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18 Jun 2003 : Column 325W—continued
Cat and Dog Fur
Mr. Lyons: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action she is taking to prevent the trade in cat and dog fur. [117396]
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 exactly what they are buying. We will report back to Parliament before summer recess.
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 more trade-restrictive action to be proportionate to the scale of the problem at this time.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make it her policy to ban the importation of cat and dog fur. [118112]
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. We will report back to Parliament before the summer recess.
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.
Citizens Advice Bureaux
Mr. Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many debt inquiries have been reported by the Citizens Advice Bureau in (a) the UK, (b) Tyne and Wear, (c) South Tyneside and (d) the Jarrow constituency in each year since 1997. [119120]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The coordinating body for Citizens Advice Bureaux (CABx), Citizens Advice, included a table in their May 2003 report on debt, "In Too Deep". This table contains figures for the number of new debt inquiries to CABx in the UK from 1997 to 2002, as follows:
| Number | |
|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 862,019 |
| 1998–99 | 952,734 |
| 1999–2000 | 1,031,377 |
| 2000–01 | 1,038,066 |
| 2001–02 | 1,066,509 |
The full table, including a breakdown of type of debt inquiries, can be found on the Citizens Advice's website at: http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk
18 Jun 2003 : Column 326W
Citizens Advice does not, however, have statistics available on a regional or constituency basis.
Mr. Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans the Government have to help tackle debt-related issues reported by the Citizens Advice Bureau. [119122]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The Government are currently considering the issues raised in the report, "In Too Deep", and have met Citizens Advice to discuss some of them.
A number of the concerns raised by Citizens Advice are already being addressed by the review of Government policy on over-indebtedness. The review aims to investigate the demand for money advice and financial literacy programmes, clarify the roles and responsibilities of Government Departments, and make recommendations on future Government policy on reducing over-indebtedness. It will also focus in particular on achieving effective co-ordination of policy across Government.
Coal Miners (Compensation)
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which company is providing the expert report on miners' coal health claims and private small mines; and if she will set out the timetable for reaching an agreement between the solicitors and the private mine owners. [119490]
Mr. Timms: The expert report on miners coal health claims and private small mines being produced for the claimants' solicitors is a matter for that party, not the Department of Trade and Industry. It is not possible to stipulate a precise timetable for agreement between the Department, the claimants' solicitors and the small mines; however, negotiations are at an advanced stage and will continue as soon as the expert report is available, which is expected to be in the near future.
Community Pharmacies
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many representations her Department has received relating to the effect of deregulation on community pharmacies. [119063]
Mr. Sutcliffe [holding answer 17 June 2003]: The Department has received a very substantial number and range of representations from stakeholders both sent to the DTI directly and forwarded to us for our information by health departments.
Consultations
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions she has held with (a) HSBC, (b) the Royal Bank of Scotland, (c) Halifax Bank of Scotland and (d) Abbey National concerning the provision of banking services in the Post Office; and if she will make a statement. [119840]
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Mr. Timms: The Government are keen that as many accounts as possible should be accessible at post offices. HSBC, the Royal Bank of Scotland, Halifax Bank of Scotland and Abbey National agreed to make their basic bank accounts accessible at post office counters from 1 April 2003 when universal banking services became operational. The Post Office's plans to extend post office access to all current account holders are a commercial matter between Post Office Ltd. and individual banks. I have not, therefore, had any recent discussions with these banks concerning the provision of wider banking services at the Post Office.
Copyright (Visually Impaired Persons) Act
Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her policy is on the Copyright (Visually Impaired Persons) Act. [118164]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The Government supported the private member's legislation that was enacted last Session as the Copyright (Visually Impaired Persons) Act 2002. We are in touch with disability groups and organisations representing copyright owners on the most appropriate date for commencement of the Act in the next few months.
Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation)Regulations
Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the vires of section 7.3 of the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003. [118583]
Mr. Sutcliffe [holding answer 10 June 2003]: We have considered the position carefully and are satisfied as to the vires of the provision in Regulation 7(3) of the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003. We consider that the provisions of Regulation 7(3) are consistent with Article 4 in Council Directive 2000/78/EC, which these Regulations implement.
Equality Law
Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will introduce legislation to unify and extend equality law. [119754]
Ms Hewitt: The Government are taking forward a significant legislative agenda on equality matters. This includes introducing protection against discrimination in employment and vocational training on the grounds of sexual orientation, religion and belief and age to implement the EU Employment and Race Directives. We are also strengthening and widening existing disability legislation, providing rights of recognition for trans-gendered people and looking at how same sex partnerships might be recognised.
These are complex and far reaching changes which will need time to bed down once they are introduced. We are ensuring that we implement the Employment and Race Directives in a way that achieves greater consistency wherever possible across the equality strands. We do not believe however that comprehensive unifying legislation is the most appropriate way forward.
18 Jun 2003 : Column 328W
Export Control Act
Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to his answer of 16 May 2003, Official Report, column 463W, which of the Home Office guidelines (a) would and (b) would not be met if extra-territorial jurisdiction were to be given in the secondary orders for the Export Control Act 2002. [119211]
Nigel Griffiths: Home Office guidelines are a matter for the Home Secretary.
Extra-territorial Jurisdiction
Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 16 May 2003, Official Report, column 463W, how that part of the Home Office guidelines that states that (a) not all of the points have to be met and (b) that extra-territorial jurisdiction can be considered in cases where at least one of the criteria is met informs the work of her Department. [119212]
Nigel Griffiths: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given today, PQ No. 119211.
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