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Fireworks
Mr. Lyons: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans the Government have to introduce legislation to restrict the sale of fireworks. [60480]
Mr. Wilson: The Fireworks (Safety) Regulations 1997 introduced comprehensive controls on the types and sizes of fireworks which can be sold to the public. I have no plans to introduce further legislation.
Tyres (Disposal)
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what incentives she has given to encourage (a) recycling and (b) cascade use of scrapped tyres. [60641]
Mr. Wilson: Over the years the Government have provided financial support to a number of tyre recycling projects, across a broad spectrum of activity, at various stages of development. R & D has received support through schemes such as SMART, Partners in Innovation and those run by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. Companies have also received grants where they have chosen to establish themselves in particular areas of the country eligible for support under schemes such as regional selective assistance.
The Government have been working with the tyre industry since 1995 through the Used Tyre Working Group, which includes the four major tyre associations and representatives from the DTI and the Environment Agency. This group produces an annual report which identifies the main destinations for scrapped tyres, and presents statistics which quantify tyre recovery rates. This information is made widely available.
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Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures she has put in place to ensure that whole tyres will be properly disposed of once they are banned from landfill sites. [60639]
Mr. Wilson: We are working closely with the industry and regulatory authorities such as the Environment Agency on tyre disposal and recovery issues. The proper disposal of tyres forms an important element of this work. The agency is committed to a long term programme, leading up to the landfill tyre ban, aimed at improving industry's awareness of its disposal responsibilities, backed up by effective enforcement action. We wholeheartedly endorse this programme and have provided additional funding to strengthen the agency's enforcement capabilities in this area.
It will be necessary to ensure that the framework underpinning the tyre landfill ban promotes responsible tyre disposal and recovery. In April, DTI issued a discussion document on used tyre issues which included a possible statutory producer responsibility model. Comments on that discussion paper have been requested by 12 July 2002. We will consider next steps in light of the responses received.
Aerospace Industry
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals she has to assist aerospace businesses and their employees made redundant since 11 September 2001. [60179]
Alan Johnson: The DTI is supporting the aerospace industry by investing nearly £1 billion in product development by Rolls-Royce and Airbus, by providing funding for a long-term research effort in aerospace and by supporting competitiveness improvement activities throughout the supply chain.
Substantial funds have been made available by the DFES for use by the jobcentre plus rapid response service job focused training to assist those made redundant to take up retraining opportunities and thus remain skilled and able to re-enter the labour market.
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many jobs have been lost in aerospace since 11 September 2001, broken down by constituency; and when she plans to visit those constituencies. [60180]
Alan Johnson: The latest estimate is that there have been approximately 14,000 direct job losses in the aerospace industry since 11 September 2001. A breakdown of this figure is given in the table by company and as far as possible by location but not by constituency as these data are not available.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has been in contact with the industry's representatives but is not planning any constituency visits dealing solely with job losses.
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Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether she will seek the co-operation of other European Ministers to establish a co-ordinated programme of assistance for areas suffering the aerospace downturn. [60181]
Alan Johnson: The DTI is co-operating with our European partners on a wide number of aerospace issues designed to ensure the long term prosperity of the industry. However, we consider that the areas affected by the recent downturn are best helped by continuing a sound macro-economic policy and by assisting those made redundant to re-skill themselves.
New Direct Bank
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her answer of 20 May 2002, Official Report, column 48W, on the new direct bank, for what reason she was unable to provide information on whether all benefit claimants will have access to the new direct bank; when she expects the new direct bank to be established; which (a) banks and (b) building societies have agreed to deliver the new direct bank services; and with which company a contract has been signed for the benefit payment card account. [60451]
Mr. Timms: My hon. Friend, the former Minister for Competitiveness and E-Commerce, was unable to provide information on "the new direct bank" because there was and is no such entity on which to provide information.
Universal banking services consist of two elements, post office access to the banks' own basic bank accounts and a simple card account at Post Office for benefit and tax credit recipients. These are scheduled for delivery in advance of the migration of benefit payment to ACT which begins in April 2003.
Barclays, Lloyds TSB, Royal Bank of Scotland/ Nat West, HSBC, Abbey National, HBOS, Alliance and Leicester, NAG, the Co-operative bank and the Nationwide building society have agreed to make their
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own basic bank accounts accessible at post offices and to support setting up a simple card account accessible only at post offices.
