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28 Oct 2002 : Column 534Wcontinued
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.
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.
28 Oct 2002 : Column 535W
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 |
---|---|
19992000 | 7 |
200001 | 8 |
200102 | 9 |
All these vacancies were advertised in the Scottish press.
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
Mr Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how the Passport to Export scheme is promoted; [75861]
(3) what was (a) the budget and (b) the expenditure for the Passport to Export scheme in (i) financial year 200001 and (ii) financial year 200102. [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:
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 200001, and there was no programme budget. In financial year 200102, 403 businesses joined the programme from its inception in autumn 2001.
In financial year 200102, expenditure was #2,099 million against a budget of #3,104.million.
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. 7172W]: 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 |
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