House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 21 Oct 2003 (pt 6)

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TRADE AND INDUSTRY

British Energy

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what level of public funds will be made available to British Energy in respect of the agreement announced in her written statement of 14 October 2003, Official Report, columns 10–12WS. [133310]

Mr. Timms: Government's underlying commitment is the same as it was last year. Up until restructuring, we have made the credit facility (currently £200 million) available to British Energy, which has been approved by the European Commission. That will be repaid by the company under the terms of the restructuring plan at no cost to the taxpayer. Post restructuring we will take financial responsibility for British Energy's historic spent fuel liabilities, with an average cost to Government of £150 to £200 million per annum for the next 10 years, falling thereafter. We will also underwrite British Energy's arrangements for funding decommissioning and uncontracted liabilities to the extent that British Energy's contributions are insufficient.

Christmas Opening

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the response to her request that retailers not open on Christmas Day 2002; and what action she proposes to take in relation to Christmas Day 2003. [133154]

Mr. Sutcliffe: A consultation of individual major retailers in summer 2002 indicated that the majority did not plan to open on Christmas Day in 2002 or in future years. However, it was apparent that opening by competitors or changes in customer demand would lead to plans being reviewed in some cases.

A public consultation on legislation to prohibit opening by large stores on Christmas Day took place earlier this year. This showed the majority of respondents in favour of maintaining the special nature of the day. The Government may introduce legislation as soon as parliamentary time permits.

Civil Relationships Registration

Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 15 September 2003, Official Report, column 539W, on the civil relationships registration scheme, which significant rights and responsibilities have not been addressed in the consultation paper on civil relationships. [133324]

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Ms Hewitt [holding answer 20 October 2003]: The Government have so far not become aware of any significant rights and responsibilities that were omitted from the consultation paper on civil partnerships. We are still considering the many responses to the consultation paper and will publish a report in due course.

Fireworks

Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the control of fireworks. [132583]

Mr. Sutcliffe: The Fireworks Act 2003, which received Royal Assent on 18 September 2003, will allow the Department to make regulations covering a range of firework issues which we are currently unable to regulate under the Consumer Protection Act 1987. These include restricting firework sales and use, licensing of retailers and controlling noise and nuisance.

We hope to implement those parts of the Act dealing with anti-social issues before Christmas. This means that we will create a curfew for the use of fireworks, create an offence for possession of fireworks by those under 18 years of age, and prohibit the supply of air bombs.

The Act's other principal provisions—setting a maximum noise limit for fireworks, licensing of suppliers, rules for public firework displays, importation of fireworks and training of display operators—require more detailed consultation with all the interested parties. We will start implementation of this part of the Act in the New Year.

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) when she expects to introduce regulations prohibiting the supply, purchase, possession and use of fireworks during anti-social hours; [132646]

(3) when she expects to introduce regulations to prohibit consumer sales for excessively noisy fireworks; [132648]

(4) when she expects to introduce regulations to license fireworks retailers. [132649]

Mr. Sutcliffe: The Department is committed to implementing and ensuring proper enforcement of the Fireworks Act 2003.

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Interest Charges

Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps her Department is taking to protect consumers from excessive levels of interest charged on (a) small loans, (b) credit cards and (c) store cards. [132861]

Mr. Sutcliffe: There are currently in excess of 200,000 businesses licensed under the Consumer Credit Act 1974 and monitoring the activities of all these businesses would create a significant burden on legitimate business.

The Consumer Credit Act 1974 contains provisions that allow a consumer to challenge an extortionate credit bargain. However, only about 30 extortionate credit cases are known to have reached the courts since the Act came into force and, of those, in only 10 did the court find the agreement to be extortionate.

I believe that these provisions have not operated effectively in enabling consumers to challenge unfair credit agreements and I intend to publish a White Paper this autumn, which will contain details of how I intend to make it easier for consumers to challenge unfair credit transactions.

Minimum Wage

Mr. David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimates she has made of the costs to employers of standardising the minimum wage rate for all employees aged 18 and above. [131356]

Mr. Sutcliffe [holding answer 14 October 2003]: When the Low Pay Commission recommended in their 4th report that the rate for 18 to 21-year-olds should be increased to £3.80 an hour from October 2003, they took into account the need to maximise employment opportunities for young people in work. A significantly higher rate rise for young adult workers could have an impact on employment levels and this would make the cost to employers uncertain.

Newspapers

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to take action on monopoly power in the newspaper wholesale industry. [133613]

Mr. Sutcliffe: None. The investigation of anti-competitive behaviour is a matter for the competition authorities.

Post Office Card Accounts

Mr. David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the number of Post Office card accounts. [133171]

Mr. Timms [holding answer 20 October 2003]: 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 and that the Government now expect the total number of card accounts to exceed the three million operating assumption. It is too early to make a firm prediction of the ultimate number of Post Office card accounts because it will depend on the pattern of customer choices.

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Precious Metals Directive

Mr. Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what voting method will be used by the European Union to decide whether to implement the Precious Metals Directive. [133063]

Mr. Sutcliffe [holding answer 20 October 2003]: Qualified Majority Voting will be used.

Mr. Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what effect the Precious Metals Directive would have upon UK hallmarking of gold and silver. [133064]

Mr. Sutcliffe [holding answer 20 October 2003]: Third party testing and marking would no longer be mandatory in the UK, and manufacturers would be able to choose whether to mark their own goods or send them to an assay office for marking. A full Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) will be done if the draft Directive is agreed.

Road Haulage

Phil Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures are in place to regulate the activities of franchise operators in the road haulage industry. [132200]

Mr. Sutcliffe: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry is not aware of any measures that are in place to specifically regulate the activities of franchise operators in the road haulage industry.

Phil Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will conduct an inquiry into the activities of franchises, franchisors and recruitment agencies operating in the road haulage industry. [132202]

Mr. Sutcliffe: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has discretionary powers under the Companies Acts to make inquiries into companies when there appears to be sufficient grounds to do so, for instance, in cases of fraud or other serious misconduct.

The Department's Companies Investigation Branch is always ready to receive for consideration any information with regard to companies whose activities give cause for concern.

Employment agencies and employment businesses, including those supplying drivers for the road haulage industry, are required to meet minimum standards of conduct established under the Employment Agencies Act 1973 and associated regulations.

The Department's Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate is responsible for enforcing the provisions of the Act and would encourage anyone who has reason to believe an agency is not complying with these provisions to call the Employment Agency Standards helpline on 0845 955 5105.

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