House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 3 Jun 2003 (pt 87)

3 Jun 2003 : Column 340W—continued

Post Office Card Accounts

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) which disability groups were consulted about the introduction of the Post Office card account; [116384]

Mr. Timms: The accessibility of the Post Office card account, including issues around the use of the PIN pads, is the responsibility of Post Office Ltd. I have asked the Chief Executive of Post Office Ltd. to write direct to the hon. Member.

Post Offices

Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many post offices have closed under the Urban Reinvention programme; and how many such closures were opposed by Postwatch. [114991]

Mr. Timms [holding answer 21 May 2003]: I understand from Post Office Ltd. that, to the end of April 2003, 205 post offices had closed under the urban reinvention programme. I understand from Postwatch that to date they have opposed 23 of the 484 closure proposals which have been put out to public

3 Jun 2003 : Column 341W

consultation and that, of those 484 proposals, 4 have been withdrawn and a further 9 have been modified in the light of comments made by Postwatch and others at that stage. In addition, at the advance notification to Postwatch stage, 18 closure proposals were withdrawn, and a further 24 modified before reaching public consultation.

Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many proposed post office closures under the Urban Reinvention programme which were objected to by Postwatch did not take place. [114992]

Mr. Timms [holding answer 21 May 2003]: I understand from Post Office Ltd. that to date 4 post office closure proposals under the urban reinvention programme have been withdrawn in the light of representations, including objections from Postwatch, made during the public consultation process. I also understand from Postwatch that 18 closure proposals were withdrawn, and a further 24 modified, at the advance notification stage of the consultation process.

Precious Metals

Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what reports she has received of the sale in the UK of under-carated gold items made in the USA; what action she will take; and if she will make a statement. [114970]

Miss Melanie Johnson: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has not received any reports of the sale in the UK of under-carated gold items made in the USA.

Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which (a) Ministers and (b) officials in her Department have met representatives of (i) the Local Authorities Co-ordinating Office on Regulatory Services, (ii) the Trading Standards Institute and (iii) representatives of MSF/Amicus to discuss the EU draft directive on precious metals. [114985]

Miss Melanie Johnson: DTI officials have met representatives from the Trading Standards Institute and will shortly be meeting those from the Local Authorities Coordinating Office on Regulatory Services. DTI officials have not met representatives from MSF/Amicus, but have been in regulator contact with them.

Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions she has had with representatives from other countries regarding the introduction of independent hallmarking of items made from precious metals; what advice was sought; and what advice she gave. [114987]

Miss Melanie Johnson: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has not had any discussions with representatives from other countries regarding the introduction of independent hallmarking of items made from precious metals.

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The UK operates a system of compulsory independent testing and marking of articles of precious metal, which provides a high level of consumer protection.

Productivity

Mr. Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent research her Department has (a) carried out and (b) commissioned with regard to improving productivity in the United Kingdom; what their main findings were; and what discussions she has had with colleagues regarding implementing these findings. [114663]

Ms Hewitt: Raising UK prosperity is the Government's central economic objective. In order to ensure that policy is evidence based, the DTI undertakes extensive research into the drivers of UK productivity performance.

Recent examples of the DTFs own research include the Productivity and Competitiveness Indicators (2002) and a study into the competitiveness of UK textile industry (both available at www.dti. gov.uk/economics). The DTI also commissions external research, including Michael Porter's study of UK Competitiveness, and the international comparisons of productivity produced by the National Institute of Economic and Social Research. The Government's Adding it up web-site (http://www.addingitup.gov.uk/epc/dtitlr.cfm_4) contains more information on the research underpinning productivity policy.

The research shows that the UK needs to improve its performance in a range of areas, such as skills and innovation, if we are to narrow the productivity gap with our major competitors.

DTI ministers and officials work across Government to develop evidence-based policies that improve the UK's productivity and competitiveness.

