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Departmental Running Costs

Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the running costs of (a) the Department and (b) each of its sponsored agencies were in (i) 1997 and (ii) the most recent year for which figures are available. [90706]

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Ms Hewitt: Detailed information on administration costs for the Department of Trade and Industry and its agencies, going back to 1998–99 and with projections to 2003–04, is set out in Table 5 of the 2002 departmental report (Cm 5416). Data for years before 1998–99 are not available on the same basis. Provisional outturn for gross and net administration costs limits were published in Public Expenditure 2001–02 Provisional Outturn (Cm 5574), Tables 4 and 5. Updated information, with plans to 2005–06, will be published in the 2003 departmental report in the spring.

Export Credits (Equitorial Guinea)

Mr. Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment her Department has made (a) of the availability of ECGD support for investment in Equatorial Guinea and (b) of the adequacy of such support in relation to the current level of opportunity for British business investment in Equatorial Guinea. [92621]

Ms Hewitt: ECGD is able to offer Overseas Investment Insurance to protect UK direct investment in Equatorial Guinea against the risks of war, expropriation and restrictions on remittances. It will also consider approaches from UK exporters for cover under its "Good Projects" scheme which provides support for viable hard currency generating projects and relies on the use of structured finance techniques e.g. dedicated income streams and offshore escrow accounts.

ECGD recognises increasing demand from UK investors in and exporters to Equatorial Guinea, and a review of its risk assessment and cover policy is scheduled for the spring, following completion of the IMF's latest assessment of Equatorial Guinea.

Export Promotion Support

Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what financial support is available for UK companies exhibiting abroad. [91843]

Ms Hewitt: British Trade International supports UK companies wishing to exhibit at overseas trade fairs through the Support for Exhibitions and Seminars Abroad (SESA) scheme. All UK businesses and organisations involved in exporting from the UK are eligible for support. Grant entitlement is currently limited to three participations in most countries (five in Japan, China (excluding Hong Kong), Russia and the USA).

The basic level of grant for eligible participants is 60 per cent. of their expenditure on stand space and stand construction up to a maximum of £2,300.

The scheme is over subscribed, resulting in restrictions on the number of exhibitions in the programme, and on the number of companies in each group. Estimated expenditure on supporting UK organisations exhibiting abroad during 2002–03 is £21 million.

Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what financial support her Department gives to UK companies for the purpose of exchanging

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abroad; and what assessment she has made of support given by (a) France and (b) Germany to businesses based in those nations exhibiting abroad. [92356]

Ms Hewitt: British Trade International supports UK companies wishing to exhibit at overseas trade fairs through the Support for Exhibitions and Seminars Abroad (SESA) scheme. All UK businesses and organisations involved in exporting from the UK are eligible for support. Grant entitlement is currently limited to three participations in most countries (five in Japan, China (excluding Hong Kong), Russia and the USA).

The basic level of grant for eligible participants is 60 per cent. of their expenditure on stand space and stand construction up to a maximum of £2,300.

The scheme is over subscribed, resulting in restrictions on the number of exhibitions in the programme, and on the number of companies in each group. Estimated expenditure on supporting UK organisations exhibiting abroad during 2002–03 is £21 million.

The Director of Trade Partners UK, International Business Schemes attends twice yearly meetings of the West European Trade Facilitation Exhibitions Group

(WETFEG) this forum is attended by a number of European State countries with similar schemes to SESA. Through this committee Trade Partners UK receive periodic reports from the member states on their various trade fair schemes and programmes. We are not aware of any assessment on the support given by France and Germany.

GATS

Mr. Challen : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the estimated impact of GATS on (a) the UK economy and (b) developing countries. [91355]

Ms Hewitt: The UK can expect to gain from commitments taken by other WTO Members, as this will provide a more stable and competitive environment for UK companies seeking to expand into new markets. Similarly, for developing countries, GATS commitments should help to attract foreign participation in their markets and bring new investment and technology, while commitments by developed countries should confirm market access for service sectors and modes of supply (notably movement of people) of interest to them.

Liberalisation is always a domestic policy choice. Governments will always weigh the risks and benefits in their assessment of what is in their overall interest. GATS negotiations cannot and will not force countries to make commitments where they choose not to do so.

Iraq (Export Credit Guarantee)

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her estimate is of the potential export credit guarantee liability in respect of contracts entered into with companies in Iraq and the

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Government of Iraq; how much of this amount is in respect of military contracts; and what amount of export credit guarantee liability has been paid. [92338]

Ms Hewitt [holding answer 21 January 2003]: ECGD has not underwritten any business with Iraq since early 1990. Claims of £623 million were paid and remain outstanding, however as these guarantees have expired there are no further liabilities.

Of the £600 million outstanding, around £26 million is in respect of equipment with potential defence applications, (e.g. communications equipment).

Post Office

Mr. Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the state of negotiations between the National Federation of Sub Postmasters and Post Office Ltd. about the implementation of universal banking and the post office card account. [93377]

Ms Hewitt: Negotiations between the National Federation of Sub Postmasters and Post Office Ltd. are a matter for the two parties concerned.

Publicity and Advertising

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much (a) her Department and (b) each agency and non-departmental public body sponsored by her Department spent on (i) publicity and (ii) advertising in each year from 1995–96 to 2002–03 (estimated); and if she will make a statement. [92259]

Ms Hewitt : For expenditure on advertising through COI from 1995–96 to 2000–01,1 refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Twickenham on 20 November 2001, Official Report, column 162W. Expenditure for 2001–02 and 2002–03 (to date) was £3,959,543 and £3,841,676 respectively. Information on publicity expenditure from centrally held budgets is contained in 'The Government's Expenditure Plans' which are available in the Libraries of the House.

Information on publicity and advertising by NDPBs is not held centrally and could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

Redundancies (Cumbria)

Mr. Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with (a) South Lakeland district council and (b) Cumbria county council regarding the redundancies recently announced by Clarks at K Shoes in Kendal. [94011]

Alan Johnson: The North West Development Agency (NWDA) are in close contact with South Lakeland district council officials to coordinate the response to the situation in Kendal. NWDA will also participate in a task force meeting, convened by Cumbria county council, to discuss the K Shoes redundancies on 31st January 2003.

Scotch Whisky

Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the

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outcome of her recent visit to India and Thailand, with particular reference to representations she made on behalf of the Scottish whisky industry. [93265]

Ms Hewitt: During my recent visit to India and Thailand, I raised the issue of taxation on spirits and beer with Mr. Arun Shourie, the Minister for Commerce and Industry in New Delhi, and the Thai Prime Minister, Dr. Thaksin, and Deputy Finance Minister, Mr. Suchart, in Bangkok.

Mr. Tim Jackson, of the Scotch Whisky Association, accompanied me on my visit to India as part of a UK trade delegation and during my call on the Thai Deputy Finance Minister.

He raised the concerns of the Scotch whisky industry, in relation to the Indian Market, direct with Mr. Shourie.

During the call on the Thai Deputy Finance Minister, Mr. Jackson offered to provide assistance to the relevant Thai authorities in their analysis of alternatives to ad valorem excise duties.

The Thai Deputy Minister of Finance indicated that it was his aim to overhaul the current regime on Scotch whisky. He expressed the hope that this would be soon.

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