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Water Pollution

Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what powers water companies have to stop (a) companies and (b) residential properties discharging pollutants into waterways. [129822]

Mr. Morley: Water companies do not have any powers to stop companies or residential properties discharging pollutants into waterways. Their responsibility, under the Water Industry Act 1991, is to regulate trade effluent discharges made to public sewers.

Responsibility for controlling discharges to waterways belongs to the Environment Agency (the Agency). Under section 85 of the Water Resources Act 1991 (as amended by the Environment Act 1991) it is an offence to cause or knowingly permit polluting matter to enter "controlled waters", that is rivers, estuaries, coastal or groundwaters without permission. This is obtained as a discharge consent granted by the Agency. The Agency sets consent conditions which control volumes and concentrations of particular substances or imposes broader controls on the nature of the effluent. Each consent is based on an objective set by the Agency for the quality of the stretch of water to which the discharge is made as well as taking into account any relevant statutory requirements.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Microsoft (Licensing Fees)

Norman Lamb: To ask the Leader of the House how much was paid to Microsoft in licensing fees by the Office of the Leader of the House in each of the last three years; and how much has been budgeted for (a) 2003–04 and (b) 2004–05. [130674]

Mr. Hain: In the last three years the Office of the Leader of the House paid no licensing fees directly to Microsoft and has made no separate provision for 2003–4 or 2004–5.

The IT service for my Office is provided by the Cabinet Office and charged on a per PC basis. Any costs for licence fees are included in the overall IT charges.

Sitting Hours

Mr. Amess: To ask the Leader of the House what representations he has received in favour of reverting to the sitting hours of the House of Commons of 2002. [130374]

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Mr. Hain: A number of Members have raised with me their view on the sitting hours—both for and against the change—by raising it in the Chamber, at Business Questions and Oral Questions to the Leader of the House, by letter and in private discussion. I have had no representations from outside Parliament in favour of the House reverting to its former hours. The House has agreed the change for the remainder of this Parliament and will then need to review the matter.

Written Questions

Norman Baker: To ask the Leader of the House what plans he has to propose measures to allow hon. Members to challenge a refusal by a Minister to provide information requested by means of a written parliamentary question. [129257]

Mr. Hain: Ministers answer questions in accordance with the requirements set out in the Ministerial Code, the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information and guidance on disproportionate cost. As the Ministerial Code makes clear, it is for individual Ministers to account for their decisions and actions. If a Member of Parliament is unhappy with the answer received to a parliamentary question, he or she should raise the matter with the relevant Minister. There are no plans to propose changes to current practice.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Parliamentary Works

Michael Fabricant: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission what the expected cost is of clearing construction equipment and materials from the precincts of the House prior to the two-week sitting in September and reinstating it at the start of the Conference Adjournment. [130289]

Sir Archy Kirkwood: Officials are collating the costs associated with clearing and reinstating construction equipment and materials before and after the September sitting and I will arrange for the hon. Member to receive the figures when they become available.

SCOTLAND

Prohibition Orders

Mr. Cash: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he plans to amend the powers of the Secretary of State for Scotland to issue prohibition orders in relation to reserved matters; and who will have jurisdiction in determining matters of vires in connection with reserved matters. [126746]

Mrs. McGuire: There are no plans to amend the powers of the Secretary of State under section 35 of the Scotland Act. This gives the Secretary of State the power to make an order prohibiting the Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament from submitting a Bill for Royal Assent in certain circumstances.

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In terms of section 33 of the Scotland Act the Advocate General, the Lord Advocate or the Attorney General may refer the question of whether a Bill or any provision of a Bill would be within the legislative competence of the Parliament to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council for adjudication. The Government published a consultation paper in July, Constitutional Reform: A Supreme Court for the United Kingdom, which seeks views on the proposition that the new Supreme Court should have jurisdiction over devolution cases presently heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.

Aircraft Carriers

Mr. Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what role his Department has played in facilitating contact between BAe systems and the Scottish Executive to discuss training requirements for the carrier project. [127848]

Mrs. McGuire: The Scottish Executive has well established contact with BAe Systems and other shipbuilding interests in Scotland in relation to the Future Aircraft Carriers (CVF) programme.

The Clyde Shipyards Task Force recognised the need to ensure that Scottish shipyards have the necessary skills and infrastructure in place to secure a major role in the CVF programme. Further work to address the training requirements of the shipbuilding industry in Scotland is being taken forward by Scottish Enterprise.

Edinburgh Waverley Station

Mr. Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he plans to meet (a) Network Rail and (b) the Strategic Rail Authority to discuss the proposed investment at Edinburgh Waverley station. [127868]

Mr. Darling: I meet senior representatives of Network Rail and the Strategic Rail Authority on a regular basis to discuss a wide range of railway matters, and will continue to do so.

Air Tranpsort

Mr. Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what his policy is on Scotland increasing its international hub status for air transport. [128024]

Mrs. McGuire: The Government will publish an air transport White Paper later this year which will cover a range of key issues, including the development of air traffic at Scottish airports.

Manufacturing

Mr. Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many are employed in the manufacturing industry in Scotland; how many were employed in 1997; and if he will make a statement on the proposals for the manufacturing industry in Scotland. [128016]

Mrs. McGuire: The manufacturing sector continues to be very important to the economy of Scotland. Figures from the Office for National Statistics indicate that employment in the manufacturing industry in Scotland was 387,000 at the end of the Spring Quarter of 1997, and 301,000 at the end of the Spring Quarter of 2003.

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TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Apprenticeships and Training

Mr. Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Education and Skills regarding the level of apprenticeships and work-related training offered to school leavers. [128205]

Mr. Sutcliffe: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry works closely with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, meeting regularly to discuss areas of joint interest.

The recent publication of the Government's national Skills Strategy demonstrates the joint commitment to reforming qualifications and training programmes to meet the needs of employers and to provide clear routes to employability for the learner.

The joint remit being taken forward by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority with other partners will ensure that learning programmes will enable all young people to develop the skills that employers seek, with programmes of vocational education and training from age 14, and Modern Apprenticeships as the primary vocational option for young people. The Government's target is that by 2004, 28 per cent. of young people will start a Modern Apprenticeship by age 22. The expansion of Foundation Degrees will enable the progression into higher education from vocational programmes. Young people not yet ready to enter a Modern Apprenticeship will be able to join Entry to Employment, to benefit from help in developing basic skills as a means of entering a Modern Apprenticeship or employment.

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