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23 Jan 2003 : Column 500W—continued
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Aerospace Industry
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the (a) names and (b) employers of members of the (i) Aerospace Committee and (ii) Aerospace Innovation and Growth Team working groups. [91919]
Alan Johnson: The names of members of the Aerospace Committee and the Aerospace Innovation and Growth Team working groups and their respective employers have been placed in the Libraries of the House.
Business Link
Mr. Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many businesses there are in (a) the north-east Region and (b) Surrey; and what estimates she has made of the total income of Business Links in (i) the north-east region and (ii) Surrey in 2002–03 [92834]
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Nigel Griffiths: At the start of 2002, there was an estimated 41,865 VAT registered businesses in the North East of England, and 43,525 in Surrey County (Source: VAT registrations and deregistrations: Business Start-ups and closures, published by the SBS in October 2002).
Projected total turnover (income) for the four Business Link Operators in the North East Region in 2002/03 is around £19.9 million.£6 million (30 per cent. of turnover) of this is in the form of a Core Services Grant from the SBS. Total turnover in the North East also includes £7 million (35 per cent. of turnover) of European funding.
Projected total turnover for Business Link Surrey in 2002/03 is around 5.8 million. £3.45 million (59.5 per cent. of turnover) of this is in the form of a Core Services Grant from the SBS. Business Link Surrey do not access any European funding.
Consumer Credit Act
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 16 January 2003, Official Report, column 79W, on the Consumer Credit Act 1974, which of the issues raised in the original question are covered by the consultations listed in her answer. [92716]
Miss Melanie Johnson: [holding answer 22 January 2003]:The question of how annual percentage rates are calculated as part of a consultation on the simplification of the regulations governing credit advertising. The consultation will then determine any reform of the statutory rules.
In preparation for that, my Department is in regular discussion with the credit industry and consumer bodies on the scope for a common format for the calculation and advertising of APRs on credit cards, and the provision for other key information.
Employment Rights (Information and Advice)
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures she is taking to improve information and advice for businesses on employment rights. [92030]
Alan Johnson: I firmly believe that there is a strong need for clear, straightforward and easily accessible information and guidance for businesses on employment rights.
Businesses can obtain guidance on employment rights from a number of sources: I welcome Acas' planned expansion of their advisory work and the recent introduction of a national number for their helpline service. Information is also available on the Acas, DTI and Business Link websites. The Small Business Service (SBS) is developing a pack specifically for start up businesses to accompany its fact sheets and other services.
Even with the variety and high quality of these services I am aware of the need for continuous improvement to ensure we meet the needs of business. As part of this process my department is working with Acas and SBS and an advisory group of user organisations to improve the way information and
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guidance on employment rights is made available to the different groups of users, including the e-delivery of information.
Manufacturing Industry
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures she is taking to promote and support UK manufacturing. [92031]
Alan Johnson: The Government's Manufacturing Strategy, published in May last year, identified seven key areas of activity for Government and industry that are crucial for manufacturing success. We are taking action in all of those areas to help British manufacturers cope with very difficult global conditions.
For example, Regional Centres for Manufacturing Excellence were successfully launched in each of the nine English Regions and in Wales over the period April to November 2002 and are now proactively delivering the Manufacturing Advisory Service.
Post Office Card Accounts
Mr. David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to promote the use of the Post Office card prior to the introduction of direct payments of benefits in April. [92548]
Mr. Timms: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon.Friend the Member for Preseli Pembrokeshire on 17 December 2002, column 738W.
Redundancy Payments Scheme
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the reasons for the change in payments through the Redundancy Payments Scheme from 1999–2000 to 2002–03; and if she will make a statement. [91959]
Alan Johnson: The total amount paid out by the Redundancy Payments Service before any deductions for Income Tax and National Insurance Contributions in the financial year 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000 was £200.0 million. The corresponding figures for the financial years April 2000 to March 2001 and April 2001 to March 2002 were £229.7 millions and £278.7 million, respectively, an increase of just over 39 per cent. About three quarters of the increase is attributable to an increase in the numbers of claims over the period. The remainder is mainly due to successive increases in the statutory limits that apply to redundancy and other payments from the National Insurance Fund.
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Regional Assistance
Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much was spent on (a) regional selective assistance, (b) regional development grants, (c) regional innovation grants and (d) regional employment premiums for (i) Scotland, (ii) England, (iii) Wales in each year from 1974–75 to 2001–02, and what the estimated figures are for (A) 2002–03, (B) 2003–04, (C) 2004–05, and (D) 2005–06, (1) in cash terms, and (2) at constant 2001–02 prices. [89824]
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Alan Johnson: The figures for expenditure on Regional Selective Assistance, Regional Development Grants and Regional Innovation Grants are published in the Annual Report of the Industrial Development Act 1982.
The figures for the period 1990–91 to 2001–02 are summarised as follows and have been presented in cash terms and constant 2001–02 prices. Reference should be made to the Annual Reports for earlier information.
| Cash terms | 1990–91 | 1991–92 | 1992–93 | 1993–94 | 1994–95 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (a) Regional selective assistance | |||||
| Scotland | 66.8 | 63.6 | 59.2 | 69 | 77 |
| England | 88.9 | 74.2 | 71.1 | 94.7 | 113.1 |
| Wales | 30.2 | 55.1 | 58.7 | 50.9 | 57 |
| Total | 185.9 | 192.9 | 189 | 214.6 | 247.1 |
| (b) Regional development grants | |||||
| Scotland | 42.1 | 12.2 | 8.9 | 2.7 | 0.4 |
| England | 65.3 | 33 | 11.1 | 2.9 | 0.3 |
| Wales | 22.1 | 14.8 | 5.7 | 4.7 | 0 |
| Total | 129.5 | 60 | 25.7 | 10.3 | 0.7 |
| (c) Regional innovation grants | |||||
| Scotland | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 1.4 |
| England | 2.3 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 5.1 | 8.7 |
| Wales | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 1 |
| Total | 4 | 3.7 | 4.1 | 7.9 | 11.1 |
| Total | 319.4 | 256.6 | 218.8 | 232.8 | 258.9 |
| of which: | |||||
| Scotland | 110.1 | 77 | 69.6 | 73.4 | 78.8 |
| England | 156.5 | 109.1 | 84.3 | 102.7 | 122.1 |
| Wales | 52.8 | 70.5 | 64.9 | 56.7 | 58 |
| Total | 319.4 | 256.6 | 218.8 | 232.8 | 258.9 |
| GDP Deflator (HM Treasury) | 72.956 | 77.406 | 79.91 | 81.886 | 82.972 |
| Constant 2001–02 prices | |||||
| Scotland | 150.9 | 99.5 | 87.1 | 89.6 | 95.0 |
| England | 214.5 | 140.9 | 105.5 | 125.4 | 147.2 |
| Wales | 72.4 | 91.1 | 81.2 | 69.2 | 69.9 |
| Total | 437.8 | 331.5 | 273.8 | 284.3 | 312.0 |
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The estimated annual figure for 2002/03 for Regional Selective Assistance in England is £115 million (£112 million at 2001/02 prices). Figures for future years will be published in the Department's Expenditure Plans Reports.
Information for Scotland and Wales for future years can be obtained from The Scottish Executive and the National Assembly for Wales respectively.
No information is available in relation to Regional Employment Premiums.
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