House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 3 Mar 2004 (pt 15)

3 Mar 2004 : Column 977W—continued

Road Accidents

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what evidence he has collated on road traffic accidents caused by slow driving. [157391]

Angela Smith: The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) is responsible for the collection of road traffic collision statistics in Northern Ireland and I have been advised that statistics relating specifically to collisions caused by slow moving vehicles are not held.

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While it is accepted that slow drivers can, on occasion, cause annoyance to other road users, there is no evidence to indicate that slow driving is a major cause of collisions.

Speed Cameras

Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what research he has collated regarding the impact of speed cameras on the number of road traffic accidents; and if he will make a statement. [157453]

Angela Smith: There have been safety camera schemes similar to the initiative being piloted in Northern Ireland running in Great Britain for a number of years. In the two years of the Great Britain pilot, the number of people killed and seriously injured at camera sites fell by 35 per cent.

The Northern Ireland Safety Camera Pilot Scheme has been in operation since July 2003 and it is too early to make a valid assessment of its contribution to the reduction of road deaths and serious injuries. There is, however, every reason to believe that there is potential for reductions in deaths and serious injuries in Northern Ireland similar to those in Great Britain.

Victims Memorial Fund

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Government intend to provide additional funding to the Northern Ireland Memorial Fund for Victims; and if he will make a statement. [156119]

Angela Smith: Since 1998, the Government have allocated more than £20 million to victims' issues. More than £7 million of this has been allocated to the Northern Ireland Memorial Fund (NIMF). A number of other initiatives have also been funded. More than £8 million has been allocated for core and project funding to groups working in support of victims. Trauma centres have been established in Belfast and Omagh and Trauma Advisory Panels have been established in each Health Board Area. We are also raising awareness across the public sector about victims' needs, and the special sensitivities required when dealing with those who have experienced traumatic events.

Significant progress has been made in a relatively short period of time but more needs to be done. That is why I am currently working to develop the next generation of victims' policy. As part of this work I am engaged in a consultation process with victims and survivors and with experts and practitioners in the field to find out more about: victims' needs; to what extent existing initiatives, including the NIMF, are meeting these needs; what are the unmet needs; and where the priorities lie. The outcome of this process, which is ongoing, will inform decisions on future policy and funding.

Waste Recycling

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many district councils in Northern Ireland offer a household waste recycling service. [157660]

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Angela Smith: All District Councils in Northern Ireland provide a household waste recycling service. The level of provision differs according to each council's operational and budgetary constraints. In all cases, the Waste Management Plans of councils provide for the expansion of these services to maximise recycling and the diversion of waste from landfill.

Councils provide access to recycling facilities for a range of materials at Civic Amenity Centres. These usually include glass, cans and paper. Some centres also collect plastics, wood and green waste for composting.

Civic Amenity Centres are complemented in all council areas by the provision of 'bring facilities' in supermarket car parks or other public locations. These usually consist of glass bottle banks and can banks.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Business Links

Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps her Department has

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taken to reduce administrative demands of Business Link projects on small businesses. [157228]

Nigel Griffiths: By their very nature Business Link projects offer services to SMEs and do not make additional demands upon them. Business Link Operators provide information, advice or access to experts on any aspect needed to start and expand a business and access to a range of business support solutions including DTI business support products.

Business Regulation

Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the 10 projects to reform the regulatory environment for small business referred to in figure 19.3 of the Trade and Industry Departmental Report, Cm 5916. [157195]

Nigel Griffiths: The Government remain committed to creating a business environment in which all business, especially small business, has the chance to start, grow and employ staff. It recently published its Action Plan for Small Business on 8 January 2004, which details the measures it will take to reduce the regulatory burden. The Action Plan supersedes and builds on the 10 projects, details of which are set out as follows.

Projects Details

Timesaver Initiative Timesaver has been incorporated as part of the Business.gov programme. The new Businesslink.gov.uk website is a key delivery arm of the programme.

Carter Review of Payroll Services There was general support for the principle of greater use of information technology. The incentive payments to encourage smaller employers with less than 50 employees to file electronically will begin from 2004–05. The electronic filing of employer returns are expected to become a universal requirement from 2010. The payroll support given by Business Support Teams and the employers' helpline will be expanding.

Small Firms Litmus Test Revised Small Firms Impact Test introduced in February 2003 as part of new Regulatory Impact Assessment process. A database of businesses has been developed to assist policy makers.

Revitalising Local Business Partnerships SBS introduced a Partnership Fund which aims to build on the work currently undertaken by LBPs and encourage LBPs to promote and sustain partnerships. The LBP website was launched in 2001. SBS provide a forum highlighting best practices within the partnerships. SBS have a part-time national LBP co-ordinator. A second national conference was held in June 2003 to mark the 10th anniversary of the first LBP (Barnsley).

