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Mr. Benton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the effects of the EU Social Chapter on the residents of Bootle. [177000]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The residents of Bootle have benefited from the EU Social Chapter by having their employment rights extended to include:
the right to parental leave, which gives parents the right to 13 weeks unpaid leave at the birth or adoption of a child;
the entitlement of part-time workers to the same pro-rate terms and conditions of employment as full-time workers, thereby removing any discrimination and improving the quality of part-time jobs;
the provision that once a prima facie case has been made in an employment tribunal claim, the burden of proof is placed on the defendant (usually the employer), who will need to demonstrate that sex discrimination has not occurred;
rights under the Fixed Term Work Directive that provide for the fair treatment of fixed term workers and prevent abuse of fixed term contracts; and
rights under the European Works Council Directive, which requires companies with at least 1,000 employees in total and at least 150 workers in each of the two member states, to establish structures for consulting workers on issues that affect them.
In addition, the Information and Consultation of Employees Directive to be implemented in the UK by March 2005, establishes a right to new minimum standards for workforce communication and involvement in large firms.
Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the visual impact of wind farms in operation; and if she will make a statement. [175000]
Mr. Timms: The visual impact of proposed wind farm developments is considered on a case-by-case basis by the relevant planning authorities.
The Government's national planning policy with regard to wind farms and renewable energy is set out in Planning Policy Guidance note (PPG) 22: Renewable Energy, which gives local planning authorities guidance on a range of issues that affect the siting of wind turbinesincluding visual impact.
Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the composition was of the working group responsible for the ETSU-R-97 report entitled the Assessment and Rating of Noise from Wind Farms. [175562]
Mr. Timms: The working group responsible for the ETSU-R-97 report entitled the Assessment and
Rating of Noise from Wind Farms was:
Name | |
---|---|
Mr. R. MeirChairman | DTI |
Dr. M. L. LegertonSecretary | ETSU |
Dr. M. B. Anderson | Renewable Energy Systems |
Mr. B. Berry | National Physical Laboratory |
Dr. A. Bullmore | Hoare Lea and Partners |
Mr. M. Hayes | The Hayes McKenzie Partnership |
Mr. M. Jiggins | Carrick District Council |
Mr. E. Leeming | The National Power Company Ltd. |
Dr. P. Musgrove | National Wind Power Ltd. |
Mr. D. J. Spode | North Cornwall District Council |
Mr. H. A. Thomas | Isle of Anglesey County Council |
Ms E. Tomalin | EcoGen Ltd. |
Mr. M. Trinick | Bond Pearce Solicitors |
Dr. J. Warren | National Wind Power Ltd. |