---

2 Dec 2002 : Column 513W—continued

EU Single Market

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made towards the target set by her Department in 1998, to enable transposition of 98 per cent. of EU Single Market measures into UK law by the end of 2000. [83691]

Ms Hewitt [holding answer 26 November 2002]: The UK had transposed 97.3 per cent of EU single market measures due by November 2000. By March 2002, we had exceeded the 98 per cent. target (with 98.7 per cent). Our score in May 2002 was 98.5 per cent. and the November 2002 score was 98.6 per cent.

Export Credits Guarantee Department

Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what ECGD funds have been approved for contracts involving (a) aircraft consultancy services and (b) Das Air since 2002. [81729]

Ms Hewitt [holding answer 27 November 2002]: ECGD has no record of having provided any support in respect of contracts involving these entities.

Exports

Mr. Yeo : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made towards the targets set in 1998 for achievement in 1999–02, with

2 Dec 2002 : Column 514W

(a) improving support for exporters, (b) raising the quality of service, (c) generating additional exports and (d) enhancing the business image of the UK. [83598]

Ms Hewitt [holding answer 26 November 2002]: British Trade International was established in 1999 to bring together the work of my Department and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on international trade and investment; and to bring sharper focus to the Government's trade development activity.

Information on progress against PSA targets is published annually in the Government Expenditure Plans for British Trade International (Cm. 5415).

Fire and Safety Standards

Mr. Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations she has received regarding continuing costs relating to compliance with fire and safety standards British Standard EN 54.4 and EN 54.2. [82046]

Miss Melanie Johnson: None. Fire safety standards would normally be a matter for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Fireworks

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received during the last three months about the nuisance caused by fireworks; what steps she is taking to evaluate the extent of the nuisance; and when she will bring forward further controls on the sale and use of fireworks. [83046]

Miss Melanie Johnson [holding answer 27 November 2002]: We have received significant representations during the last three months about firework nuisance and the situation is being monitored.

In relation to the introduction of further controls on the sale and use of fireworks, I refer my hon. Friend to an answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Preston (Mr. Hendrick) on 17 October 2002, Official Report, columns 889–90 announcing a package of measures to address problems caused by fireworks.

Mr. Walter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to improve firework safety, with particular reference to the hazards of falling debris from display fireworks. [83400]

Miss Melanie Johnson: The weight of falling debris is specified in British Standard 7114 for certain types of firework. Steps are being taken to ensure that this is carried through to the forthcoming European standards for fireworks.

Miss McIntosh : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions she has had with the fireworks manufacturers and vendors concerning the use and availability of fireworks; and if she will make a statement. [83534]

Miss Melanie Johnson: I have had recent discussions with representatives of the British Fireworks Association prior to my announcement on the

2 Dec 2002 : Column 515W

17 October 2002, Official Report, columns 889–90 of a package of measures to cut the number of firework accidents as well as noise and nuisance.

Prior to this year's Guy Fawkes night, the Department wrote to major retailers and representative bodies to urge compliance with the voluntary sales period.

Foreign Direct Investment

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made towards the target set in 1998 by her Department for achievement in 1999–2002, to maintain the UK as the prime location in the EU for foreign direct investment. [83692]

Ms Hewitt [holding answer 26 November 2002]: The United Nations Conference On Trade and Development (UNCTAD) World Investment Report 2002 (released in September 2002) reported that the UK is in top position in the EU for inward investment. The UK's share of inward foreign direct investment (FDI) stocks increased from 18.3 per cent at the end of 2000 to 18.8 per cent at the end of 2001.

Integrated Ocean Drilling Programme

Mr. Key : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what decision has been made through EU Framework 6 (science funding) on the future of the Integrated Ocean Drilling Programme; what the position of the Government was; and if she will make a statement. [82080]

Ms Hewitt: The Government strongly supports the Integrated Ocean Drilling Programme, an initiative that could provide vital information on subjects such as climate change and its prediction; impacts of global change and management strategies; sub-seabed biodiversity; desertification; natural disasters and coastal zone management.

No formal decision has been taken by the European Commission on the work- programme for the thematic priority XSustainable development, global change and ecosystems" under the Sixth Framework Programme (2002–06). However, the Government is encouraging the European Commission to ensure that the areas of activity envisaged for IODP would be eligible for funding under this thematic priority.

IT Security

Brian White: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he has taken to review the security of the Department's IT system; and how many digital attacks there were on the Department's system in (a) October and (b) 2002. [80772]

Mr. Timms: The core Department's internal IT system undergoes a regular cycle of security testing commensurate with its security policy.

No digital attacks were recorded in October 2002. During 2002 as a whole, one attempted attack was detected and defeated.

2 Dec 2002 : Column 516W

Manufacturing Sector

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures she has taken to ensure that Government contracts support UK manufacturing. [83924]

Alan Johnson [holding answer 28 November 2002]: The Department is in discussion with the Treasury and the Office for Government Commerce to see how, while staying within EU procurement rules and the principle of ensuring value for money, we can make public procurement more open and accessible, especially for smaller firms. Significant progress has already been made in a number of areas of benefit to UK manufacturing, not least on construction, defence, textiles and SMEs.

In particular, my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Trade and Industry and Defence launched a new Defence Industrial Policy on 14 October 2002 (published by the Ministry of Defence as XDefence Industrial Policy (Policy Paper No. 5)").

Miners' Compensation

Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many representations she has received in the last 18 months on the timing of payment of claims to ex-miners for compensation for respiratory disease. [84284]

Mr. Wilson: The Department receives around 100 letters a month on timing of individual compensation payments. The various National Ministerial Monitoring Groups meet regularly and make representations on all aspects of both the respiratory and vibration schemes.

National Minimum Wage

Mr. Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many successful prosecutions for failure to pay the national minimum wage have there been in Leeds. [83479]

Alan Johnson: 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 uses these in the first instance.

Since the minimum wage was introduced in April 1999 the Inland Revenue has issued around 450 enforcement notices in the UK requiring employers to start paying the minimum wage and make good any arrears, and identified over £12 million in arrears. A minority of disputed cases have been considered by employment tribunals.

National minimum wage statistical data are not disaggregated to constituency level. Leeds falls into the Inland Revenue's Yorkshire/Humberside region and for the period referred to over £1.3 million in wages arrears was identified and 101 Enforcement Notices issued.

To date there have been no criminal prosecutions in relation to underpayment of the minimum wage in the UK.

2 Dec 2002 : Column 517W

---