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6 Nov 2003 : Column 740W—continued
Fair Trade
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on Government action to encourage fair trade initiatives. [135508]
Ms Hewitt: I strongly support the aims of the Fairtrade movement. It gives a clear indication to consumers that disadvantaged producer groups in developing countries receive a minimum price above that offered by mainstream markets.
A real strength of the Fairtrade movement has been in raising awareness among mainstream retailers about the importance of managing supply chains to maximise benefits to the poor, and in raising public awareness of important development issues surrounding trade. That is why the Government, through the Department for International Development (DFID) has provided £500,000 in support of UK development awareness and education campaigns centred on Fairtrade over the past two years. My hon. Friend the Minister for Corporate and Social Responsibility met business leaders last year to encourage greater take-up of Fairtrade products. I have ensured that Fairtrade tea and coffee is made available throughout the DTI offices and many of my Cabinet colleagues have responded to my urging to do likewise.
The Fairtrade market, despite recent rapid growth, remains small (£63 million in 2002). Through DFID's support for initiatives such as the Ethical Trading Initiative (£1.3 million over three years 2002–04)—an alliance of UK retail companies, NGOs and trade unions working to improve labour conditions in the supply chains of its corporate members—we are able to contribute to improving the working conditions under which £100 billion of goods are produced each year.
Fireworks
Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to launch a public awareness programme after the introduction of the fireworks regulations. [136286]
Mr. Sutcliffe: A communication strategy to make those affected aware of the new regulations is in preparation and will be finalised when the timing and details of the regulations are decided.
Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions her Department has had and plans to have with (a) police forces and (b) local authorities about the implementation of the new fireworks regulations and their enforcement. [136287]
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Mr. Sutcliffe: The Department has had preliminary discussions on fireworks regulations both to come into force before the end of the year and those regulatory proposals scheduled for implementation later on, in 2004.
Specifically, with respect to (a), discussions have taken place on the powers required by the police to enforce possession offences under the Act; and, (b), on the role of local authorities in setting up the requisite machinery for the planned national curfew on firework use, which will be a part of the raft of measures to come into force in 2004.
We will continue consultations and discussions on all proposed regulations in the coming months.
Mr. Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether it is her policy that the sections of the Fireworks Act 2003 that concern anti-social behaviour and fireworks should be in force by Christmas. [135922]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The Department will implement two provisions of the Fireworks Act 2003 by the end of this year—those concerned with the antisocial use of fireworks. Those are:
- a prohibition on the possession of fireworks in public places by those under the age of 18; and
a prohibition on the possession of category 4 fireworks by the general public.
Inward Investment (Indian Businesses)
Mr. Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on investment by Indian businesses in the UK. [136693]
Ms Hewitt: There are more than 440 Indian investments in the UK with 19 new investments last year creating 316 new jobs.
Manufacturing
Mr. Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what (a) proportion and (b) volume in financial terms of manufacturing conducted by companies registered in the UK (i) was carried out within the UK in 1993 and (ii) is carried out within the UK now; and what estimate her Department has made of the (A) proportion and (B) volume in (x) 2004, (y) 2008 and (z) 2013. [135081]
Jacqui Smith: The information requested is not available.
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps are being taken to encourage young people to work in the manufacturing sector. [135505]
Ms Hewitt: Through the Government's National Skills Strategy we are working closely with all sectors of industry, and other stakeholders, to ensure that employers have access to the right skills to support their businesses and organisations. This is complemented by recent changes to the National Curriculum to add
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vocational choice, which will encourage young people to understand the opportunities that careers in various sectors, including manufacturing, can offer them.
The DTI also published a Manufacturing Strategy, in May 2002, which set out seven areas of activity for manufacturing success, one of which was raising skills and education levels.
Modern Apprenticeships are central to this Government's drive to improve the opportunities for work-based vocational training. Our target is that by 2004, 28 per cent. of young people will start a modern apprenticeship by age 22. To aid us in this task we have has set up a Modern Apprenticeship Taskforce to look at ways to increase the opportunities available for young people to participate in high quality Modern Apprenticeships and to recommend effective and innovative ways of ensuring that Modern Apprenticeship programmes respond to the changing needs of employers and young people.
Many of the new Sector Skills Councils are helping to promote careers in manufacturing. In particular, SEMTA is supporting SETNET and financing careers advice; Skillfast UK has produced CDs containing careers advice for use in schools and colleges; and Pro-skills is developing a sandwiched based student apprenticeship programme.
My Department continues to support the SETNET scheme, which was created in 1996 to raise interest in science, engineering, technology and mathematics (STEM) in young people (between five and 18) by showing them that they can lead to interesting and rewarding careers—which clearly includes the manufacturing sector. SETNET operates through 53 local SETPOINTS around the UK and is involved in the provision of schemes, resources and initiatives to enrich the delivery of STEM activities in schools.
We are also taking steps to encourage interest in manufacturing and other STEM careers among women and ethnic minorities.
Manufacturing Investment
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps her Department is taking to improve levels of manufacturing business investment. [136690]
Jacqui Smith: By maintaining a stable macroeconomic climate, together with measures such as reforming capital gains tax, making permanent enhanced capital allowances for small and medium sized firms, and introducing the R&D tax credit, we are providing a climate conducive to investment for the long-term in UK manufacturing.
Ofgem Guidance
Mr. John Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions she has had with Ofgem on the guidance they give to (a) hon. Members and (b) constituents on difficulties in obtaining responses from the Customer Relations Department of npower. [R] [136801]
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Mr. Timms: Ministers at the DTI have not had any recent discussions on these matters with Ofgem. Constituents who have had difficulty in resolving problems with gas and electricity suppliers should, in the first instance, contact the statutory consumer body, the Gas and Electricity Consumer Council (Energywatch), not Ofgem.
Patents
Mr. Allan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the proposed directive on the patentability of computer-implemented inventions as approved by the European Parliament on 24 September; and if she will make a statement. [136202]
Ms Hewitt [holding answer 3 November 2003]: In considering the best ways to encourage innovation in the UK, the Government believe that a fair and effective intellectual property system, for software as well as for other areas of technology, plays a central part in developing and protecting new ideas. The aim of the UK Government and the European Commission, in the proposed directive on software patents, is to clarify the position on patentability of computer-implemented inventions and confirm that only those inventions that involve a technical contribution can be protected by patents. We believe that this is beneficial for industry and consumers alike.
We continue to listen to the concerns of those who oppose the granting of patents in this field, and we believe that the Government's approach offers the best balance of protection for the industry and for users of software. The directive is now before a working group of the Council of Ministers where representatives from EU member states, and the Commission, will consider the amendments made by the Parliament and in due course submit it to the Council itself for its consideration. We will await the comments of the working group and the Commission before finalising our position.
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