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Business Links
Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many businesses used business links in each year since 1995, broken down by region; and how many of these inquiries were the result of initial contact with the Small Business Service. [30547]
Nigel Griffiths: The table shows how many businesses used Business Links in each year since 1996–97; data for 1995–96 are not available. A business that receives advice twice within a quarter is counted only once but a business that receives assistance in separate quarters will be counted in each quarter.
Between April 2001 and September 2001, over 12,000 inquiries were referred to Business Links from initial contact with SBS service providers. Earlier data are not available.
| 1995–96 | 1996–97(14) | 1997–98(14) | 1998–99 | 1999–2000 | 2000–01 | 2001–02(15) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | (16)— | 455,339 | 439,604 | 393,580 | 419,294 | 400,813 | 335,150 |
| North East | (16)— | 37,317 | 26,954 | 18,348 | 22,466 | 16,577 | 14,063 |
| North West | (16)— | 79,752 | 89,056 | 74,925 | 75,215 | 77,930 | 39,680 |
| Yorkshire and Humber | (16)— | 29,938 | 40,232 | 39,577 | 44,587 | 38,678 | 53,743 |
| East Midlands | (16)— | 32,445 | 25,398 | 26,635 | 30,111 | 24,997 | 20,845 |
| West Midlands | (16)— | 67,213 | 49,214 | 49,176 | 57,758 | 53,628 | 33,229 |
| East of England | (16)— | 71,512 | 72,346 | 45,599 | 47,525 | 45,072 | 54,074 |
| London | (16)— | 37,541 | 36,767 | 39,877 | 42,647 | 36,944 | 17,779 |
| South East | (16)— | 58,048 | 59,496 | 60,928 | 62,517 | 72,088 | 41,979 |
| South West | (16)— | 41,573 | 40,141 | 38,515 | 36,468 | 34,898 | 59,758 |
(14) Usage includes non-business assistance
(15) Quarter 4 data not included, quarter 3 data subject to validation procedures
(16) Not available
Source:
Business Link Management Information returns
Regional Development Agencies
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was (a) the total bill for salaries and expenses for board members, (b) the administrative operating costs for each and (c) the total annual budget in the latest year for which figures are available for each of the regional development agencies in England. [30203]
Alan Johnson: The RDAs' net annual budget and administrative costs for the financial year 2001–02 are as follows:
| Regional development agency | Net budget (excluding receipts) | Administration budget |
|---|---|---|
| One North East | 161,653 | 12,853 |
| North West Development Agency | 281,089 | 14,956 |
| Yorkshire Forward | 245,437 | 9,989 |
| East Midlands Development Agency | 96,940 | 7,528 |
| Advantage West Midlands | 170,721 | 8,793 |
| East of England Development Agency | 62,113 | 5,836 |
| South East of England Development Agency | 108,859 | 7,143 |
| South West of England Regional Development Agency | 92,059 | 9,099 |
| London Development Agency | 298,139 | 9,470 |
| Total | 1,517,010 | 85,667 |
These are the latest figures available and are excluding receipts. The changes from the original budget reflects in-year additional funding for things such as the Business Recovery fund to help small businesses deal with the foot and mouth crisis and new programmes such as the regional centres of manufacturing excellence.
The RDA board members' salaries and expenses for the financial year 2000–01 are as follows:
| Regional Development Agency | Total Salaries for board members | Total Expenses for board members |
|---|---|---|
| One North East | 139 | 14 |
| North West Development Agency | 139 | 29 |
| Yorkshire Forward | 120 | 7 |
| East Midlands Development Agency | 148 | 19 |
| Advantage West Midlands | 138 | 15 |
| East of England Development Agency | 148 | 21 |
| South East of England Development Agency | 152 | 17 |
| South West of England Regional Development Agency | 146 | 34 |
| Total | 1130 | 156 |
Note:
All figures have been rounded to the nears £000.
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London Development Agency board members are the responsibility of the Greater London Authority.
The total salaries for board members of each region vary for a number of reasons, such as: numbers of members, date of appointment, some members waive their fees and some members have additional responsibilities for which they are remunerated. The figures for board members' salaries are taken from the RDAs' annual accounts for 2000–01.
Fixed Term Work Directive
Mr. Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on her plans to implement the European directive on fixed term work. [29348]
Alan Johnson: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, North-West (Dr. Naysmith) on 21 January 2002, Official Report, column 561W.
Government Payment Performance
Mr. Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the average number of days from the date of invoice to date of payment taken by Government Departments and non-departmental agencies during 2001 to pay accounts payable. [30144]
Ms Hewitt: The Government take this issue very seriously and are working hard to improve their payment performance.
All Government Departments and agencies have been required to monitor their payment performance, and are required to pay all valid invoices within 30 days or other agreed credit period.
My Department collects the payment performance figures, which are published annually in July.
I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Great Yarmouth (Mr. Wright) on 19 July 2001, Official Report, column 322W.
Regulations
Mr. Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many new regulatory measures in relation to business the Government have introduced in the last year; and how many have ceased to have effect. [30145]
Ms Hewitt: The Department was responsible for 100 regulations introduced since 1 January 2001. Of these regulations 83 imposed negligible or no costs on business and eight have saved costs.
Records relating to repealed regulations are not held centrally. The information requested could be obtained and collated only at disproportionate cost.
Telecommunications
Mr. Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her estimate is of the net change in employment levels in the telecommunications and telecommunications equipment industries in 2002. [30148]
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Ms Hewitt: 2002 is likely to be a year of transition for both the telecommunications services and the telecommunications equipment industries following dramatic global restructuring in 2001. Given the pace of change in these sectors, it is not possible to predict the net impact on employment in 2002.
Broadband
Mr. Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to ensure that by 2005 Britain will have the most competitive and extensive broadband network in the G7. [30150]
Ms Hewitt: We set out the Government strategy for broadband in the UK Online report on 3 December. This report can be found on the website of the e-envoy http://www.-envoy.gov.uk/ukonline/championsh/ anrepmenu.htm.
Recruitment Agencies
Mr. Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of recruitment agencies specialise in (a) IT recruitment, (b) secretarial recruitment, (c) health care recruitment and (d) transport industries recruitment; and how many recruitment agencies are classified as SMEs. [30692]
Alan Johnson: I have no detailed breakdown of the private recruitment industry by particular specialist areas, since many agencies and employment businesses provide work-finding services for a number of occupations. However, we estimate that of around 20,000 establishments in the industry, about 10 per cent. specialise in IT recruitment and almost 5 per cent. are licensed nurses agencies. While this industry is made up predominantly of small firms, I have no details of the number of establishments which would be classified as SMEs.
Mr. Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the Recruitment and Employment Confederation has withdrawn support for the proposals in the draft regulations on the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations 2001; and what plans she has to hold further discussions with the Confederation. [30684]
Alan Johnson: I have received no indication that the Recruitment and Employment Confederation has changed its position on the draft Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations. I currently have no plans for further meetings with the Confederation but my officials have regular meetings with its representatives.
Mr. Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many representations her Department has received on her proposals for quarantine periods in the legislative framework governing agency conduct; and if she will make a statement. [30674]
Alan Johnson: During the latest consultation exercise on the draft Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations, we received 80 representations containing comments on the proposed quarantine provisions.
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The principles underlying our proposals on the quarantine periods to apply to the payment of transfer fees are in line with suggestions made by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, the principal trade association in the private recruitment industry.
Mr. Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which individuals and organisations will be invited to respond to the further consultation on the draft Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations. [30678]
Alan Johnson: The further consultation on certain aspects of the draft Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations will cover all those consulted last time. These regulations will also be placed on the DTI website.
Mr. Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what studies her Department has conducted into the length of time an IT professional placed through a personal services agency must be in post to recoup an agency's initial costs. [30691]
Alan Johnson: The Department has undertaken no studies into the length of time an IT professional placed through a personal services agency must be in post in order to recoup the initial costs of the placement incurred by an employment business. Such information would be regarded as commercially confidential by the industry.
Mr. Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to exempt from the draft Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations those temporary staff who choose to operate through personal service companies; and if she will make a statement. [30682]
Alan Johnson: I have no plans to exempt work-seekers who choose to operate through personal service companies from the draft Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations.
When the existing Conduct Regulations were introduced in 1975, it was very unusual for workers to be incorporated, and those working through limited companies were, therefore, left outside the protection provided. However, in recent years, incorporation has become widespread in some sectors, notably IT, and I think we should ensure that these work-seekers are also covered by the protections provided in the proposed regulations.
Mr. Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to meet representatives of the Association of Technology Staffing Companies during the further consultation period for the draft Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations. [30677]
Alan Johnson: I have no current plans to meet representatives of the Association of Technology Staffing Companies during the further consultation on certain aspects of the draft Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations.
Mr. Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if she will make a statement on the length of time it has taken to draft the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations 2001 and the costs involved; [30683]
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- (2) what her timetable is for the completion of the draft Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations; [30679]
(3) if she will make a statement on the reasons for the delay in laying the revision of the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations before the House. [30675]
Alan Johnson: The draft Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations comprise a large and detailed package, covering a wide range of issues. We have taken the time necessary to undertake extensive consultation exercises and discuss these issues with the recruitment industry. It is important to ensure that the new regulations are right for the industry, since they are likely to stay in place for some time.
I expect to issue the revised draft regulations shortly, following a short consultation exercise on certain aspects of these regulations.
I have no estimate of the costs involved in drafting these regulations.
Mr. Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recommendations the Better Regulation Task Force has made on revising the existing Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations; and if she will make a statement. [30676]
Alan Johnson: In 1999 the Better Regulation Task Force suggested alternative options for the transfer fee proposals in the draft Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations.
The task force welcomed the Government's review of the existing Conduct Regulations and endorsed our objectives. In particular, it supported our aims of improving the protections for vulnerable people and excluded groups, while avoiding placing unnecessary burdens on the private recruitment industry. The task force shares the Government's view that this industry has a vital role to play in the economy. After further discussions with the industry we decided to adopt a modified version of one of the task force's proposals.
Mr. Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions she has had with the Recruitment and Employment Federation on the temporary recruitment industry. [30711]
Alan Johnson: I have discussed a range of issues affecting the private recruitment industry with representatives of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC). At my last meeting with the REC on 9 October 2001, the subjects covered included the draft Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations and the proposed EU Directive on agency workers.
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