| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
9 Feb 2004 : Column 1213W—continued
Departmental Budget
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total budget of her Department was in each year since 1992, broken down by department. [148170]
Ms Hewitt: The total planned annual budgets for the Department are shown in the Departmental Report and also in the Main Estimates booklet issued by the Treasury at the start of each financial year. The Departmental Report 2003 (Cm 5916) was presented to Parliament in May 2003.
Final budgets for each year would have been shown in the Spring Supplementary Estimates for each year, and, for comparison purposes, in the Main Estimates booklet for the following year.
Departmental Staff
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many officials in her Department had responsibility for (a) science, (b) innovation, (c) enterprise and (d) competition for each year between 1997 and 2007 (i) in real terms and (ii) as a proportion of the overall number of officials in the Department; and if she will make a statement. [153540]
Ms Hewitt: We are unable to provide this information broken down in this way for 1997–2004 without incurring disproportionate cost.
Business Relocations
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the number of jobs which may be lost in the United Kingdom over the next five years as the result of the decisions made by British companies to relocate parts of their businesses to other countries. [146127]
Ms Hewitt: We are currently studying a number of reports containing a variety of estimates, as well as submissions in response to the DTI consultation paper published in December 2003. Offshoring is not, however, a zero sum game and it will be important to consider not just the number of potential jobs that may be lost, but also the number that may be gained.
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with representatives of FTSE-100 companies about decisions to relocate part of their businesses to other countries; and if she will publish the minutes of such discussions. [146128]
9 Feb 2004 : Column 1214W
Ms Hewitt: On Monday 2 February I hosted a round table discussion with around 50 companies, trade unions and other organisations and academics on the issue of offshoring of UK service activity to other countries. The discussions were held under Chatham House rules, so there were no minutes. There was agreement that the UK cannot compete on labour costs, but must focus on value-added elements where the UK can compete, such as quality of service, proximity to customers, local knowledge and higher skilled work. All agreed that protectionism is not the answer, that location decisions are matters for companies, but that full account needs to be taken of all factors before decisions are made. There was also widespread recognition of the need to make the UK as competitive as possible, both for indigenous firms and to continue to attract inward investment.
Energy Policy
Mr. Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the effect of ghost capacity in the importation of gas and electricity. [R] [147517]
Mr. Timms: I understand that my hon. Friend is referring to electricity interconnection with France.
According to the January 2004 update to national grid's "Seven Year Statement", the England and Wales plant margin (i.e. the excess of total generating capacity over winter peak demand) in 2003–04 is 21.6 per cent. This figure includes the 2GW Anglo-French electricity interconnector out of a total generating capacity of around 68GW.
The 2004–05 and 2005–06 plant margins in England and Wales are currently projected to be 22.7 per cent. and 22.3 per cent. respectively. Under these circumstances, the French interconnector would account for a lower share of the plant margin than at present.
The interconnector therefore makes a significant contribution to total generating capacity in England and Wales at times of winter peak demand.
EU Quick Start Programme
Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action the UK is taking to comply with EU Quick Start programme objectives in broadband networks. [151496]
Mr. Timms: The Government believe that the Quick Start initiative is a sensible way for the community to proceed with aspects of Lisbon agenda. The Government have written to interested parties in the UK to canvass interest in the suggested broadband projects and awaits responses with interest.
Gas/Electricity Market
Mr. Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how electricity prices have changed for (a) industrial and commercial users and (b) domestic users since the introduction of the New Electricity Trading Arrangements. [153319]
9 Feb 2004 : Column 1215W
Mr. Timms: The following table sets out the changes in electricity prices since the introduction of the New Electricity Trading Arrangements.
| Real terms | Current terms | |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic | -9.5 | +2.1 |
| Industrial | -14.3 | |
| (-7.3 including CCL) | -7.8 | |
| (-0.3 including CCL) |
Notes:
1. The percentage change is for the period Q1 2001 to Q3 2003, which are the latest data available.
2. Prices for commercial users are not available.
3. 'Real Terms' means that the effect of inflation has been removed by using the GDP deflator, an inflationary indicator for the whole economy.
Source:
ONS and DTI
Industrial Injury Claims
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action is being taken against claim handling companies acting as intermediaries between solicitors and miners with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and vibration white finger who charge up to 25 per cent. of the final award. [153531]
Nigel Griffiths: With regard to the work of claim handling agents, we have included in all our publicity material, both in the national and regional press and the Department's miners newsletter, references to the fact there should be no need for any organisations processing claims to charge claimants a fee or deduct any compensation and that if any claim handling firm suggests other arrangements claimants should seek advice elsewhere.
The Department is aware of the concerns raised about the work of claim handling companies and Lord Falconer, as Constitutional Affairs Secretary, launched a wide-ranging independent review of the regulation of the legal services market in July last year. The review is due to report by the end of 2004 and a consultation document will be issued shortly.
Industrial Participation Agreements(South Africa)
Mr. Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) on what date the official seconded by the British Joint Steering Committee on the Industrial Participation Agreements in South Africa was seconded to the South African Department of Trade and Industry; and on what date the secondment ends; [151391]
- (2) from what Department the official seconded by the British Joint Steering Committee on the Industrial Participation Agreements in South Africa came to the South African Department of Trade and Industry. [151392]
Mr. Ingram: I have been asked to reply.
In accordance with an undertaking given by the Prime Minister to President Mbeki, the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence seconded an official to the South African Department of Trade and Industry in March 2000 in the role of Offset Adviser. The secondment
9 Feb 2004 : Column 1216W
ended in April 2002. Since that time the UK MOD has supported a part-time Offset Adviser with commercial experience, in accordance with the wishes of the South African Department of Trade and Industry.
Mr. Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if she will place a copy of the reports made by the official seconded by the British Joint Steering Committee on the Industrial Participation Agreements in South Africa in the Library; [151393]
- (2) how many reports on the progress of the South African industrial participation agreements have been received by the Joint Steering Committee on the Industrial Participation Agreements in South Africa since January 2000. [151394]
Mr. Ingram: I have been asked to reply
The Joint Industrial Participation Monitoring Committee has received reports from the South African Department of Trade and Industry, from Armscor and from the Industrial Participation obligors at each of its meetings. These reports have covered both the National Industrial Participation and Defence Industrial Participation programmes. No formal reports were made by the official.
Mr. Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what dates the Joint Steering Committee on the Industrial Participation Agreements in South Africa has met since January 2000. [151395]
Mr. Ingram: I have been asked to reply.
The Joint Industrial Participation Monitoring Committee has met on the following dates since January 2000:
- 16 November 2000
- 10 May 2001
- 8 November 2001
- 7 May 2002
- 26 November 2002
- 11 March 2003
- 1 October 2003
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |