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Bank Holidays

12. Mr. John Grogan (Selby) (Lab): What recent representations she has had asking for an increase in the number of bank holidays. [182689]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (Mr. Gerry Sutcliffe): The Department receives a variety of requests for new bank holidays. Over the past three months, we have received six requests to make St. George's day a bank holiday, one request for a UN day of peace, and one request to recognise a Bengali religious holiday. Only one request was received asking for a one-day increase to the number of bank holidays on an unspecified date.

Mr. Grogan: Given that it is many weeks before the next bank holiday, that most European countries have far more bank holidays than we do and Ministers' emphasis on the work-life balance, is it not time that they show they retain their joie de vivre and launch a consultation on the number and nature of our bank holidays?

Mr. Sutcliffe: May I congratulate my hon. Friend on his linguistic talents? The notion of extra holidays is attractive, and he will acknowledge that this Government, unlike the previous one, introduced the concept of four weeks paid annual leave. We have to balance the issue of bank holidays with the costs for businesses, which are about £2 billion a day. There is a balance between costs and extra bank holidays, but we will keep the matter under consideration.

Adam Price (East Carmarthen and Dinefwr) (PC): I am glad that St. George has at least six supporters, but may I make a bid for St. David? The National Assembly for Wales recently supported a proposal to make St. David's day a national public holiday in Wales, so will the Minister agree to meet a small delegation from the Assembly to discuss that proposal?

Mr. Sutcliffe: I am always happy to meet delegations, but I fear that I could meet large numbers of them if I gave way on this issue. People feel strongly about St. David's day, as they do about St. George's day, and if they and the hon. Gentleman write to me, I will provide a response.
 
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Broadband

14. Mr. David Cameron (Witney) (Con): What recent representations she has received about difficulties in accessing broadband technology in rural areas; and if she will make a statement. [182691]

The Minister for Energy, E-Commerce and Postal Services (Mr. Stephen Timms): My Department has received over 100 items of correspondence on this subject since January. The proportion of rural households within reach of a broadband service is rising quickly, and there is a realistic prospect that every community in the country will have broadband by the end of next year.

Mr. Cameron: I am grateful for that answer. Trigger levels have been set for all the exchanges in my constituency, and they have all been reached, so does the Minister agree that the next big issue—he did not really address this in his reply—is how we get broadband to homes, farms and businesses that are some distance from the exchanges? Many groups such as Oxfordshire Rural Broadband provide community service solutions, but how will the Government help to tackle a pressing problem that will become more acute in rural areas as businesses and farms realise that they cannot get the service that the Minister talked about?

Mr. Timms: The hon. Gentleman makes a fair point. Some 87 per cent. of UK homes and businesses have access to broadband, but only 72 per cent. in market towns, and 22 per cent. in rural villages. There is still a big job to do, which is why the DTI and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs jointly set up a rural broadband unit that has carried out important work. The hon. Gentleman will be encouraged by British Telecom's progress in extending the distance over which its exchanges can support an asymmetric digital subscriber line. We are working closely with regional development agencies on the issue, and the rural broadband unit is working through the community broadband network to support community-based providers such as the one in his constituency to which he referred. I very much support that work and we are, in a variety of ways, encouraging and promoting further progress.

Mrs. Ann Cryer (Keighley) (Lab): I wonder if my—

Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. At this stage, the hon. Lady just has to ask Question 15.

Company Directors (Remuneration)

15. Mrs. Cryer: If she will take steps to stop the practice of continuing to reward company directors who fail to fulfil their duties. [182692]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (Mr. Gerry Sutcliffe): Directors' remuneration is a matter for companies and their shareholders.It is a provision of the combined code that remuneration committees should avoid rewarding poor performance. Best practice guidance issued by the Association of British Insurers, the National
 
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Association of Pension Funds and the Confederation of British Industry also makes it clear that that is unacceptable.

Mrs. Cryer: I apologise, Mr. Deputy Speaker, for my mistake. I was watching the clock instead of looking at the list of questions.

Does my hon. Friend agree that rewarding company directors for failing to fulfil their duties sends out the wrong message to shop floor workers and trade union members in my constituency? They would be amazed were they to receive bonuses for shoddy work and lessening productivity.

Mr. Sutcliffe: I agree with my hon. Friend. She will acknowledge the work that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has done on issues relating to the Higgs report on corporate governance and the Tyson report about the make-up of boards of directors. Clearly, failure should not be rewarded, and that should act as a motivation to make sure that people who are productive get their just rewards. That should apply in the boardroom, as well as on the shop floor.

MINISTER FOR WOMEN

The Minister for Women was asked—

Domestic Violence Victims

20. Bob Spink (Castle Point) (Con): What assessment she has made of the services available for women fleeing domestic violence or abuse. [182669]

The Deputy Minister for Women and Equality (Jacqui Smith): Domestic violence accounts for one fifth of all violent crimes, affects one in four women and causes the death of two women each week. Those are shocking statistics that we are determined to tackle.Our hand will be strengthened by the new Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Bill, which includes a range of measures and services that will provide additional protection and support for victims and help to bring perpetrators to justice.

Bob Spink: Could the Minister ensure that the services that must be available to women in those circumstances always take children into consideration, and that women, particularly those with children, who have to flee from violence, perhaps to a women's refuge, can get on to the local council's housing register without any impediment?

Jacqui Smith: The hon. Gentleman makes an important point. Frequently, children, too, are victims of domestic violence. That is why we need more refuges and why the increase in Government support of between £7 million and £9 million this year and next year will be important. The hon. Gentleman is right—I am sure he has had constituency cases, as I have—that we need to ensure that our housing authorities are open and responsive to the needs of women fleeing domestic violence, especially those with children.
 
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Kali Mountford (Colne Valley) (Lab): Does not the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Bill, together with the Children's Bill, mark a unique step forward in protection and security for families in their home? In addition to that legislative framework, should not the inter-ministerial group consider the wider social context and encourage collaborative and partnership working not just with local authorities, but right across the social framework, in order that the legislation can do its work effectively?

Jacqui Smith: My hon. Friend is right. There is a series of responsibilities at national and local level, in the voluntary sector and more broadly for ensuring that the widest framework of support is available, helped by additional Government investment through the supporting people programme, which received £57 million this year for housing-related support services. That is backed up by the activities of housing associations and other support organisations, and by the important work of voluntary organisations in this area, particularly Women's Aid and Refuge, which are working together to provide a single national 24-hour freephone helpline.

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