---

25 Feb 2004 : Column 477W—continued

Departmental Staff

Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 2 February 2004, Official Report, columns 642–43W, to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable) if she will break down the staff in each grade by (a) regional and (b) national locations; and what percentage of the staff in each grade each represents. [154649]

Ms Hewitt: This information is not held centrally and therefore this information cannot be provided without disproportionate cost.

EU Structural Funds

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what (a) capital and (b) revenue expenditure was provided through (i) EU structural funds and (ii) by regional development agencies in each of the past seven years for each principal town in England and Wales, with figures for Welsh Seaside Town clusters disaggregated; and if she will make a statement. [155003]

Jacqui Smith [holding answer 23 February 2004]: The information requested is not held either centrally or regionally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

EU Trade

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has made to European commissioners on the strengthening of multilateral trading systems; and if she will make a statement. [155151]

Ms Hewitt: I have spoken on several occasions to Commissioner Lamy on the need to strengthen the multilateral trading system, particularly in favour of the world's poorest countries.

Since the WTO Ministerial meeting in Cancun last September, I have met Mr. Lamy in London and in Brussels and I have also spoken to him on the telephone on a number of occasions. The strengthening of the multilateral trading system is always high on our agenda.

My officials remain in regular contact with the Commission, on issues relating to the WTO and the strengthening of the WTO multilateral trading system.

Export Credits Guarantee Department

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the Export Credits Guarantee Department has been approached for political risk insurance claims by (a) ANZ Bank, (b) Standard Chartered Bank and (c) ABN Amro in relation to the Dabhol Power Company in India. [155011]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: Yes.

25 Feb 2004 : Column 478W

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether (a) Kier International and (b) Whessoe have approached the Export Credits Guarantee Department for a claim in relation to the Dabhol Power Project in India. [155012]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: No. We can find no record of such an approach.

Mr. Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Export Credits Guarantee Department will next produce a report on the comparison of export credit agencies; and if she will make a statement. [155655]

Mr. Mike O'Brien [holding answer 24 February 2004]: ECGD is currently updating its research on the comparison of export credit agencies and hopes to be able to make its findings public in April.

Gas Network System

Mr. David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what plans she has to work with industry to extend the gas network system; [155893]

(2) if she will make a statement on the use made of European structural funds in the extension of the gas network across the UK. [155894]

Mr. Timms: In May 2003, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry announced the establishment of a new Design and Demonstration Unit of private sector secondees to support the Sustainable Energy Policy Network. Among the activities being undertaken by the Unit, which is based in the Department of Trade and Industry, are pathfinder projects to extend the gas network to non-gas areas. The first of these, in Llay in North Wales, began in October 2003, and is now completed. Three other projects are currently in the process of being developed. In addition, during 2003, the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets reviewed the charging arrangements for connections to independent gas transporters' (IGTs) networks. It is expected that, by allowing those providing connections to the existing network (known as "infill" projects) to charge a premium over Transco transportation charges, more IGTs will be encouraged to enter the infill market. Detailed information on the use of structural funds for individual projects is not held centrally by DTI. However, if my hon. Friend wishes to have information about a particular project, he should write to me, and I shall endeavour to obtain the relevant information. The Design and Demonstration Unit will be exploring whether the funds can provide support for the pathfinder projects that it is developing.

Near Earth Objects

Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the Government's contribution to the funding of the Minor Planet Centre. [155361]

25 Feb 2004 : Column 479W

Ms Hewitt: The Government are not contributing to the funding of the US based Minor Planet Centre (MPC).

Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to establish a British centre for near earth objects; and if she will make a statement. [155367]

Ms Hewitt: The British National Space Centre has provided funding for the UK Near Earth Objects Information Centre (NEO IC) in Leicester (see www.nearearthobiects.co.uk). There are no current plans to extend the scope of the Centre.

Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on progress in seeking partners to build in the southern hemisphere an advanced new three metre-class survey telescope for surveying substantially smaller objects than those now systematically observed by other telescopes. [155369]

Ms Hewitt: There are no plans to build a new 3m class telescope for this activity. This conclusion is reached in the light of the many opportunities that are now available for the use of existing facilities that are or will soon become available.

Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on progress in dedicating the one metre Johannes Kapteyn Telescope on La Palma to follow-up observations of near earth objects. [155371]

Ms Hewitt: It has not been possible to fund dedicated use of the Johannes Kapteyn Telescope. However, telescopes on La Palma have been used to observe Near Earth Objects and 20 per cent. of these were studied spectroscopically.

Regional Selective Assistance

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many businesses in (a) London and (b) England applied for regional selective assistance in each year since it came into existence. [155514]

Jacqui Smith [holding answer 23 February 2004]: The number of value of applications for Regional Selective Assistance made in London and England since 1972 are published in the Industrial Development Act 1982 Annual Reports, copies of which are in the Libraries of the House.

Sakhalin

Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what account she will take of the potential impact on endangered grey whales in considering requests for export credit guarantees in connection with oil and gas extraction in the Sakhalin Island area; and if she will make a statement. [154967]

Mr. Mike O'Brien [holding answer 23 February 2004]: The Government are aware of the potential impacts that the Sakhalin II project may have on the Western Gray Whales. I have written to Sakhalin

25 Feb 2004 : Column 480W

Energy making clear the importance that we attach to ensuring that these are properly minimised and that the best scientific advice is being followed. In determining this, ECGD officials will be taking advice from recognised independent whale experts and will take into account the views of interested NGOs.

I expect that details of the whale protection measures agreed with Sakhalin Energy will be published and that compliance with them would be a contractual obligation on the company. Qualified consultants would monitor compliance with these obligations on behalf of ECGD and the other lenders, should support be eventually agreed.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Fenestration Self-assessment Scheme

Mr. Todd: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 5 January 2004, Official Report, column 142W, on the Fenestration Self-assessment Scheme, whether the scheme requires its members to install lintels above windows. [156090]

Phil Hope: The Fenestration Self-assessment Scheme requires that all work carried out by its members should comply fully with the Building Regulations. Where the installation of lintels is necessary for such compliance then FENSA members should install them.

---