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23 Feb 2004 : Column 62W—continued
Fuel Poverty
David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many (a) children and (b) elderly people are living in fuel poor households in the East Riding of Yorkshire. [154165]
Nigel Griffiths: The current published official estimates of fuel poverty are extrapolated from a sample survey of 175,000 dwellings and fuel poverty is defined as occurring when a household needs to spend more than 10 per cent. of its income including housing benefit and income support for mortgage interest on all fuels in order to maintain a satisfactory heating regime.
The available information from the English House Condition Survey indicates that in 2001 there were an estimated 238,000 households affected in the Yorkshire and Humber Region.
More detailed estimates for sub-regional areas are not available from this survey as the sample sized is not large enough to enable reliable detailed estimates at a more local level to be produced.
Iraq
Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 13 January 2004, Official Report, column 703W, on Iraq, what support the (a) UK, (b) US and (c) EU are giving to facilitate Iraq's ability to take responsibility for the necessary administration. [149450]
Ms Hewitt: The UK recognises the importance of re-establishing normal conditions for trade in Iraq. This is detailed in the UK's Country Assistance Plan.
The UK, through Her Majesty's Customs and Excise Department (HMCE), has been very active training, working with and restoring the operations of the Iraqi Customs Service. Chambers of Commerce are emerging in Baghdad, Basra, Kirkuk and in the area controlled by the Kurdish Regional Government, and are receiving support from the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) to create viable trade organisations in Iraq.
The Commission have said that they will consider re-establishing GSP preferences for the country, when such viable trade organisations and a functioning and internationally recognised political authority exist in Iraq.
Manufacturing
Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the levels of (a) manufacturing output and (b) employment in the manufacturing sector were in each region of the United Kingdom in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement on changes in the size of the manufacturing sector in the United Kingdom in the last five years. [152667]
Jacqui Smith: Output at regional level is measured using Gross Value Added (GVA). The latest estimates of the output of the manufacturing sector for the regions run to 2000 and are provided in Table A. Estimates of
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the number of employee jobs within the manufacturing sector in each region and devolved administration of the UK run to 2002 and are provided at Table B.
Between 1998 and 2002, across the United Kingdom, the total number of manufacturing jobs fell by just under 640,000—a fall of 15.4 per cent.
During the same period, the index of output for UK manufacturing, measured at constant (2000) prices, fell by 1.8 percentage points.
Source:
Regional Economic Accounts, ONS
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Estimates of regional GVA are presented at current basic prices. They do not include taxes on products (such as Value Added Tax), and take no account of the impact of price inflation.
Regional GVA by industry estimates allocate the earnings of commuters to their region of residence and not the region where they work (in those cases where the two differ).
| 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | 4,150,449 | 4,028,762 | 3,894,620 | 3,703,061 | 3,512,244 |
| North East | 186,729 | 173,208 | 169,357 | 159,595 | 158,873 |
| North West | 529,604 | 514,114 | 499,360 | 473,257 | 448,988 |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 409,542 | 394,375 | 383,832 | 373,775 | 353,789 |
| East Midlands | 422,997 | 399,161 | 383,057 | 358,295 | 342,845 |
| West Midlands | 553,432 | 532,880 | 493,846 | 460,040 | 445,794 |
| Eastern | 353,160 | 327,716 | 333,244 | 327,586 | 307,363 |
| London | 286,890 | 296,061 | 285,840 | 260,360 | 236,166 |
| South East | 442,432 | 444,320 | 432,596 | 407,442 | 389,903 |
| South West | 320,565 | 313,861 | 301,941 | 299,835 | 282,829 |
| Wales | 208,160 | 206,857 | 200,600 | 188,958 | 184,644 |
| Scotland | 326,688 | 315,020 | 302,043 | 294,162 | 263,552 |
| Northern Ireland | 110,250 | 111,189 | 108,904 | 99,756 | 97,498 |
Source:
GB Annual Business Inquiry, ONS and the Northern Ireland Annual Business Inquiry, NISRA
The manufacturing jobs estimates refer to December of each year.
These estimates cover the total number of both full and part-time jobs in the manufacturing sector and cover the number of employee jobs, not necessarily the number of people in jobs. If a person has more than one employee job it is possible that they could be counted twice in this measure.
Royal Mail
Mr. Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the recent loss of mail in the Swansea area. [154921]
Mr. Timms: These are matters that fall within the day-to-day responsibility of Royal Mail. I have therefore asked the Chief Executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.
Metal Finishing Industry
Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action is proposed to meet the Commission of the European Communities communication COM (2003) 354 in respect of assistance to small operators in meeting administrative burdens and environmental challenges, with particular regard to the metal finishing industry. [152512]
Mr. Morley: I have been asked to reply.
This June 2003 Communication from the European Commission set out the Commission's view on implementation of the 1996 directive concerning integrated pollution prevention and control (IPPC) and invited responses to seven questions, among which was one about what support measures should be taken at EU, national, regional or local level to facilitate compliance by installations, in particular small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The Government response, submitted to the Commission on 12 September 2003 and available at http://www.defra. gov.uk/environment/ppc/cipp.htm, pointed out that, in the UK's experience, it is essential for regulators to work closely with operators—whether or not SMEs—to explain as precisely as possible what IPPC requires.
In the case of the metal finishing industry, the Environment Agency is working with the Surface Engineering Association (SEA) to do that, raising awareness of the requirements and providing draft sector guidance. An Agency Sector Co-ordinator has been appointed to provide advice and support to the
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industry. Three IPPC Launch Workshops were held in January 2004 for the sector, each including a presentation by the SEA. The agency is supporting the Association's IPPC "club" arrangement under which a series of workshops will be held (led by a consultant and with Agency staff contributing) to help operators write their applications in a common and therefore more efficient approach to IPPC permit application and compliance. Revised IPPC guidance for the sector will be issued by the Environment Agency in mid-February.
Miners' Compensation/Pensions
Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the average level is of final settlements that have been agreed so far to former miners suffering from (a) chronic bronchitis and emphysema and (b) vibration white finger. [155026]
Nigel Griffiths: As of 1 February 2004 the average payment figure to each miner for respiratory disease was £7,715. The average payment figure for vibration white finger (VWF) was £8,354.
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people are in receipt of a pension from the Mineworkers Pension Scheme; and how much has been paid from the scheme in each year since it was established. [154613]
Nigel Griffiths [holding answer 12 February 2004]: The information requested is in the table.
| Number of pensioners in payment | Amount of pension benefit paid(£ million) | Amount of bonus payments(£ million) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 251,674 | 355 | |
| 1995 | 243,147 | 359 | |
| 1996 | 243,257 | 364 | |
| 1997 | 241,217 | 398 | 23 |
| 1998 | 241,068 | 483 | 69 |
| 1999 | 237,132 | 485 | 76 |
| 2000 | 234,568 | 488 | 82 |
| 2001 | 234,455 | 531 | 119 |
| 2002 | 237,929 | 584 | 127 |
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