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21 Jun 2004 : Column 1229W—continued

Regulation

Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will place in the Library a copy of the list of priority areas for regulatory simplification submitted to the European Commission in March this year. [176350]

Mr. Alexander: I have been asked to reply.

A letter was sent from John Grant, UK Permanent Representative to the EU, to David O'Sullivan, Secretary General, European Commission, on 17 March 2004, highlighting the areas of Community legislation that the UK Government considers to be particular priorities for simplification. I have placed copies of the letter in the Library.

Renewable Energy

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much of the electricity used in Lancashire was provided by renewable energy in the latest month for which figures are available. [179280]

Mr. Timms: Information on renewable generation is available only for the North West region as a whole. In 2002, the latest year for which data are available, generation from renewables in the North West amounted to 662 GWh whereas the amount of electricity distributed to consumers in North West England in 2002 is estimated to have been 39,611 GWh. There is no guarantee that electricity generated in a region will all be consumed in that region

Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council

Mr. Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the outcome was of the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council held on 10 June 2004; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if she will make a statement. [179038]

Ms Hewitt: The Deputy Permanent Representative, Anne Lambert, represented the UK at the Telecommunications and Energy Councils in Luxembourg on 10 June 2004.

On telecommunications, there was political agreement on eContent plus, a four-year continuation of a programme to support the availability of public sector information, especially location-based information on the internet. All member states agreed to the Presidency compromise budget of 135 million Euros, a reduction in the Commission's original proposal of 163 million Euros, requested by the UK and other member states. There was agreement on the general approach of Safer Internet Plus, a four-year continuation of another existing programme, to improve the co-ordination of member states' and third countries' fight against on-line content harmful to minors. All member states accepted the Presidency compromise budget of 45 million Euros. Member states also endorsed the Council Conclusions on updating the eEurope 2005 Action Plan and on National Broadband Strategies, as a basis for contributing to the Lisbon Mid-Term Review at next Spring's Economic Summit. The eEurope 2005 Action
 
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Plan was previously fine-tuned in the eEurope Mid-Term Review to strengthen implementation mechanisms and speed up progress in five key areas (broadband, on-line public services, e-business, e-inclusion and benchmarking). The Presidency tabled for information a paper on the forthcoming Tunis World Summit on Information Society, and the Commission drew attention to its forthcoming communication on mobile services which would cover R&D, interoperability, the legal environment (including intellectual property rights) and spectrum.

On energy, political agreement was reached on a Directive establishing a framework for the setting of Eco-Design requirements for Energy-Using Products. This sets out the arrangements by which the Commission may set mandatory energy efficiency and other environmental product design requirements on manufacturers and incorporates existing legislation on boilers, household refrigeration and lighting ballasts. Political agreement was also reached on a Gas Regulation setting conditions for access to the gas transmission networks, on the basis of an implementation date of 1 July 2006. Though some member states (MS) wanted a longer implementation date, the UK argued that early implementation was essential to develop the single market in gas.

A general approach was agreed on a Council Decision laying down guidelines for Trans-European Energy Networks. Facing MS unanimity, the Commission accepted deletion of Articles 8–10, covering projects of European interest and the appointment of a European co-ordinator, from its original proposal. There was a progress report on proposals for Directives on Energy Services and on Electricity Security of Supply.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport represented the UK at the Transport Council and will reply separately.

VAT-registered Enterprises

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of VAT-registered enterprises registered in (a) 1987, (b) 1992, (c) 1997 and (d) 2001 were still trading after (i) 12 months, (ii) 24 months and (iii) 36 months, broken down by region. [177064]

Nigel Griffiths: VAT registrations do not capture all business 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 deregister will not necessary cease trading. Only 1.8 million out of 3.8 million enterprises were registered for VAT at the start of 2002.

The percentages of UK VAT registered enterprises still registered after 12 months are not available for enterprises registered before 1993. The answers for 1997 and 2001 are as follows:

12 months

The percentages of UK enterprises registered for Value Added Tax (VAT) in 1997 and 2001 that were still registered for VAT after 12 months, in each country and Government Office Region (GOR), are as follows.
 
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Percentage

Country	Enterprises registered in 1997 still registered after 12 months	Enterprises registered in 2001 still registered after 12 months
United Kingdom	89	92
England	90	92
Scotland	88	92
Wales	89	92
Northern Ireland	91	94

Source:
Small Business Service (SBS) Business Survival Rates, http://www.sbs.gov.uk/analytical/statistics/statisticssurvivalrates.php




Percentage of UK enterprises still registered after 12 months

Government Office Region	Enterprises registered in 1997 still registered after 12 months	Enterprises registered in 2001 still registered after 12 months
North East	90	91
North West	87	91
Yorkshire and the Humber	89	91
East Midlands	89	92
West Midlands	88	92
East	91	92
London	89	91
South East	91	93
South West	91	93

24 months

The percentages of UK VAT registered enterprises, in each Government Office Region, still registered after 24 months, are only available for enterprises registered in 1999 and 2000. They are as follows:
Percentage

Country	Enterprises registered in 1999 still registered after 24 months	Enterprises registered in 2000 still registered after 24 months
United Kingdom	77	79
England	77	79
Scotland	76	79
Wales	77	78
Northern Ireland	80	83

Percentage

Government Office Region	Enterprises registered in 1999 still registered after 24 months	Enterprises registered in 2000 still registered after 24 months
North East	76	77
North West	75	78
Yorkshire and the Humber	77	77
East Midlands	78	79
West Midlands	77	79
East	79	79
London	75	77
South East	80	81
South West	78	80

36 Months

The percentages of UK VAT registered enterprises still registered after 36 months are only available for enterprise registered 1993 to 1999 inclusive. Data for enterprises registered in 2001 are expected in winter 2005–06.
 
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Data for 1997 and the latest year (1999) are as follows:
Percentage

Country	Enterprises registered in 1997 still registered after 36 months	Enterprises registered in 1999 still registered after 36 months
United Kingdom	67	66
England	67	66
Scotland	66	65
Wales	68	68
Northern Ireland	75	72

Percentage

Government Office Region	Enterprises registered in 1997 still registered after 36 months	Enterprises registered in 1999 still registered after 36 months
North East	66	66
North West	64	65
Yorkshire and the Humber	67	66
East Midlands	67	68
West Midlands	66	67
East	70	68
London	64	63
South East	71	70
South West	70	68

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