| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Export Credits (Iran)
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in relation to pre-revolutionary debt owed by Iran to the UK Export Credits Guarantee Department, (a) what the total sum owed was, (b) how much has been paid back by Iran and (c) how much has been written off as a consequence of the accord signed with Iran this year broken down by (i) sector and (ii) public sector; and if she will make a statement. [67309]
Ms Hewitt: We are not able to disclose precise details of debt settlements such as this one. To do so could prejudice ongoing negotiations ECGD is currently having or intends to have in the future with similarly indebted countries.
World Trade
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her answer of 24 June 2002, Official Report, column 687W, on world trade, if she will make it her policy to make a specific assessment of the annual cost of TRIPS to developing countries. [67770]
Ms Hewitt: I have no plans to make such an assessment.
Public Service Agreement
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many and what proportion of the public service agreements of her Department set out in the document 'Public Services for the Future 1998' have been met; and if she will make a statement. [68708]
Ms Hewitt [holding answer 10 July 2002]: Of the Public Service Agreement targets referred to in the 1998 Public Services for the Future document, the majority (75 per cent.) have been met or are on course to be met. Detailed information on all the targets can be found in Chapter One of the Department's Expenditure Plans Report for 2002–03 to 2003–04 (Cm 5416), copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.
11 Jul 2002 : Column 1092W
Small Firms (Basic Skills)
Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action she is taking to increase investment in basic skills among small firms. [66375]
Nigel Griffiths: The Government are committed to raising the level of adult literacy and numeracy in the work force and has identified this as a priority area. This will help small businesses. The Government's 'Skills for Life' strategy will:
- provide free, high quality, training and advice on basic skills for all small employers;
train workplace basic skills brokers who will put businesses in touch with local basic skills training providers. 447 brokers have so far been trained;
recruit employer champions, all with a proven basic skills track record in their sector, to help fellow businesses.
- the Union Learning Fund, which has enabled union learning representatives to promote basic skills training within the workplace;
Learndirect, the online learning and information service, which offers free courses to learners on the foundations of reading, writing and numbers;
the six employer training pilots announced in the budget, which will test out a range of approaches to increasing training levels and enable employees to attain basic and level 2 skills.
Carlton House Terrace
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what funding is given to organisations to meet the cost of property in Carlton House Terrace. [63486]
Ms Hewitt: The only organisation occupying premises in Carlton House Terrace that is funded by this Department is the Royal Society. The Royal Society's grant in aid for 2002–03 is £29 million, and includes a contribution towards administration and premises.
Public Inquiries
Mr. Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her policy is on using 0870 telephone numbers for inquiries by the public to the Department and its agencies. [66190]
Ms Hewitt: The use of 0870 telephone numbers for inquiries by the public to my Department is determined by the individual business requirements. Currently my Department makes minimal use of such numbers.
The chief executives of the Department's agencies will reply direct to the hon. Member.
Textile Exports
Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what figures she collates on support to textile exporters offered by other EU countries on (a) a per capita basis and (b) based on the volume of textile exports from each country. [60771]
11 Jul 2002 : Column 1093W
Fitted Furniture
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations she has received about the Kitchen Specialists Association, the Furniture Industry Research Association and the self-regulatory fitted kitchen organisation Qualitas; if her Department has oversight of the operations of these organisations; and if she will make a statement. [66833]
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will introduce legislation to provide further statutory protection for consumers purchasing fitted kitchens and other fitted furniture. [66834]
Miss Melanie Johnson: Consumers already have the right to seek damages where a service has not been carried out with reasonable skill and care. Further remedies, including repair and replacement, will be available when the regulations covering the Sale of Consumer Goods Directive (1999/44/EC) are transposed.
The Stop Now Orders (EC Directive) Regulations 2001 also give effective powers to consumer protection bodies to clamp down firmly on traders who do not comply with a wide range of legislation, including regulations on the sale and supply of consumer goods. The regulations empower the Director General of Fair Trading, trading standards departments and certain other bodies to apply to the courts for a Stop Now Order to stop a trader from breaching specified legislation where those breaches put consumers generally at risk of actual or potential harm. Failure to comply with a Stop Now Order would be treated as contempt of court punishable by fines or even imprisonment.
Oxford to Cambridge Technology Arc
Dr. Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action she is taking to encourage innovation along the Oxford to Cambridge Technology Arc. [66370]
Ms Hewitt: This Government are actively pursuing a policy for sustainable economic growth and increased productivity that is driven by innovation. We have charged the regional development agencies with taking this forward. The east of England and south-east England RDAs and local economic partnerships commissioned an economic study of the Oxford to Cambridge Arc that reported in October 2001. These bodies are represented on a steering group that is developing strategies as recommended by the study and addressing themes such as: branding, skills, and land and property issues.
I am confident that the actions of the Steering Group will encourage innovation along the Oxford to Cambridge Technology Arc.
World Trade Organisation (Doha)
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people attended the WTO meeting in Doha in November 2001 from (a) her Department and (b) other UK Government Departments; and what the total cost of the visit was. [66216]
11 Jul 2002 : Column 1094W
Ms Hewitt: My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Trade and I attended the fourth WTO Doha Ministerial Conference in November 2001 for the Department of Trade and Industry. We were supported by 10 DTI officials.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development was present on behalf of the Department for International Development supported by three DfID officials.
My right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment represented the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with three officials from that Department.
In addition, five Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials were present, and one each from HM Treasury and the Department of Work and Pensions. In total, four Ministers and 22 officials attended.
Three NGO representatives (from the CBI, TUC and OXFAM—on behalf of the Trade Network) also attended as part of the official UK delegation.
The total cost of the visit was £156,500.
Trade Rules
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what volume of correspondence her Department has received since October 2001 regarding international trade rules and their effect on developing countries. [64602]
Ms Hewitt: My Department has received 601 such letters and approximately 24,000 postcards since October 2001 concerning international trade rules and their effect on developing countries.
Imported Energy
Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of UK energy is imported; and what proposals she has to reduce dependence on imported energy. [68186]
Mr. Wilson: The UK was a net exporter of energy in 2001. The UK exported 115½ million tonnes of oil equivalent (mtoe) of oil and imported 77 mtoe. At the same time, gas exports were 12 mtoe while imports were 2½ mtoe. The UK was a net importer of coal of 23 mtoe (exporting ½ mtoe and importing 23½ mtoe) and a small net importer of electricity in 2001.
Overall, our gross exports were 128 mtoe and gross imports were 104 mtoe. These gross imports equated to 42 per cent. of the UK's total energy consumption.
There are no plans to limit the import of fuels. The consultation leading to the White Paper is considering all aspects of energy policy including the impact of the UK becoming a greater importer of fuels.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |