---

27 Mar 2003 : Column 323W—continued

Postal Services

Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the Government's response to recommendation 18 of the Performance and Innovation Unit's report-Counter Revolution. [105347]

Mr. Timms: The Government contributed £25 million to the Your Guide pilot to test the concept of the Government general practitioner role for post offices in line with the Performance and Innovation Unit's recommendations 18 and 19. The evaluation of the pilot showed that a publicly funded national Your Guide scheme would not represent value for money. The pilot highlighted areas in which Government services might be delivered through post offices in the future and these are being further explored, together with alternative commercial options.

Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps are being taken to develop sub-post offices as Government general practitioner outlets. [105348]

Mr. Timms: The Your Guide pilot showed that it would neither significantly improve Government Departments' ability to meet their delivery of financial objectives nor raise sufficient revenue for post offices. A publicly funded national Your Guide would not therefore represent value for money but the pilot highlighted a number of areas in which Government Departments might deliver services through post offices in the future and we are exploring these, and potential alternative commercial options, further.

Renewables Obligation

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for what reason electricity from combined heat and power sources fed into the National Grid is subject to the Renewables Obligation. [104554]

Mr. Wilson: The purpose of the Renewables Obligation is to secure a target level of our electricity supply from renewable energy. The obligation for each

27 Mar 2003 : Column 324W

electricity supplier is calculated by applying a percentage to that electricity supplier's total electricity sales to customers in England and Wales during each Obligation period. The same arrangement applies in Scotland under their corresponding Obligation. Total electricity sales includes electricity from all sources, including both CHP and renewables, so as to avoid market distortions. However, electricity sold under licence exempt arrangements, including CHP, is not subject to the Obligation.

Rogue Traders

Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to protect consumers from the activities of rogue traders. [105092]

Miss Melanie Johnson: In June 2001 the Government introduced Stop Now Orders, giving Trading Standards departments and other named bodies the power to seek injunctions against traders who do not comply with a range of legislation intended to safeguard the interests of consumers.

Through the Enterprise Act 2002, the Government will enable the OFT, Trading Standards and other designated enforcers to obtain 'Stop Now Orders' against a wider range of illegal activities which harm the interests of consumers. It is our intention to commence these and other key provisions of the Act in the summer.

In addition, we launched an awareness campaign last year to highlight the risks and warning signs associated with postal scams and explain how consumers can avoid becoming scam victims. Consumers were encouraged to send suspect mailings to the Office of Fair Trading for investigation.

Scotland

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many times she has visited Scotland on official duties each year since 2000; and what meetings were held on each occasion. [103612]

Ms Hewitt: Since my appointment in June 2001, I have visited Scotland on one occasion in 2001 and one occasion in 2002.

In line with exemptions 2 and 7 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, it is not normal practice of Governments to release details of specific meetings or their content, as some of these discussions may have taken place on a confidential basis.

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans Ministers in the Department have to (a) visit Scotland on official business, (b) announce public appointments and (c) make Ministerial announcements in April. [103656]

Ms Hewitt: Departmental business during the campaign period preceding elections to the Scottish Parliament will be conducted in Accordance with the Guidance on Conduct for Civil Servants in UK Departments in respect of elections to the Scottish Parliament and National Assembly for Wales, published by Cabinet Office on 10 March.

27 Mar 2003 : Column 325W

Small Coal Mines

Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 13 March 2003, Official Report, column 361, on small coal mines, if she will set out the results of her meeting on 19 March 2003; and if she will make a statement. [105048]

Ms Hewitt: At the meeting between the Department, the small mines representatives and the claimants' solicitors on 19 March, the small mines representatives confirmed their agreement in principle to sign up to the Claims Handling Agreement for respiratory disease as soon as detailed terms could be agreed between the parties. This was confirmed by Counsel for the small mines at the court hearing on 20 March. However, before this can be achieved, all parties await sight of the expert's report commissioned by the claimants' solicitors, covering issues such as dust levels, dust suppression and respirator usage in small mines. This report responds to the expert's report produced by the small mines representatives and is expected to be available at the end of April. It will help to inform the final negotiations on the terms under which the small mines will accede to the Claims Handling Agreement.

UK Steel

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the steel tariffs imposed by the US Government; and what discussions she has had with the US Government in relation to removing the tariffs on steel. [103858]

Ms Hewitt: I have taken every opportunity to press our concern about the continued imposition of these unjustified tariffs and to express support for the UK product exclusion requests, including a telephone conversation with Donald Evans, US Commerce Secretary on 26 March.

On 21 March the US Administration announced the outcome of the second round of product exclusion requests which was launched in September last year. Of the 72 requests submitted by 10 companies, 62 were approved. As in the first exclusion round, the Government actively supported all UK requests liaising closely with UK companies and the US Administration.

In April, the WTO Dispute Settlement Panel is expected to rule on the challenge to the US steel safeguard action by the EU (together with Brazil, China, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea and Switzerland). We expect the panel to rule against the US measures. We will urge the US administration to take account of its WTO obligations and the wider trade liberalisation agenda and come into full and prompt compliance with the ruling and immediately withdraw the tariffs.

ADVOCATE-GENERAL

Overseas Trips

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Advocate General if she will list each of the overseas trips made by herself in 2002; and what the (a) purpose and (b) cost of each trip was. [101844]

27 Mar 2003 : Column 326W

The Advocate-General for Scotland: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend, the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on 22 January, Official Report, column 334W.

SCOTLAND

Award Schemes

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will list the award schemes in (a) 2001 and (b) 2002 promoted by the Department; what their scope was; when the relevant participating organisations are scheduled to be sent results; and whether other parties will be given notification of the results at the same time. [102060]

Mrs. Liddell: No award schemes have been promoted by my Department.

Civil Contingency Planning

Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make a statement on her Department's responsibilities with regard to civil contingency planning; what action she is taking within her Department to improve such planning; and what action she is taking in collaboration with other Departments. [102629]

Mrs. Liddell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 21 March 2003, Official Report, column 957W.

Departmental Expenditure

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what her estimate is of her Department's spending on (a) consultants, (b) advertising and publicity, (c) travel and (d) conferences in each year from 1999–2000 to 2002–03; and if she will make a statement. [90382]

Mrs. Liddell: The Scotland Office was established in its present form on 1 July 1999.

The information requested is as follows:

£

	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02	(3)2002–03
Consultants	0	5,465	17,864	10,720
Advertising	0	0	0	10,390
Publicity	21,000	270,494	186,564	0
Travel	225,912	388,194	382,618	370,000
Conferences	0	0	0	3,296

⁽³⁾ Estimate

---