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5 May 2004 : Column 1631W—continued

Waiting Lists/Times

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to record and publish waiting times for both diagnostics and treatment for all types of conditions. [169714]

Mr. Hutton: Data are not collected specifically on waiting times for diagnostic tests. However, depending on the setting in which the procedure takes place, patients waiting for diagnostic procedures may be included within the central waiting list returns.

This is because waiting time data are collected on the consultant's main specialty, not by procedure. Diagnostic procedures may be included as part of the official returns as either an in-patient/day case, or as an out-patient—if it was the patient's first appointment with a consultant.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Loan Repayments

Mr. Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make the provision of an analysis of a customer's ability to repay a loan an obligation on the lender; and if she will make a statement. [170640]

Mr. Sutcliffe: Our proposed reforms to the current law on extortionate credit bargains (which we will introduce when parliamentary time permits) will include a new test relating to unfair credit transactions. This new test will enable agreements to be more effectively challenged, and creditors who do not want to expose themselves to such challenges must ensure that the loans they make are not unfair. Responsible lending is a key part of this, and while the Government do not propose a 'one size fits all' regime for all credit providers, lenders will be expected to undertake enquiries that are proportionate in the circumstances.
 
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Bankrupt Businesses

Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research her Department has undertaken into the number of UK businesses that have gone bankrupt as a result of being unable to meet their pensions obligations. [168891]

Mr. Sutcliffe: The Department does not hold any statistical data which would enable it to undertake any research into whether any UK businesses have entered a formal insolvency procedure as a result of being unable to meet their pension obligations.

Banned Products

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consumer products have been banned from sale in the United Kingdom since 1994, stating in each case (a) the product, (b) the manufacturer or retailer and (c) the reason for the action taken. [168976]

Mr. Sutcliffe: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Carmichael) on 11 March 2004, Official Report, column 1685W.

Businesses (Sittingbourne and Sheppey)

Mr. Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many and what percentage of women in Sittingbourne and Sheppey have taken 26 weeks' maternity leave since 1997. [170294]

Mr. Sutcliffe: Take-up of maternity 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). Figures for the take-up of SMP are not available on a regional basis, but nationally around 300,000 women receive SMP each year.

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
 
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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).

Mr. Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the effects on residents of Sittingbourne and Sheppey of new rights for night-shift workers. [170296]

Mr. Sutcliffe: The Working Time Regulations came into force on 1 October 1998. The regulations limit working time to 48 hours per week averaged over a 17-week reference period. For night workers the limit is eight hours per day on average, including overtime where it is part of a night worker's normal hours of work. There is no opt-out from the night working time limit.

Night workers are entitled to 11 hours rest between working days, one day's rest per week, and a 20-minute in work rest break if the working period is longer than six hours.

All night workers should be offered a free health assessment before they start working night and thereafter at regular intervals for as long as they are working nights. The health assessments should take account of the nature of the work and the restrictions on a worker's working time under the regulations. Workers who suffer from problems as a result of working at night, should as far as practicable be offered alternative day work.

All workers are entitled to four weeks paid annual leave. There is no specific data available for night shift workers in Sittingbourne and Sheppey.

Mr. Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many residents of Sittingbourne and Sheppey qualify for paid leave entitlements. [170297]

Mr. Sutcliffe: All workers resident in Sittingbourne and Sheppey qualify for paid annual leave entitlements; at least four weeks as set out in the Working Time Regulations. While all women are entitled to 26 weeks ordinary maternity leave, only those who meet the eligibility criteria will be able to claim statutory maternity pay for that period.

All employees in Sittingbourne and Sheppey who are eligible will be entitled to take statutory paternity leave with pay and statutory adoption leave with pay.

Mr. Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many residents of Sittingbourne and Sheppey have benefited from a reduction of the working week to 48 hours. [170298]

Mr. Sutcliffe: The Working Time Regulations provide workers with the right to refuse to work more than 48 hours on average, if they do not want to. Numbers for Sittingbourne and Sheppey are not available, however it has been estimated that around 400,000 workers resident in the South East stood to benefit from the introduction of the weekly working time limits in 1998.
 
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Christmas Day Working

Mr. Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action she has taken to ensure that employers allow workers to celebrate Christmas Day with their families. [170283]

Mr. Sutcliffe: Christmas Day is one of eight bank holidays in the UK each year. Employers are not obliged to give their workers time off on Christmas Day in addition to their paid annual leave, but many do so. Those workers not receiving bank holidays in addition to paid annual leave, can use some of their annual leave entitlement to cover bank holiday periods. The Working Time Regulations provide all workers with four weeks paid annual leave pro rata.

However, the Government always tries to encourage employers to give their workers time off to celebrate Christmas Day and is especially keen for major retailers not to open on this day. The Government supports the Christmas Day (Trading) Bill, which would prevent major retailers opening on this day.

Construction Industry

Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will request the Insolvency Service and Small Business Service to carry out a study into the operation of insolvency law and practice in the construction industry to determine whether measures should be taken to protect small businesses from insolvencies among their creditors and customers. [168916]

Mr. Sutcliffe: There are no plans for the DTI to carry out a study of this kind but the Specialist Engineering Contractors' Group has consulted the Department about the possible form of a study it is proposing to carry out in this area. We are yet to hear whether the study is under way but will assist as appropriate.

Consumer Credit Applications

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what new measures will be introduced by the Office of Fair Trading for improving the fitness checking of consumer credit licence applicants through access to criminal records. [170520]

Mr. Sutcliffe: New procedures for checking criminal records are due to be introduced by the OFT this year. The OFT is currently finalising arrangements for the introduction of these new measures which will be announced later this year.

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