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Export Credits Guarantee Department
Mr. Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many allegations of corruption have been reported to the head of internal audit at ECGD; how many of these allegations have been passed on to NCIS; and whether these are in relation to contracts that have already received support from the ECGD, or to contracts on which the ECGD is being asked for support. [132372]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: ECGD has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with NCIS, relating to the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001. This Act came into force in February 2002. Since that time
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the Head of Internal Audit and Assurance has dealt with five allegations of corruption, all of which have been referred to NCIS.
It would not be appropriate for me to provide any information in relation to the cases concerned as there is a risk that this may encourage speculation or allow the identification of individual cases, which may prejudice any possible action by the relevant investigatory agencies.
Independent Schools Price Fixing
Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the investigation into price fixing of fees in independent schools. [132061]
Mr. Sutcliffe: No. This is a matter for the OFT.
Post Office Card Account
Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the take-up of the Post Office card account in (a) Suffolk, (b) Norfolk and (c) Essex; and what the UK national average take-up is. [131840]
Mr. Timms: None. However, the Department for Work and Pensions regularly place data on Direct Payment of benefits and pensions in the Libraries of the House. This includes figures on how many people have said they want to open a Post Office card account.
I understand from the Department for Work and Pensions that as of 3 October 2003, 1.25 million customers had requested a Post Office card account. I understand from the Post Office that some 787,000 Post Office card accounts had been opened by that same date.
Information is not available in the format requested.
Royal Mail
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she last met the Chairman of the Royal Mail. [131720]
Mr. Timms: As shareholder of Royal Mail Holdings plc, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry meets the chairman several times a year. Her last meeting with Allan Leighton was on 4 September 2003.
Store Cards
Mr. David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the effects of the interest rates charged by store cards on consumers. [131357]
Mr. Sutcliffe [holding answer 14 October 2003]: The Department has had no specific discussions regarding the interest rates levied on, or the terms and conditions associated with, store cards.
However, the DTI is reaching the conclusion of its review of the Consumer Credit Act 1974. Government proposals in this area will be set out in a White Paper planned for publication in the autumn. This will address
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issues such as the transparency of credit products including how they are sold to consumers, advertising and the form and content of credit agreements.
Through discussions and focus groups, we have been particularly careful to involve key stakeholders from consumer groups, business and enforcement agencies at all stages of the review.
In terms of consumer protection, the objective is to increase transparency and understanding throughout the UK credit market, empowering consumers to make informed financial decisions.
You may also be aware that the Department of Trade and Industry recently appeared to give evidence at a Treasury Committee inquiry into the transparency of credit charges.
Timeshares
Mr. Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps the Government is taking to protect timeshare owners where their facilities provider was transferred from one company to another following a change in their management contract. [132321]
Mr. Sutcliffe: There are currently no plans to amend domestic or European timeshare legislation to cover timeshare facility providers transferring clients from one company to another.
The Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations can provide protection for timeshare owners but it depends on the circumstances of the case.
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS
Abandoned Cars
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many abandoned cars each local authority in England and Wales stated they had removed in their submissions to the most recent municipal waste survey. [131286]
Mr. Morley: The question on how many abandoned vehicles removed by local authorities in England and Wales was most recently asked in the 2001–02 Municipal Waste Management Surveys for England and Wales. Data recorded by district show that 320 local authorities out of a total of 376, responded to the abandoned vehicles question. The authorities and the numbers of abandoned vehicles removed and destroyed reported are listed as follows:
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