| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
30 Jun 2003 : Column 69W—continued
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Bacton Gas Terminal
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on security precautions at Bacton Gas Terminal in North Norfolk. [121798]
30 Jun 2003 : Column 70W
Mr. Timms: The companies who operate this terminal receive protective security advice from various agencies. The Government has recently undertaken a comprehensive review of security. It is not appropriate to comment on specific measures, as this could compromise the security of the site.
Age Discrimination
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 19 May 2003, Official Report, column 631W, on age discrimination, what safeguards are in place to prevent unfair discrimination by employers against younger women in favour of older women. [121948]
Ms Hewitt: We will outlaw age discrimination in employment and vocational training from the end of 2006 when we implement the age strand of the European Employment Directive. The legislation will protect workers of all ages, and regardless of their sex. We are about to launch a consultation that seeks views on options for legislation. In the meantime, the Department of Work and Pensions' Age Positive campaign promotes the business benefits of age diversity, and encourages employers to take a non-ageist approach by referring to the voluntary Code of Practice on Age Diversity in Employment.
Arms Trade
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the Government's policy is on Ministers promoting the arms industry, with particular reference to (a) human rights, (b) regional security and (c) development issues; and if she will make a statement. [110395]
Mr. Ingram: I have been asked to reply.
It is Government policy to support legitimate defence exports, which contribute to our wider defence and international security interests. We are committed to the maintenance of a strong defence industry, but believe that arms exports must be managed responsibly. Ministers undertake activities in support of our defence industry in accordance with our policy.
Aviation Industry
Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate her Department has made of the contribution to the UK economy made by the general aviation industry; and if she will make a statement. [122034]
Mr. McNulty: I have been asked to reply.
The Department for Transport is part funding a research project, being undertaken under the auspices of the General Aviation Awareness Council, that includes an assessment of the economic benefits of General Aviation. The project is scheduled for completion in December 2003.
Biotechnology
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people work in the biotechnology sector, broken down by type of work. [121748]
30 Jun 2003 : Column 71W
Ms Hewitt: The information requested is not available from official statistics. In its memorandum last year to the Trade and Industry Select Committee Inquiry into the 'UK Biotechnology Industry', the Department provided an estimate of 18,400 biotechnology sector specialists present in the UK. The most recent information available to the Department suggests that this figure is now approximately 23,000. It is not possible to break down this information by job function. Because of the lack of a generally accepted definition for biotechnology, it is not possible to provide more precise figures.
Broadband
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when telecommunication companies will enable exchanges to provide broadband to all users; and if she will make a statement. [121742]
Mr. Timms : Broadband can be provided by several technologies many of which (e.g. cable modem and fixed wireless) are independent of the existing telephone infrastructure. The timing of the investment necessary to extend broadband access is a commercial decision for the companies involved.
Our overall target is for the UK to have the most extensive and competitive broadband market in the G7 by 2005. On 22 May 2003 I issued a joint statement with my right hon. Friend the Minister for State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs confirming the Government's aim that every community in the UK, irrespective of location, should have the opportunity to access affordable broadband from a competitive market.
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to ensure that residents of communities not served by a broadband-enabled telephone exchange can benefit from the provision of broadband to schools in those communities. [121898]
Mr. Timms [holding answer 26 June 2003]: I refer the hon. Member for North Avon to my statement on 1 May 2003, Official Report, columns 443–58. In particular to columns 446–48 where I addressed this point in some detail.
Business Diversification (Scotland)
Mr. Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what grant aid is available to assist in (a) business diversification in Scotland and (b) non-fishing related new business start-ups in fishing industry-dependent areas of Scotland. [121771]
Jacqui Smith [holding answer 26 June 2003]: The question refers to economic development issues. This is a matter for the Scottish Executive as economic development is devolved to the Scottish Executive under the Scotland Act.
Copyright Directive
Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the progress of the Copyright Directive. [122083]
30 Jun 2003 : Column 72W
Ms Hewitt: We are in the process of implementing the EC Copyright Directive into UK law. The answer given on 3 June 2003, Official Report, column 324W, sets out our current position.
Defence Exports
Mr. Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total value of outstanding export guarantee liabilities in respect of defence equipment was on 1 April (a) 1999, (b) 2000, (c) 2001, (d) 2002 and (e) 2003; and if she will make a statement. [122363]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The following table shows ECGD's Amounts At Risk position at the end of each of the periods in respect of guarantees on defence equipment.
| 1 April | Defence amounts at risk |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 4,058,568,740 |
| 2000 | 3,628,442,056 |
| 2001 | 3,857,259,545 |
| 2002 | 3,165,811,536 |
| 2003 | 3,237,851,995 |
Electricity
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will take steps to ensure an accreditation scheme is in place for green tariffs for domestic electricity customers; and if she will make a statement. [122219]
Mr. Timms: At the moment there is no government-sponsored accreditation scheme in place for green tariff offerings from electricity suppliers, although in the past that function has been fulfilled by the DTI-accredited and Energy Saving Trust run scheme "Future Energy".
Since the introduction of the Renewables Obligation (and associated Renewables Obligation Scotland), all licensed electricity suppliers in Great Britain are required to supply a specified and growing proportion of their supplies from eligible renewable sources, with the ultimate aim of achieving 10 per cent. by 2010. With the introduction of the Renewables Obligation, it is important that electricity consumers are given clear information about "green" electricity schemes. Both the industry regulator, Ofgem, and Energywatch, the statutory consumer body for the industry, have parts to play in this area. In April 2002, Ofgem issued guidance for those offering green tariffs, aimed to ensure that they genuinely involve the purchase of renewable energy beyond what suppliers would purchase in any case to meet the requirements of the Renewables Obligation.
Energywatch also has a specific duty to advise members of the public with concerns about green energy schemes.
As of 23 October 2003, consumers and generators will have access to a further source of confidence in the "greenness" of electricity—Renewable Energy Guarantee of Origin Certificates (REGOs). The Department is currently consulting on the mechanisms for implementing Article 5 of EC Directive 2001/77/EC
30 Jun 2003 : Column 73W
on the promotion of electricity from renewable sources. This particular Article allows all generators of electricity from renewable sources, regardless of size and potential
output capacity, to be provided, on request, with a Guarantee of Origin for their electricity. Ofgem will be responsible for administering the electronic certification system in Great Britain, and REGOS will be accepted in other EU member states, thus creating EU-wide assurance in any green electricity offerings.
Fair Trade
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how (a) the UK and (b) third world countries may affect the agenda for WTO negotiations. [121364]
Mr. Mike O'Brien [holding answer 25 June 2003]: The agenda for the current round of WTO negotiations, the 'Doha Development Agenda', was agreed by all WTO members, including 49 of the world's poorest economies, at the fourth WTO ministerial conference in Doha, in November 2001.
The final agreement from those negotiations can only be reached by a consensus of all members.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |