is maintained of 1.5 or higher.
Regulatory Impact Assessments
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many regulatory impact assessments have been produced by her Department since August 2001; and if she will list those produced (a) following initial consultation with affected parties about the most appropriate methodology for assessing costs and other impacts and (b) which set out full commercial impacts, including profitability, employment, consumer prices and competitiveness, as recommended in Good Policy Making. [28406]
Ms Hewitt: The Department has produced 10 regulatory impact assessments since August 2001. The RIAs relate to:
- Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations
The Unsolicited Goods and Services Act 1971 (Electronic Communications) Order 2001
The Working Time (Amendment) Regulations 2001
Utilities Act 2000: Electricity Licence Exemptions
The Maternity and Parental Leave (Amendment) Regulations 2001
The Equipment and Protective Systems Intended for use in Explosive Atmospheres (Amendment) Regulations 2001
The Copyright, etc. and Trade Marks (Offences and Enforcement) Bill
The Registered Designs (Amendment) Rules 2001 and The Registered Designs (Fees) (Amendment) Rules 2001 (combined RIA)
The Trade Marks (Amendment) Rules 2001
The Electricity from Non-Fossil Fuel Sources (Locational Flexibility) Order 2001.
The Good Policy Making Guide recommends that policy makers take early soundings from affected parties. The results of these informal consultations are not required to be produced in a RIA at this stage. However, Departments are advised to include a partial RIA in formal consultations. Consultations can be accessed via www.ukonline.gov.uk/citizenspace/consultations/.
The Good Policy Making Guide does recommend that as part of the RIA's assessment of costs and benefits, any additional costs and indirect costs should be identified and quantified stating who or what bears them.
There is no specific requirement in the Good Policy Making Guide to consult on appropriate methodology. Nor is there a specific requirement to set out the information at (b). The information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
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Ceramics
Mr. Stevenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will ensure (a) respect for copyright, (b) compliance with regulations and (c) traceability for consumer protection on imports of ceramics from China to the United Kingdom under WTO agreements; and if she will make a statement. [28772]
Nigel Griffiths: China became a member of the WTO on 11 December 2001, and is bound by the agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights ("TRIPS"). This requires all WTO members to provide certain minimum standards for the protection and enforcement of copyright and other intellectual property rights. The agreement is the first broadly-subscribed multilateral intellectual property agreement that is enforceable between Governments.
An EU requirement to apply origin markings to ceramic imports from China would be incompatible with WTO rules. However, EC Regulation No. 3295/94 (as amended) allows a right holder to lodge an application with Customs to prohibit the entry into the Community of counterfeit and pirated goods. It also provides for Customs Officers to contact a right holder if they come across suspected infringing goods during the course of their checks. In this case the goods will be detained and the right holder will be invited to lodge an application within a specified period.
Mr. Stevenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the Chinese capability to meet its WTO requirements on counterfeiting and copying of ceramic products. [28773]
Nigel Griffiths: China gave a commitment to abide fully with the provisions of the agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights ("TRIPS") by the date of her accession to the WTO. The agreement requires all WTO members to provide certain minimum standards of protection for patents, copyrights, trade marks and other forms of intellectual property protection; and to provide effective provisions for enforcement of these rights. China's accession to the WTO on 11 December 2001 will provide a welcome boost to the ability of rights holders to enforce their rights within China. Foreign countries can look forward to improved safeguards for their rights; and have been promised reinforced co-operation from the Chinese authorities.
Mr. Stevenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on manufacturing industry in North Staffordshire. [28770]
Alan Johnson: The North Staffordshire Task Force and Advantage West Midlands are working with local partners to assist manufacturing industry in the area. In addition, the Government recently announced a further £1.5 million support for the Ceramics Industry Forum, many of whose members are in North Staffordshire. I am also meeting my hon. Friend on 23 January to discuss recent announcements by businesses based in the area.
Miners' Compensation
Mr. Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many former miners' compensation claims have been registered in (a) St. Helens, South
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constituency, (b) St. Helens metropolitan authority area and (c) Merseyside in relation to (i) vibration white finger and (ii) respiratory diseases. [28700]
Ms Hewitt [holding answer 21 January 2002]: IRISC, the Department's claims handlers, have registered claims in the regions as follows:
| (i) Vibration white finger (VWF) | (ii) Respiratory disease | |
|---|---|---|
| (a) St. Helens, South(19) | 439 | 759 |
| (b) St. Helens metropolitan authority(20) | 901 | 1,605 |
| (c) Merseyside(21) | 1,435 | 2,672 |
(19) St. Helens, South as defined by the area with postcode prefixes: L 34, 35; WA 9, 10.
