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28 Jun 2004 : Column 45W—continued
Defence Exports
Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether Export Credits Guarantee Department cover was (a) requested and (b) offered for the export of Hawk aircraft to India. [180145]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: Although there were preliminary discussions with the exporter on the possibility of supporting the sale of Hawks to India, ECGD cover was not requested and no offer of cover was made.
East Midlands Development Agency
Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the running costs, including staff salaries, of the East Midlands Development Agency were in each year since 2001; and what the projected costs for the next three years are. [179428]
Jacqui Smith: This information is set out in the Regional Development Agencies' Corporate Plans. As set out in the East Midlands Development Agency's (EMDA) Corporate Plan, the running costs, including staff salaries, for the period 2001–02 to 2005–06 are given in the following table. Figures for the financial year 2006–07 will be available early next year, when EMDA's next Corporate Plan is approved by Ministers.
| Financial Year | Running costs | Staff salaries |
|---|---|---|
| 2001–02 | 9 | 5 |
| 2002–03 | 11 | 6 |
| 2003–04 | 13 | 6 |
| 2004–05(21) | 14 | 7 |
| 2005–06(21) | 15 | 7 |
(21) Projected cost.
28 Jun 2004 : Column 46W
Economic Statistics (Merseyside)
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the rate of growth in (a) business activities and (b) financial sectors in Merseyside. [177917]
Nigel Griffiths: The latest year-on-year data shows positive business and enterprise developments across the sub region as a whole. Total business numbers for 2003 are estimated at 38,360 an increase of 8.8 per cent. on 2002 levels. Survival rates continue to improve (92 per cent. from 90 per cent. for one year and 69 per cent. from 62 per cent. for three years) and inward investment performance is robust (£37.6 million in 2003 compared to £6.7 million in 2002).
Additionally Merseyside per capita GVA has averaged annual growth of 5.3 per cent. outstripping the UK average of 5.0 per cent.
Between 1995 and 2000 the financial sector Growth in Merseyside trailed the national average of 14 per cent. by 4 per cent. However employment in the sector between 2000–02 has increased by 16.3 per cent. and the sub region has seen reputable organisation like The Bank of New York and Couttes recently relocate there.
Employment Tribunals
Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much money her Department and the agencies for which it is responsible spent (a) settling and (b) contesting claims registered at employment tribunals for (i) equal pay, (ii) sex discrimination, (iii) race discrimination, (iv) disability discrimination and (v) unfair dismissal in each year since 1997. [181032]
Ms Hewitt: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many claims have been made against her Department in relation to (a) equal pay, (b) sex discrimination, (c) race discrimination, (d) disability discrimination and (e) unfair dismissal in each year since 1997; and how many of these (i) proceeded to an Employment Tribunal, (ii) were withdrawn and (iii) were settled on terms that did not involve payment. [181033]
Ms Hewitt: The answer could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Equal Opportunities
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she expects the new resource centre to promote women in science, engineering and technology to begin its work. [180068]
Ms Hewitt:
Work has been going on to develop the new Resource Centre, including the recruitment of 12 staff, since January. The launch of the Centre's website will take place on 2 July 2004 and the formal launch of the Centre is on 16 September 2004. The Government has allocated £800,000 per annum for three years to set up and operate the new Centre and an additional £500,00 per annum for the development of a dedicated returners package.
28 Jun 2004 : Column 47W
EU Legislation
Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the Answer of 14 June 2004, Official Report, column 720W, on EU legislation, where the information sought is held. [180188]
Jacqui Smith: When representations about possible over-implemention of EU legislation are made to the Department, it is likely that they will be held with the records maintained in relation to the individual EU legislation.
Fuel Poverty
Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the evidential basis was for the comments by the Minister for Energy, on 15 June, on removing vulnerable households from fuel poverty by 2010; and if she will make a statement. [180146]
Mr. Timms: In my speech at the conference "Energy Policy in the UK: the Scottish Dimension" in Edinburgh on the 14 June I welcomed the good progress Scotland has made on fuel poverty, with 2002 figures showing a considerable reduction from 1996. According to the 2002 definition (common with England), figures show a reduction between 1996 and 2002 of 61 per cent. Based on the 1996 standards, which uses a different definition of income, the reduction would be 73 per cent.
These figures are taken from the Government's UK Fuel Poverty Strategy Second Annual Report, published on 26 April 2004. Data for fuel poverty in Scotland shown in the report is sourced from the Scottish House Condition Survey.
Israel
Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total value of (a) imports from and (b) exports to Israel under the Israel/EU Association Agreement has been. [180089]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: Information on the EU's trade in goods with Israel since the start of the Israel/EU Association Agreement on 1 June 2000 is given in the following table:
| EU15 exports | EU15 imports | |
|---|---|---|
| June to December 2000 | 5,777 | 3,547 |
| January to December 2001 | 8,984 | 5,945 |
| January to December 2002 | 8,462 | 5,375 |
| January to December 2003 | 7,860 | 5,158 |
| Total June 2000 to December 2003 | 31,083 | 20,025 |
Source:
Eurostat Extra and Intra EU Trade
Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether it is her intention to wait until the passage into law of the Energy Bill before appointing the Chairman of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority. [180398]
28 Jun 2004 : Column 48W
Mr. Timms [holding answer 24 June 2004]: I announced the appointment of Sir Anthony Cleaver as adviser to the Department of Trade and Industry on preparations for setting up the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority on 18 June. The appointment has been made in the expectation that subject to the successful passage of the Energy Bill he would be appointed Chair of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority. In the event that the Energy Bill is not enacted the appointment will be terminated. The appointment was made in consultation with the Scottish Executive.
Petroleum Reserve
Mr. David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will set up a Government strategic petroleum reserve within the terms set by the International Energy Authority, independent of the oil companies. [180252]
Mr. Timms: No. Under a EU Directive the UK is currently required to hold stock equivalent to 67.5 days' annual consumption for use in a supply disruption. It meets this obligation by imposing compulsory oil stocking obligations on commercial companies rather than through a Government strategic reserve. We believe that stocks held by companies are, in the event of an emergency, more likely to be where they will be needed and capable of being quickly processed into the supply chain.
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