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Company Insolvency

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to amend legislation protecting the pay and conditions of employees in cases of companies being taken into administration. [120233]

Mr. Sutcliffe: The Government will be reviewing the existing employment protection afforded to employees of insolvent employers when implementing the changes arising from the European Council Directive 2002/74/EC amending the European Council Directive 80/987/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the member states relating to the protection of employees in the event of the insolvency of their employer, which are to be implemented by October 2005.

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to limit the costs charged by liquidators in insolvency cases. [120035]

Mr. Sutcliffe: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has no plans to intervene in the administration of insolvent estates by seeking to limit the fees charged by insolvency practitioners. This is primarily a matter for the creditors of the insolvent estate. The Insolvency Rules 1986 make provision for the court to review the amount where, in appropriate circumstances, an application is made by either the creditors or the practitioner.

All insolvency practitioners are required to follow the guidance on remuneration contained in Statement of Insolvency Practice number 9, which was amended in December 2002.

Post Office

Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with the managers of Royal Mail Group regarding the company's policy of transferring the transport of mail freight from rail to road and air; and if she will press the Royal Mail Group to review the decision to terminate its contract with EWS. [118710]

Mr. Timms: The Department meets Royal Mail on a regular basis to discuss a range of issues including progress on the transport review. That review envisaged a continuing role for rail freight. Royal Mail has, following protracted negotiations with EWS, concluded that it cannot now proceed on the basis it originally intended, for reasons of cost.

The Government regret the loss of business for rail freight but stands by its policy that Royal Mail must have the freedom it needs to operate genuinely commercially.

San Francisco Consulate

Mr. Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the

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impact on British business of the proposed sale of the consular residence in San Francisco by the Foreign Office. [118637]

Mr. Rammell: I have been asked to reply.

We do not expect any significant impact. The new residence will provide good support for the commercial activities of the Consulate General. We are also looking to improve the facilities of the Consulate General office located in the business district, by adding a meeting room for briefings and receptions.

Nuclear Industry

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions she has held with (a) the Department for Education and Skills and (b) individual universities on the development of a workforce equipped with the necessary skill levels for the nuclear industry. [119974]

Mr. Timms: Following publication in December 2002 of the report of the 'Nuclear Skills Group', activity has focused on the development of proposals for a new Sector Skills Council—COGENT—covering the nuclear industry, oil and gas, petroleum and polymers. My officials have had meetings with DfES as part of that process and work closely with DfES colleagues on the approach to sector skills generally. Officials have also been in discussion with a number of Universities about the provision of relevant courses to ensure that skills relevant to the nuclear industry are available for the future. These discussions are continuing.

Wind Farms

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many wind farms are in operation in (a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland; [119968]

(2) how many sites have been identified for future development of wind farms in (a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland (i) this year and (ii) in each of the next three years. [119969]

Mr. Timms [holding answers 18 June 2003]: The British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) prepares a quarterly analysis on the status of the UK wind energy industry to keep track of the rapid growth being experienced in this sector.

A list of all grid-connected wind power projects in the UK can be found within the BWEA website at http://www.bwea.com/map/list.html

The BWEA's quarterly analysis for April 2003 includes a list of new wind power projects due for construction in the UK in the coming years. This can be found within the BWEA website at http://www.bwea.com/planmng/1Q.html

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Asylum and Immigration Cases

Mr. Viggers: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what the expenditure on legal aid relating to judicial reviews of

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asylum and immigration cases was in (a) 2000–01, (b) 2001–02 and (c) 2002–03; and what the budget is for 2003–04. [119664]

Mr. Lammy: Expenditure on legal aid relating to judicial reviews of asylum and immigration cases was: £3 million in 2000–01, £3.5 million in 2001–02, and £4.9 million in 2002–03. There is no separate budget for legal aid for judicial reviews. The Legal Services Commission are required to fund all those cases which meet the criteria for funding.

SCOTLAND

British Electricity Trading andTransmission Arrangements

Mr. Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment has been made of the costs to Scottish energy producers of the delay in legislation for a UK market in electricity through the British Electricity Trading and Transmission Arrangements. [119355]

Mr. Darling: The Government remain committed to bringing forward legislation, as soon as parliamentary time allows, to enable the implementation of the British Electricity Trading and Transmission Arrangements by April 2005.

Constitutional Affairs

Mr. Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many staff within the Department for Constitutional Affairs will be dedicated to Scottish affairs. [120176]

Mr. Darling: Staff of the Scotland Office, including staff working for the Office of the Advocate General for Scotland, have now become part of the Department for Constitutional Affairs for administrative purposes.

Discussions (First Minister)

Mr. Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his predecessor's discussions with the First Minister on 16 June 2003. [120175]

Mr. Darling: Lord Falconer, the First Minister and I had a discussion on a range of issues.

Ferries

Mr. Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions her Department has had with (a) P & O and (b) Stena Line on the employment implications of a merger on the North Channel crossing from Loch Ryan ports to Northern Ireland. [115811]

Mr. Darling: In May 2003, P & O and Stena Line announced proposals affecting other Irish Sea ferry services but retaining separate services on their routes out of Loch Ryan to Larne and Belfast. Stena Line also announced at the same time that an earlier loch had been superseded by a proposal for joint operation of expanded port facilities at Cairnryan. My Department has not had any discussions with the companies.

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Local Government Elections

Mr. Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans she has to review the breadth of the franchise at local government elections in Scotland. [119353]

Mr. Darling: There are no plans to review the breadth of the franchise at local government elections in Scotland.

Scottish Executive

Mr. Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what revised guidance has been issued to Government Departments in respect of their dealings with the Scottish Executive since 12 June 2003. [120177]

Mr. Darling: I shall publish revised guidance in due course.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan

Mr. George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much the UK is spending on combating the opium trade in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement. [118708]

Mr. Rammell: The UK has committed around £70 million over the next three financial years to fund activities aimed directly at combating the trade in opiates in Afghanistan. The elimination of the drugs trade in Afghanistan will, however, also depend upon broader reconstruction of the economy, law enforcement capacity and political life. In support of these essential contributions to successful drugs elimination, the UK has pledged around £200 million for 2002–07.

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