| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Gap Funding
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what representations he has received about his most recent proposals to replace gap funding. [55713]
Ms Keeble: We have received representations from three organisations; the St. John's Urban Village, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and the Council for the Protection of Rural England, in respect of the proposals for the housing, dereliction and heritage aid schemes. We are working closely with the regional development agencies, English Partnerships and English Heritage on the development of these schemes. We are also with the regional development agencies, English Partnerships and others on further possible schemes to notify to the European Commission.
Martin Sixsmith
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will place in the Library a copy of the statement made by his Department on 7 May regarding the resignation of Mr. Martin Sixsmith. [55850]
Mr. Byers: The statement agreed by my Department and Martin Sixsmith was placed in the Library on 7 May.
Mr. Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the answer of 12 March 2002, Official Report, column 906W, on resignations, if he will revise his response in relation to the resignation of Mr. Martin Sixsmith. [55751]
Mr. Byers: I refer the hon. Member to the statement I made to the House on 9 May 2002.
Ministerial Speeches
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the speeches which (a) he and (b) other Ministers from his Department have made to external organisations and businesses since 7 June 2001, in each case providing details of where the speech is publicly available; if he will place copies of speeches not available in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [55844]
Dr. Whitehead: DTLR Ministers have undertaken a very wide range of speaking engagements since 7 June 2001. A record of all speeches is not held centrally and could be compiled only at disproportionate cost. Key ministerial speeches are available on the DTLR website address: http://www.dtlr.gov.uk/about/ministers/speeches/ index.htm. Copies will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
Technical Support Contracts
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what technical support contracts were awarded by the Health and Safety Executive between 1 January and 31 December 1997. [55778]
Dr. Whitehead: The information requested has been placed in the Libraries of the House.
14 May 2002 : Column 525W
Religious Affiliations (Staff)
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will collect statistics on the religious affiliation of staff employed in local government with special reference to Muslim women in the work force; and if he will make a statement. [55441]
Dr. Whitehead: My Department has no plans to do so. Some local authorities already collect and monitor statistics relating to diversity and equal opportunity issues. However, this does not currently include religious affiliation of staff. In 2003 legislation against discrimination of grounds of religion or belief will come into force in order to comply with our responsibilities under the employment directive. All employers, including local authorities, will need to consider how best to meet their responsibilities under this legislation. The best employers will recognise the advantages of a fully diverse work force.
Ministerial Accommodation
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what publicly owned accommodation is made available to him in his official role; how many nights he has been in residence at each of these properties in the last 12 months; and what the total cost is of maintaining each of these properties. [55101]
Dr. Whitehead [holding answer 9 May 2002]: No publicly owned accommodation is made available to the Secretary of State in his official role.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
MOX (Sellafield)
Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her reply to the hon. Member for Hazel Grove (Mr. Stunell), of 15 April 2002, Official Report, column 748W, on British Nuclear Fuels, if she will place in the Library a copy of BNFL's safety case for the receipt, handling and storage of the faulty mox on the Sellafield site. [54363]
Mr. Wilson: No. Safety cases submitted to meet HSE's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate's specific regulatory requirements are "relevant information" under s28 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and may not be made public when the licensee withholds consent.
Energy Policy
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans the Government have for consulting on energy policy; and if she will make a statement. [57109]
Mr. Wilson: I am pleased to announce today that the Government has launched a major consultation on energy policy. I have placed copies of the consultation document in the Libraries of the House.
We want to know how people think energy policy should develop.
I am determined to make the consultation process as open and inclusive as possible. It will run from now till the end of the summer, leading to a White Paper around
14 May 2002 : Column 526W
the turn of the year. This will include a response to the Performance and Innovation Unit's Energy Review and to its emphasis on a low-carbon economy and greater energy efficiency.
Employment Law
Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations she has received regarding a change in the law concerning probation periods; and what plans she has to review this part of employment law. [55902]
Alan Johnson: None. We have no plans.
Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent research she has commissioned into the rights of employees working probationary periods prior to full-time contracts; and if she will publish the results of such research. [55910]
Work Fatalities
Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action she is taking to reduce the number of work-related illnesses and accidents that result in death. [55006]
Dr. Whitehead: I have been asked to reply.
The primary responsibility for avoiding fatalities arising from work-related accidents and ill health rests with employers and workers. The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) and Health and Safety Executive have statutory responsibilities to promote health and safety and, with local authorities to enforce the law.
In 1999 the Government and the HSC recognised that improvement in health and safety including reducing the number of fatalities had reached a plateau and for that reason launched a review of health and safety. This resulted in the Revitalising Health and Safety Strategy and the first ever 10 year national health and safety targets.
HSC's Strategic Plan sets out how HSC will focus its effort to deliver the Revitalising Targets. This includes priority programmes focusing on areas of major concern in relation to fatalities, as well as accidents and ill health.
HSC will be reporting regularly on this long-term plan. The next report will be in the autumn.
Advisory Committee Mandates
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the mandate of the Restricted Committee of the Safety and Health Commission for the Mining and other extractive industries is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement. [55240]
Dr. Whitehead: I have been asked to reply.
The Restricted Committee of the Safety and Health Commission for the Mining and Other Extractive Industries (SCHMOEI) is a committee comprising
14 May 2002 : Column 527W
representatives from the governments of the member states of the European Union which meets immediately prior to the full meetings of the main committee. Its role is to prepare the meetings of the main committee which is a tripartite body.
SCHMOEI's terms of reference include:
- following the developments regarding health and safety in coalmines and other extractive industries especially in matters of accident prevention;
advising on the issues involved in compiling comparable accident statistics;
facilitating the exchange of information and experience among persons responsible for health and safety matters;
proposing appropriate measures for ensuring the necessary liaison among the rescue services of the Community countries.
The committee meets twice a year. The secretariat is provided by the European Commission, which provides interpreting services etc. The European Commission also pays the travel expenses of the representatives. The costs to UK public funds are therefore the accommodation costs for the staff attending meetings (less than £1000 per year) and their salary costs.
SCHMOEI publishes an annual report. As a tripartite body its meetings are open to representatives of employers and employees.
The European Commission has published proposals to merge SCHMOEI with the main Advisory Committee on Safety and Health.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |