House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 28 Oct 2002 (pt 6)

28 Oct 2002 : Column 534W—continued

Insurance

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the cost to business of employers' and public liability insurance. [75241]

Ms Hewitt [holding answer 21 October 2002]: My Department is aware of recent increases to the cost to business of employers' and public liability insurance, which are the consequence of a number of factors, most notably the tightening of global insurance markets since September 11 last year. Although this is a cause for concern, Government generally do not interfere in what is essentially a competitive market on the basis that the terms and conditions of insurance policies are best set by insurers themselves in the light of their customers' needs, taking a commercial assessment of the risk to determine premiums. Companies experiencing difficulties in obtaining insurance cover are advised to contact Peter Staddon at the British Insurance Brokers' Association on 020 7397 0204 for general advice and assistance in finding a suitable insurance broker.

Ministerial Appointments

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the appointments she has made since 8 June 2001. [75234]

Ms Hewitt [holding answer 21 October 2002]: Ministerial appointments made to the public bodies for which my Department is responsible in the period since 8 June 2001 are listed in the table.

Public Body Number and Type of Appointments

ACAS 3 Members

Airports Advisory Council 1 Chair

Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council 1 Chief Executive, 5 Members

British Coal Corporation 1 Member

British Shipbuilders 1 Chair, 2 Members

Business Incubation Fund Investment Panel 1 Chair, 7 Members

Central Arbitration Committee 2 Deputy Chairs, 16 Members

Coal Authority 1 Chief Executive, 1 Member

Competition Commission 23 Members

Consignia 1 Chair

Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils 1 Chair, 3 Members

Distributed Generation Co-ordinating Group 14 Members

East of England Regional Industrial Development Board 3 Members

Economic and Social Research Council 5 Members

Education and Training Export Group 1 Member

Employment Appeals Tribunals 17 Members

Employment Tribunals 1 Member

Energy Advisory Panel 1 Chair, 4 Members

Engineering and Physical Science Research Council 1 Chief Executive, 3 Members

Ethnic Minority Business Forum 25 Members

Fuel Poverty Advisory Group 1 Chair

Gas and Electricity Markets Authority 1 Member

Hearing Aid Council 3 Members

Industrial Development Advisory Board 2 Members

Intellectual Property Advisory Committee 1 Chair, 12 Members

International Oil and Gas Business Advisory Board 4 Members

London/South East Regional Industrial Development Board 5 Members

Low Pay Commission 1 Chair, 1 Member

Measurement Advisory Committee 1 Chair, 10 Members

Medical Research Council 4 Members

National Consumer Council 7 Members

Natural Environment Research Council 8 Members

North East Regional Industrial Development Board 2 Members

OFCOM 1 Chair, 4 Members

Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council 1 Chair, 3 Members

Ports and Logistics Advisory Group 1 Chair

Postwatch 2 Members

Power Sector Working Group 1 Chair

Regional Advisory Group 1 Chair, 15 Members

Regional Development Agencies 4 Chairs, 39 Members

Simpler Trade Procedures Board 5 Members

Small Business Council 8 Members

South West Regional Industrial Development Board 4 Members

Spectrum Management Advisory Group 4 Members

Trade Partners America Advisers 3 Members

Trade Partners UK Europe Advisers 1 Member

United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority 1 Chair, 3 Members

