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TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Relocation Companies
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which relocation companies her Department has used when relocating civil servants since May 1997; which relocation companies hold contracts with her Department for the relocation of civil servants; when the contracts were last renewed; where the contracts were advertised; and what the length and value of each contract is. [42365]
Ms Hewitt: Since May 1997 the Department has used only one company and has a contract with only one company for relocating civil servants, Cendant Relocation Services (previously known as Bradford and Bingley Relocation Services and Black Horse Relocation Services). The contract was let in November 1999. The contract was not advertised; six companies were invited to tender. The contract runs until 31 October 2002 (with provision to extend if necessary). Its value at award was £950,000 a year.
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many civil servants in her Ministry have used the services of Cendant or its subsidiaries (a) to relocate in London and (b) to be housed in London since May 1997; what the name was of the company employed in each case; and what were the dates on each occasion. [42366]
Ms Hewitt: From April 2000 to March 2002 11 DTI civil servants have used the services of Cendant Relocation Services to relocate to and to be housed in London or within a reasonable travelling distance of London. The relocations were initiated on: 23 May 2000, 2 June 2000, 17 August 2000, 27 July 2000, 19 January 2001, 30 January 2001, 22 May 2001, 4 September 2001, 19 October 2001, 2 January 2002 and 7 March 2002.
Prior to April 2000 DTI did not record data on relocation by location from other data on staff relocations. To provide the information requested from May 1997 to March 2000 would entail disproportionate cost.
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Catering Services
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the cost was of (a) in-house canteen and (b) other catering services provided by her Department in each of the last four years. [38934]
Ms Hewitt: The information is as follows:
| £000 | |
|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 247 |
| 1998–99 | 236 |
| 1999–2000 | 246 |
| 2000–01 | 101 |
For 2001–02 and subsequent years no costs will be incurred.
Gender Pay Gap
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the extent of the gender pay gap among staff in her Department. [41004]
Ms Hewitt: My Department is in the process of undertaking an audit of our pay system. In line with the commitment on all Government Departments and agencies, we will put in place by April 2003 an action plan to close any equal pay gaps that emerge.
Mr. Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the average gap was between men's and women's pay in (a) Glasgow, Pollok constituency and (b) Glasgow in 2001. [40819]
Alan Johnson: Estimates for the Parliamentary Constituency of Glasgow, Pollok are not available. According to the 2001 New Earnings Survey, conducted by the Office for National Statistics, average hourly pay for full-time employees, excluding overtime, in the Glasgow City Unitary Authority, was £11.27 for men and £9.06 for women, a pay gap of £2.21.
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Dr. Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the average gap was between men's and women's pay in Finchley and Golders Green constituency in 2001. [40815]
Alan Johnson: Estimates for the Parliamentary Constituency of Finchley and Golders Green are not available. According to the 2001 New Earnings Survey, conducted by the Office for National Statistics, average hourly pay for full-time employees, excluding overtime, in the London Government Office Region, was £16.83 for men and £13.00 for women, a pay gap of £3.83.
Job Sharing
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the extent of job sharing in her Department. [41047]
Ms Hewitt: My Department promotes flexible working, including job sharing, in its personnel systems. Unless there are fully justifiable business requirements to prevent it, which is rare, all jobs are advertised as being available on a part-time, job share/split and full-time basis.
Relocation Expenses
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her policy is on the payment of relocation expenses to staff in her Department. [41028]
Ms Hewitt: The Department acts as a responsible employer when requiring a member of staff to relocate. Assistance is offered if either the mobility obligation is enforced or if permanent and compulsory terms are offered and relocation is cost-effective compared with alternatives. The principle underlying the Department's policy is that reasonable additional costs necessarily incurred in relocation will be reimbursed, though this should not result in the betterment of an individual's circumstances.
Accommodation Costs
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the cost was of hotel accommodation for departmental staff working away from home in each of the last four years. [41055]
Ms Hewitt: The cost of UK hotel accommodation, booked by staff through the departmental hotel booking agents during each of the last four financial years are:
| £ | |
|---|---|
| April 1998 to March 1999 | 826,662 |
| April 1999 to March 2000 | 779,384 |
| April 2000 to March 2001 | 928,242 |
| April 2001 to January 2002 | 853,200 |
Small Business Service
Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made in finding a replacement for the Chief Executive of the Small Business Service. [41460]
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Nigel Griffiths: On 6 February my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry announced a new Chief Executive for the Small Business Service, Martin Wyn Griffith.
Post Office
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the cost of the Horizon project was broken down by (a) cancellation payments and (b) others costs; and from which accounts of the Government and their agencies those costs were met. [40551]
Mr. Alexander: The total cost to Consignia of the Horizon project to automate the whole of the Post Office network was £1 billion. No cancellation payments have been made. £480 million of the project costs were funded from cash investments held by Consignia and previously earmarked for surrender to the Treasury. Wider background to the Horizon project is provided in the reports of the Committee of Public Accounts and of the Comptroller and Auditor General on the cancellation of the Benefit Payment Card project.
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) when she expects the review of the future of the Crown office at Barras Bridge, Newcastle to be completed; [40552]
- (2) how many sorting offices are located in (a) Northumberland, (b) Tyne and Wear, (c) Durham and (d) Cleveland which are open at weekends; and what proposals there are for changes in (a) the number of sorting offices and (b) weekend opening. [40553]
Mr. Alexander: This is a matter that falls within the day to day responsibility of Consignia and I have therefore asked the chief executive to reply direct to my hon. Friend.
Trailblazing Sector
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the meetings she has had with representatives from the trailblazing sector skills council. [40246]
Ms Hewitt: I have had no such meetings.
BAE, Filton
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will investigate the situation at BAE, Filton with particular reference to (a) the operation of the Rapid Response Fund and other training grants and (b) the role of the South West Regional Development Agency in their delivery. [41240]
Alan Johnson: There is no Rapid Response Fund awarded to BAE Systems at Filton as no large scale redundancy has taken place at this location. The RDA does not provide training grants.
Polyurethane
Mr. Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations have been made to the European Commission in respect of dumping of polyurethane film products. [41419]
11 Mar 2002 : Column 671W
Ms Hewitt: My Department has not received any representations about the dumping of polyurethane products. Any representations to the European Commission in respect of anti-dumping complaints are confidential until an investigation is opened.
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