---

29 Apr 2003 : Column 310W—continued

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

RAF Menwith Hill

Norman Baker: To ask the Solicitor General how many prosecutions under the RAF Menwith Hill byelaws have been (a) initiated (b) subsequently dropped (c) pursued unsuccessfully and (d) pursued successfully in each year since 1996; and if she will make a statement. [109636]

The Solicitor-General [holding answer 28 April 2003]: The Ministry of Defence records show that the number of files submitted by the MOD Police to the CPS in connection with alleged breaches of byelaws in RAF Menwith since 1996 were as follows:

Financial Year	Files
1996–97	17
1997–98	49
1998–99	30
1999–2000	32
2000–01	5
2001–02	7
2002–03	7

Crown Prosecution Service case records are held by category of offence, rather than by a specific offence. It is not possible from the records to show separately in how many of these cases a prosecution proceeded or the result of the case. This information could be recovered only by examining individual case files which are in storage, and the cost of such an exercise would be prohibitive.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Arms Exports (Syria)

Mrs. Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what types of toxic chemical precursors UK producers sold to Syria between 1998 and 2003.[Transferred] [110248]

Nigel Griffiths: The Department of Trade and Industry's export control organisation records the type of toxic chemical precursors sold to Syria, if the items are controlled for strategic reasons and an export licence application has been submitted. As with any other specific product, information on items licensed for export is normally commercially confidential and exempt from disclosure.

Since some toxic chemical precursors have legitimate uses, officials are well aware of the special risks that exist in relation to weapons of mass destruction (WMD), and for this reason gives extremely careful scrutiny to all applications that involve potential WMD concerns.

Audits

Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received on (a) falsification of audits, (b) excessive time pressures on audits and (c) use of unqualified staff on audits. [109162]

Miss Melanie Johnson: We have not received representations on these matters recently.

Coal Workers Pneumoconiosis Scheme

Mr. David: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why payments under the coal workers' pneumoconiosis scheme were suspended; and after what period they recommenced. [109095]

29 Apr 2003 : Column 311W

Mr. Wilson: The coal workers' pneumoconiosis scheme (CWPS) is linked to the Department of Work and Pensions' (DWP) scheme for paying industrial injury disability benefit (IIDB) for pneumoconiosis. To claim under the CWPS a claimant must have qualified for, and be in receipt of IIDB. Changes by the DWP to the way they assess qualification for IIDB meant that it was prudent to investigate how these changes impacted upon the CWPS.

The Department has now concluded it's investigations and despite there still being some concerns about the how the scheme operates, it is clear that those who have applied as a result of receiving IIDB under the DWP's new rules are due compensation under the CWPS and have been processed accordingly as from 5 March 2003.

Mr. David: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether claims under the coal workers' pneumoconiosis scheme are now being processed normally. [109097]

Mr. Wilson: Claims under the coal workers' pneumoconiosis scheme are being processed normally in line with the procedures set out in the scheme.

Electricity Industry

Mr. Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what drawdowns have been made in relation to the rescue and loan facility for British Energy; when they were made; what repayments have been made, and when; and how much of the money drawn down was (a) requested and (b) used (i) for functions essential to safety and (ii) to address safety issues identified by the World Association of Nuclear Operators in 2001. [109526]

Mr. Wilson: Details of individual payments are a matter for the company. The credit facility has been provided to British Energy in respect of its working capital requirements and cash collateral for its trading activities. As my right hon Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry told the House on 7 March, Official Report, column 89WS British Energy have repaid all outstanding amounts under the credit facility.

Export Control Regulations

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received about the Dual-Use Items (Export Control) (Amendment) Regulations. [109431]

Nigel Griffiths: None.

