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Child Poverty

Mrs. Roche: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps her Department is taking to achieve the Government's targets of (a) ending child poverty by 2020, (b) halving it by 2010 and (c) reducing it by a quarter by 2004–05; and if she will make a statement. [154366]

Mr. Timms: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on 12 February 2004, Official Report, columns 1590–91W.

Climate Change

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received from (a) business and (b) industry representatives on the Government's Climate Change Programme, with particular reference to the viability of the emissions targets for (i) 2010 and (ii) 2020. [154227]

Mr. Morley: I have been asked to reply.

The UK Climate Change Programme sets out the policy framework to ensure that the UK meets its Kyoto target, to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by

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12.5 per cent. below base year levels, and moves towards its domestic goal to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide by 20 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010.

The Climate Change Programme, published in November 2000, was developed in close consultation with business, local authorities and a wide range of public and private sector organisations. Responses from all groups identified significant business opportunities for the UK from moving to a more energy efficient, lower carbon economy and less than 5 per cent. of businesses who responded believed that the programme would damage UK's competitiveness.

Many respondents to the consultation on the draft Climate Change Programme noted the need to develop a longer term policy framework that would reduce emissions beyond 2010. The February 2003 Energy White Paper did just this, with its goal to put the UK on a path to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 60 per cent. by 2050, with real progress by 2020.

In developing the Energy White Paper, the Government held a large number of meetings and expert workshops along with a written consultation. There was concern, mostly from companies and trade associations, that competitive advantage should not be compromised by measures to address climate change. However there was also recognition of the advantages that would arise from moving towards a low carbon economy, such as through export opportunities in new renewable technology and engineering expertise, and through opportunities arising from job creation. A summary of the responses, and individual replies from businesses, to the written consultation can be found on the DTI website.

Coke Imports (China)

Mr. Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has made to the European Union on the suspension of duties on coke imported from China. [144922]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: None. The anti-dumping measures currently in force relating to imports of coke originating in China are due to expire in 2005, but are currently being reviewed by the European Commission. We must wait for the outcome of that review before deciding whether any approach to the European Commission is necessary.

Comoros Islands

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the level of bilateral trade between Britain and the Comoros Islands was in the last year for which figures are available; and what steps are being taken to establish a diplomatic presence on the Comoros Islands. [154220]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: According to figures published by HM Customs and Excise, UK imports of goods from the Comoros Islands in 2002 were worth £211,000 while UK exports were worth £743,000. Our ambassador to Madagascar is cross-accredited to Comoros. He is due to present his credentials to the Comoran Government this week.

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Company Ownership (Voting Rights)

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her policy is on company ownership arrangements which grant a majority voting right for a minority share holding. [154453]

Jacqui Smith: Differential voting structures in companies (such as multiple voting rights or non-voting shares) were considered by the independent Company Law Review sponsored by the Department of Trade and Industry, which reported in November 2000 on this issue and concluded ("Completing the Structure", paragraph 5.47):

We propose that the law should continue to place no restriction on the freedom of companies to have separate classes of shares with different voting (or other) rights.

On the basis of the review's findings, my overall approach to such differential voting structures is that, provided they are properly disclosed to the markets and others having dealings with the company, they do enhance freedom and flexibility for companies to structure themselves according to their needs. I shall, however, continue to keep this matter under review.

The Company Law Review documents are published on the DTI website at http://www.dti.gov.uk/cld/review.htm.

Debt Repayment

Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of small businesses she estimates were forced to take legal action against late or non-payers of debt in the last year for which figures are available. [153566]

Nigel Griffiths: A survey by the Royal Bank of Scotland, conducted in January 2004, suggested that up to two fifths of small businesses have taken legal action against a customer for non-payment. The DTI does not make a separate estimate.

Employment Regulation

Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to extend the common commencement pilot for employment regulations to other areas of regulation. [155322]

Nigel Griffiths: In January, the Government gave a commitment in their recently published Action Plan for Small Business that they will consider extending the adoption of common commencement dates to other areas of domestic law, subject to the results of the current DTI pilot. Government will consult business on the priority areas and preferred dates.

Energy Innovations

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what energy innovation breakthroughs have been made in the United Kingdom since the publication of the Energy White Paper in February 2003. [155022]

Mr. Timms: Technological progress tends to follow an incremental path and major breakthroughs are less common. Notable events since February 2003 in relation to energy innovation include the commissioning of the

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UK's first large offshore wind farm (60MW) at North Hoyle, North Wales, the launch of the SUPERGEN sustainable energy research initiative, and the opening in the UK of the first marine energy test centre in Europe, which will help develop key tidal and wave technologies with support from DTI and others, including the Scottish Executive.

EU Chemical Regulations

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations she has received on proposed EU regulation of chemicals. [153078]

Jacqui Smith: The Department of Trade and Industry has received representations about the proposed legislation from a wide range of stakeholders, including the UK chemical industry and NGOs. My noble Friend the Minister for Science recently joined my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Environment, in a round-table discussion about this issue, which, in addition to industry and NGOs, also included representatives from the retail sector and trade unions.

The Government will shortly issue a public consultation paper, which will offer all interested parties a further opportunity to provide us with their views. There are also plans to hold a stakeholder conference during the consultation period.

The Government will continue to work with all interested parties to ensure the legislation is workable and delivers protection for human health and the environment. Representations from the UK and other member states have already helped to improve the proposal.

EU Structural Funds

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether departmental funding is used for EU matched funding. [155222]

Jacqui Smith: Yes, where appropriate. For example, substantial amounts of funding are made available via the Small Business Service. In addition, the department is exploring the option for co-financing structural funds with some of the new DTI business support products. Discussions on this and other aspects of match funding are taking place with a number of Regional Development Agencies and the Government Offices.

Export Licences (Ministry of Defence)

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for what proportion of export licences in respect of equipment for which advice is sought from the Ministry of Defence a substantive response was received from that Department within 20 working days of receipt in the last 12 months. [154977]

Nigel Griffiths: Since May 1997 the Government have published an Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls containing details of all goods authorised for export from the UK and to which destinations. These Annual Reports also contain information on 'performance in processing licence applications' providing a breakdown of the performance of the main Government Departments involved in the processing

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of SIELs (DTI, FCO, MOD, DFID) in that year. The Government's Annual Reports are available from the Libraries of the House.

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