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Royal Mail

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if she will make a statement on (a) Postcomm's access proposals to Royal Mail and (b) the precedent it would set for other third party access; [138302]

(2) what the reasons are for Postcomm's conclusion that the overall effect of their proposals concerning access points and prices would be contribution neutral; [138312]

(3) what proposals Postcomm has suggested to stop cream-skimming, if the access plans concerning Royal Mail are accepted; [138303]

(4) what assessment Postcomm made of the legal precedent set by its access proposals to Royal Mail; [138304]

(5) what the reasons are for Postcomm's proposals that Royal Mail should be contractually bound to deliver 98.5 per cent. of UK mail's items on the due date of delivery; and from where this figure was derived; [138306]

(6) if she will make a statement on the effect of increased competition on the Royal Mail's system of cross-subsidies; [138310]

(7) if she will make a statement on Postcomm's proposed access cost; [138311]

(8) what evidence she has assessed with respect to Postcomm's conclusion that its access plans are revenue neutral; [138314]

(9) what proposals Postcomm has suggested to discourage Royal Mail's large customers from seeking direct access to their facilities. [138315]

Mr. Timms: Access pricing and the related regulatory issues are a matter for the regulator, whose primary responsibility is to ensure the provision of a universal postal service.

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on (a) the proposal of Postcomm to allow Royal Mail's competitors direct access to their delivery offices and (b) the effect that this would have on the Three Year Renewal Plan, including (i) single daily delivery and (ii) simplified sorting. [138305]

Mr. Timms: This is a matter for Postcomm, whose primary responsibility is to ensure the provision of a universal postal service.

It is for Royal Mail to make representations to Postcomm about the impact of the regulator's proposals on its business.

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Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on Royal Mail's proposal that a minimum entry level of 1,000 items to a single access point should be set. [138307]

Mr. Timms: Access pricing is a matter for Postcomm and it is for them to consider Royal Mail's proposal.

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on how Postcomm's proposals concerning third party access by UK mail to Royal Mail's pipeline will effect its primary duty of protecting a universal service at a uniform tariff; and if she will make an assessment of the effect that the third party access will have on Royal Mail's long-term viability, with particular reference to its Three Year Renewal Plan. [138308]

Mr. Timms: Access price determination is a matter for Postcomm. It is for Royal Mail to assess the impact on its business and to make representations to Postcomm.

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry who the new Chair of Postcomm is; and if the new Chair will be asked to review the third party access proposals concerning Royal Mail. [138309]

Mr. Timms: The new Chair of Postcomm is Nigel Stapleton.

Access pricing and the related regulatory issues are a matter for the regulator, whose primary responsibility is to ensure the provision of a universal postal service.

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on Royal Mail's analysis of the effect on its profits of the access determination proposed by Postcomm. [138313]

Mr. Timms: It is for the Royal Mail Board to analyse the potential impact on its profits and to make representations to Postcomm.

Small Businesses

Mr. Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many small businesses went (a) into liquidation and (b) bankrupt in each quarter since quarter 4, 1996–97. [137427]

Nigel Griffiths: The official insolvency statistics published by the DTI are not broken down by size of business.

Telecommunications Ombudsman

Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many cases were considered by the Telecommunications Ombudsman in the last year for which figures are available; how many cases were (a) upheld and (b) rejected; what the average time taken was to consider cases; and the average cost per case. [137195]

Mr. Timms: The Office of the Telecommunications Ombudsman (Otelo) is an independent, industry-funded dispute resolution service which handles complaints from consumers about telecoms companies. This is a matter for Otelo and I have asked the Ombudsman to write to the hon. Member.

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Telephone Masts

Mr. Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the number of third generation mobile telephone masts that will be required in (a) Somerset, (b) Devon, (c) Dorset, (d) Wiltshire and (e) Cornwall. [136900]

Mr. Timms: It is not possible to give a reliable estimate of the number of new masts that will be needed to fulfil the obligations of the 3G licensees, either in total or by area. The number of masts required in an area will be affected by the level of consumer demand for 3G services, by commercial decisions related to the design of the networks, by the physical topography and by the requirements of planning authorities.

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

American Ships (Disposal)

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what the Government's policy is on whether the United States vessels now en route to Hartlepool should continue their voyage; [137142]

(2) what action she plans to take to manage the environmental risk posed by former United States naval vessels in British waters pending the resolution of the court proceedings due in December; [137700]

(3) assessment she has made of the implications for the work of (a) her Department and (b) the Environment Agency of the injunction obtained against Able UK by Friends of the Earth on 5 November; [137702]

(4) what representations the Government has made to the United States Marine Administration to secure the return of United States former naval vessels to the United States. [137701]

Mr. Morley [holding answer 10 November 2003]: Following discussions on Friday 7 November, between my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and Secretary Mineta of the US Department of Transportation, it has been decided that for safety reasons, the first two ships currently on the way to the UK will continue to Hartlepool for safe storage, pending return to the US. This decision was taken after consideration by the Environment Agency and Government Departments of alternative storage sites. No other site is able to take the ships safely at short notice.

The US authorities have been told that the proposed shipment of these vessels to Hartlepool for dismantling cannot be completed consistent with international rules and Community law. In this situation the law requires the ships to be returned to the United States. However, the immediate return to the United States of the first two ships, which are now approaching the Channel, would be impracticable, not least because of concerns about the weather.

When the ships arrive at Hartlepool, the Environment Agency will place requirements on them to ensure the environment is fully protected and that the ships remain ready for return to the USA. No work is permitted on the ships given the current court injunction.

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The UK Government and its Agencies continue to work intensively with the US authorities to examine the safety and liability concerns they have raised to proposals that the second pair of ships, currently in transit to the UK, return to the US, and are looking for rapid resolution of that question.

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what contingency plans have been made by the Environment Agency to deal with United States vessels bound for decommissioning at Hartlepool if they are unable to enter the port. [137146]

Mr. Morley [holding answer 10 November 2003]: The port authority concerned, PD Teesport, has confirmed that the vessels would be permitted to enter the port.

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs at what level in (a) the Environment Agency and (b) the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs September's modification to Able UK's waste management licence was approved. [137698]

Mr. Morley [holding answer 10 November 2003]: The Environment Agency is the regulator of waste management issues in England and Wales. The modification was approved and signed by the local Environment Manager with specific responsibility for Teesside, in accordance with Agency procedures. The decision to sign the modification was cleared with the local Area Manager and appropriate Agency Directors.

The Government have no direct role in the approval of applications for waste management licence modifications, though there is a right of appeal to the Secretary of State should a licence modification application be rejected.

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the waste management licence originally issued by the Environment Agency to Able UK covered the dismantling of ships. [137699]

Mr. Morley [holding answer 10 November 2003]: No. The original licence issued by the Environment Agency for the site at Hartlepool did not specifically cover the dismantling of the ships. However, the licence authorises the dismantling of offshore structures, and any associated plant and equipment.

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