Financial Regulation

Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the bodies which will be responsible for regulating accountancy, audit and insolvency when her proposed new regulatory structures take effect. [109234]

Miss Melanie Johnson: On 9 January 2003 my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry announced a number of changes to the regulatory regime of the accountancy and audit professions. In future, it is envisaged that the Financial

29 Apr 2003 : Column 312W

Reporting Council and its five Boards (the Accounting Standards Board, the Auditing Practices Board, the Financial Reporting Review Panel, the Investigation and Discipline Board, and the Professional Oversight Board) will have responsibilities for the setting of accounting and auditing standards; enforcement or monitoring; and the oversight of the regulation of their members by the six accountancy bodies which comprise the Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies: the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (1CAEW), the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland (1CAI), the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS); the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy.

Five professional accountancy bodies have been recognised by the Secretary of State to act as a recognised supervisory body under the Companies Act 1989: the ACCA, 1C AEW, ICAI, ICAS, and the Association of Authorised Public Accountants. These bodies will continue to have a supervisory role in respect of those persons who under their rules are eligible for appointment as auditor. The ACCA, ICAEW, ICAI and ICAS and the Association of International Accountants also have their professional qualifications relating to audit work recognised under the Companies Act 1989.

My right hon Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry will continue to exercise her functions relating to the grant, refusal and revocation of recognition under the Companies Act 1989 in respect of supervisory bodies and professional qualifications unless these functions are transferred to a body established by a delegation order under that Act.

Under the Insolvency Practitioners' (Recognised Professional Bodies) Order 1986 the following bodies will continue, with the Secretary of State, to be responsible for the licensing of insolvency practitioners: the ACCA, ICAEW, 1C AS, ICAI, the Insolvency Practitioners' Association, the Law Society of Scotland and the Law Society.

Post Office

Mr. David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent progress there has been between the banks and Post Office Ltd in the extension of provision for basic bank accounts. [109305]

Mr. Timms [holding answer 28 April 2003]: Universal banking services became operational at post offices on 1 April 2003. The service includes post office access to basic bank accounts on behalf of Barclays, Lloyds TSB, Royal Bank of Scotland/Nat West, HSBC, Abbey National, HBOS, Alliance and Leicester, NAG, the Co-operative Bank, First Trust, the Bank of Ireland and the Nationwide Building Society.

Mr. David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to simplify the application form for the Post Office card account. [109306]

Mr. Timms [holding answer 28 April 2003]: None. This is an operational matter for the Post Office Ltd.

29 Apr 2003 : Column 313W

Mr. David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she expects to receive exemptions guidance for the use of Post Office card accounts. [109307]

Mr. Timms [holding answer 28 April 2003]: The Department for Work and Pensions have started to transfer those claimants in the mainstream over to direct payment. This will be phased over a two-year period. By late 2004 the Department for Work and Pensions will have in place an alternative payment method for those who cannot be paid by direct payment.

Mr. David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on her Department's policy on the future of the universal service obligation in rural areas. [109346]

Mr. Timms [holding answer 28 April 2003]: Government considers the maintenance of a universal postal service in this country to be of the highest importance and that is why the obligation is enshrined in primary legislation in the Postal Services Act 2000. That means a service provided at an affordable price determined by a public tariff uniform throughout the UK and includes the delivery each working day to the home or premises of every individual in the UK and a collection each working day from access points.

Universal service is a matter for the postal regulator (Postcomm), which has the primary statutory duty to ensure the provision of a universal postal service at an affordable uniform tariff, and for Royal Mail as the licence holder with the universal service obligation. Under the terms of the Postal Services Act Postcomm must in performing its duties have regard to the interests of individuals in rural areas. Exceptions to the universal service daily delivery can only be allowed in very specific and restricted circumstances (the relevant policy document is available at http://www.psc.gov.uk/documents/licensing).

On 10 April, Postcomm launched a further three-month consultation to find out what users expect from the universal postal service currently provided by Royal Mail. All postal users are invited to comment on the universal service, to say what matters to them, and how they expect the service to develop. Again the information on this consultation can be obtained from Postcomm's website.

---