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30 Jun 2004 : Column 279W—continued
Launch Investment
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to enhance Launch Investment for the aerospace industry. [181385]
Jacqui Smith: The Aerospace Innovation and Growth Team Report published in June of 2003 recommended that the Government should continue to consider applications for Launch Investment. The Government accepted that recommendation.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what Government support was provided to Launch Investment and its predecessor programme in each year since 1990. [181386]
Jacqui Smith: The figures provided in the following table are the published payments and receipts for Launch Investment for the years 1990–91 to 2002–03 inclusive.
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Minimum Wage
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the percentage of the workforce earning at or within 10 per cent. above the minimum wage in each of the last five years. [178355]
Ruth Kelly: I have been asked to reply.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Tim Loughton, dated 30 June 2004:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question about the percentage of the workforce earning at or within 10 per cent. above the minimum wage in each of the last five years. (178355)
The Office for National Statistics calculates estimates of the number of jobs (rather than the number of people) in the UK paid less than a range of 10 pence-per-hour thresholds ranging from £2.90 per hour to £7.00 per hour. These are measured in the Spring quarter of each year.
We have no surveys that provide sufficiently reliable direct measures of the incomes or earnings of those being paid at rates close to the minimum wage. Consequently, these estimates have been derived, and they show more variability than the directly-measured statistics that the source surveys were designed to produce.
30 Jun 2004 : Column 282W
- over the age of 18 was introduced on 1 April 1999. Since 1999 the rates for both 18–21 year-olds and for those aged over 21 have been increased. The attached table shows, for the Spring quarter of each of the last five years and for each of these age groups:
the minimum wage rate
the wage threshold approximately 10% above the minimum wage.
the percentage of jobs paid at the relevant minimum wage and up to the threshold approximately 10% above it
A guide to measuring low pay and associated articles and data can be found on the National Statistics website at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StaBase/Product.asp?vlnk=5837&Pos= 1&ColRank=1&Rank=272
| Ages 18–21 | Age 22 and over | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year(2) | Minimum wage (£) | Minimum wage plus approx. 10 per cent. (£) | Percentage of jobs in this wage band(3) | Minimum wage (£) | Minimum wage plus approx. 10 per cent. (£) | Percentage of jobs in this wage band(3) |
| 1999 | 3.00 | 3.30 | 8.3 | 3.60 | 4.00 | 6.5 |
| 2000 | 3.00 | 3.30 | 4.7 | 3.60 | 4.00 | 5.5 |
| 2001 | 3.20 | 3.50 | 3.3 | 3.70 | 4.10 | 5.4 |
| 2002 | 3.50 | 3.90 | 6.8 | 4.10 | 4.50 | 6.7 |
| 2003 | 3.60 | 4.00 | 5.2 | 4.20 | 4.60 | 5.5 |
(1) Approximate.
(2) Figures relate to the spring quarter of each year.
(3) Wage band encompasses the minimum wage rate and all wage rates between it and the threshold shown.
Petroleum Reserves
Mr. David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with the International Energy Authority about proposals from the European Commission to increase strategic petroleum reserves to 120 days supply. [179790]
Mr. Timms: The Commission's proposal is part of a wider proposal dating from 2002. This has been opposed by EU member states and by the European Parliament because it threatens to undermine the global system for responding to disruption or threatened disruption of oil supplies managed by the International Energy Agency, and has not been formally discussed since May 2003. The IEA is aware of our opposition to the proposal.
RDA Staff
Mr. Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 25 May 2004, Official Report, columns 1556–58W, what the cost was of the staff employed in press and public relations in each regional development agency in each of those years. [176680]
Jacqui Smith: I refer the hon. Member to the answer which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry provided to his earlier question on the same topic on 21 May 2004, Official Report, column 1273W.
Research and Development
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 8 June 2004, Official Report, column 382W, on research and development, for what reason the date for the next regional competition deadline for the grant for research and development has not yet been decided. [180385]
Nigel Griffiths: The effectiveness of the current competition in being assessed alongside the resource available before committing to any future competition dates. The business community will be informed of any future rounds at the earliest opportunity, to give the time needed by applicants and their advisors to prepare quality applications.
Royal Mail
Mr. Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the surcharge for the postage paid impression service was introduced by the Royal Mail; what criteria were used to decide on the percentage surcharge; what consultation with long-standing customers was carried out in advance, and what notification was given to long-standing customers. [180558]
Mr. Timms [holding answer 28 June 2004]: The pricing of universal postal services is a matter for Postcomm in consultation with Royal Mail and other interested parties, and I have asked Royal Mail's Chief Executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.
Small Businesses
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps the Government have taken to increase small businesses in the constituency of Coventry, South since 1997. [180607]
Nigel Griffiths: I have nothing to add to the answer I gave my hon. Friend on 29 June 2004, Official Report, column 198W.
South-West Regional Development Agency
Diana Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what formal complaints about the South-West Regional Development Agency there have been in the last three years from (a) a sub-regional partner and (b) an organisation. [181308]
30 Jun 2004 : Column 283W
Jacqui Smith: There have been no formal complaints from sub-regional partners or organisations handled under the Agency's formal complaints procedure in the last three years.
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