Public Service Agreements

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps the Department has taken to publicise its Public Service Agreement targets; and at what cost to public funds. [114443]

Ms Hewitt: Information on DTI's Public Service Agreement targets and its performance against them is contained in existing publications such as the Departmental Report and the Autumn Performance Report, which the Department is required to publish annually, as well as in the information on the Department's activities which is routinely published on its website.

For the cost of the Departmental Report, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gaveon 22 July 2002, Official Report, column 789W. TSO (The Stationery Office Limited) bore the costs of design and artwork for producing the 2002 Autumn Performance Report.

Redundant Buildings

Mr. Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much money was given out under the

3 Jun 2003 : Column 343W

Redundant Building Grant scheme by each regional development agency in each year; and when each of the regional development agencies ceased to process grants for the Redundant Building Grant scheme. [115767]

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Alan Johnson: The table following shows how much money was given out under the Redundant Building Grant (RBG) scheme from inception of the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) in 1999.

£000

Regional Development Agency 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 Year when RDA ceased to process RBG⁽⁵³⁾

Advantage West Midlands 39 89 310 ⁽⁵³⁾117 2002–03

East of England Development Agency 244 324 153 135 ⁽⁵⁴⁾—

East Midlands Development Agency 214 162 ⁽⁵³⁾374 0 2001–02

North West Development Agency 299 320 ⁽⁵³⁾310 0 2001–02

One North East 216 153 136 ⁽⁵³⁾66 2002–03

South East of England Development 147 105 117 113 ⁽⁵⁴⁾—

South West of England Regional Development Agency 809 906 ⁽⁵³⁾625 0 2000–02

Yorkshire Forward 146 480 ⁽⁵³⁾624 33 2002–02

London Development Agency 0 0 0 0 ⁽⁵³⁾—>

Total 2,114 2,539 2,649 464 —

Regional Development Agency	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03	Year when RDA ceased to process RBG⁽⁵³⁾
Advantage West Midlands	39	89	310	⁽⁵³⁾117	2002–03
East of England Development Agency	244	324	153	135	⁽⁵⁴⁾—
East Midlands Development Agency	214	162	⁽⁵³⁾374	0	2001–02
North West Development Agency	299	320	⁽⁵³⁾310	0	2001–02
One North East	216	153	136	⁽⁵³⁾66	2002–03
South East of England Development	147	105	117	113	⁽⁵⁴⁾—
South West of England Regional Development Agency	809	906	⁽⁵³⁾625	0	2000–02
Yorkshire Forward	146	480	⁽⁵³⁾624	33	2002–02
London Development Agency	0	0	0	0	⁽⁵³⁾—>

Total	2,114	2,539	2,649	464	—

⁽⁵³⁾ The RDAs are free to continue funding similar schemes through the Single Programme.

⁽⁵⁴⁾ Continuing

⁽⁵⁵⁾ Not applicable

Royal Mail

Mr. Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many (a) complaints and (b) compensation claims were made concerning lost items of mail in each year since 1997. [114523]

Mr. Timms [holding answer 22 May 2003]: Complaints and compensation claims concerning lost items of mail are an operational matter for Royal Mail Group plc and I have therefore asked the Chief Executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Rural Post Offices

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what guidelines she sets for the administration of funds allocated to Post Office Ltd to maintain the rural post office network. [115915]

Mr. Timms: Rural post offices across the UK will benefit from the £450 million package of financial support for the rural post office network that I announced on 2 December. The money will be administered by POL within the guidelines and parameters set by Government. There are three eligible areas of expenditure for the rural support payment.

Money will be ring-fenced to maintain income levels for sub-postmasters, through maintenance of the assigned office payment.

Money will also be available to meet the front line support services necessary for each and every rural post office to operate—to meet IT operating costs, to provide them with cash and with forms, direct marketing, and the agents information help line.

Additionally there will be a flexible fund to modernise service delivery and pilot innovative ways of delivering services.

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