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Consumer Direct

Mr. Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the budget of Consumer Direct is for the next three financial years. [157461]

Mr. Sutcliffe: The budget of Consumer Direct for the next three financial years is:

	£ million
2003–04	3
2004–05	11
2005–06	16

This may be subject to adjustment depending on the speed of roll out following implementation of the Consumer Direct pathfinder nations/regions this summer. The pathfinders are Scotland, Wales, Yorkshire and Humberside and the South West.

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Credit Card Fraud

Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps her Department is taking to address the concerns of on-line consumers about credit card fraud. [157273]

Mr. Sutcliffe: The Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000 protect consumers against payment card fraud including credit cards. The Regulations apply to contracts made at a distance including on-line ones. The Card issuer is required to reimburse consumers the full amount in the event of fraudulent use of the consumer's card.

In addition, the Consumer Credit Act 1974 allows consumers to recover the cost of a purchase made by credit card from either the supplier or the credit card provider in the event of a breach of contract or misrepresentation. This provides additional protection should a consumer be unable to trace the supplier. The Banking Code says that the consumer's liability for misuse of a card will be limited unless there is evidence that the consumer has acted fraudulently or without reasonable care.

The Home Office has recently launched a website to combat fraud over the internet. The 'e-tailing mini site' forms part of the Crime Reduction Website and includes information to help on-line consumers protect themselves from fraud. The website address is http://www.crimereduction.gov.uk/etailing.

Directors' Remuneration

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the respondents to the consultation document Rewards for Failure—Directors Remuneration—Contracts, Performance and Severance; and if she will list those respondents who (a) advocated legislative provisions and (b) did not want legislation to address executive remuneration. [159350]

Jacqui Smith: There were 112 responses in all, from a wide range of parties: institutional investor, companies, trades unions, accountants, remuneration advisers and many representative organisations. Some responses were sent in confidence. These apart, all responses are available for inspection on application to the DTI Library.

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The consultation was principally about best practice options, but sought views on three questions relating to possible legislative changes arising from recommendations of the Company Law Review. Of these, there was majority support only for that which asked whether companies legislation should provide for the prohibition of rolling contracts having a notice or contract period in excess of the period permitted by section 319 of the Companies Act 1985.

Employment Regulation

Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many recommendations were made by the recent Better Regulation Task Force report on employment regulation; how many have been implemented by her Department; and by what methods. [155321]

Nigel Griffiths: The Better Regulation Task Force (BRTF) made 12 recommendations in its report of May 2002. The Government published their response to this report, accepting the recommendations, in August 2002. This explains how the recommendations are being taken forward and is available from the Libraries of the House.

The Government response to the report can be found at: http://www.dti. gov.uk/er/brtfresponse.htm.

Export Credits Guarantee Department

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the Export Credits Guarantee Department's maximum liability was in each financial year since 1998–99 (a) in the passenger aircraft sector, (b) in the renewable energy sector excluding large hydro-energy and energy from waste technologies, (c) in the non-renewable energy sector, (d) for exports to the United States, (e) in the defence aircraft sector and (f) for large hydro-energy exports. [151681]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: ECGD does not categorise its business precisely in line with the question but, from information available, ECGD's maximum possible liability on future amounts at risk at the end of each of the Financial Years for the categories listed was as set out in the table.

It is important to note that maximum liability is not the actual amount of cover.

£ million

Sector	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03
(a) Passenger aircraft sector	3,602	4,392	5,192	5,256	4,570
(b) Renewable energy sector	105	42	40	33	13
(c) Non-renewable energy sector	3,718	4,726	5,227	3,688	3,123
(d) United States	351	533	752	762	654
(e) Defence aircraft sector	779	714	1,304	1,117	1,229
(f) Large hydro-energy sector	122	92	66	47	13

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the Export Credits Guarantee Department had received the Human Rights Watch report of January 1999 on human rights abuses in connection with the Dabhol power project in India when it provided overseas investment insurance for the project. [158564]

Mr. Mike O'Brien [holding answer 4 March 2004]: ECGD had not received a copy of the Human Rights Watch report at that time.

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment the Export Credits Guarantee Department made of the social, environmental and human rights impact of the Dabhol

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Power Project before it provided overseas investment insurance to banks for investing in the project; if she will place in the Library the relevant documentation; and if she will make a statement. [158567]

Mr. Mike O'Brien [holding answer 4 March 2004]: ECGD did not at the time have a policy on social, environmental and human rights impact assessment. As a result, no such assessment was carried out.

Following the publication of its Business Principles in December 2000, ECGD's assessment of projects now takes into account the Government's international policies, including those on sustainable development, environment and human rights.

Fireworks

Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress is being made on the control of fireworks. [158284]

Mr. Sutcliffe: Under the Fireworks Act 2003 we have already made the Fireworks Regulations 2003 which came into force on 22 December. These Regulations make it an offence for the under 18s to possess fireworks in public places and for all members of the public to possess the large and powerful category 4 fireworks used at professionally organised displays.

Also we are currently consulting on draft regulations to be made under the Consumer Protection Act 1987 to enshrine in law the firework industry's voluntary ban on air bombs.

Preliminary consultations on implementing the remainder of the Fireworks Act are continuing and draft regulations will be published during the first half of this year to introduce a national curfew banning the use of fireworks during anti-social hours; a noise limit of 120 decibels on consumer type fireworks; a compulsory training course for operators of public displays and a new licensing system for the sale of fireworks.

Gender Equality

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action she is taking to ensure equality between men and women in the workplace. [155807]

Ms Hewitt: The Government are taking action on a number of fronts to ensure equality between men and women in the workplace. We are continuing to improve the workings of the Equal Pay Act and the Sex Discrimination Act, for example through the introduction of the Equal Pay questionnaire in April 2003 and our planned consultation on speeding up and simplifying equal value tribunals. The Government are taking forward policies to tackle the pay gap that help secure equal pay, and broader causes of the pay gap, such as women's lower level of work experience and the part-time pay gap. The Government have led by example in committing all Civil Service departments and agencies to review their pay systems and produce action plans to close any equal pay gaps. The Government have also provided funding for the EOC to develop equal pay tool kits so all organisations can carry out equal pay reviews.

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In addition, we are working to remove existing barriers to equality, such as our work to promote women's access to sectors where they are currently under-represented, and to increase diversity in the boardroom. We have introduced measures to help parents maintain links with the world of work and better balance their work and home lives, which will contribute to a reduction of the pay gap. The Government have provided funding to expand childcare provision to meet the changing needs of families. The Government also welcome the EOC's investigation into modern apprenticeships and the concentration of men and women in different professions.

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