Water Sector Group 2 Members

Womens National Commission 1 Chair

Yorkshire/Humber/East Midlands Regional Industrial Development Board 2 Members

Public Body	Number and Type of Appointments
ACAS	3 Members
Airports Advisory Council	1 Chair
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council	1 Chief Executive, 5 Members
British Coal Corporation	1 Member
British Shipbuilders	1 Chair, 2 Members
Business Incubation Fund Investment Panel	1 Chair, 7 Members
Central Arbitration Committee	2 Deputy Chairs, 16 Members
Coal Authority	1 Chief Executive, 1 Member
Competition Commission	23 Members
Consignia	1 Chair
Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils	1 Chair, 3 Members
Distributed Generation Co-ordinating Group	14 Members
East of England Regional Industrial Development Board	3 Members
Economic and Social Research Council	5 Members
Education and Training Export Group	1 Member
Employment Appeals Tribunals	17 Members
Employment Tribunals	1 Member
Energy Advisory Panel	1 Chair, 4 Members
Engineering and Physical Science Research Council	1 Chief Executive, 3 Members
Ethnic Minority Business Forum	25 Members
Fuel Poverty Advisory Group	1 Chair
Gas and Electricity Markets Authority	1 Member
Hearing Aid Council	3 Members
Industrial Development Advisory Board	2 Members
Intellectual Property Advisory Committee	1 Chair, 12 Members
International Oil and Gas Business Advisory Board	4 Members
London/South East Regional Industrial Development Board	5 Members
Low Pay Commission	1 Chair, 1 Member
Measurement Advisory Committee	1 Chair, 10 Members
Medical Research Council	4 Members
National Consumer Council	7 Members
Natural Environment Research Council	8 Members
North East Regional Industrial Development Board	2 Members
OFCOM	1 Chair, 4 Members
Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council	1 Chair, 3 Members
Ports and Logistics Advisory Group	1 Chair
Postwatch	2 Members
Power Sector Working Group	1 Chair
Regional Advisory Group	1 Chair, 15 Members
Regional Development Agencies	4 Chairs, 39 Members
Simpler Trade Procedures Board	5 Members
Small Business Council	8 Members
South West Regional Industrial Development Board	4 Members
Spectrum Management Advisory Group	4 Members
Trade Partners America Advisers	3 Members
Trade Partners UK Europe Advisers	1 Member
United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority	1 Chair, 3 Members
Water Sector Group	2 Members
Womens National Commission	1 Chair
Yorkshire/Humber/East Midlands Regional Industrial Development Board	2 Members

28 Oct 2002 : Column 535W

Non-devolved Posts

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many non-devolved posts were advertised in the press in each year from June 1999; and what percentage were advertised in the Scottish press. [76858]

Ms Hewitt [holding answer 24 October 2002]: The information requested is as follows:

Year Posts

1999–2000 7

2000–01 8

2001–02 9

Year	Posts
1999–2000	7
2000–01	8
2001–02	9

All these vacancies were advertised in the Scottish press.

NPower

Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received about improper transfer of energy accounts by npower; and if she will make a statement. [75898]

Ms Hewitt: I have received a number of representations about the erroneous transfer of gas and electricity supply by energy companies. Such transfers may arise from administrative or data problems or from sales malpractice. In January 2001, the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (OFGEM), which regulates the sales activities of energy suppliers, imposed undertakings on npower following a rise in marketing complaints. These undertakings were lifted in April 2002 after npower met objectives agreed with OFGEM. OFGEM continues to monitor npower and other suppliers, and can investigate any company that appears to have breached the terms of its supply licence.

28 Oct 2002 : Column 536W

Passport to Export Scheme

Mr Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how the Passport to Export scheme is promoted; [75861]

(a)

(b)

(3) what was (a) the budget and (b) the expenditure for the Passport to Export scheme in (i) financial year 2000–01 and (ii) financial year 2001–02. [75864]

Ms Hewitt: 'Your passport to export success' is a national Trade Partners UK programme, delivered regionally, to develop small businesses in international trade. Promotion is done regionally. There has been no national campaign, but the press has picked up success stories.

The programme is delivered through Business Links. Passport customers receive:

an assessment of their company's readiness for export;

the help of a locally based expert in international trade, who works with them on a one-to-one basis to develop their export plan;

subsidised training on specific skills gaps identified by the plan;

a visit to an overseas market identified in the plan; and

aftercare services to help them continue to grow their business using international trade.

To date 1,137 companies are taking part in the programme, 734 of which have been recruited in this financial year. Of these, 37 are located in Surrey. There is a mix of promotional activity tailored to the needs of each region's business community. In Surrey, for example, this has included a promotional event reinforced by articles in local media and publicity from partner organisations such as Chambers of Commerce.

28 Oct 2002 : Column 537W

Passport did not operate in financial year 2000–01, and there was no programme budget. In financial year 2001–02, 403 businesses joined the programme from its inception in autumn 2001.

In financial year 2001–02, expenditure was #2,099 million against a budget of #3,104.million.

