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30 Apr 2004 : Column 1365W—continued
Renewable Energy
Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent meetings (a) she and (b) the Minister for Energy have had with organisations concerned with development of the renewable energy industries. [167370]
Mr. Timms: Both my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and I regularly meet with groups and organisations concerned with the development of the renewable energy industry. I have attended numerous events outside the Department for discussions about renewable energy. For example, on Monday I addressed the Investing in Renewable Energy Conference in the City of London.
Science Strategy
Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she has taken to enhance science in her Department since the publication of the Government's science strategy, Investing in Innovation. [162244]
Ms Hewitt: DTI is responsible for the bulk of the public expenditure on science and technology research in UK universities, promotes the exploitation of science and engineering in business innovation and uses science to inform its own policies.
The Department will invest over £2.7 billion on university research and business innovation in 2004–2005. In the Budget, the Chancellor announced the Government's intention to establish a 10-year framework for science and innovation, which will be informed by a consultation document as part of the 2004 spending review. Our aim is to grow public investment in the science base faster than the trend rate of GDP growth over the next spending review period.
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The Innovation Report, published in December 2003, sets out our strategy for refocusing DTI's support for business innovation by targeting our innovation investment into a limited number of fields of research, but ensuring that our intervention brings coherence to other support from the public and private sectors and makes a positive difference to outcomes in terms of business productivity and competitiveness.
TRANSPORT
Battersea Park Station
Martin Linton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with Network Rail about improvements to Battersea Park Station. [168859]
Mr. McNulty: Network Rail and the Strategic Rail Authority continue to hold discussions on this issue and to update my officials on progress. I understand that Network Rail and Parkview International are currently in negotiations over a proposal that both parties hope will conclude in the near future, enabling the scheme to take place.
Departmental Events
Mr. Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the conferences and seminars that his Department organised between 1 September 2003 and 28 February 2004, detailing the cost of each. [166463]
Mr. McNulty: The Department communicates where appropriate with organisations through conferences and holds internal conferences and seminars in the course of normal management. The following table lists conferences and seminars organised by the central Department during the period.
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Railway Improvements (Burnley)
Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the likely effects of investment in railway improvements over the next 10 years upon residents of Burnley. [167885]
Mr. McNulty: Residents of Burnley will benefit from the new TransPennine Express franchise, which commenced in February. The franchise secures investment of around £260 million which will include the introduction of a new fleet of 100 mph diesel trains leading to increased capacity, improved service quality and performance across the region. A new northern franchise, which will include local and regional services through Burnley, is out for tender. Work continues on the West Coast Main Line upgrade, which will see a reduction in journey times on services to and from Manchester and Preston and an increase in service frequency.
Transport Infrastructure
Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the effect of investment in railway improvements over the next 10 years upon residents of Heywood and Middleton. [168550]
Mr. McNulty: A new northern franchise, which will include local and regional services directly serving Heywood and Middleton, is out for tender. Residents of Heywood and Middleton will benefit from the new TransPennine Express franchise, which commenced in February, serving the main towns and cities across the north. The franchise secures investment of around £260 million which will include the introduction of a new fleet of 100 mph diesel trains leading to increased capacity, improved service quality and performance across the region. Work continues on the West Coast Main Line upgrade, which will see a reduction in journey times on services to and from Manchester and Preston and an increase in service frequency.
James Purnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the effect of investment in railway improvements over the next 10 years upon residents of Stalybridge and Hyde. [168732]
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Mr. McNulty: Residents of Stalybridge and Hyde will benefit from the new TransPennine Express franchise, which commenced in February. The franchise secures investment of around £260 million which will include the introduction of a new fleet of 100 mph diesel trains leading to increased capacity, improved service quality and performance across the region, A new northern franchise, which will include local and regional services through the constituency, is out for tender. Work continues on the West Coast Main Line upgrade, which will see a reduction in journey times on services to and from Manchester and Preston and an increase in service frequency.
TREASURY
Connexions
Charles Hendry: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, (1) what (a) discussions and (b) correspondence he has had with the Secretary of State for Education and Skills concerning the written encouragement issued by the Department for Education and Skills to Connexions partnerships to improve their tax efficiency; [169976]
(2) whether Connexions Service private contractors are able to reclaim VAT. [169980]
John Healey: HM Customs and Excise have clarified the VAT rules with DfES and Connexions. It is a matter for the DfES how funding for the Connexions programme is allocated, and a matter for individual connexions partnerships how they organise their VAT affairs.
Private contractors subcontracted to provide services to a Connexions partnership must charge VAT, and this means that under the normal rules they are also entitled to recover the VAT, they pay on the items they purchase.
Limited companies established by Connexions partnerships to deliver Connexions services are not carrying out any business activity and therefore do not charge VAT and are unable to recover any VAT they incur.
Local authorities tasked with delivering Connexions services will normally be able to recover any VAT they incur under section 33 of the VAT Act 1994, as they do for other services they deliver.
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