(20) St. Helens metropolitan authority as defined by the area with postcode prefixes: WA 8–12; L 34–35.
(21) Merseyside as defined by the area with postcode prefixes: CH 48–49, 60–63; L 3, 9–10, 12, 14, 16–26, 34–38; PR 8–9, WA 8–12, WN 4–5
Mr. Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many respiratory specialists in (a) Merseyside, (b) the north-west and (c) England were working on the Medical Assessment Process for compensating former miners at (i) 1 January 2001 and (ii) 1 January 2002. [28699]
Mr. Wilson [holding answer 21 January 2002]: As at 1 January 2001, there were 104 respiratory specialists working on the Medical Assessment Process (MAP) living and/or working in England as a whole, of which 10 were working in the north-west region, but none working in Merseyside.
As at 1 January 2002, there were 155 respiratory specialists working on the MAP living and/or working in England as a whole, of which 19 were working in the north-west region, but none are working in Merseyside.
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North-west centres are defined as: Wigan, Wrexham and Manchester.
Mr. Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many compensation claims by former miners living in (a) St. Helens, South and (b) St. Helens metropolitan authority (i) have yet to be settled and (ii) have been paid their final sum. [28698]
Ms Hewitt [holding answer 21 January 2002]: To date, the number of claimants who have not settled their claims or received an offer of compensation, and the number of settled claims is as follows:
| St. Helens, South(22) | St. Helens metropolitan authority(23) | |
|---|---|---|
| Respiratory disease | ||
| Number of unsettled claims which have not received offers | 728 | 1,518 |
| Number of settled claims | 16 | 31 |
| Number of offers outstanding with solicitors | 15 | 56 |
| Vibration White Finger | ||
| Number of unsettled claims which have not received offers | 256 | 521 |
| Number of settled claims | 134 | 255 |
| Number of offers outstanding with solicitors | 49 | 125 |
(22) St. Helens, South as defined by the area with postcode prefixes: L 34, 35; WA 9, 10
(23) St. Helens metropolitan authority as defined by the area with postcode prefixes: WA 8–12; L 34–35
Mr. Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the average (a) interim and (b) final payment amount is for (i) Vibration White Finger and (ii) respiratory diseases to former coal miners in (A) St. Helens, South, (B) Merseyside and (C) England. [28706]
Ms Hewitt: There are six different types of interim payments that may be made to claimants for compensation for respiratory disease, subject to conditions. Of these, three are of fixed amounts and are listed as follows:
| Type of interim | Eligibility |
|---|---|
| PD D12 | A £2,000 interim is made to claimants in receipt of the Industrial injuries benefit for chronic bronchitis and emphysema |
| Widows' interim 1 | Widows who receive a bereavement award, and have not received any other payment, are entitled to a further interim payment of £2,000 |
| Widows' interim 2 | Widows who are not in receipt of a bereavement award, although one of the eight qualifying descriptors is cited on her late husband's death certificate but was not found to cause or materially contribute to the death, and have not received any other payment, are entitled to an interim payment of £1,000 |
- 1. Bereavement awards.
- 2. Expedited interims—where an expedited offer has been made, but rejected by the claimant, a proportion of the offer is forwarded while the claimant proceeds the full Medical Assessment Process, MAP.
- 3. Post MAP interims—where a claimant has attended a MAP appointment and for whom the work history has been agreed, but the Department is unable to settle the claim, an interim is made.
Claims for compensation for respiratory disease can be settled by either an expedited payment following spirometry testing or a full and final offer following MAP.
The average interim and full and final figure for the above regions are as follows:
| Respiratory disease | St. Helens, South | Merseyside | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interim payments | |||
| Average bereavement award | 7,609 | 8,322 | 8,210 |
| Average expedited interim | n/a | n/a | 2,862 |
| MAP interim | 5,168 | 4,119 | 4,024 |
| Full and final offers | |||
| Average expedited settlement | n/a | 6,467 | 5,323 |
| Average full and final settlement following MAP | 1,351 | 1,767 | 2,380 |
There are four different interims in respect of Vibration White Finger (VWF) claims as listed:
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1. Standard £1,000
2. General damages
3. Anniversary
4. Services.
The average interim and full and final figure for the above regions are as follows:
| Vibration White Finger | St. Helens, South | Merseyside | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average interim payment | 4,562 | 4,523 | 5,776 |
| Average full and final payment | 7,178 | 7,348 | 8,048 |
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