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10 Jun 2004 : Column 558W—continued
Low Pay
15. James Purnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on her policy on low-paid workers. [177767]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The Government have done a great deal through the minimum wage and tax credits to help the low paid. From October 2004, the minimum wage, in conjunction with tax credit and other benefits will provide a guaranteed minimum income of at least £252 a week for families with one child and one adult earner in full-time work, working 35 hours per week.
Call Centres
17. Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment her Department has made of future employment prospects in the call centre industry in (a) the North West and (b) the UK. [177769]
Ms Hewitt: We have not assessed future employment prospects in individual regions. The recently published DTI study on the UK Call Centre Industry found that employment in the industry is growing and predicts that it will directly employ over 1 million people by 2007 across the UK.
A50-A514 Link Road
Mr. Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations have been made to the East Midlands Regional Development Agency concerning the funding for completing the road linking the A50 at the A514 junction at Chellaston with Wilmore Road in Derby. [176750]
Jacqui Smith: No representations have been made. However, the East Midlands Development Agency (emda) has been working with Rolls Royce, other landowners and developers who have an interest in the 88ha Chellaston park site, with the intention of establishing a development consortium. A key part of the development would be the creation of a link road between the A50 and the A514. The viability of the site is impacted upon by the cost of developing this infrastructure. In March 2004 emda's Board approved £70,000 to fund a feasibility study into the viability of the project, which would address the issues around the road infrastructure. The report is due to be completed by the end of the year.
Business (Blackpool and Fleetwood)
Mrs. Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many new businesses have started up in Blackpool, North and Fleetwood since 1997. [175883]
10 Jun 2004 : Column 559W
Nigel Griffiths: Barclays Bank's latest survey of business creation includes non-VAT registered firms and shows that there were 115,000 business start-ups in England and Wales in the last quarter of 2003, including 500 business start-ups in Blackpool Unitary Authority (which includes part of the Blackpool, North and Fleetwood constituency). Data are not available for the Wyre local authority that includes the rest of Blackpool, North and Fleetwood Constituency. In the last quarter of 2003 there were 2,600 business start-ups in the County of Lancashire (which includes the Wyre local authority) excluding Blackpool Unitary Authority.
The latest yearly figures show 465,000 business start-ups in England and Wales in 2003. This represents a 19 per cent. increase on the year before. In 2003 there were 1,700 business start-ups in Blackpool Unitary Authority (which includes part of the Blackpool, North and Fleetwood constituency). Data are not available for the Wyre local authority that includes the rest of Blackpool, North and Fleetwood Constituency. In 2003 there were 10,200 business start-ups in the County of Lancashire (which includes the Wyre local authority) excluding Blackpool Unitary Authority.
DTI figures based solely on VAT registrations for Blackpool Unitary authority and Wyre local authority (for which Blackpool, North and Fleetwood is a constituency) are shown in the following table for the period 1997 to 2002. Data for 2003 will be available in autumn 2004.
| Blackpool | Wyre | |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 340 | 260 |
| 1998 | 325 | 300 |
| 1999 | 310 | 240 |
| 2000 | 315 | 240 |
| 2001 | 300 | 245 |
| 2002 | 265 | 265 |
Source:
Business Start-ups and Closures: VAT Registrations and De-registrations 1994–2002, Small Business Service www.sbs.gov.uk/statistics/vatstats.php
VAT registrations do not capture all start-up activity. Businesses are unlikely to be registered if they fall below the compulsory VAT threshold, which has risen in each year since 1997. Similarly, businesses that de-register will not necessarily have closed. Only 1.8 million out of 3.8 million enterprises were registered for VAT at the start of 2002.
Centres of Vocational Excellence
Mr. Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether regional development agencies have contributed (a) funds and (b) resources to centres of vocational excellence. [176901]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: I have been asked to reply.
The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) is responsible for funding and resourcing the development of CoVEs.
10 Jun 2004 : Column 560W
However, Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) view CoVEs as strategic partners and may choose to provide complementary funding and resources to maximise their impact. This enables RDA funding to be targeted where further investment will enable the CoVE to meet anticipated skills needs.
A number of RDAs have already contributed to CoVE development in their region including the South East Development Agency, Yorkshire Forward, the South West Regional Development Agency, Advantage West Midlands and the North West Development Agency.
Coal Health Claims
Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the (a) highest, (b) lowest and (c) average payment made in respect of (i) chronic bronchitis and emphysema and (ii) vibration white finger is; and what the equivalent figures are for Nottinghamshire. [176548]
Nigel Griffiths [holding answer 7 June 2004]: To date the figures are:
| COPD | VWF | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire | UK | Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire | |
| Highest settlement | 364,537 | 364,537 | 113,111 | 40,127 |
| Average settlement | 7,674 | 5,262 | 8,288 | 8,180 |
Notes:
Settlements can be low or even reduced to nothing if some or all of the factors outlined below have a maximum impact.
1. Compensation offered is dependent on the percentage of disability due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the number of years spent underground after 1954, the date of liability. Discounting is then applied, taking into account any smoking history and the number of years worked before 1954. This is consistent with the High Court judgment. In chronic bronchitis (CB) only claims, the maximum amount payable is £5,604 (rising with the RPI), subject to the relevant discounting mentioned previously.
2. Compensation offered in respect of VWF is dependent on the "staging" (the level of disability). Claims are then discounted taking into account any of the five co-morbid conditions as listed in the Claims Handling Agreement. Claims will also be apportioned according to whether there is any co-defendant involvement.
