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Textile Industry

4. Mr. Gordon Prentice (Pendle) (Lab): What recent steps she has taken to promote and support the United Kingdom textile industry. [182681]

The Minister for Industry and the Regions (Jacqui Smith): The Government continue to promote and support the textile industry by working with the industry-led textiles and clothing strategy group to build a sustainable future for it in the face of globalisation. Since 1997, the Government have provided more than   £100 million worth of support on a range of activities to promote productivity, competitiveness and diversification into new markets.

The DTI has launched its new business support products in respect of innovation, best practice and raising finance. They are available to all eligible companies, including those in the textile industry. Ministers also take available opportunities to promote the sector through participation at industry and other relevant events.

Mr. Prentice: That is all very encouraging, but a textile firm in my constituency recently lost out on a contract for waterproof breathable garments for the Army. I learned from the correspondence that UK contractors can subcontract work to weaving companies in Pakistan.

I took the matter up with Lord Bach, the Minister for Defence Procurement. He said that UK companies using overseas contractors were beyond the reach of the regulations, because "we cannot dictate" where manufacture takes place. Surely that matter is crying out to be looked at, as so much textile work is being allowed to seep overseas?

Jacqui Smith: I understand that companies in the textile and clothing industries are concerned about the problem that my hon. Friend has identified, especially as UK prime contractors increasingly source from overseas. Officials from the DTI and industry representatives recently met officials from the Ministry of Defence to achieve a better understanding of the processes involved in, and the opportunities that arise from, procurement strategy. The aim is to ensure that both Departments are able to deliver better value for money for taxpayers, and that UK producers enjoy the best possible opportunities.

I hope that my hon. Friend will join me in congratulating Panaz Ltd., a company in his constituency. It has developed a very innovative furnishing fabric that has particular importance in health care environments, and today is being presented with the Queen's award for enterprise by HRH Prince Andrew.

Sir Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield) (Con): Having been involved in the textile industry for more than three decades, may I ask whether the Minister recognises that, in western economies, clothing industries remain successful only when a country operates a profitable textile industry—that is, spinning and weaving—where fabric is provided in domestic mills equipped with the latest high-tech machinery, which dispenses with cheap
 
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labour? Will the Minister have a word with the Chancellor of the Exchequer to see whether incentives can be given to the industry to purchase the latest equipment to compete with cheap labour outside this country?

Jacqui Smith: I agree with the hon. Gentleman that the way forward for our textile industry—and our manufacturing industry generally—is to invest in high-tech and innovative production. That is why we have supported the Textile and Clothing Industry Forum in a four-year programme to help to engage the supply chain, manufacturers and designers; to focus on issues such as process mapping and fast fashion; and to ensure that such innovative investment happens. As previous answers have made clear, we are a Government who have focused our attention on innovation and on innovative investment. I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will make a strong case to his Front-Bench colleagues that it is important to maintain such support for business, even in the face of the cuts their party proposes.

Mr. Deputy Speaker (Sir Alan Haselhurst): Order. I seek the co-operation of the House. We have had a classic example of long answers and long questions, and we shall not get much further down the agenda if that remains the case.

Fireworks

5. Shona McIsaac (Cleethorpes) (Lab): How many responses she has received to the consultation on "Proposals to Tackle the Anti-Social Use of Fireworks through the Regulation of Use and Supply." [182682]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (Mr. Gerry Sutcliffe): To date we have received approximately 720 responses, the majority of which were collected from constituents of Members of Parliament both at Westminster and at the Parliament in Scotland.

Shona McIsaac: I appreciate that answer. Perhaps my hon. Friend can confirm whether that figure includes the 480 responses from residents of Cleethorpes constituency, who overwhelmingly backed tougher restrictions to deal with the misuse of fireworks. I make an appeal to my hon. Friend on noise limits, because 120 dB is far too high a level for fireworks. Will he consider the noise limits, and when will the regulations become law?

Mr. Sutcliffe: I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Cleethorpes (Shona McIsaac) and all her colleagues on the all-party fireworks group, who have worked with us to try to make the regulations appropriate for the firework season. The noise level is a particular problem, but we have worked with the industry and the community to establish an appropriate level. The figure of 120 dB seems to be the fairest option. We take into consideration all the recommendations put to us, and the regulations will—I hope—be announced very soon.
 
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Travel Industry (Unfair Trading)

6. Mr. Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh, North and Leith) (Lab): What steps she is taking to prohibit unfair trading practices in the travel industry. [182683]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (Mr. Gerry Sutcliffe): The Government continue to do their utmost to promote the competitiveness and success of all businesses in the UK travel industry, while ensuring an appropriate level of protection for consumers and business against those who would trade unfairly.

Mr. Lazarowicz: Osprey Holidays, a travel company based in my constituency, has to pay a large sum of money as a bond every year to ensure that customers who book a package holiday with them are properly protected for flights and accommodation, whereas some of its online competitors, which offer accommodation as an add-on through their websites, do not have to provide a similar level of protection for their customers. Will my hon. Friend look into that practice, which deprives customers of adequate consumer protection and puts companies such as the one in my constituency at a competitive disadvantage?

Mr. Sutcliffe: I am grateful that my hon. Friend has raised that point, which is a concern for the industry and which was raised with me at a meeting in March. I am talking to colleagues in the Department for Transport who are considering the response to the issue of bonded travel by the Civil Aviation Authority. I hope that we will have a response for my hon. Friend in the autumn.

Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York) (Con): I know that the Department for Transport is considering the ATOL aspect and it is not in the Minister's remit, but is he aware that the European package directive is being revisited by the Commission? Would that not be a better mechanism to use to ensure that EU-wide cover is provided for both accommodation and flights if an airline goes bust?

Mr. Sutcliffe: I agree with the hon. Lady that this is an issue that needs to be addressed because of the potential damage to consumers. If that is an appropriate route, we will consider it in conjunction with the discussions with the Department for Transport.

Malcolm Bruce (Gordon) (LD): Will the Minister tell the House how he is getting on in his consultations with the travel industry about excessive premiums charged during school holidays? In some cases, they are 50 per cent. to 100 per cent., and out of all proportion to the costs incurred by the operators. Will he also investigate the activities of holiday clubs that use high-pressure selling techniques to obtain thousands of pounds from people for activities which, if covered by the timeshare rule, would allow a cooling-off period? Indeed, under that rule, certain practices would be debarred. Does he agree that the law should be extended to include holiday clubs?
 
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Mr. Sutcliffe: It was important in discussions with the travel industry to look into its and our concerns, one of which is the price of holidays during the school holiday period. I am happy to say that the industry indicated that it would consider what could be done. Loyalty arrangements have been developed with some travel agents, giving people a reduction in price, and that is the sort of thing we want to see. We are looking at many of the issues relating to holiday clubs and I hope to be able to report to the House in the autumn about the issues Members have raised.

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