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29 Jan 2003 : Column 918W—continued
Industrial Action/Illness
Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many working days have been lost in her Department due to (a) industrial action and (b) illness in (i) 1997–98, (ii) 1998–99, (iii) 1999–2000, (iv) 2000–01, (v) 2001–02 and (vi) 2002–03 to date. [93574]
Mrs. Liddell: The Scotland Office was established in its present form on 1 July 1999. No days have been lost due to industrial action. Details of working days lost due to illness are given in the following table:
| Dates | Working days lost due to illness |
|---|---|
| 1 July 1999 to 31 March 2000 | 396 |
| 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001 | 662.5 |
| 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002 | 601.5 |
| 1 April 2002 to 30 November 2002 | 479 |
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Infant Mortality
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what future funding plans the Medical Research Council has announced for research into reducing the number of baby deaths through (a) miscarriage, (b) premature birth, (c) still birth and (d) obstetrics. [93162]
Ms Hewitt: The MRC does not, as a rule, earmark funds for particular topics. Research proposals in all areas compete for the funding available. When appropriate, high quality research in the areas MRC is promoting may be given priority in competition for funds, but research excellence and importance to health continue to be the primary considerations in funding decisions. The MRC has not announced any future funding plans for research into reducing the number of baby deaths, but it always welcomes high quality applications for support into any aspect of human health.
The MRC spent an estimated £19.1 million in 2001–02 on its Reproductive health portfolio. Reproductive health research includes normal and abnormal fetal and placental development and growth, as well as conditions affecting pregnancy and childbirth.
Advisory Group on Nanotechnology Applications
Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many times the Advisory
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Group on Nanotechnology Applications has met since April 2001; what its budget is for financial years 2003–4 and 2004–5; and if she will make a statement. [91957]
Ms Hewitt: The Group met on four occasions and also communicated between these meetings. The Group has now completed its work and has no budget.
DTI is currently finalising its policy on Nanotechnology and one of the steps will be to establish a Nanotechnology Strategic Advisory Group as a formal non-departmental public body.
Agency Workers Directive
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research her Department has conducted into the potential (a) financial impact and (b) impact on employment of the implementation of the agency workers' directive in its present form. [93398]
Alan Johnson: The Department of Trade and Industry held a 16-week public consultation into the proposal for a directive, and has published a regulatory impact assessment of the proposal which provides an assessment of the potential costs and benefits for the UK. I have placed a copy of this in the Library of the House.
Business Environment Simplifications Taskforce
Dr. Cable : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry who have been members of the Business Environment Simplification Taskforce since its inception; what (a) expenses and (b) salary each received; and if she will make a statement. [91662]
Mr. Wilson: The members of the European Commission's Business Environment Simplification Taskforce were as follows:
- Prof Chris Evans (Chairman) (UK)
Dr Wolfgang Krebs (Austria)
Ms Kathy Vanhoorne (Belgium)
Mr Bjrn Meier (Denmark)
Mr Risto Suominen (Finland)
Mr Jean Prada (until 17/2/98) and Mr André Gauron (from 17/2/98) (France)
Mr Dieter Philipp (Germany)
Ms Antigone Lyberaki (Greece)
Mr Dominic Ellickson (Ireland)
Mr Carlo Borgomeo (Italy)
Mr Armand Berchem (Luxembourg)
Dr Elisabeth Steyger (Netherlands)
Mr Rui Gomes (Portugal)
Mrs Elisa Sainz Ruiz (Spain)
The Taskforce operated from October 1997 to April 1998, when it reported to the Commission. Details of whether the members were paid and the level of their expenses are not readily available from the European Commission.
I refer the hon. Member to my statement of 13 July 2000, Official Report, column 620W in response to the then hon. Member for Southport, in which I welcomed the Taskforce's recommendations. My right hon. Friend the Member for Derby South, who was President
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of the Board of Trade at the time they were published, had also welcomed the recommendations, which addressed improving the business environment in public administration, education and training, employment and working conditions, finance and research and innovation. Those recommendations have helped Member States and the Commission in their continued endeavours to promote enterprise and ease burdens on companies, particularly small- and medium-sized enterprises.
British Energy
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much public money has been given to British Energy in each of the last five years; and what this money has been used for. [93682]
Mr. Wilson: On 9 September 2002 the Government agreed to provide British Energy with a credit facility for up to £410 million in respect of its working capital requirements and cash collateral for trading in the UK and North America. On the 26 September 2002 the Government agreed to extend the credit facility and increase it from £410 million up to £650 million. As of 24 January 2003, £418 million of the facility has been drawn down.
Capital Expenditure (Energy)
Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the principal elements of planned (a) current and (b) capital expenditure for financial year 2002–03 on (i) post office and telecommunications, (ii) nuclear liabilities, (iii) aerospace, (iv) departmental capital and other minor programmes and (v) capital investment in energy as listed in tables 2 and 3 of her annual report for 2002–03 to 2003–04.Cm 5416; and if she will make a statement. [92793]
Ms Hewitt: The principal elements of planned expenditure in 2002–03 in these categories at the time of publication of the annual report (Cm 5416) are as follows:
29 Jan 2003 : Column 921W
Commercial Policy ( QMV)
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her policy is on the recommendation of Working Group VII of the European Convention that areas of commercial policy should be decided by Qualified Majority Vote. [91544]
Ms Hewitt: I am giving full consideration to the Convention's deliberations in co-ordination with my Ministerial colleagues. Many areas of commercial policy are already decided by QMV. Further moves on commercial policy cannot be considered in isolation and the full implications of these proposals, including their impact on trade policy, will need to be understood before UK position is finalised.
Consultations
Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list consultations her department has conducted since 2 May 1997; and when each consultation (a) opened and (b) closed. [93799]
Ms Hewitt: Records relating to consultation documents issued before the introduction of the Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Written Consultations on 1 January 2001 are not held centrally. The list of consultations undertaken by the Department since 1 January 2001, and the dates they were opened and closed, are placed in the Libraries of the House.
Correspondence
Mr. Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she expects to reply to the correspondence from the hon. Member for Westmorland and Lonsdale of 13 January, regarding redundancies announced by Clarks at K Shoes in Kendal. [94016]
Ms Hewitt: A reply to your letter was sent on 28 January 2003.
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