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Regional Development Agencies

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for   Trade and Industry by what mechanism her Department monitors the effectiveness of the Regional Development Agencies' core indicators beyond the end of year results. [168657]

Jacqui Smith [holding answer 26 April 2004]: Responsibility for monitoring the effectiveness of England's Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) sits with the Government Office (GO) in each region. The GO reports provide Ministers with the information required to measure the effectiveness of RDAs, both in terms of their role as a strategic catalyst in the region and in the delivery of specific outputs.

For the first two years of the RDAs' Single Pot (2002–03 and 2003–04), GOs reported to Ministers on RDA performance on a quarterly basis and, from April 2004, the frequency has been reduced to every six months, following the National Audit Office's recommendation in its November 2003 report, "Success in the Regions".

Performance data are published every six months. Mid year data for 2003–04 were published on 4 February 2004 and the end year data will be published before the summer recess.

Royal Mail

Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the cost was of withdrawing, reprinting and distributing the RMUK 530 AS leaflet, Mail Made Easy, containing the new postal rates; and if she will make a statement. [168429]

Mr. Timms: This is an operational matter for Royal Mail Group and I have therefore asked the Chief Executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.
 
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Small Businesses (Burnley)

Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps the Government have taken to help small businesses in Burnley since 1997. [167893]

Nigel Griffiths: The Business Link Operator for East Lancashire has provided assistance to 927 companies in the Burnley constituency since 2001. The Small Business Service was set up as an agency of the Department of Trade and Industry in April 2000. Contracts were exchanged with a national network of 45 Business Link Operators (seven in the North West) to provide Business Support to small and medium-sized enterprises form April 2001. Before this date, Government Support to   businesses was provided through Training and Enterprise Councils and the SBS does not have access to these data.

325 of the 927 companies were starts assisted, those companies who began trading between 1 April 2001 and 31 March 2004.

Companies have received offers of grant from the Research and Development Grant Scheme with a total value of £193,604 since 1997.

Under the Enterprise Grant Scheme, which has recently closed (31 March 2004), 11 companies have received offers of grant with a total value of £314,000 since 1997.

Overall 5,970 companies were assisted in the East Lancashire area, of which 1,666 were business start-ups.

In addition, the Chancellor has taken a number of means to assist SMEs.

Utility Companies

Mr. Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what plans she has to prohibit cold calling and door-to-door selling by utility companies; [167774]

(2) what measures she is able to take to regulate the selling practices of utility companies. [167775]

Mr. Timms: Utility companies are subject to the range of consumer legislation governing the sale of goods and services. The specific regulation of utility companies is a matter for the individual sectoral regulators. The Government have no plans to prohibit cold-calling or door-to-door sales. In respect of gas and electricity, during 2002, the industry agreed both the EnergySure scheme, to improve the training and oversight of sales staff, and a Code of Practice on doorstep selling. In that year, we also provided OFGEM with the power to levy financial penalties on companies that breached their operating licences. OFGEM subsequently used that power to fine London Electricity £2 million for mis-selling under its own brand and that of Virgin Energy. Complaints about energy mis-selling have significantly declined since 2002.

Mr. Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will introduce legislation to prevent the disconnection of utility supplies due to debt. [167777]

Mr. Sutcliffe: The Government will not introduce legislation to prevent the disconnection of utility supplies because of non-payment of bills. Gas and electricity suppliers have, as a matter of last resort and
 
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subject to a range of safeguards, the right to disconnect customers who have not paid their bills and have ignored repeated requests to do so. The Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (OFGEM), has been in discussion with the energy industry about measures to improve arrangements surrounding disconnections, particularly as they affect vulnerable customers, and will shortly issue an industry consultation paper on the revised arrangements. In electronic communications, disconnection is a matter for the regulator, the Office of   Communications (OFCOM). All communications providers must have disconnection procedures that are proportionate and not unduly discriminatory. In water, companies cannot disconnect a domestic customer's supply for debt.

HOUSE OF COMMMONS COMMISSION

Environmental Impact

34. Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission what steps the Commission is taking to lessen the House's environmental impact. [168418]

Sir Archy Kirkwood: The Serjeant at Arms commissioned a review of the Parliamentary Estate's environmental performance last year and the final report and recommendations will be available in May. I expect they will cover education and training, further work on energy efficiency consumption, and further development of green purchasing.

Security Arrangements

38. Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the hon. Member for    Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission if he will make a statement on security arrangements in the Palace of Westminster. [168422]

Sir Archy Kirkwood: The aim of the security arrangements is the protection of Members and staff of both Houses, of all those who visit the Parliamentary Estate, and of our buildings and facilities. In order to achieve this, the authorities of both Houses make every effort to react promptly to the advice of the Security Service and of the Metropolitan Police on any potential threat.

Car Parking Charges

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission what recent assessment has been made of the implications of introducing workplace charging for vehicles parked in the House car park. [167793]

Sir Archy Kirkwood: The House has never had a policy of charging for the use of the car park, which is provided for security reasons as well as for the convenience of Members and staff. There has therefore been no specific recent assessment of the implications of charging for use of the car park, but the Greater London Authority Act 1999 contains provisions which would allow the authority or Westminster city council to introduce a licensing scheme for parking in the Palace of
 
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Westminster, under which they may levy a charge on the two Houses. The Commission will consider the matter if and when either authority makes proposals for a licensing scheme.

Environmental Audit

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission when the activities of the House were last subject to an environmental audit. [167792]

Sir Archy Kirkwood: The environmental performance of the Parliamentary Estate was reviewed by external consultants earlier this year. Areas of specific examination were general waste management, recycling schemes, energy and water use. The final report and recommendations will be available in May.

Lighting

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission what plans the Commission has to increase the provision of (a) low-energy lighting and (b) lighting activated by movement within the House. [167783]

Sir Archy Kirkwood: We have a budget each year for investment in tactical energy saving measures. These are implemented in order of pay-back priority. Many motion activated lights have already been installed and there is budgetary provision for more.

For all major projects, the initial project brief requires the project manager to consider methods of providing 'energy efficient lighting' as part of the overall design.

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