| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Climate Change Levy
Mr. Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions she has had with representatives of the manufacturing industry on the costs of the climate change levy. [58248]
Mr. Wilson: The Government are continuing to keep in touch with business on the climate change levy to monitor experience with its operation. Primary responsibility for the levy lies with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
The Budget proposals for the levy show Her Majesty's Government's readiness to listen to industry views and to amend the levy's design, where justified. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in the Budget that he proposed to:
- introduce complete exemption from the levy for electricity from good quality combined heat and power and from coal mine methane, subject to EU state aid approval;
13 Jun 2002 : Column 1377W
add new areas of energy saving technology to the list of those benefiting from enhanced capital allowances; and
introduce a new relief for certain recycling processes that compete with processes that benefit from the dual-use or non-fuel use exemptions.
Export Credits Guarantee Department
Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made on her Department's review of the economic benefits of the Export Credits Guarantee Department; and when it will be completed. [58249]
Ms Hewitt: Good progress is being made on the review of the economic benefits of ECGD, and we are expecting the majority of the work to be completed by the Summer.
Unsolicited Mail
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations she has had on the subject of unsolicited mail. [58234]
Miss Melanie Johnson: I have received a large amount of correspondence from the public about unsolicited mail. Unsolicited mail can be a legitimate marketing technique but it can also be a nuisance and includes deliberate scams. Action can be taken by registering with MPS and by enforcement bodies where scams are involved.
Accommodation Costs
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Buckingham, of 11 March, Official Report, column 699W, on accommodation costs, what the cost was from April 2001 to March 2002 of hotel accommodation for departmental staff working away from home; how many members of staff were so accommodated in the year in question; and what the average cost was per paid-for night of these stays. [61415]
Ms Hewitt: From April 2001 to March 2002, the average cost per night of hotel accommodation for DTI staff working away from home was #80.10.
The DTI has devolved to local management the authorisation of travel claims for its staff, subject to checking procedures. It does not record details of the number of staff requiring hotel accommodation when working away from home. To provide the information requested would entail disproportionate cost.
Advertising Campaigns
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much was spent on press and advertising campaigns in 2001–02; and what the planned expenditure is for 2002–03. [60900]
Ms Hewitt: The DTI spent #6,534,426 on all forms of advertising through COI in 2001–02. This figure, which is subject to audit confirmation, includes the COI rebate, but excludes VAT. Advertising expenditure in
13 Jun 2002 : Column 1378W
2002–03 will be determined by individual programme budget holders; this information is not held centrally and could only be produced at disproportionate cost.
Committee Mandates
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the mandate of the Committee for the implementation of the multi-annual Community action plan on promoting the safe use of the internet 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. [56739]
Ms Hewitt: The Internet Action Plan Programme Committee was established by Decision 276/1999/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 January 1999, adopting a multi-annual Community action plan on promoting safer use of the Internet by combating illegal and harmful content on global networks. The Committee has met three times over the past 12 months: on 11 September 2001, 22 February 2002 and 28 May 2002.
It is not possible to calculate the cost to public funds of the work of the Committee without incurring disproportionate cost. The programme develops self-regulatory approaches to dealing with illegal or harmful content. Issues currently under consideration are: the selection and funding of awareness and hotline proposals, the terms of reference of the call for tender for the final evaluation of the present programme, and a proposal for a two year extension to the programme.
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 Xsimplify 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 both Houses on 26 February 2002 (COM(2001)783 Final). As part of the review process, the UK Government has encouraged the Commission to produce and maintain an electronic database of every comitology committee, its agendas and recent actions, to be accessible through its website.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the mandate of the Management Committee on Horizontal Questions Concerning Trade in Agricultural Products is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of it 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. [55366]
Mr. Morley: The mandate of the Management Committee on Horizontal Question Concerning Trade in Agricultural Products (usually known as the XTrade Mechanisms Group") is to oversee a number of CAP market support and control measures. The Committee's
13 Jun 2002 : Column 1379W
main role is in connection with the regulations pertaining to the import and export of agricultural products.
The Committee meets monthly, with the exception of August.
The UK's usual representation consists of two officials from The Rural Payments Agency (XRPA"). However, officials from other Departments such as HM Customs also attend occasionally, depending on the agenda for the meeting in question.
Travel expenses of approximately #11,000 for two delegates were reimbursed by the Commission. Other costs, consisting of subsistence allowances and travel expenses for additional officials, are met by the parent Agency or department of those in attendance and amounted to approximately £6,300 over the last 12 months.
Issues presently under consideration include a number of amendments and clarifications to the main external trade regulations in response to, for example, reports issued by the Court of Auditors.
Arrangements are in place to report on the Committee's activities through DEFRA, RPA's parent Department. RPA has a range of measures to communicate changes to the regulatory regime to its customers and other interested parties. The activities of RPA generally are subject to scrutiny by various audit bodies, including the National Audit Office.
The Committee may be regarded as a comitology committee. Consequently the following points are relevant in regard to increasing its accountability and transparency:
- 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 Xsimplify 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 both Houses on 26 February 2002 (Com (2001) 783 Final).
As part of the review process, the UK Government has encouraged the Commission to produce and maintain an electronic database of every comitology committee, its agendas and recent actions, to be accessible through its website.
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: I have been asked to reply.
The procedures and guidance for meetings of the Drug Precursor Committee are contained in Article 10 of both Council Regulation 3677/90 and Council Directive 92/109/EEC.
13 Jun 2002 : Column 1380W
This Committee usually meets every quarter. In the last 12 months it met in May, September and December 2001, and in March 2002.
The Home Office is the lead United Kingdom Government Department for this Committee and is represented at all meetings. When necessary representatives of the National Criminal Intelligence Service and Her Majesty's Customs and Excise also attend.
The annual cost to public funds of the work of this Committee is not available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Items currently under consideration by this Committee include: increasing licensing procedures required for the export of the precursor chemicals acetic anhydride and potassium permanganate; evaluation of European Union precursor legislation; and negotiation of a bilateral precursor agreement with Turkey.
The Commission, together with Member States, is currently conducting a review to bring existing legislation on the conduct of comitology committees into line with Council Decision 1999/468/EC, to Xsimplify 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 Library on 26 February (Commission Document 5685/02).
As part of the review process, the United Kingdom Government has encouraged the Commission to produce and maintain an electronic database of every comitology committee, its agenda and recent actions, to be accessible through its website.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |