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INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Zimbabwe

Mr. Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with the Movement for Democratic Change in Harare on plans to fund public service programmes (a) inside and (b) outside Zimbabwe. [112933]

Ms Keeble: My Department receives requests to fund development projects from many organisations. This has included contacts from MDC MPs and MDC run local government bodies. As with similar requests from ZANU-PF MPs and bodies, our response is that we are currently giving priority to humanitarian assistance and HIV/AIDS programmes. DFID is not funding public service programmes outside of these issues at present.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Employers' Liability Insurance

Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the number of small firms that have closed citing the cost of employers liability insurance in each year since 1997–98; and what steps she is taking to ensure that the cost of employers liability insurance does not force small firms to close. [111280]

Nigel Griffiths: It is not possible to attribute the closure of businesses to a single factor such as the cost of employers liability insurance, and meaningful estimates are therefore unavailable. 1.7 million businesses have started since 1997. The Government's review of the Employers' Liability Compulsory Insurance (ELCI) system, which is due to report shortly, aims to assess the scale and nature of the current difficulties being experienced in relation to ELCI, in particular the extent to which these difficulties are likely to be short-term only, repeated in the future or permanent. The Government continue to encourage insurers, brokers and business to work together to mitigate these current difficulties.

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EU Committees

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list (a) the names, titles and grades of the officials who sit on the EU advisory committee for implementation of the Community market-access strategy, (b) the number of times, and the dates, on which it has met since January 2002, (c) the agenda items it has considered since January 2002, (d) the decisions it has made since January 2002 and (e) the means used to communicate the decisions to the House. [110310]

Ms Hewitt: The advisory committee for the implementation of the Community market access strategy is established under Council Decision (98/552/EC) for consultation among member states and the Commission to assist in its activities set out in Article 1 of the Decision. As an advisory committee it does not take decisions, which remain the prerogative of the Commission.

Details of the market access strategy—including access to the market access database, a key component—are available on-line at: http://europa.eu.int/comm./trade/mk access/index en.htm and http://mkaccdb.eu.int/ The committee has met twice since January 2002, on 6 June and 4 December 2002; one DTI official represented the UK on each occasion.

A principal issue at these meetings was how the market access database could be developed into a more effective and more user friendly tool for traders. To this end, the Commission has now added new sections on market studies and on statistics and existing sections have been expanded. The committee also discussed the setting up of a new help desk, or one stop shop, to assist developing countries extend their export capability to the EU.

In accordance with Council Decision 1999/268/EC on simplifying the requirements for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission, the Commission publishes an annual report on the working of committees. The latest report was deposited in the Libraries of both Houses on 13 January 2003 (Commission Document 5060/2003).

The UK Government have encouraged the Commission to produce and maintain an electronic database of every comitology committee, their agendas and recent actions to be accessible through the Commission's website.

Export Licences

Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which Government Department is responsible for the enforcement and monitoring of arms licences (a) outside and (b) within the UK; and which civil servants are tasked with enforcement. [112365]

Nigel Griffiths: Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials in overseas posts are asked to monitor goods exported under licence where appropriate. HM Customs and Excise are responsible for enforcement of UK export controls. Officials from the Export Control Organisation in the DTI monitor compliance with the terms of open export licences.

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Fairtrade

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to continue to support the DfID in its efforts to get wider recognition and acceptance of Fairtrade goods; and if she will make a statement. [109006]

Ms Hewitt: I strongly support the aims of the Fairtrade movement and welcome the fact that fairly traded products are a growing part of the UK market. I am increasingly concerned by the low prices received by commodity farmers and have set up an Industry/Government Working Party to look at ways of securing improved livelihoods for commodity producers in developing countries. I believe that Fairtrade is a small but important part of the answer to the problems experienced by these commodity workers.

The Government, through the Department for International Development have provided £0.5 million over the last two years to the Fairtrade Foundation to help with its marketing campaigns.

I have also ensured that Fairtrade tea and coffee is available throughout the DTI and I have encouraged other cabinet colleagues to do the same. My hon. Friend the Minister for E-Commerce and Competitiveness, held a meeting with business leaders in November to look at further ways of mainstreaming Fairtrade as part of an ongoing dialogue on this important issue.

Fur Imports

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps her Department has taken to (a) control and (b) prohibit the import of furs of domestic cats and dogs. [112249]

Ms Hewitt: The Government are investigating possibilities for labelling any products that may contain domestic cat and dog fur. Equally we are working to ensure a reliable scientific test is in place to validate the accuracy of any such labels. This will give consumers the information they want about what exactly they are buying.

It has not proved possible to determine either through trade statistics or through scientific testing, what level of imports of these products, if any, is entering the UK. Therefore the Government do not consider any prohibition on imports to be proportionate to the scale of the problem at this time.

International Coffee Organisation

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions her Department has had with her US counterpart regarding the possibility of the USA joining the International Coffee Organisation. [111581]

Mr. Morley: I have been asked to reply.

The Secretary of State has had no direct discussion with her US counterpart on this issue. However, the UK supported International Coffee Organisation Council Resolution 413, approved on 27 September 2002, inviting the USA to join.

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Iraq

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2003, Official Report, column 106W, on Iraq (Reconstruction), what discussions the Government have had with EU partners on equality of treatment in bidding for contracts to aid the reconstruction of Iraq; and if she will make a statement. [112124]

Ms Hewitt: As I have made clear in this House and to the US authorities, we expect UK companies to play a significant role in the redevelopment of Iraq. We will continue to discuss with companies the best way of ensuring that their expertise is put to full use. In this context, we have established an Industry Working Group, which will act as a channel of communication to industry in our work to help companies access opportunities. We are also planning to hold a joint seminar with the US authorities in London in late May, which will present an excellent opportunity for UK companies to meet key US departments and contractors.

It is clearly important that there is a level playing field for companies who are interested in participating in the redevelopment of Iraq. We have made this clear to the US authorities. The Government have had no discussions with EU Partners on this issue.

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 20 April 2003, Official Report, column 106W, on Iraq (Reconstruction), which British companies have been invited to tender for contracts for the reconstruction of Iraq; what the process is for bidding for contracts; who decides the criteria for inclusion in the tender list; how many contracts have been let; what each contract is for; what the value of each contract is; what the overall budget for the reconstruction of Iraq is; who has contributed to the budget; and if she will make a statement. [112125]

Ms Hewitt: We expect UK companies to play a significant role in the redevelopment of Iraq. In the shot-term US funding is likely to be the main source of opportunities for UK companies. Full details of the US contracts are available on US Government websites. There is no overall agreed budget for the reconstruction of Iraq. We are in close contact with the US authorities and others about financing the reconstruction.

Andrew Natsios of USAID has confirmed to me that UK companies will be allowed and indeed encouraged to bid for US funded sub-contracts. We have agreed with the US authorities to hold a joint seminar in London in late May. This demonstrates US interest in ensuring that UK companies are involved. While we expect UK companies to bid for and win contracts, companies are not obliged to inform us if and when they have done so.

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 20 April 2003, Official Report, column 106W, on Iraq (Reconstruction), what the process for decisions on awarding contracts to companies for the reconstruction of Iraq is; who makes the final decision; and if she will make a statement. [112126]

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Ms Hewitt: In the short-term US funded contracts are likely to be the main source of opportunities for UK companies looking to get involved in the redevelopment process in Iraq. Under US law, only US companies can be awarded primary contracts. However, the law has been relaxed to allow UK companies to bid for sub-contracts. It will be for the prime contractors to decide on the awarding of sub-contracts. We will continue to work with companies to ensure that they are as best placed as possible to participate in the redevelopment process.

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