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8 Jun 2004 : Column 380W—continued
Coal Health Claims
Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much had been paid (a) in total and (b) in Nottinghamshire for coal health claims for (i) chronic bronchitis and emphysema and (ii) vibration white finger at 31 March. [176546]
Nigel Griffiths [holding answer 7 June 2004]: To date the figures are:
| COPD (£ billion) | VWF (£ million) | |
|---|---|---|
| Total amount paid to claimants | 1.1 | 972.4 |
| Total amount paid to claimants in (40)Nottinghamshire/Derbyshire/Leicestershire | 56.1 | 123.5 |
(40) Figures for Nottinghamshire are not available separately.
Regional and constituency figures can be found on the Department's website: www.dti.gov.uk/coalhealth. The information is complied in the middle of the month and shows the figures for the end of the previous month.
IT Equipment
Mr. Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how often since 1997 (a) her Department and (b) its associated public sector organisations have undergone portable appliance testing of IT equipment; and what the cost was of portable appliance testing in each year since 1997. [174982]
Ms Hewitt [holding answer 24 May 2004]: The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has since 1997 undertaken annual testing of all portable appliances in DTI offices, including IT equipment, usually through its operations and maintenance contract. The cost of portable appliance testing is included in the overall price of the contract and cannot be provided separately.
In respect of the DTI's executive agencies, each Chief Executive has been asked to reply.
Letter from Claire Clancy to Mr. Howard Flight, dated 8 June 2004:
I am responding to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on behalf of Companies House, which is an Executive Agency of the DTI.
The Portable Appliance Testing of IT equipment at Companies House is carried out every three to five years in accordance with the IEE recommendations. The cost is approximately £5000.00 per annum.
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Letter from Desmond Flynn to Mr. Howard Flight, dated 8 June 2004:
The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has asked me to reply to you directly on behalf of The Insolvency Service in respect of your question (2003/3109) asking how often since 1997 (a) the Department (b) its associated public sector organisation have undergone portable appliance testing of IT equipment and what the cost was of portable appliance testing in each year since 1997.
Since 1997, The Insolvency Service has undertaken annual testing of all portable appliances in our office, including IT equipment, usually using contactors from OGC 'Buying Solutions' call-off arrangements. The Service do not have the separate costs available for such testing as this is included with other maintenance costs.
Letter from Ron Marchant to Mr. Howard Flight, dated 8 June 2004:
Since 1997 the Patent Office has undertaken annual testing of all portable appliances in our offices, including I.T. equipment.
Our appointed mechanical and electrical contractors undertake this work for us and these costs are included in our overall building maintenance contract.
Letter from Roger Heathcote to Mr. Howard Flight, dated 8 June 2004:
You asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how often since 1997 her Department and its associated public sector organisations have undergone portable testing of IT equipment and what the cost was of portable appliance testing in each year since 1997. I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Employment Tribunals Service (ETS).
Portable Appliance Testing is undertaken on a two yearly cycle within ETS as part of a planned programme of maintenance which includes the testing of IT equipment. I regret that I am unable to identify the separate costs within this associated with the testing of IT equipment.
Marketing
Mr. Martlew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the Innovation Review, what research the Government have carried out into customer value and brand reputation marketing; and if she will make a statement. [176417]
Mr. Sutcliffe: At the start of the innovation review, DTI collated the available evidence on the drivers of innovation, the UK's innovation performance and the factors that help explain it. The evidence paper can be found at www.dti.gov.uk/economics/economicspaper7.pdf. DTI funding is also supporting the projects on the measurement and management of intangibles assets. One ongoing project under this theme is "Facilitating Innovation through the Measurement and Management of Intangibles". This study focuses on the contribution, which 'intangible'assets (including brands and customer networks) make to processes of innovation. Further information can be found on the website at: www.ebkresearch.org/index.htm
Mr. Martlew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what plans she has to carry out further research in the areas of brand reputation, customer value and marketing and their role in the innovation process; [176446]
(2) pursuant to the Innovation Review, what plans the Government have to help companies make more effective use of marketing and branding as a means of delivering successful innovation and increasing customer satisfaction. [176448]
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Nigel Griffiths: Support for the development of marketing skills falls within the new "Achieving Best Practice in your Business" theme that promotes the new best practice products produced from the Business Support review. For example, the information and advice product has a suite of literature aimed at promoting E-marketing. On the support side, we aim to support 9,000 benchmark diagnostics and up to 2,000 best practice projects, many of which will have marketing/branding aspects.
Research and Development
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what the planned regional competition deadlines are for the grant for research and development over the next 28 months; and if she will make a statement; [174711]
(2) what funds have been allocated for the grant for research and development between 2004 and 2007; and if she will make a statement. [174712]
Nigel Griffiths: Overall spend on programmes to improve UK innovation performance and accelerate business exploitation of science and technologies is planned to increase from £377 million in 2004–05 to over £387 million in 2005–06.
Following a review of the Department's business support Grant for Research and Development was introduced on 1 June 2003 to replace and enhance the Smart scheme. It has proved just as popular as its predecessor so regional competitions for the grants have been introduced to ensure that expenditure on the product remains under control and to ensure that those research and development projects which best meet the grant selection criteria are supported.
The first regional competition deadline for Grant for Research and Development was 28 May. The dates of further competitions are yet to be decided.
The Department is planning to spend £36 million on Grant for Research and Development and its predecessor, Smart, in the financial year 2004–05 and £26 million in 2005–06. Plans for subsequent years will be agreed as part of the 2004 Spending Review process.
Small Businesses
Mr. Benton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps the Government have taken to help small businesses in Bootle since 1997. [176527]
Nigel Griffiths:
The Business Link Operator for Merseyside, Greater Merseyside Enterprises (GME), has provided assistance to 713 enterprises in the Bootle 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 from April 2001. Before this date, Government support to business was provided through training and enterprise councils and the SBS does not have access to these data.
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85 of the 713 companies received business start-up advice, other assistance provided included: workforce development, financial advice, Investors In People, specialist business advice, international trade, and marketing assistance.
29 of the companies were female-run businesses and 39 were ethnic-run businesses.
Under the Enterprise Grant scheme, 11 companies have received offers of grant with a total value of £333,380 since 1997.
Under the Research and Development scheme, 12 companies have received offers of grant with a total value of £678,044 since 1997.
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