3. Figures for Nottinghamshire are not available separately.
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when minimum payment for compensation claims under the Coalminers' Compensation Scheme was last discussed with their representatives. [176801]
Nigel Griffiths [holding answer 8 June 2004]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 27 May 2004, Official Report, column 1744.
Mr. Barron: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many claimants have had final settlement through each of the top 10 claims handlers involved in the compensation claims for (a) chronic bronchitis and emphysema and (b) vibration white finger of former coalminers. [176617]
10 Jun 2004 : Column 561W
Nigel Griffiths: To date the figures are:
| Top 10 solicitors | Number of full and final settlements |
|---|---|
| VWF | |
| Hugh James | 17,622 |
| Thompsons | 17,141 |
| Raleys | 12,318 |
| Browell Smith | 7,330 |
| Beresfords | 6,760 |
| Mark Gilbert Morse | 6,495 |
| UDM | 5,439 |
| Watson Burton | 4,383 |
| Barber and Co. | 656 |
| Avalon | 388 |
| COPD | |
| Browell Smith | 11,095 |
| UDM | 7,234 |
| Thompsons | 7,046 |
| Raleys | 6,561 |
| Hugh James | 6,278 |
| Moss | 4,433 |
| Beresfords | 4,126 |
| AMS Law | 2,919 |
| Watson Burton | 2,584 |
| Graysons | 1,899 |
In terms of numbers of COPD claims received, the rank order of the 'top 10' is—Beresfords, Thompsons, Hugh James, Raleys, Browell Smith, Mark Gilbert Morse, Avalon, UDM, Watson Burton, Barber and Co.
In terms of numbers of VWF claims received, the rank order of the 'top 10' is—Thompsons, Browell Smith, Beresfords, UDM, Raleys, Hugh James, Graysons, Moss, Watson Burton, AMS Law.
Mr. Barron: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been paid to claimants through each of the top 10 claims handlers involved in the compensation claims for (a) chronic bronchitis and emphysema and (b) vibration white finger of former coalminers. [176618]
Nigel Griffiths: To date the figures are:
| Top 10 solicitors | Total damages paid (£ million) |
|---|---|
| COPD | |
| Thompson | 216.8 |
| Hugh James | 198.5 |
| Raleys | 129 |
| Browell Smith | 77.4 |
| Mark Gilbert Morse | 43.7 |
| UDM | 26.5 |
| Watson Burton | 26 |
| Beresfords | 13.4 |
| Avalon | 1.2 |
| Barber and Co. | 0.45 |
| VWF | |
| Thompsons | 128 |
| Browell Smith | 89.8 |
| UDM | 72 |
| Raleys | 72 |
| Hugh James | 58.8 |
| Graysons | 49.6 |
| Watson Burton | 42.5 |
| Beresfords | 39.5 |
| Moss | 32.4 |
| AMS Law | 22.8 |
10 Jun 2004 : Column 562W
In terms of numbers of COPD claims receive, the rank order of the "top 10" is —Berefords, Thompson, Hugh James, Raleys, Browell Smith, Mark Gilbert Morse, Avalon, UDM, Watson Burton, Barber and Co.
In terms of number of VWF claims received, the rank order of the 'top 10' is—Thompons, Browell Smith, Beresfords, UDM, Raleys, Hugh James, Graysons, Moss, Watson Burton, AMS Law.
Mr. Barron: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many claimants have had interim payments to date through each of the top 10 claims handlers involved in the compensation claims for (a) chronic bronchitis and emphysema and (b) vibration white finger of former coalminers. [176619]
Nigel Griffiths: To date the figures are:
| Top 10 solicitors | Number of claimants who have received an interim payment |
|---|---|
| COPD | |
| Thompsons | 10,895 |
| Hugh James | 7,708 |
| Raleys | 5,129 |
| Browell Smith | 4,048 |
| Mark Gilbert Morse | 2,246 |
| UDM | 1,323 |
| Watson Burton | 1,157 |
| Beresfords | 384 |
| Avalon | 69 |
| Barber and Co. | 8 |
| VWF | |
| Thompsons | 11,723 |
| Raleys | 5,752 |
| Browell Smith | 5,628 |
| Graysons | 5,413 |
| UDM | 4,811 |
| Beresfords | 4,224 |
| Hugh James | 3,899 |
| Watson Burton | 3,577 |
| Moss | 2,646 |
| AMS Law | 1,416 |
In terms of numbers of COPD claims received, the rank order of the "top 10" is —Beresfords, Thompsons, Hugh James, Raleys, Browell Smith, Mark Gilbert Morse, Avalon, UDM, Watson Burton, Barber and Co.
Mr. Barron: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been paid to date to each of the top 10 claims handlers involved in the compensation claims for (a) chronic bronchitis and emphysema and (b) vibration white finger of former coalminers. [176620]
Nigel Griffiths: To date the figures are:
10 Jun 2004 : Column 563W
In terms of numbers of COPD claims received, the rank order of the "top 10" is —Beresfords, Thompsons, Hugh James, Raleys, Browell Smith, Mark Gilbert Morse, Avalon, UDM, Watson Burton, Barber & Co.
In terms of numbers of VWF claims received, the rank order of the "top 10" is—Thompsons, Browell Smith, Beresfords, UDM, Raleys, Hugh James, Graysons, Moss, Watson Burton, AMS Law.
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