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Written Answers to Questions

Monday 20 January 2003

CABINET OFFICE

Government Car Service

Mr. Gray: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) how many cars in the Government Car Service pool will pay the full London congestion charge; and how many will be eligible for a reduction; [91098]

Mr. Alexander: The responsibility for the provision of ministerial cars and drivers has been delegated under the terms of the framework document to the Government Car Despatch Agency. I have asked its chief executive Mr. Nick Matheson to write to the hon. Member. Copies of his letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Mr. Gray: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement on the impact of the congestion charge on (a) the Government Car Service and (b) Ministers on official business. [91100]

Mr. Alexander: The responsibility for the provision of ministerial cars and drivers has been delegated under the terms of the framework document to the Government Car Despatch Agency. I have asked its chief executive Mr. Nick Matheson to write to the hon. Member. Copies of his letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

However, there is no special exemption from the congestion charge for Government vehicles. GCDA will meet the cost of the congestion charge for its fleet of vehicles and will cover the cost from its customers.

Any congestion charge incurred by Ministers while on official business would be met by Departments.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Fuel Poverty

Mr. Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people fell out of fuel poverty because of reduced energy prices during the financial year which ended on 31st March 2002. [90807]

Mr. Wilson: It is estimated that in England the number of households in fuel poverty fell by around 1- million between 1996 and 2000. This fall is largely a

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consequence of increased incomes and reduced fuel prices in roughly equal degrees. The impacts of energy efficiency schemes since 1998 are not included in this estimate. Information is not available specifically for the year ending 31 March 2002.

Further analyses of fuel poverty and explanations of the methods used to produce these, are given at www.dti.gov.uk/energy/consumers/fuel_poverty/.

Aerospace Industry

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to support the Pechiney Aviatube Company at Lillyhall, Workington against the downturn in the aerospace industry. [91214]

Alan Johnson: Pechiney Aviatube have received an offer of a £240,000 Regional Selective Assistance grant support towards the £2 million first stage of a project intended to upgrade facilities at the plant. The North West Development Agency is also working with the company to identify other forms of support that may be available to them.

Annual Report

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much producing her Department's latest Annual Report cost; how many copies were printed; how many copies of it were sold at its cover price; to whom copies of the report have been provided free of charge; and how many copies were provided free of charge. [90890]

Ms Hewitt: The cost incurred by the Department for design and artwork of the latest Expenditure Plans report (June 2002) was £32,161. This figure includes the costs incurred in placing an electronic version of the report on the departmental website. Other costs of printing and publication were met directly by the publisher, The Stationery Office Ltd. (TSO), and did not fall to the Government. TSO recoups these costs through sales and uses its commercial judgment as to the number of copies printed. Some 420 copies of the latest Expenditure Plans report were sold at the cover price (£25) by TSO or through its accredited agents and other booksellers.

In addition, the Department circulated some 540 complimentary copies to Ministers, Opposition Front Bench spokesmen, Select Committee Members and staff, other Peers and MPs, the Parliamentary Libraries, DTI officials and external Board Members (including in agencies and NDPBs), officials in other Government Departments and journalists.

Appointments

Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry who have been members of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders' Industry Forum since its inception; what (a) expenses and (b) salary each received; and if she will make a statement. [91659]

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Alan Johnson: The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders' Industry Forum is not a membership organisation. There is however a non salaried board which oversees its activities. The members of the board have included:


Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry who have been members of the Cleaner Vehicles Task Force since its inception; what expenses or salary each received; and if she will make a statement. [91661]

Alan Johnson: The Cleaner Vehicles Task Force had 13 members, excluding Ministers, who were: Ian McAllister (ex Ford), Tony Rose (Rover), Keith Taylor (Esso UK), Neil Johnson (RAC), David Lea (TUC), Nigel Haigh (IEEP), Michael Gwilt (Arriva), David Green (FTA), Michael Parker (Nexus), Michael Baunton (Perkins), Stuart Holland (ALTER), Sir Trevor Chinn (Lex). Membership was on a voluntary basis and no salaries or expenses were paid. The Task Force had its final meeting in June 2000 and disbanded afterwards.

Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry who have been members of the Council for Excellence in Management and Leadership since its inception; what (a) expenses and (b) salary each received; and if she will make a statement. [91663]

Ms Hewitt: The members on the Council of Excellence in Management and Leadership since its inception are:











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No salaries were paid to members. Members were entitled to reimbursement of travelling expenses so to attend meetings upon production of receipts etc. However, most did not in fact claim any expenses.

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