Regional Development Agencies

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the members of each regional development agency, stating for each member the (a) date of, (b) length of, their appointment and (c) their qualifications for the job. [75237]

Ms Hewitt [pursuant to her reply, 21 October 2002, Official Report, c. 71–72W]: It has come to my attention that there were errors in the expiry dates of the appointments of some of the board members of the south west of England Regional Development Agency (SW RDA) and Yorkshire Forward (YF).

The amended appointment dates for current SW RDA and YF board members are detailed in the following table:

Date of first appointment Date of re-appointment Expiry date of appointment

South West of England Regional Development Agency

Lickiss Michael 14/12/98 14/12/01 13/12/02

Ansari Doris 14/12/98 14/12/01 13/12/03

Buckland Nicholas 14/12/01 13/12/04

Chalke Peter 14/12/98 14/12/01 13/12/02

Costley Nigel 14/12/98 14/12/01 13/12/04

Holland Helen 14/12/98 14/12/01 13/1.2/03

Kemp Brian 14/12/01 13/12/04

Leece Michael 14/12/98 14/12/01 13/12/04

Morris Alfred 14/12/98 14/12/01 13/12/02

Nicholl Robin 14/12/01 13/12/04

Pope Jeremy 14/12/98 14/12/01 13/12/04

Porritt Jonathon 14/12/99 14/12/02 13/12/05

Skellett Colin 14/12/01 13/12/04

Yorkshire Forward

Hall Graham 14/12/98 14/12/01 13/12/03

Ashcroft John 15/12/99 14/12/05

Barker Muriel 14/12/98 14/12/01 13/12/03

Bosomworth Eileen 14/12/01 13/12/04

Coburn Jeanne 17/10/00 16/10/03

Cummins Julian 14/12/98 14/12/01 13/12/02

Greenwood Brian 14/12/98 14/12/01 13/12/03

Gregory Richard 14/12/98 14/12/01 13/12/04

Haskins Christopher 14/12/98 14/12/01 13/12/04

Hougton Stephen 14/12/98 14/12/01 13/12/04

Jagger Paul 14/12/98 14/12/01 13/12/03

King Christopher 14/12/01 13/12/04

Malik Adeeba 14/12/98 14/12/01 13/12/04

Pinnock Kathryn 14/12/01 13/12/04

Warhurst Pamela 14/12/98 14/12/01 13/12/02

		Date of first appointment	Date of re-appointment	Expiry date of appointment
	South West of England Regional Development Agency
Lickiss	Michael	14/12/98	14/12/01	13/12/02
Ansari	Doris	14/12/98	14/12/01	13/12/03
Buckland	Nicholas	14/12/01		13/12/04
Chalke	Peter	14/12/98	14/12/01	13/12/02
Costley	Nigel	14/12/98	14/12/01	13/12/04
Holland	Helen	14/12/98	14/12/01	13/1.2/03
Kemp	Brian	14/12/01		13/12/04
Leece	Michael	14/12/98	14/12/01	13/12/04
Morris	Alfred	14/12/98	14/12/01	13/12/02
Nicholl	Robin	14/12/01		13/12/04
Pope	Jeremy	14/12/98	14/12/01	13/12/04
Porritt	Jonathon	14/12/99	14/12/02	13/12/05
Skellett	Colin	14/12/01		13/12/04
	Yorkshire Forward
Hall	Graham	14/12/98	14/12/01	13/12/03
Ashcroft	John	15/12/99		14/12/05
Barker	Muriel	14/12/98	14/12/01	13/12/03
Bosomworth	Eileen	14/12/01		13/12/04
Coburn	Jeanne	17/10/00		16/10/03
Cummins	Julian	14/12/98	14/12/01	13/12/02
Greenwood	Brian	14/12/98	14/12/01	13/12/03
Gregory	Richard	14/12/98	14/12/01	13/12/04
Haskins	Christopher	14/12/98	14/12/01	13/12/04
Hougton	Stephen	14/12/98	14/12/01	13/12/04
Jagger	Paul	14/12/98	14/12/01	13/12/03
King	Christopher	14/12/01		13/12/04
Malik	Adeeba	14/12/98	14/12/01	13/12/04
Pinnock	Kathryn	14/12/01		13/12/04
Warhurst	Pamela	14/12/98	14/12/01	13/12/02

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