Post Office Ltd. has contracted with EDS for the outsourced services for the card account.
The Government are developing a detailed migration and marketing strategy for the transition to ACT. The emphasis of the ACT migration and marketing strategy will be to ensure that each customer has the best bank account for his or her circumstances. Conventional and basic bank accounts offer more services and do not have the limitations of the card account and so are likely to be the best option for the vast majority of people. There will, however, be no eligibility criteria or cap on card account numbers. And whatever type of account is used, we remain fully committed to meeting the Prime Minister's pledge that those who wish to do so will be able to continue to get their benefits in cash at post offices, in full and without charge.
Committee Mandates
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the mandate of the Committee on statistics relating to the trading of goods between member states 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. [58440]
Mr. Boateng: I have been asked to reply.
The legal basis for the Committee on statistics relating to the trading of goods between member states is at Article 29 of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 3330/91. The mandate of the committee is to examine any question relating to the implementation of this regulation.
The committee has met three times over the last 12 months.
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The UK is normally represented by two officials from HM Customs and Excise.
Travel expenses for one official are reimbursed by the Commission. The usual cost of overnight accommodation and subsistence per day per official is 224 euro (£146.40).
Items considered by the committee all relate to the implementation, interpretation and application of EC legislation dealing with the collection of intra EC trade statistics.
Accountability and transparency to Parliament is ensured by the regular EU process. EU documents which fall within the Scrutiny Terms of Reference are deposited with Parliament along with an Explanatory Memorandum for examination by the Scrutiny Committees.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the mandate of the Committee on statistics relating to the trading of goods with non-member countries 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. [58441]
Mr. Boateng: I have been asked to reply.
The legal basis for the Committee on statistics relating to the trading of goods with non-member countries is at Article 20 of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 1172/95. The mandate of the committee is to examine any question relating to the implementation of this regulation.
The committee has met three times over the last 12 months.
The UK is normally represented by two officials from HM Customs and Excise.
Travel expenses for one official are reimbursed by the Commission. The usual cost of overnight accommodation and subsistence per day per official is 224 euro (£146.40).
Items considered by the committee all relate to the implementation, interpretation and application of EC legislation dealing with the collection of intra EC trade statistics.
Accountability and transparency to Parliament is ensured by the regular EU process. EU documents which fall within the Scrutiny Terms of Reference are deposited with Parliament along with an Explanatory Memorandum for examination by the Scrutiny Committees.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the mandate of the Contact Committee on combating money laundering 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. [56749]
Ruth Kelly: I have been asked to reply.
The role and responsibilities of the Contact Committee on Money Laundering are set out in Article 13 of Council Directive 91/308/EEC of 10 June 1991 on prevention
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of the use of the financial system for the purpose of money laundering (Official Journal L166, 28/06/1991 P. 0077–0083).
The committee meets either at the request of the chair or of the delegation of a member state. Since May 2001, it has met three times. The UK is represented by officials from HM Treasury and the Home Office.
The information regarding the annual cost of the committee's work to public funds can be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.
At its most recent meeting, the committee considered implementation of the Second EU Money Laundering Directive, the anti-money laundering systems in accession candidate countries, protecting employees making Suspicious Transaction Reports and implementation of the Financial Action Task Force Special Recommendations on terrorist financing.
