| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
22 May 2003 : Column 906W—continued
Export Controls
Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 1 May 2003, Official Report, column 456W, on export control, if she will make it her policy to inform the Metropolitan Police of proposed legislative changes to export controls. [115076]
Nigel Griffiths: All relevant Government bodies are informed when making legislative changes to export controls, including the Home Office.
Fireworks
Mr. Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussion she has had with the Home Department regarding the anti-social behaviour aspect of firework abuse; and if she will make a statement. [115439]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The Department has been in discussion with the Home Office about its penalty notices for the disorder offences scheme. Pilots are currently running in four police force areas in England and Wales. There are 11 penalty offences in the scheme, including that of throwing fireworks in the street. The Home Secretary announced on 14 May that the scheme is now to be rolled out nationally.
22 May 2003 : Column 907W
Discussions with the Home Office have also taken place on the anti-social misuse of fireworks relating to issues of enforcement arising from the current Private Member's Fireworks Bill.
Mr. Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with ministerial colleagues in the Northern Ireland Office regarding the implementation of the Explosives (Fireworks) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002. [115662]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The Department had discussions with the Northern Ireland Office regarding the Explosives (Fireworks) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002 when the Fireworks Bill, which my right hon. Friend sponsors, was being drafted.
In the light of the recent press notice issued by the Northern Ireland Office highlighting the success of the Northern Ireland Regulations, officials will be having further discussions particularly in relation to the lessons learned in Northern Ireland and what elements of the Northern Ireland legislation might be used in any fireworks regulations applying to the rest of the United Kingdom which may come out of the Fireworks Bill currently before Parliament.
Garages and Car Dealers
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to introduce a system of licensing for independent motor vehicle garages and franchised motor dealers; and if she will make a statement. [112929]
Miss Melanie Johnson: I have no plans at present to introduce a system of licensing for garages or motor dealers. I support the initiative announced on 15 May for trade associations in the sector to seek Office of Fair Trading approval for a new code of practice to enable consumers to identify garages committed to delivering good customer service.
The new code will implement a set of minimum standards of customer service through a process of audit checks and other compliance measures, including mystery shopping. Consumers will have a mechanism for having complaints dealt with and have access to independent arbitration where a matter cannot be resolved with the garage, Participation in the Code will be open to businesses that are not members of trade associations.
At the core of the new code is an independent advisory group, including representatives from trading standards and the National Consumer Council, which will help design and approve a strong compliance system to ensure that participating garages meet the Code standards.
Honours
Mr. Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many officials in her Department have received honours; and how many honours are held by her officials, broken down by category of honour. [111496]
Ms Hewitt: Since the beginning of 2000, 48 members of the Department of Trade and Industry have received a State honour. The breakdown by level of award is as follows.
22 May 2003 : Column 908W
| Award | Number |
|---|---|
| KCB | 1 |
| Kt | 1 |
| GCMG | 1 |
| CMG | 3 |
| CB | 6 |
| CBE | 6 |
| OBE | 12 |
| MBE | 18 |
Data are not routinely kept on:
- The number of awards held by individuals
Awards that are not related to official duties
Awards already held by staff before joining the Department
Awards held by staff transferring to the Department under machinery of Government moves
Whether recipients of awards remain in the Department
KPMG
Mr. Kilfoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many contracts her Department has awarded to KPMG since 1997. [113689]
Ms Hewitt: Central records indicate 14 contracts have been awarded since 1 April 1999. Information is not held centrally for earlier years and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Newspaper Distribution
Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what assessment she has made of the report by the OFT into the Wholesale Code of Practice on newspaper distribution; [114578]
- (2) if she will make a statement on the request by the National Federation of Newsagents for a full referral of newspaper and magazine distribution to the Competition Commission by her Department. [114581]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The OFT is currently finalising its recommendations to its review of the Code of Practice on newspaper distribution, in the light of the responses it has received to its public consultation. The OFT will be publishing its conclusions in the summer. We will consider the OFT's final report before deciding what action is needed.
Non-executive Directors
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to make non-executive directors of companies subject to (a) election and (b) approval by employees. [114910]
Miss Melanie Johnson: A company's Articles of Association will usually determine the procedure for the appointment of directors. Most quoted companies' Articles require directors to be elected by the shareholders every three years.
Post Office Card Account
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the redesign of the pin pad for Post Office card account cardholders. [114955]
22 May 2003 : Column 909W
Mr. Timms: The Post Office is working to ensure their services are as accessible to as many customers as possible. In the short term the Post Office intends to improve current PIN pads by fitting a guard over the buttons to help guide customers. I understand that this will be done as soon as possible. In the longer term they intend to look at technological options to provide a secure alternative to PIN pads for people unable to use them.
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Blaby, of 16 May 2003, Official Report, column 466W, on post office subsidies, when the Government expects to receive European Commission approval for the state aid announced in December 2002; and when post offices will start to receive these funds. [115369]
Mr. Timms: As I said in my reply to the question referred to by the hon. Member, the timetable for state aid clearance is a matter for the European Commission. DTI continues to work closely with the Commission to ensure that the questions and issues they raise are responded to as quickly as possible. We are confident we have a strong case and we hope to have approval in due course. The £450 million of support for the rural post office network runs from April 2003 to 2006. Post Office Ltd. will administer the fund within the guidelines and parameters set by Government.
Mr. Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of Postwatch in resolving Royal Mail customers' complaints. [114524]
Mr. Timms: When it was established in 2001 one of Postwatch's key objectives, agreed with the Department of Trade and Industry, was to provide more effective complaint handling performance. That performance is measured through an annual customer satisfaction survey.
The details of the 2001 survey are published in the Postwatch Annual Report and Accounts 2002–03, a copy of which has been placed in the Libraries of the House. The 2002 survey results will be published in the Postwatch Annual Report and Accounts 2003–04, a copy of which will be placed in the Libraries of the House at the end of June 2003.
Remuneration Packages (Senior Staff)
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to give company employees a role in determining remuneration packages for senior executives and directors. [114912]
Miss Melanie Johnson: Remuneration of company employees, including senior executives is a matter for the company. Remuneration of directors is a matter for the company's board, and for its shareholders.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |