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Mobile Phones

Janet Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what measures he plans to take to encourage greater awareness among the motoring public of the dangers of using mobile phones when driving. [44609]

Mr. Jamieson: To reinforce the message in the Highway Code, the Department is currently preparing new publicity to be launched this spring, as part of its "Think!" campaign, to raise awareness of the dangers of using mobile phones when driving.

Janet Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he plans to review the legislative framework regarding the use of mobile phones when driving. [44608]

Mr. Jamieson: The Government are satisfied that current legislation provides the police with sufficient powers to enable them to prosecute irresponsible drivers. However, in accordance with our Road Safety Strategy "Tomorrow's roads—safer for everyone", we will keep the need for new legislation under review.

Janet Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what assessment he has made of the dangers relating to driving when using (a) hand-held and (b) hands-free mobile phones; [44614]

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(2) what research his Department is undertaking into the dangers relating to the use of mobile phones when driving. [44615]

Mr. Jamieson: The Department is satisfied that there is clear evidence of an increased risk of an accident when using any type of mobile phone while driving. International research has established that the increased risk of an accident arises from the distracting effects of holding a telephone conversation rather than from just driving with one hand on the wheel. Further research, commissioned within the Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research Programme towards the end of last year, is under way to measure the distraction from hands-free phones in comparison to other common driver distractions such as talking with passengers or tuning the radio.

BAC Limit

Dr. Ladyman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to change the legal BAC limit for motorists. [45267]

Mr. Jamieson: There are no plans to make a change in the foreseeable future. The limit will stay at 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. The Government consulted on this in 1998 and waited upon proposals from Europe before considering the matter further. No firm legislation was forthcoming from the European Union although the European Commission produced a Recommendation which, among other measures, recommended community wide harmonisation of the legal blood alcohol content (BAC) limit for motorists at 50mg. We have now considered whether it would be desirable to make such a change and concluded that we should maintain emphasis on enforcement and publicity. In reaching this decision the Government were mindful of the fact that our penalties are among the toughest in Europe. But we remain committed to combating drink-driving and support more research and collaboration at a European level.

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TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Criminal Damage

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the cost has been of criminal damage to her Department's buildings in each of the last four years. [44833]

Ms Hewitt: My Department does not keep a separate record of the cost of criminal damage to its buildings. The information requested could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

European Bank for Reconstruction and

Development

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she last met (a) the President and (b) the UK Director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. [40375]

Ms Hewitt: I have had no meetings with the President or UK Director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

Post Office

Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what powers she has to extend the Postcomm consultation on the opening of bulk mail delivery to competition beyond 15 March; and what the policies of other European Union member states are on the opening of bulk mail delivery to competition. [40554]

Mr. Alexander: The timetable for Postcomm's consultation on its document proposals for effective competition in UK postal services is a matter for Postcomm. On 13 March Postcomm announced that it had decided to extend—to Friday 12 April—the date for comments on its proposals.

The policies of other EU member states on market opening are a matter for them, providing they are acting in accordance with EU legislation.

Small Business Service

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry following the recommendation of the Small Business Council report, what plans the Government have for the reallocation of resources (a) to and (b) within the Small Business Service. [36978]

Nigel Griffiths: The Government, in their 2002 Spending Review will consider the level of resources, and broad internal allocation, for the SBS for the period from April 2003 to March 2006. The Spending Review will be informed by the Government's review of services for small business. The allocation of resources within the SBS for 2002–03 is being considered as the Business Plan for this year is developed.

Timber

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the companies from which her Department has obtained timber and wood products and the total spent with each firm over the last five years. [43410]

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Ms Hewitt: All Departmental furniture is currently purchased through suppliers approved by the Office of Government Commerce. As part of their service level agreement with my Department the OGC undertake that all their approved suppliers comply with all relevant public procurement regulations and directives. More detailed information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Non-Governmental Organisations

Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her answer of 8 March 2002, Official Report, column 592W, what information she collates on the funding of non-Governmental organisations by her Department, with particular reference to those operating on a regional basis; and if she will make a statement. [43917]

Ms Hewitt: My Department does not hold information centrally on the amount of funding it provides to the charitable or voluntary sectors by region.

Overall information on Government funding of the voluntary sector can be found in the Home Office research publication "Central Government Funding of Voluntary and Community Organisations 1982–83 to 1999–2000", copies of which are in the Libraries of the House. This includes information on the proportion of that funding provided by my Department.

Patent Office

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what targets she has set the Patent Office, for 2002–03. [45051]

Miss Melanie Johnson: I have set the Patent Office the following targets for 2002–03:

Patents

1. To increase performance year on year so that 90 per cent. of search reports are issued within six months of request by 2005–06.

2. To grant 90 per cent. of patents within three years of request.

Designs

3. To register 90 per cent. of correctly filed design applications, to which no substantive objections have been raised, within three months of the date of application.

Trade Marks

4. To register 90 per cent. of processed trade mark class applications, to which no substantive objections are raised or oppositions filed within nine months of application.

5. To reduce to an average of 39 weeks the time taken to issue a decision in trade mark inter partes cases once the case is ready.

Policy

6. To publish details of progress towards key milestones in UK and international policy development in the annual report and on our website.

Efficiency Targets

7. To increase output in relation to current expenditure by an average of at least 2 per cent. per annum over the period 1998–99 to 2002–03.

In addition to these key targets:

Customer Service Standards

To meet our customer service standards as shown in the annual report and on our website at www.patent.gov.uk

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Finance

The Office will pay 100 per cent. of bills within 30 days of receipt of goods or services or a valid invoice, whichever is the later.

Questions delegated to the Chief Executive

The Chief Executive will reply within 10 working days to all letters from Members of Parliament delegated to her for reply.

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