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Steel Industry
16. Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to help the Welsh steel industry. [42865]
Ms Hewitt: My Department and the National Assembly for Wales work closely with the steel industry to provide support to improve the sector's competitiveness. The Welsh Assembly co-ordinates the All-Wales Steel Task Force with the aim of promoting the industry as well as dealing with the consequences of restructuring.
My Department has supported a number of industry-led initiatives which benefit companies in Wales and elsewhere in the UK. The Metals Industry Competitive Enterprise (MICE) aims to introduce lean manufacturing techniques throughout the sector. Welsh companies are among those who have already taken advantage of this important initiative. In February I announced funding for the new National Metals Technology Centre (NAMTEC) which I hope will play an important role in ensuring the UK metals industry as a whole remains a world leader in innovation.
22. Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the British steel industry. [42873]
Ms Hewitt: The UK steel industry has experienced difficult trading conditions in recent years and many jobs have been lost through restructuring and cost cutting. However, the industry has an excellent productivity record, produces a wide range of high quality products and has a well trained work force helping it compete against international competition at home and overseas. We are determined to stand by the industry in combating the recent unjustified US action to impose prohibitive import tariffs.
Mr. Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people were employed in the UK steel industry in each of the last 20 years. [44777]
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Ms Hewitt: The number of people employed in the UK steel industry in each of the last 20 years was:
| (1)Thousand | |
|---|---|
| 1982 | 74.5 |
| 1983 | 63.7 |
| 1984 | 61.9 |
| 1985 | 59.0 |
| 1986 | 55.9 |
| 1987 | 54.9 |
| 1988 | 55.1 |
| 1989 | 53.8 |
| 1990 | 50.8 |
| 1991 | 45.1 |
| 1992 | 40.8 |
| 1993 | 39.2 |
| 1994 | 38.1 |
| 1995 | 37.9 |
| 1996 | 36.5 |
| 1997 | 35.2 |
| 1998 | 32.5 |
| 1999 | 28.9 |
| 2000 | 25.5 |
| 2001 | (2)22.0 |
(1) Number employed at end of year on European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) iron and steel activities.
(2) Estimated.
Source:
The Iron and Steel Statistics Bureau.
Post Office Network
17. Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to publicise the services available at local post offices. [42867]
Mr. Alexander: This is an operational matter for Consignia.
I have however been informed by Post Office Ltd. that extensive marketing and advertising are undertaken to raise awareness of new and existing products offered through the post office network.
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations she has received on the rural postal network. [43846]
Mr. Alexander: I refer the hon. Member for the Vale of York to my answer on 11 February 2002, Official Report, column 69W.
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action she is taking to maintain the network of sub-post offices in urban neighbourhoods. [42872]
Mr. Alexander: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to the hon. Member for Hertsmere earlier today.
Broadband
19. Jonathan Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what she is doing to increase use of broadband technology. [42869]
Mr. Alexander: The Government strategy to drive broadband rollout and take up was set out in the UK Online annual report published in December 2001.
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The report includes a number of actions to stimulate demand, by making it easier to access broadband services, and stimulating the demand and supply of new broadband content and applications.
23. Mrs. Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many homes and businesses have a broadband connection. [42874]
Mr. Alexander: Oftel's broadband brief published in February 2002 reported that there were over 146,000 ADSL end-users and 196,000 cable modem end-users. Take-up is growing rapidly, with a growth of over 500 per cent. over the last year.
Menswear Exports
20. Mr. Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to raise with the WTO the tariff on exports of menswear from the United Kingdom to the United States; and if she will make a statement. [42870]
Ms Hewitt: This issue will be addressed as part of the market access negotiations within the WTO Doha Development.
Clean Coal Technology
21. Mr. Bill O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received following the publication of the energy report by the performance and innovation unit on clean coal technology; and if she will make a statement. [42871]
Ms Hewitt: To date we have received no representations following the publication of my Department's review on Government support for cleaner coal technology demonstration plant.
Trade Sanctions
24. Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has, in coordination with European partners, for targeted trade sanctions on US products. [42875]
Ms Hewitt: The Government fully support the European Commission's request for consultations with the US, including seeking compensation for the damage to EU trade by the US measures. We will await the outcome of these consultations before reaching any final view on other responses to the US measures.
Philippines
25. Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her statement of 15 November 2001, Official Report, column 1000, on the WTO, what progress has been made in consultations with the Philippines on trade issues in relation to Mindanao. [42876]
Ms Hewitt: Although the Government do not have a bilateral aid programme with the Philippines, the Philippines does receive considerable support from other donors and from multilateral organisations, including the World bank and the Asian Development bank, both of which receive funds from the Government. These multilateral resources should enable the Government of
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the Philippines to tackle poverty and achieve faster growth, provided that a sound policy environment can be maintained.
If the Mindanao train project is sound and requires concessional resources, multilateral finance should be available.
Vibration White Finger
26. John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the decision to set a deadline on new claims to the compensation scheme for current and ex-miners suffering from vibration white finger. [42877]
Ms Hewitt: The number of new claims registered under the scheme is declining and this has led to reduced opening times for many testing centres. The Department is keen to ensure that existing claims are assessed and settled as soon as possible. In consultation with the Claimants' Solicitors Group the Department has agreed a cut-off date of 31 October 2002. This has been advertised in local and national press.
Once the scheme is closed, claims may still be accepted by solicitors and processed as personal injury claims.
Climate Change Levy
27. Mr. Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations she has received about the cost impact of the climate change levy on the competitive position of manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom. [42878]
Ms Hewitt: The Department has received a number of representations from business about the climate change levy.
The Government are keeping in touch with business on the levy to monitor initial experience with its operation. Primary responsibility for the levy lies with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Environmental Policies
28. Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she takes to integrate environmental concerns into her Department's policies. [42879]
Ms Hewitt: DTI's aim is to ensure that environmental concerns are brought into the mainstream of the Department's policy-making and operational management, within the wider context of promoting sustainable development.
The effectiveness of DTI's procedures for environmental screening and appraisal of policies were reviewed last year by a member of the Foresight Environmental Appraisal Task Force and the Department's internal audit. New guidelines are being finalised which will be published on DTI's website.
DTI's Estates and Facilities Management Directorate run an environmental managements system accredited to ISO 14001 covering DTI's HQ Buildings. It incorporates monitoring, control and regular audits to ensure the continued effectiveness of the system and to track progress towards targets.
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