| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
1 Sept 2003 : Column 705W—continued
Productivity
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps her Department is taking to improve productivity growth rates. [123329]
Ms Hewitt: The Government's approach to raising productivity centres on maintaining macroeconomic stability to allow firms and individuals to invest for the future, as well as implementing microeconomic reforms to remove the barriers which prevent markets from functioning efficiently. The Government are addressing historic microeconomic weaknesses in five areas that drive productivity growth—investment, innovation, skills, enterprise and competitive markets.
Following the recent review of DTI structure and priorities, the Department has been reorganised in order to put productivity and competitiveness at the heart of our activities. The Department's mission, reflecting the Government's five drivers, is centred on the three objectives of world-class science and innovation, successful business and fair markets. In order to enhance the DTI's capacity to achieve these goals, we are currently working to develop a new strategy. This strategy will set out our longer-term direction; allow us to meet the expectations of our key stakeholders and guide the annual business planning process. The strategy will make the maximum use of the evidence base to inform both policy and delivery.
The DTI has already initiated a number of measures which are intended to help drive up productivity. These include:
- publishing the first Manufacturing Strategy for thirty years and launching the Manufacturing Advisory Service;
working in conjunction with the Department For Education and Skills, the Department for Work and Pensions and the Treasury to produce the recent Skills Strategy White Paper, which contains measures to improve the skills of Britain's work force;
introducing the Enterprise Act 2002, which will make UK competition and insolvency regimes amongst the best in the world according to independent observers;
increasing funding for science, engineering and technology from £8.46 billion in 2002–03 to £8.61 billion in 2004–05 in real terms. This includes £1 billion investment in the research infrastructure;
levering in £330 million extra capital to small firms through the Regional Venture Capital Funds;
announcing a review of innovation policy that will set out a strategy for improving innovation performance in the UK. The findings of the review will be published later this year.
Radiation
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had on a review of the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation guidelines and the Trower report. [124956]
Ms Blears [holding answer 10 July 2003]: I have been asked to reply.
1 Sept 2003 : Column 706W
ICNIRP is an international body of independent scientific experts which publishes health and safety guidelines on exposure to ultraviolet, optical, electromagnetic and ultrasound radiation. There are no plans at present to review ICNIRP guidelines on electromagnetic radiation. No discussions have been held with the UK Government on this matter.
In 2001, Mr. B Trower made available to the Police Federation a report he had written about the health and safety aspects of the TETRA mobile radio technology. The Home Secretary discussed the report with the Police Federation and provided a response based on expert advice from the National Radiological Protection Board's independent Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation.
Redundancies
Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many notified redundancies there have been in each year since 1997 among (a) 18 to 24, (b) 25 to 35, (c) 36 to 54 and (d) over 54-year-olds; what these figures represent as a percentage of the total work force, broken down by region; and if she will make a statement. [124539]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The information about proposed redundancies notified to this Department does not identify the ages of the workers concerned.
Regional Science Councils
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to create more regional science councils. [124118]
Ms Hewitt: Regional Science Councils or similar bodies are created by the regions themselves and not by central Government. However, the Government have consistently commended the board model of such councils. Most recently—as announced in the Budget statement in April—I have asked Sir Tom McKillop—in his capacity as Chair of the North West Science Council—to lead a network to ensure that best practice in promoting innovation and knowledge transfer is exchanged, and that models of Science and Industry Councils come into operation in every region as soon as practicable.
Renewable Energy
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has for renewable energy schemes that will benefit the West Midlands. [126311]
Mr. Timms: With DTI support the Government Office for the West Midlands is working with local government and private sector partners to promote and
1 Sept 2003 : Column 707W
support the development of renewable energy in the region. A number of renewable energy schemes are already under way. These include:
- Under the Large Scale Field Trial Scheme, the DTI has supported the installation of Solar PV stands at the National Indoor Athletics Training Centre at the Alexander Stadium. This will provide 107 KWP rating surplus energy into the grid.
Other projects will follow under the Major PV Demonstration programme.
Two schemes were successfully completed in the 1st Round of Clear Skies Community Funding grants; One for solar thermal panels on a new build for Housing Association at Craven Arms, Shropshire and the installation of a biomass boiler at the National Trust supplying estate offices in Bridworth, Shropshire.
Three Waste incineration projects at Birmingham, Stoke and Coventry with total operating capacity of 60MW
A 25MW operating capacity landfill gas project at Packington
A sewage gas site at Minworth in Birmingham operated by Severn Trent Water
Small scale hydro schemes at Oswestry and Tamworth
Research and Development
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been spent on research and development in current prices in each year since 1997–98; and what her plans are for each year until 2005–06. [125590]
Ms Hewitt: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement I made on 16 July 2003, Official Report, column 46WS.
The figures in Forward Look 2003 extend to 2004–05. Corresponding figures for 2005–06 are not yet available. However, plans for the Science Budget up to 2005–06 are set out in the DTI OST document 'Science Budget 2003–04 to 2005–06' a copy of which is in the Libraries of the House.
Smoking
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her policy is on employers providing smoking breaks in smoke-free workplaces. [126837]
Mr. Sutcliffe: There is no statutory entitlement to receive smoking breaks in any workplace. However, the Working Time Regulations provide workers with a 20-minute in work rest break if they work for more than six hours at a stretch. Young workers are entitled a 30-minute in work rest break if they work for more than four and a half hours at a stretch. There are no plans to amend the Working Time Regulations to require employers to provide smoking breaks in smoke-free workplaces.
Special Advisers
Mr. Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on how many occasions between 31 March
1 Sept 2003 : Column 708W
2002 and 31 March 2003 (a) departmental and (b) non-departmental special advisers have travelled abroad in an official capacity; what places were visited; and how much each visit cost. [126672]
Ms Hewitt: Between 31 March 2002 and 31 March 2003, Departmental special adviser have travelled abroad in an official capacity four times, on all occasions accompanying the Secretary of State. On three occasions to Brussels at an average cost of £463 per visit, and on one occasion to the USA at no cost to the Department.
| Date | Place visited | |
|---|---|---|
| 19–20 June 2002 | Brussels | 1 special adviser |
| 26 November 2002 | Brussels | 1 special adviser |
| 3 March 2003 | Brussels | 1 special adviser |
| 28 July 2002–1 August 2002 | USA | 1 special adviser |
All travel by the special advisers was undertaken in accordance with the guidance set out in the Ministerial code and the Civil Service management code.
Tariff Barriers
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research she has commissioned on the costs of administering tariff barriers, broken down by (a) country and (b) major category of product. [125080]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: No independent research has been commissioned on this although officials will make assessments of the impact of particular proposals from time to time.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |