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Electricity Supply (Subsidies)

Mr. Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what public subsidies have been made available to electricity suppliers in each year since 1983. [128301]

Mr. Timms: There have been no public subsidies to electricity suppliers since privatisation. I am not aware of any subsidies before privatisation, but confirmation of this could be made only at disproportionate cost.

The Government have, of course, made a credit facility available to British Energy while the company agrees and implements its restructuring plan.

Singapore Issues

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent assessment she has made of the attitude of the developing countries to the EU's Singapore issues. [131253]

Ms Hewitt: The EU does not have exclusive ownership of the Singapore issues, all WTO Members agreed to include it as part of the Doha Development Agenda in 2001.

Although we have supported the EU in its mandate on the Singapore issues, we have always made clear that concerns of developing countries need to be taken into account—especially in respect of negotiating capacity. I myself have for some time made it clear, both publicly and privately, that while I strongly support more foreign direct investment going to developing countries, it is not a priority of this government to launch negotiations on an investment agreement.

At Cancun, the Commission were made aware of developing country concerns on the proposed WTO agreements on investment and competition. On the final day of the Ministerial Conference, Commissioner Lamy, with the backing of the EU delegations, offered to drop the proposal to start negotiations on WTO investment and competition agreements completely.

Foreign Workers

Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures her Department is taking to prevent the exploitation of foreign workers on low wages by (a) British companies and (b) foreign companies doing business in the United Kingdom. [129393]

Mr. Sutcliffe: The minimum wage was introduced to help prevent the exploitation of workers. It applies to nearly all workers with contracts in the UK, regardless of their nationality or that of their employers, and it is enforced by the Inland Revenue on this basis.

In addition, where the DTI becomes aware of a potential problem in connection with an employment agency, steps are taken to address it. For example, when DTI became aware of allegations about the mistreatment by agencies of Portuguese agricultural workers in the UK, contact was made immediately with the Portuguese Government to offer help in ensuring Portuguese agricultural workers en route to the UK are fully aware of their rights under EU and British law and know where to go to present any evidence of improper practice or abuse. UK and Portuguese officials and the

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Citizens Advice Bureau are currently working together on the production and distribution in the UK and Portugal of a leaflet in Portuguese giving guidance on employment rights under UK and EU law, and advising of sources of support and advice for workers.

Holiday Companies

Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures are in place to ensure that holiday companies provide accurate information about the holidays they provide; and if she will make a statement. [129151]

Mr. Sutcliffe: Package tour organisers or retailers are required under The Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992 to provide specific information on various elements of a package holiday. Failure to provide such information is a criminal offence. Tour operators who provide misleading information in their brochures may also be prosecuted under the Trade Descriptions Act 1968.

In addition, members of the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) are required to meet certain standards, which are specified in the ABTA Code of Conduct.

Iraq

Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 17 June 2003, Official Report, column 127W, on Iraq, if she will press the European Commission to include goods from Iraq in the Generalised System of Preferences as soon as possible. [129780]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The UK has made representation to the European Commission on Iraq's eligibility under the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP), conveying the UK Government's wish to re-instate GSP in Iraq as soon as possible.

A key requirement for GSP to be re-instated in Iraq is for administrative co-operation to be restored in the country. The situation with respect to authorities in Iraq continues to be unclear. The UK Government will continue its dialogue with the commission to move this matter forward.

Mr. Page: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many contracts have been secured by British companies in connection with the reconstruction of Iraq; and what their approximate value is. [128945]

Ms Hewitt [holding answer 11 September 2003]: According to the latest information we have from the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) in Iraq, British companies have so far secured 18 per cent. of sub-contracts awarded by Bechtel, worth approximately £10 million. UK companies have also secured contracts from other organisations funding reconstruction projects in Iraq but we do not have details of the value of these contracts.

Manufacturing Industry

Helen Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action she is taking to improve the skills base of manufacturing industry. [130825]

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Jacqui Smith: My Department published a manufacturing strategy in May 2002; it sets out seven areas of activity for manufacturing success of which one was raising skills and education levels.

My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Trade and Industry and for Education and Skills have since set out in the Governments Skills Strategy launched in July 2003 how we are putting employers centre stage, ensuring they have the right skills to support their businesses and organisations.

This Skills Strategy applies to the manufacturing industry as to other industries and all areas of UK business.

OFCOM

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with the Cabinet Office on updating Schedule 2 of the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 to make OFCOM subject to the jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Commissioner; and when an appropriate order will be made to amend Schedule 2 of the Act. [127200]

Mr. Timms [holding answer 8 September 2003]: The intention was to make an order by the date on which the Communications Act received Royal Assent. In the event, however, the process could not be completed before the summer recess, owing to the need for various interested parties to be consulted on certain points of detail that arose during drafting. Arrangements are now in hand to make an order in good time to ensure that OFCOM is within the Parliamentary Commissioner's jurisdiction before it acquires its new functions.

Office for Civil Nuclear Security

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many requests for information on the Office for Civil Nuclear Security were received from the media between April 2002 and March 2003; how many requests were refused; what the reasons for refusal were in each case; and if she will make a statement. [123656]

Mr. Timms: The Department does not keep this information.

Oil Pipelines (Caucasus)

Mr. Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she discussed with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs the environmental impacts of the Baku Tbilisi Ceyhan Oil Pipeline Project; and if she will make a statement. [130027]

Mr. Mike O'Brien [holding answer 16 September 2003]: My officials are in regular contact with DEFRA officials regarding the ETC project.

Cover will only be provided if ECGD are satisfied that the relevant environmental, social and human rights impacts have been addressed and that the financial and project risks are acceptable.

Omega Site (Warrington)

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the

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future impact on employment in Warrington of the development of the Omega site; and if she will make a statement. [129927]

Ms Hewitt: Omega South is one of the North West Development Agency's strategic regional sites. It has the potential to create some 12,000 jobs and it is essential that a development of this scale and significance is consistent with both national and regional planning policies.

Parliamentary Questions

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many questions directed to her remain unanswered. [130752]

Ms Hewitt: Of those questions tabled for answer up to and including 17 September, there are 90 questions remaining unanswered.

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