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Uganda

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance his Department has (a) offered and (b) provided to the Government of Uganda to (i) initiate, (ii) facilitate and (iii) co-ordinate talks with the Lord's Resistance Army; and if he will make a statement. [168552]

Mr. Mullin: The Ugandan Government has not requested direct assistance from the UK. However, we continue to support mediation initiatives by the Ugandan Government and local leaders, who we believe are best placed to achieve a sustainable peace. Since 2001, we have spent nearly £1 million on conflict reduction and peace initiatives in Uganda. This includes the development of Mega FM Radio, which is playing an important part in attempts to develop dialogue. A further £1.6 million has been set aside up to March 2005.

United Arab Emirates

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the (a) social, (b) economic and (c) cultural links between the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. [168569]

Mr. Rammell: The ties between the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are deep and long-standing. We are building on them. HRH the Duke of York, the Lord Mayor of London, the House of Commons UAE All Party Parliamentary Group and my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary have all visited UAE in recent months. The UAE is the UK's most important trading partner in the region with commerce
 
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between the two countries totalling over £3 billion. British companies contribute significantly to the UAE's rapidly modernising economy. About 50,000 British citizens live and work in the UAE and over 500,000 visited in 2003. Many Emiratis visit the UK regularly and have houses here. There are growing cultural links, reflected in the presence of British Council offices in four of the Emirates. Our links in these fields are thriving.

United States

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the visitor visa requirements are for US visitors to the UK. [168253]

Mr. Mullin: Nationals of the United States of America do not require a visa to visit the United Kingdom for less than six months. However, on arrival in the UK, they must be able to satisfy an Immigration Officer that they qualify for entry as a visitor under the UK Immigration Rules. From 13 November 2003 an additional entry clearance requirement was introduced for nationals of 10 countries, including the United States, who intend to stay in the UK for more than six months or who are work permit holders. Further information is available at UK visas website, www.ukvisas.gov.uk.

MINISTER FOR WOMEN

Child Care

Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Minister for Women how many working mothers use child care for (a) children under five and (b) children over five years. [167879]

Ms Hewitt: The estimates from the autumn 2003 Labour Force Survey, the most recent information available, are around 750,000 working mothers using child care for under fives and around 1,050,000 for over fives.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Draft Age Discrimination Regulations

Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether draft regulations on age discrimination will be published in 2004. [168157]

Jacqui Smith: We are in the process of reviewing the timetable for further consultation. We are doing so in the light of our clear commitment to give those with responsibilities and with rights as much time as possible to prepare for the new legislation coming into force in 2006, and to do so with regulations that are clear and effective. We shall announce the new timetable as soon as possible.

Employment Rights

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many and what percentage of women in Heywood and Middleton have taken 26 weeks maternity leave since 1997. [168529]

 
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Mr. Sutcliffe: Take-up of paternity leave is not recorded centrally. It is possible to make an estimate of the numbers of women taking maternity leave based on employer returns to Inland Revenue for payment of Statutory Maternity Pay (since 2003 this has covered the first 26 weeks of leave). However, figures for the take-up of SMP are not available on a regional basis.

In addition, there will be some women who will qualify for maternity leave but not SMP (because they do not meet the earnings criteria) and similarly some who qualify for SMP but not leave (because they are employed earners for the purposes of SMP but not employees in order to qualify for leave).

BT

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for what reasons her Department has undertaken a review of apparent disparities between the Valuation Office Agency's calculation method of business rates for BT in comparison with other telecom companies; when she will publish her Department's findings; whom is being consulted; and if she will make a statement. [167268]

Mr. Timms: The Government said last year, in response to representations made by members of the telecommunications industry, that they would review the rating system as it applied to the industry to ensure that it is working fairly.

The Department has appointed a contractor to carry out the review. On completion of the review the Department will present the report to the Broadband Stakeholders Group (BSG), which is representative of the communications industry.

We expect initial findings in the summer and subject to progress, to produce a report in the autumn.

Business Link

Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what funds have been allocated to raising awareness of Business Link branded services among small businesses in each year since its inception; what the target was for the awareness level for each year; and what her estimate is of the current level of awareness among small businesses. [168448]

Nigel Griffiths: The following measures were used to raise awareness of Business Link.

In 1996–97, £2,527,747 was allocated to raising awareness of Business Link, through press, radio and poster advertising. Awareness of Business Link among small businesses in February 1997 was 72 per cent.

In 1997–98, expenditure was £1,331,702 on press advertising. Awareness of Business Link in December 1998 was 77 per cent.

In 1998–99, expenditure was £1,021,352 on press, radio and poster advertising. Awareness of Business Link in March 1999 was 65 per cent. Between 1996 and 1999 there were no specific targets set for awareness raising.
 
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Between March and November 2001, expenditure on Business Link advertising was £2,600,000. Advertising tracking showed spontaneous awareness at the end of this period was 17 per cent. and prompted awareness was 81 per cent. The targets set for this period were for 20 per cent. unprompted and 80 per cent. prompted awareness.

Between September 2002 and April 2003 expenditure on Business Link advertising was £6,000,000. Results were measured in two ways: tracking of advertising and direct mail activity showed spontaneous awareness at 11 per cent. and prompted awareness at 77 per cent., whilst a National Omnibus Survey showed overall awareness of Business Link at 74 per cent. The targets set for this period were for 20 per cent. unprompted and 80 per cent. prompted awareness.

Business Regulation

Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 6 April 2004, Official Report, column 72W, on regulatory impact assessments, how many regulatory impact statements were issued separate from regulatory impact assessments by the Small Business Service in each year since its inception, with particular reference to the Evaluation of Regulatory Impact Assessments Compendium Report 2003–04, March 2004, pages 25–26. [168712]

Nigel Griffiths: I am advised that the Small Business Service has not issued any regulatory impact statements. Such statements are prepared by the lead Department to explain the impact on business of proposals involving new or amended regulations, and take into account discussions with the Small Business Service and Cabinet Office.

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