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Training Initiatives

Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment has taken place of (a) Stockholding 2000, (b) Export Strategy and (c) Benchmarking club training initiatives; what costs were associated with each project in each year since 1997–98; and if she will make a statement. [78268]

Ms Hewitt: It is not clear which initiatives the hon. Member is referring to. If he writes with further information I will respond in detail.

John Bredenkamp

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussion her Department's officials have had in the last three years with (a) John Bredenkamp and (b) companies controlled by John Bredenkamp. [80329]

Nigel Griffiths: Unfortunately I have not been able to answer before Parliament is prorogued, but I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of the letter in the Libraries of the House.

Ageism

Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what strategies her Department has to ensure that there is no ageism in recruitment and retention processes. [79295]

Ms Hewitt: All applications for employment in my Department are considered on their merits, against the criteria and competences specified for the advertised vacancies.

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The Department's internal career development structure is governed by a diversity and equality policy which ensures that job opportunities are open to all staff regardless of their age. We are also working with the Employers Forum on Age to further develop initiatives and to share best practice with a range of public and private employers.

The normal age of retirement for staff in my Department is either 60 for the Senior Civil Service or 65 for other staff.

Departmental Initiatives

Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the schemes and initiatives sponsored by her Department and its agencies which are not the subject of national roll out, showing (a) the authorities or areas covered by the scheme and (b) the budget of the scheme in the last year for which information is available. [75674]

Ms Hewitt: Many DTI sponsored services are delivered at a regional and local level through Regional Development Agencies, Business Links and other local and regional organisations. These bodies often undertake local publicity campaigns for Government-sponsored services. To provide a list of this activity could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

My Department does run pilot schemes in certain localities from time to time, for example the SBS is currently piloting the City Growth Strategy in four regions in England (London, East Midlands, South West and North West). The total budget for this pilot is #1.5 million.

Public Consultations

Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what public consultations have been commenced by her Department in each month since 10 September; and what the (a) start date, (b) closing date and (c) website address of each were. [80274]

Ms Hewitt: The consultation documents published by the Department from 10 September until 5 November are as follows:

	Date Published	Date Closes
Consultation on Topics for Forsight Projects	10–09–02	04–12–02
Consultation on Competition Commission Monetary Penalties	18–09–02	16–12–02
Consultation on Competition Appeal Tribunal Draft	18–09–02	16–12–02
Possible Introduction Of ''Promote'' Licences To Encourage Exploration Activity On The UKCS	27–09–02	29–11–02
New award for 28 GHz licences. Broadband Fixed	15–10–02	14–11–02
Wireless Access (BFWA) at 28 GHz: proposals to amend new and existing licences and for the next stage of the award process Consultation on commencement dates for employment regulations	16–10–02	30–01–03
Equality and Diversity: The Way Ahead	23–10–02	24–01–03
Equality and Diversity: Making it Happen	23–10–02	24–01–03
Developing the National Performance Framework for Trading Standards services	30–10–02	21–01–03
Consultation on extending the Working Time Regulations to previously excluded sectors	31–10–02	31–01–03
Public Wireless Networks—Exemption of User Stations	04–11–02	21–02–03

All DTI Consultation documents are available on the Departmental Website at www.dti.gov.uk

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National Minimum Wage

Mr. Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many successful prosecutions for failure to pay the national minimum wage there have been in (a) the London Borough of Enfield, (b) Greater London and (c) the United Kingdom since its introduction; and if she will make a statement. [78088]

Dawn Primarolo: I have been asked to reply.

The National Minimum Wage Act 1998 contains a number of provisions empowering enforcement officers to take civil action against non-paying employers and the Inland Revenue always use these in the first instance.

Since the minimum wage was introduced in April 1999 the Inland Revenue has issued around 450 enforcement notices requiring employers to start paying the minimum wage and make good any arrears, and identified over #11 million in arrears. A minority of disputed cases have been considered by employment tribunals. To date there have been no criminal prosecutions in relation to underpayment of the minimum wage.

TREASURY

Fuel Duty

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer If he will make a statement on his policy on the rates of duty on biodiesel and bioethanol. [78237]

John Healey: All duty rates are reviewed annually as part of the Budget process. In doing so, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer takes into account a range of economic, social and environmental factors.

Tax Incentives (Pensions)

Mr. Tynan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on tax incentives for occupational pension schemes. [78238]

Ruth Kelly: The Government understand how important tax incentives are in encouraging retirement provision. The current pensions tax system is under review and we will consult on proposed changes later this year.

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Mr. Waterson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to change tax incentives for pensions provision. [78257]

Ruth Kelly: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of earlier today to the Member for Hamilton, South (Mr. Tynan)

Small Business

Mr. Baron: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry regarding the impact of taxes and his deregulation policy on small businesses. [78239]

Dawn Primarolo: The Chancellor meets regularly with my right hon. Friend, at which time he discusses a full range of relevant issues, including the Government's success at reducing the corporate tax burden on companies and introducing such reforms as a R&D tax credit and improvements to the capital gains tax regime.

Dividend Tax Credits (Pension Funds)

Phil Sawford: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the long-term implications are of the abolition of dividend tax credits for pension funds; and if he will make a statement. [78240]

Ruth Kelly: The withdrawal of payable tax credits on dividends was part of a package of reforms that included cuts in corporation tax and the abolition of advance corporation tax. These changes were designed to improve the climate for long-term investment in the UK. In the long run, this should benefit all investors—including pension funds and those saving for retirement.

Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has with other Ministers on the effects of his policies on pension funds. [78254]

Ruth Kelly: Treasury Ministers have many discussions with other Ministers on a range of matters, including pensions.

EU Stability Pact

Mr. George Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with other EU finance Ministers about the stability and growth pact. [78241]

Ruth Kelly: The Government support a prudent interpretation of the Stability Pact, which takes into account the impact of the economic cycle, sustainability and the important role of public investment. We continue to discuss this with our EU colleagues.

Mr. Simon Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made on his five economic tests for euro entry of the effect of the operation of the stability and growth pact. [78249]

Ruth Kelly: The Government have consistently made clear that it supports a prudent interpretation of the Stability and Growth Pact that takes into account the economic cycle, sustainability and the important role of public investment.

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Dr. Ladyman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the differences between his rules governing the level of public spending and those operated within the stability pact adopted within the Eurozone. [78246]

Ruth Kelly: As set out in paragraph 2.65 of the Economic and Fiscal Strategy Report, the Budget 2002 projections are consistent with the Government's prudent interpretation of the Stability and Growth Pact which takes account of the economic cycle, sustainability and the important role of public investment (as specified in Article 104 of the EU Treaty).

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