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26 Jun 2003 : Column 927W—continued
Mental Health
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many of her staff retired on medical grounds due to mental health problems in the last year. [111955]
Ms Hewitt: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 24 June 2003, Official Report, column 662W, by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor for the Duchy of Lancaster.
Nuclear Waste
Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when BNFL plans to return high level nuclear waste from reprocessing foreign spent fuel back to customer countries; what facilities exist at Sellafield to store on an interim basis treated wastes; and whether she has received commitments from all foreign customers that they are prepared to accept the repatriation of their wastes. [119489]
Mr. Timms: The arrangements for the return of high level nuclear wastes (HLW) are a commercial matter between BNFL and its overseas customers, subject to meeting the appropriate regulatory requirements. All new reprocessing contracts signed since 1976 have included return of waste provisions and in signing such contracts overseas customers have accepted that wastes can be returned.
The HLW arising from reprocessing is conditioned, by vitrification, into a solid form suitable for safe long term storage and transportation. Vitrified HLW arising from fuel reprocessed to date is currently stored in a purpose built, engineered storage facility at Sellafield, in advance of return in accordance with the contracts.
Oftel
Brian White: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on Oftel's
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policy on special offers in the telecommunications market; and what mechanisms are in place to ensure repeated special offers do not distort the telecommunications market. [121527]
Mr. Timms: I understand that Oftel looks at any issues of anti-competitive behaviour in the pricing of telecommunications services, such as the use of non-off or repeated special offers, on a case by case basis. Any examination of such issues will be carried out within the framework of relevant legislation such as the Competition Act 1998 or the Telecommunications Act 1984. Oftel will look at issues relating to special offers if specific complaints are made to it or if it believes there is a competition issue which it needs to investigate on its own initiative.
Brian White: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether there is a statutory duty for Oftel to respond to formal complaints from alternative operators regarding uncompetitive practices from competitors; and what is the maximum time permitted for Oftel to deal with a complaint. [121528]
Mr. Timms: Section 49 of the Telecommunication Act 1984 imposes a duty on the Director General of Telecommunications to consider any non-frivolous representations made to him. Under the provisions of the Competition Act 1998, he has discretion as to whether or not to take action on a complaint brought to him.
With effect from 25 July 2003 the new European Directives on electronic communications introduce a mandatory target of four months for resolution of disputes. There are no statutory time limits on other investigations, though Oftel works to internal management targets.
Post Office Card Accounts
Mr. Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many Post Office card accounts have been opened in Scotland. [119356]
Mr. Timms: The information is not available in the format requested. National figures are available only.
However, I understand from the Post Office Ltd. that, as of 31 May 2003, 32,900 Post Office card accounts have been opened.
This number should grow rapidly over the coming weeks and months as those people opting for a card account complete the application process. By the end of May 2003, some 330,000 people had said they want to open a Post Office card account.
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many Post Office card accounts have been opened. [119837]
Mr. Timms: I understand from the Post Office Ltd. that as of 31 May 2003, 32,900 Post Office card accounts have been opened.
This number should grow rapidly over the coming weeks and months as those people opting for a card account complete the application process. By the end of May 2003, some 330,000 people had said they want to open a Post Office card account.
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Renewable Energy
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans her Department has to subsidise the production of wood and wood products as a means of locking up carbon. [119181]
Mr. Timms: I have no such plans.
Trade Statistics
Sir Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the percentage of trade with the EEC was in 1973; and what percentage of UK total trade was in 2002 with those states who were members of the EEC in 1973. [119173]
Mr. Mike O'Brien [holding answer 16 June 2003]: In 1973 the eight members, other than the UK of the then EEC accounted for 32.6 per cent. of the UK's total trade in goods, In 2002 they accounted for 46.2 per cent.
Unscrupulous Tradesmen
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what (a) accreditation and (b) regulatory measures are in place to protect the general public, with particular reference to vulnerable groups, from unscrupulous tradesmen. [121666]
Mr. Sutcliffe: There is a sizeable body of law, which gives consumers protection in respect to both civil and criminal matters. Within this framework, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) and Trading Standards services enforce a wide range of legislation aimed at protecting all consumers. Some of this legislation is directed at practices more likely to affect vulnerable consumers. Through the Enterprise Act we have strengthened the enforcement of consumer protection legislation by making it possible for enforcers to seek a Stop Now Order against a trader acting unlawfully in respect of a wide range of legislative infringements, which harm the collective interests of consumers. These provisions came into force on 20 June 2003.
The Enterprise Act empowers the OFT to formally approve and promote voluntary codes of practice that meet its challenging core criteria and, if necessary, withdraw that approval publicly if a code is found to be not operating satisfactorily. The aim of the new scheme is to promote and safeguard consumers' interests by helping them identify better businesses and to encourage businesses to raise their standards of customer service.
Waste Electrical andElectronic Equipment Directive
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will ensure that implementation of the European Union waste electrical and electronic equipment directive in respect of the re-use of printer ink and toner cartridges will encourage an expansion of re-use. [118082]
Mr. Timms: The implementation of this Directive does not affect printer cartridges.
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TRANSPORT
Efficiency Savings
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the target was in each of the last five years for efficiency savings as a percentage of total running costs for each of the non-departmental public bodies for which his predecessor Department was responsible; and whether each target was met. [120925]
Mr. McNulty: The information is as follows:
The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) was established in February 2001 and no targets for efficiency have yet been set. The SRA's Financial Framework designates their Chief Executive as being responsible for using resources 'economically, efficiently and effectively'. I am satisfied that he has done this.
The Secretary of State has no power to set targets for the two lighthouse authorities that are identified as non-departmental public bodies (Trinity House Lighthouse Service and Northern Lighthouse Board). The two organizations set their own operational targets.
European Maritime Safety Agency
Rachel Squire: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will put forward Rosyth as the permanent location for the European Maritime Safety Agency. [121463]
Mr. Jamieson: Glasgow was nominated in 2001 as the UK candidate location for the European Maritime Safety Agency, in a joint submission by the Department and the Scottish Executive.
Low-wave Radar
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he is having with his EU counterparts on restrictions on the use of low-wave radar by vessels in the seas around the British Isles. [120674]
Mr. Jamieson: Low-wave radar is not a term that my Department recognises. Surface wave or surface duct radar may achieve "over the horizon" ranges, but has little application to commercial shipping. There are no discussions with European counterparts on this matter at this time.
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