Parental Leave and Dispute Resolution Maternity and Paternity package introduced in April 2003. Dispute and Grievance Package including revised ACAS Code coming into force Oct 2004. Small business heavily involved in the shaping of the policy.

Disability SBS has developed relationships with the Disability Rights Commission on the drafting of its code. SBS has worked with Employers Forum on Disability to ensure that Business Advisors can offer best advice to small business. Input into the new Bill and other initiatives on disability are on-going.

Better Regulation Task Force Small Shopkeepers Report 12 recommendations made to Government. Six were accepted, five accepted in part and one not accepted. Progress made, for example, on liquor licensing reform, single internet portal and guidance.

Food Standards and Food Labelling Requirements SBS has forged closer links with the FSA and is working with the agency on the introduction of new simplified standards for the food sector. The aim is to minimise the impact on small businesses.

Climate Change Levy In 2002 the SBS in conjunction with Ecotec undertook research into the impact of the Levy on small businesses. These results were fed into wider DTI work being completed on the levy.

Health and Safety Bill The majority of elements within the Health and Safety Bill were transport related and were incorporated into a Transport Bill with all the health and safety issues dropped from it and not being pursued.

Projects	Details
Timesaver Initiative	Timesaver has been incorporated as part of the Business.gov programme. The new Businesslink.gov.uk website is a key delivery arm of the programme.
Carter Review of Payroll Services	There was general support for the principle of greater use of information technology. The incentive payments to encourage smaller employers with less than 50 employees to file electronically will begin from 2004–05. The electronic filing of employer returns are expected to become a universal requirement from 2010. The payroll support given by Business Support Teams and the employers' helpline will be expanding.
Small Firms Litmus Test	Revised Small Firms Impact Test introduced in February 2003 as part of new Regulatory Impact Assessment process. A database of businesses has been developed to assist policy makers.
Revitalising Local Business Partnerships	SBS introduced a Partnership Fund which aims to build on the work currently undertaken by LBPs and encourage LBPs to promote and sustain partnerships. The LBP website was launched in 2001. SBS provide a forum highlighting best practices within the partnerships. SBS have a part-time national LBP co-ordinator. A second national conference was held in June 2003 to mark the 10th anniversary of the first LBP (Barnsley).
Parental Leave and Dispute Resolution	Maternity and Paternity package introduced in April 2003. Dispute and Grievance Package including revised ACAS Code coming into force Oct 2004. Small business heavily involved in the shaping of the policy.
Disability	SBS has developed relationships with the Disability Rights Commission on the drafting of its code. SBS has worked with Employers Forum on Disability to ensure that Business Advisors can offer best advice to small business. Input into the new Bill and other initiatives on disability are on-going.
Better Regulation Task Force Small Shopkeepers Report	12 recommendations made to Government. Six were accepted, five accepted in part and one not accepted. Progress made, for example, on liquor licensing reform, single internet portal and guidance.
Food Standards and Food Labelling Requirements	SBS has forged closer links with the FSA and is working with the agency on the introduction of new simplified standards for the food sector. The aim is to minimise the impact on small businesses.
Climate Change Levy	In 2002 the SBS in conjunction with Ecotec undertook research into the impact of the Levy on small businesses. These results were fed into wider DTI work being completed on the levy.
Health and Safety Bill	The majority of elements within the Health and Safety Bill were transport related and were incorporated into a Transport Bill with all the health and safety issues dropped from it and not being pursued.

Business Support

Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many firms have been helped by (a) grants for research and development, (b) grants for investigating an innovative idea and (c) knowledge transfer partnerships since their introduction. [157191]

Nigel Griffiths: The information is as follows.

(a) 207 Grant for R&D offers have been made between 1 June 2003 to 31 December 2003.

(b) 75 Grant for Investigating an Innovative Idea offers have been made between 1 June 2003 and 31 December 2003.

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(c) Since the first Knowledge Transfer Partnerships were considered in September 2003, 130 partnerships have been approved and so far 16 of them have begun work on their projects.

Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much money has been spent on the Small Firms Loan Guarantee scheme since it was created; and of this total, how much has been spent on administration. [157194]

Nigel Griffiths: Between the start of the scheme in June 1981 and 31 March 2003 the total programme expenditure has been £482.8 million. Expenditure on administration between 1 April 2000 and 31 March 2003 is estimated at £1.97 million of which £0.37 million is included within the total of £482.8 million and £1.6 million is additional. Earlier administrative cost could be determined only at disproportionate cost.

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