30 Jun 2004 : Column 275W
Written Answers to Questions
Wednesday 30 June 2004
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Age Discrimination
David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made towards implementing into domestic law the provisions of the EU Directive on age discrimination in employment; and if she will make a statement. [181042]
Jacqui Smith: We are on course for legislation coming into force on 1 October 2006 to outlaw age discrimination in employment and vocational training under the European Employment Directive. Our Age Matters consultation last year sought views on options for the implementing legislation. We are reviewing the timetable for further consultation in the light of our clear commitment to give those with responsibilities and with rights as much time as possible to prepare, and to do so with regulations that are clear and effective. We shall announce the new timetable as soon as possible.
Business Support
Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been allocated to support business in each of the last 10 years, broken down by (a) sector and (b) region. [177177]
Nigel Griffiths: Information on the allocation of business support is not readily available in aggregate at sectoral and regional level, and could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.
Employment Tribunals
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 23 June 2004, Official Report, column 1452W, on employment tribunals' reinstatement orders, if she will introduce legislation to ensure that employment tribunals have the power to require employers who are found to have reasonably not complied with reinstatement orders to pay compensation in default. [181400]
Mr. Sutcliffe: All employers who fail to comply with a reinstatement order, whether reasonably or otherwise, are required to pay compensation instead. If the failure to comply was unreasonable they are also required to pay an additional award.
Equal Opportunities
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures the Department has put in place to ensure the promotion of science, engineering and technology as a career to women in educational establishments; and what indicators are used to measure the success of these schemes. [180071]
30 Jun 2004 : Column 276W
Ms Hewitt: The contract for the new Resource Centre for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) encompasses all SET occupations including careers in educational establishments. The Resource Centre contractors have established a dedicated HE Advisory Group and intend to work closely with the Athena project which has already done excellent work in identifying the barriers to women reaching senior positions in HE occupations and providing good practice advice to employers in this area. Over the first three years of the contract I would expect to see an encouraging upward trend in the number of women reaching the most senior positions. However, it is obviously important that my Department and that of Education and Skills work closely on this since there are issues about getting girls and women to study appropriate subjects at school and university in order that a critical mass in the HE work force can be achieved. We are working together on this through the 10 year framework for Science and Innovation. DfES has contributed £200,000 to the Resource Centre to support HEIs to put measures in place that aid retention and progression of female undergraduates on SET courses into the SET labour force, including: grants to assist HEIs in running mentoring schemes; placements in industry and research; focused tutor and peer support systems; and work with employers.
Export Credits Guarantee Department
Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Gordon (Malcolm Bruce) of 15 June 2004, Official Report, column 817W, on the Export Credits Guarantee Department, what the value of unrecovered ECGD claims were relating to (a) the current financial year, (b) the previous financial year, (c) financial years 2000–01 to 2002–03 inclusive and (d) financial years prior to 2000–01, broken down by country; and if she will make a statement. [180733]
Mr. Mike O'Brien [holding answer 28 June 2004]: The following table lists ECGD's net unrecovered claims for each of the last five financial years on a market-by-market basis. These figures are calculated by subtracting claims paid from recoveries of debt that ECGD has made in each of the five years (i.e. a figure of one million represents the net amount received by ECGD after any claims paid; likewise, a figure of one million represents an overall debit, after any recoveries received). These claims and recoveries could be made in respect of a number of different guarantees and insurance policies issued by ECGD.
The information provided in my previous answer to the hon. Member for Gordon (Malcolm Bruce) of 15 June concerned ECGD's total unrecovered claims, which include the substantial historical debts incurred prior to the Department's financial restructuring in 1991. As a result many of the figures given in the table involve recoveries on pre-1991 debt. The hon. Member will be aware that ECGD has made a return to the Exchequer in 12 of the last 13 years and has made a return overall in the years since the 1991 restructuring.
30 Jun 2004 : Column 277W
Because the figures provided in this new answer are a snapshot of ECGD's cash flow at given times during the past five years only, they are of limited use for assessing
30 Jun 2004 : Column 278W
total unrecovered claims, and do not take into account claims paid or recoveries received in other years over the lifetime of the loans.
Notes:
1. All amounts are in sterling.
2. ECGD is unable to provide figures for years prior to 2000 at present.
30 Jun 2004 : Column 279W
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |