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18 Sept 2003 : Column 870W—continued
Parliamentary Questions
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Minister for Women how many questions directed to her remain unanswered. [130768]
Ms Hewitt: Of those questions tabled for answer up to and including 17 September 2003, there is one question remaining unanswered.
Public Appointments
Vera Baird: To ask the Minister for Women what steps she is taking to encourage more women to apply for public appointments. [130834]
Jacqui Smith: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has set a target of between 45 to 50 per cent. women in public appointments made by our Department. This target is supported by a number of initiatives my right hon. Friend has led over the past two years; for example, a national outreach campaign targeted at over 2,000 women from diverse backgrounds. These women are well represented at local and regional level, and have many skills needed to be successful when applying for national appointments.
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Our Department also produced a practical guide to enable others to carry on this outreach work and over 3,000 have been distributed. As part of the outreach programme, we have also commissioned research to learn more about what barriers women face when applying for public appointments.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Manufacturing Output
12. Laura Moffatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent reports she has received on the impact of trends in manufacturing output in the UK upon the economy in the south-east. [130828]
Mr. Sutcliffe: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State receives regular reports from a variety of sources on manufacturing output at both the national and regional level.
Coal Industry Investment Aid Scheme
13. Mr. Kevin Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she expects the first payments to be made under the Coal Industry Investment Aid Scheme. [130829]
Mr. Timms: Applications for first period aid are being assessed at the moment. First payments to successful projects will be made as soon as possible after the decisions have been made.
Small Businesses
14. Mr. Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions she has had with
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the Inland Revenue on the taxation position of small businesses run by married couples. [130830]
Nigel Griffiths: The DTI has regular contact with the Inland Revenue on the taxation of small businesses generally including those run by married couples.
Advertising
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what further measures she is planning to prevent the publication of misleading advertising; and if she will list those advertisers issued with court orders in each year since 2000 to prevent the continued publication of misleading advertising. [129937]
Mr. Sutcliffe: Non-broadcast advertising is controlled mainly by self-regulation under which the Advertising Standards Authority is responsible for ensuring compliance with the British Code of Advertising, Sales Promotion and Direct Marketing. Providing legislative backing to the Code is the Control of Misleading Advertising Regulations 1988, which empowers the Office of Fair Trading to investigate complaints about misleading advertisements, and where necessary, to seek injunctions against further publication. OFT also have powers under the Enterprise Act (previously under the Stop Now Orders (EC Directive) Regulations 2001) to take action against misleading advertising that harms the collective interests of consumers. These powers are shared by Trading Standards Services. I have no plans to introduce any further measures in relation to misleading advertising.
During the period 2002–03, OFT obtained written assurances/undertakings in 25 cases. OFT obtained no Court Orders in 2000 or 2001. Court Orders obtained during 2002–03 were as follows:
| Court Order | Advertiser | |
|---|---|---|
| 6 March 2002 | Interim InjunctionCMARS | Planet Telecom plc192enquiries.com Ltd. Peter HutcheonJohn Tonge |
| 30 May 2002 | Final InjunctionCMARS | Data Protection Agency Services Ltd.Michael Sullivan |
| 25 June 2002 | Interim InjunctionCMARS | DPARS Ltd.Gary McNeish(both also trading as Data Protection Act Registration Service) |
| 10 July 2002 | Court Order(Stop Now Orders (EC Directive)Regulations 2001) | John Christopher InesonBlake Hamilton Ltd.Property Associates (UK) Ltd. |
| 22 July 2002 | Final InjunctionCMARS | Planet Telecom plcPeter HutcheonJohn Tonge |
| 12 November 2002 | Final InjunctionCMARS | DPARS Ltd.Gary McNeish(both trading as Data Protection Act Registration Service) |
| 7 August 2003 | Interim InjunctionCMARS | Christopher Yewdall |
Manufacturing Advisory Service
15. Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what analysis has been conducted of the effect of the Manufacturing Advisory Service on small and medium-sized companies. [130832]
Ms Hewitt: We receive regular reports of the impact of the Manufacturing Advisory Service on the companies it helps, most of whom are SMEs. These reports are very impressive. We are seeing substantial improvements in the productivity of companies that are taking advantage of its in-depth consultancy service.
Broadband
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the latest figures are for coverage by broadband in (a) urban and (b) rural areas. [130568]
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Mr. Timms: Some 80 per cent. of UK households have access to a mass-market broadband solution targeted at residential or small business customers. The most recent statistics giving the breakdown for urban and rural areas are from June 2003. At that point national coverage was 76 per cent., urban and suburban areas, 92 per cent. and rural areas, 28 per cent.
Chemical Exports
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry under what circumstances chemicals banned for use in the UK can be manufactured in this country and exported outside the EU. [126693]
Mr. Browne: I have been asked to reply.
There is no absolute prohibition on the export to non-EU countries of chemicals banned for use in the UK.
However, arrangements to ensure that recipient countries are aware of the potential hazards of imported chemicals are provided by EC Regulation 304/2003 (copy in the Library). This regulation implements the Rotterdam Convention on Prior Informed Consent (PIC) for certain hazardous chemicals and pesticides in international trade. The PIC procedure gives importing countries the opportunity to refuse, or apply conditions to, imports of certain dangerous chemicals.
Company Contracts
Mrs. Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information her Department gathers on the placement of contracts with United Kingdom companies by (a) US and (b) US/UK business partnerships; and if she will make a statement. [130406]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: This information is not collected in this form.
Consumer Credit Legislation
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will set out her timetable for reforming consumer credit legislation. [131256]
Mr. Sutcliffe: I intend to publish a White Paper on consumer credit this autumn. This will include the timetable for reforming consumer credit legislation.
Copyright
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the extent of infringement of copyright in the downloading of music from the internet; and what further action she proposes to prevent it. [130196]
Ms Hewitt: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Anniesland (John Robertson), on 15 September 2003, Official Report, columns 538–39.
Customs and Excise
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans her Department has in cases where Her Majesty's Customs and Excise seize
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imported goods for inspection to limit recovery of their costs to businesses which are subsequently found to be importing counterfeit and illegal goods. [129386]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The Department has no plans to seek changes to the EC Regulation applying to seizure of counterfeit and pirate goods at the border which governs activity in this area. The policy in and operation of this Regulation is for Her Majesty's Customs and Excise, which in turn, is the responsibility of my colleagues in the Treasury.
Debt Management
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many licensed debt collectors operate in the UK; how many complaints have been received regarding the conduct of debt collectors, in each year since 2000; how many complaints have been upheld in each year since 2000; how many debt collectors have been banned from practising in each year since 2000; and if she will place in the Library a list of banned debt collectors. [129938]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The Office of Fair Trading is responsible for licensing and investigating complaints regarding debt collectors and other bodies involved in the consumer credit market.
The current consumer credit licence categories do not distinguish between debt collection and certain other forms of licensed lending. However, a recent survey by the Credit Services Association, a major trade body for the sector, suggests there are approximately 400 debt collection businesses in the UK, 206 of whom are its members.
Separate debt collection complaint data have not been recorded over the full period in question.
In January 2003, the OFT set up a specialist team to deal with complaints regarding debt collection; issuing debt collection guidance in July 2003, which sets out practices affecting fitness to hold a consumer credit licence. There are currently 82 complaints under investigation.
In 2000, the OFT issued 20 debt collectors with notices that it was minded to revoke, refuse or vary licences; 10 in 2001 and five in 2002 to March 2003.
Data on adverse determinations have not been recorded over the period in question by industry type, and it is not possible to provide a comprehensive list of debt collectors that have had their licence refused or revoked at this time.
Where there is insufficient evidence to recommend formal action, the OFT also issues warning letters to companies. This activity helps to secure compliance and enables prompt action if future evidence of breaches is received.
Data on how many debt collectors have been banned in each year since 2000 have not been collated and this could be done only at disproportionate cost. The Consumer Credit Public Register includes details of everyone holding a licence, everyone who has applied for one, or had one revoked, suspended or varied. It is held by the Office of Fair Trading, and the public can search the public register by telephone or visit in person.
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