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Companies Act 1985

Mr. Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much money has been paid into court pursuant to the provision of section 430(11) of the Companies Act 1985 in each of the past 10 years. [188600]

Jacqui Smith [holding answer 13 September 2004]: This information is not collected centrally by legislative provision and could be provided only at disproportionate cost due to the amount of information to be processed and the need to retrieve information
 
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from files not currently in use. This information is therefore being withheld under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information on the grounds that it would require an unreasonable diversion of resources.

Departmental Recycling

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the latest available 12 month figures are for the proportion of the Department's redundant documentation, waste paper and card that is recycled; and if she will make a statement on the Department's recycling policy. [188696]

Ms Hewitt: Between April 2003 to March 2004, over 98 per cent. of the Department's waste from its HQ operations was recovered for recycling or energy production.

The Department has a recycling strategy in line with the Government's framework for sustainable development, with appropriate procedures and facilities in place.

Departmental Staff (Upper Age Limits)

Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether (a) her Department and (b) agencies for which it is responsible (i) have a set retirement age which applies to all or most personnel and (ii) have a maximum age beyond which applications for employment will not be considered; and what the age is in each case. [186093]

Ms Hewitt: The retirement age for all DTI staff in grades below the Senior Civil Service is 65. For staff in the Senior Civil Service the normal retirement age is 60.

We require applicants for employment to have sufficient time to complete the required probation period (generally 12 months) for their grade or specialism before they reach age 65.

Economic and Social Research Council

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals there are to increase funding for the Economic and Social Research Council. [188402]

Ms Hewitt: The Government's commitment to the continuing excellence of UK science was reinforced by the outcome of the 2004 Spending Review, in which it announced annual real growth in the public science base of 5.8 per cent., through the DTI and DfES, which will see it climb to over £5 billion by 2007. That is more than a billion pounds more than this year and nearly double the expenditure in 1997. Under existing plans, the Economic and Social Research Council is expected to receive an additional £15.8 million next year as a result of the previous Spending Review. Allocations to Research Councils and other bodies through the Science Budget, for 2006–07 onwards, will be announced early in 2005.

Manufacturing Advisory Service

Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the Manufacturing Advisory Service. [186345]

 
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Jacqui Smith: The Manufacturing Advisory Service has been a huge success as a source of practical help to small and medium-sized manufacturing companies. It plays a vital role in helping our manufacturers to improve their productivity and to compete effectively in an increasingly global economy. In the period from its establishment in April 2002 to June 2004 the Manufacturing Advisory Service has delivered £66.8 million in added value to manufacturing companies it has assisted, with average productivity improvements running at 30 per cent. Its success was recognised in the recent 2004 Spending Review, as a result of which the Department's funding for MAS will increase to £17 million over the period 2005–06 to 2007–08, match funded by the regional development agencies. We are working with the regional development agencies and other stakeholders to ensure that we take full advantage of this additional funding to build on the success that has already been achieved.

Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total annual projected resource budget is for the Manufacturing Advisory Service. [187106]

Jacqui Smith: Following the 2004 Spending Review announcement, the Department's expenditure in support of the regional operations of the Manufacturing Advisory Service will be £5 million in 2005–06, £6 million in 2006–07, and £6 million in 2007–08, match funded by the Regional Development Agencies. In addition, the Department will separately fund a contract to manage the MAS national network over the same period. The size of this contract has not yet been determined.

Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the annual projected resource budgets are for each of the regional manufacturing advisory services. [187107]

Jacqui Smith: The Department is currently in discussion with the Regional Development Agencies about the regional allocation of the Department's funding for the regional operations of the Manufacturing Advisory Service over the 2004 Spending Review period. The Regional Development Agencies will be expected to match fund the Department's own contribution.

Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the annual resource budgets have been for each of the regional manufacturing advisory services since 2002. [187108]

Jacqui Smith: The Department's budget allocation in support of the regional centres of the Manufacturing Advisory Service in the South East, London, West Midlands, North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, South West, and Wales, over the period 2001–02 to 2004–05, has been £1,350,000 each. The allocation to the North East has been £940,000, to the East Midlands £1,441,000 and East of England £1,145,000. The
 
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Department's budget allocation has been matched funded by the Regional Development Agencies in each region.

Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total annual budget for the Manufacturing Advisory Service as a whole has been since 2002. [187112]

Jacqui Smith: The Department's total budget allocation for the regional operations of the Manufacturing Advisory Service over the period 2001–02 to 2004–05 has been £12.9 million, match funded by the Regional Development Agencies. The Department's budget allocation for the management of the Manufacturing Advisory Service national network over the same period has been £1.2 million.

Medical Research (Animals)

Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans her Department has to improve protection for the (a) employees and (b) investors of companies which carry out medical research involving animals; and if she will make a statement. [186333]

Ms Hewitt: The Government are determined to tackle animal rights extremists who attempt to stop individuals and companies going about their legitimate business.

On 30 July, together with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Home Affairs, I announced a series of tough new measures which will help deal with the illegal activists who harass, threaten or physically attack those involved in vital, life-saving scientific research. Animal research has helped save hundreds of millions of lives, and is only carried out where absolutely necessary and under stringent controls. This research is subject to the strictest regulation: Britain has the most tightly controlled regime governing animal experiments in the world.

The new proposals strengthen on-going action by the Government, the police, the Crown Prosecution Service and the courts to deal with criminal extremists and underline the Government's commitment to protecting the scientific community.

Ministerial Visits

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many official visits she has made to the London Borough of Havering in the last 12 months; [189238]

(2) how many official visits she has made to Romford Market. [189239]

Ms Hewitt: None.

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