The Contact Committee on Money Laundering is primarily intended to facilitate consultation between officials from member states and to allow for exchange of views and experiences on money laundering issues. The committee does not take any decisions.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the mandate of the Committee for the Adaptation to Technical Progress of the Directive on the Removal of Technical Barriers to Trade in Construction Plant and Equipment 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. [55214]
Ms Hewitt: It is my understanding that the hon. Member is referring to the Committee on the Adaptation to Technical Progress set up under Article 4 of Directive 79/113/EEC on the approximation of laws of the member states relating to the determination of the noise emission of construction plant and equipment. This committee has not met for several years because Directive 79/113/EEC was being superseded by Directive 2000/14/EC and was repealed on 3 January 2002 when Directive 2000/14/EC came fully into force. There is therefore no cost to public funds.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the mandate of the Advisory Committee on Restrictive Practices and Dominant Positions 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. [55218]
Ms Hewitt: I have nothing further to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member's questions numbers 55219, 55220, and 55221 on 22 May 2002, Official Report, columns 343–44W.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the mandate of the Committee for the Adaptation to Technical Progress of Directives on the Removal of Technical Barriers to Trade in the Lifting and Mechanical Handling of Appliances is; how many times
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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. [55373]
Ms Hewitt: Directive 84/528/EEC, on the approximation of the laws of the member states relating to common provisions for lifting and mechanical handling appliances, was repealed on 1 July 1999 by the Lifts Directive 95/16/EC. The work of the above committee has been incorporated into the Standing Committee for the Lifts Directive. I therefore refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 21 May 2002, Official Report, column 235W.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the mandate of the Advisory Committee on concentrations between undertakings 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. [55222]
Ms Hewitt: The Advisory Committee on concentrations between undertakings is the body through which the European Commission carries out its duty to consult the competent authorities of the member states before making certain decisions on cases being considered under the EC Merger Regulation (Regulation (EEC) 4064/89 as amended). These decisions concern declaring whether a concentration is compatible with the common market following a detailed 'Phase 2' investigation, and decisions on the imposition of fines and penalty payments. The Advisory Committee may also be convened to discuss policy issues relating to the implementation of the EC Merger regulation.
The DTI, the OFT and the Competition Commission are all competent authorities for the purposes of the ECMR. In practice, however, the UK is almost always represented at the Advisory Committee by the OFT.
The committee meets as required, dependant upon the number of cases reaching the relevant stages of the ECMR process. The committee has met 16 times in the last 12 months. Cases that are currently subject to a phase 2 investigation under the ECMR and, as such, may come before the Advisory Committee include 'Haniel/ Cementbouw/JV (CVK), Carnival Corporation/P&O Princess' and 'Promatech/Sulzer'.
The opinions of the Advisory Committee on merger cases are published in the Official Journal of the European Communities, as are final Commission decisions. In its response to the Commission's recent Green Paper on the Review of the ECMR, the UK suggested a number of ways in which the transparency of the Advisory Committee's work could be further enhanced.
It is not possible to calculate the cost to public funds of the work of the committee without incurring disproportionate cost.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the mandate of the Committee for the Harmonisation of National Legislation Relating to
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Recreational Craft 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. [55361]
Ms Hewitt: It is my understanding that the hon. Member is referring to the Standing Committee set up under Article 6 of the Directive 94/25/EC on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the member states relating to recreational craft. The mandate of the committee is contained in Article 6 of that directive. This committee has not met for several years and there are no meetings planned in near future. There is therefore no cost to public funds.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the mandate of the Advisory Committee for the implementation of the general framework for Community activities in favour of consumers is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the United Kingdom 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. [57492]
Ms Hewitt: The Advisory Committee for the implementation of the general framework for Community activities in favour of consumers was established by Decision No. 283/1999/EC. It has the remit of advising the European Commission on the provision of financial support for the activities of European consumer organisations and for specific projects to promote the interests of consumers in member states.
The committee currently considers the criteria for the two annual calls for the submission of bids for financial support and advises the European Commission on the selection of successful activities and projects.
The committee has met twice over the last 12 months and is attended by one UK official. It is not possible to calculate the cost to public funds of the work of the committee without incurring disproportionate cost.
Together with member states, the Commission is currently conducting a review to bring existing legislation on the conduct of comitology committees into line with Council Decision 1999/468/EC, to
- "simplify the requirements for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission".
As an obligation to this Decision, the Commission undertook to publish an annual report on the working of committees. The first report was deposited in the Libraries of the House on 26 February, COM(2001)783Final.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the mandate of the Co-ordinating Committee on Fusion Energy EC-USA 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
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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. [58398]
Ms Hewitt: This committee, which meets once a year co-ordinates and supervises the EU-USA collaboration agreement on fusion energy research. There is one UK representative on the committee and the annual cost is low as this meeting is generally held at the same time and venue place as other fusion meetings, there are therefore no extra travel costs.
The agreement covers joint research on European and US facilities, particularly exchanges of staff and loans of equipment. Europe's Joint European Torus (JET) fusion facilities and the UK's domestic experiment, the Mega Amp Spherical Tokamak (MAST), at Culham, benefit from these. The records of these meetings are available on request from my Department.
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