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Foreign Inward Investment

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what incentives are being offered to encourage foreign inward investors in the UK. [116573]

Ms Hewitt: The UK attracts more investment than any other country in Europe, and in the world, is second only behind the US (FDI inward stock figures for 2001 source: UNCTAD World Investment Report 2002). Invest-UK works in partnership with all of the UK's Development Agencies to attract the maximum level of inward investment and to market the UK's attractions for high quality investment. Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) is available to foreign inward investors located, or planning to locate, within the UK's assisted areas. RSA provides grants to help support business expansions and create and safeguard jobs.

Fossil Fuels

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether it is the Government's intention to exploit all the UK's economically recoverable fossil fuel reserves. [117833]

Mr. Timms: Consistent with the Government's Energy White Paper published in February this year, the Government support the full economic recovery of the UK's fossil fuel resources.

Government Contracts

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of Government contracts have been awarded to small business in each year since 1997. [119613]

Nigel Griffiths: The Government has not historically collected this data. However, I have asked the Small Business Service to undertake an annual survey of Government procurement and I hope to be able to

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report the results of the 2001–02 survey shortly. The Small Business Service will be commencing the 2002–03 survey at the same time.

Mr. Martlew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of government contracts have been awarded to small businesses, broken down by Government Department and agency since 1997. [119638]

Nigel Griffiths: The Government have not historically collected these data. However, I have asked the Small Business Service to undertake an annual survey of government procurement and I hope to be able to report the results of the 2001–02 survey, broken down by Government Department, agency etc. shortly. The Small Business Service will be commencing the 2002–03 survey at the same time.

Ink Cartridges

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures she has taken to promote the re-use of ink cartridges used in laser and inkjet printers. [119907]

Mr. Timms: The printer cartridge refill business is steadily growing. The Department welcomes this but has not seen a need to take specific measures to promote the sector.

National Institute for Medical Research

Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if she will make a statement on the Medical Research Council's proposal to close down the National Institute for Medical Research at Mill Hill; [117004]

(2) what consultation there has been over proposals to close the National Institute for Medical Research at Mill Hill. [117005]

Ms Hewitt: No decision has been taken regarding the future of the National Institute for Medical Research. The Medical Research Council is, at present, developing a long-term strategy for its major capital investments over the next 10 to 15 years, including the National Institute for Medical Research.

The MRC informed all MRC Unit and Institute Directors of the decision to establish a Council Subcommittee to develop this strategy with further information on its terms of reference and membership—all Directors had the opportunity to comment on the consultation document when released on 4 April 2003. The Directors at the four sites were consulted over the six months taken to discuss and agree the strategy. The Directors at the four sites have had the opportunity to comment on the over-arching strategy and submit comments relating to their institutes. The draft strategy was released for general consultation on 4 April 2003 and the deadline for comments was extended to 26 May 2003.

MRC has recently announced that, as a next step, they will be establishing an expert task force to include Council members, independent scientists from UK and abroad, and senior scientists currently working at NIMR. The task force will aim to accelerate further development of a vision for a strong scientific future

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for NIMR. This will include consideration of, and consultation on, a broader set of options for the size and location of NIMR. Establishment of the task force emphasizes the MRC's commitment to continued stakeholder consultation and to consideration all the options for the future of the NIMR.

Official Spelling

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make it her policy that official (a) correspondence, (b) reports and (c) documentation from her office uses the English spelling of words where this differs from the US version. [118860]

Ms Hewitt: All correspondence, reports and documentation issued by my office are written in accordance with the Cabinet Office guidance on the handling of Ministerial and other correspondence, which emphasise that appropriate arrangements should be in place to ensure that the quality of all replies is high. My office also adheres to the Cabinet Office guidance on plain written English.

Partnership Agreements

Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether she plans to conclude a partnership agreement with the trade unions representing the staff in her Department. [117449]

Ms Hewitt: A Partnership Statement was agreed with the Trade Union by my Department in February 2001.

Post Office Pensions

Mr. Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the (a) reported deficit in the pension fund of Royal Mail Group and (b) treatment of the pension credit in Consignia's last two annual accounts and the six monthly accounts for September 2002; and if she will estimate the total change in credit and deficit in those accounts. [114582]

Mr. Timms [holding answer 22 May 2003]: These are matters that fall within the day-to-day responsibility of Royal Mail. I have therefore asked the company's chief executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Precious Metals Directive

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, (1) whether (a) her ministers and (b) officials have met representatives of the (i) British Retail Consortium and (ii) Consumers' Association to discuss the EU draft directive on precious metals; and if she will make a statement; [116828]

(2) with which stakeholders her officials are discussing the Government's position on the EU draft directive on precious metals; and if she will make a statement. [116866]

Mr. Sutcliffe: Neither Ministers nor officials have met representatives of the British Retail Consortium or the Consumers' Association to discuss the Draft EU Directive on the marking of precious metals. Officials have met representatives of the National Association of

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Goldsmiths, which represents retail jewellers, and have been in contact with representatives of the Consumers' Association regarding the Directive.

Officials have discussed the Draft Directive with, among others, the British Hallmarking Council, the Assay Offices, Trading Standards and jewellery manufacturers. The Government does not support the Directive.

Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the policy is of the Government towards the Precious Metals Directive; and if she will make a statement. [118225]

Mr. Sutcliffe: The Government do not support the Directive.

Printing Waste

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action she plans to take to implement the recommendations of the Office of Fair Trading report on the cost of printers and the cost of ink cartridges; and if she will make a statement. [118083]

Mr. Sutcliffe: Recommendations in the report are a matter for the Office of Fair Trading to follow up with the IT industry.

Pyramid Selling

Mr. Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the (a) place and (b) dates of the conviction were of her Department's 1987 prosecution under the Fair Trading Act 1973 and the Pyramid Selling Schemes Regulations 1973; what companies were involved; what sentences were conferred; to which offences the companies and directors pleaded guilty; and if she will make a statement. [115993]

Mr. Sutcliffe: Central records within the DTI enforcement section have been unable to locate a 1987 prosecution under the Fair Trading Act 1973 and the Pyramid Selling Schemes Regulations 1973.

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