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EU Neighbourhood Policy

6. David Cairns (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): What benefits she expects will accrue to trade relations between Israel and the EU from the new EU neighbourhood policy. [189175]

The Minister for Trade and Investment (Mr. Douglas Alexander): The European neighbourhood policy offers closer co-operation between the EU and Israel in areas of mutual interest, including trade, in return for political and economic reform. We believe that engaging with Israel on the basis of shared common values will be beneficial to the EU-Israel relationship.

David Cairns: I thank my hon. Friend for that answer. Does he agree that increased trade between the EU and Israel is vital both economically, for the people of Israel and the Palestinian Authority areas—whose economies are closely intertwined—and politically, because it gives the EU a greater stake in the middle east and, therefore, further legitimises its role as a member of the Quartet? Conversely, however well intentioned calls for sanctions are, they would be damaging politically and economically.

Mr. Alexander: I know of my hon. Friend's close interest in those matters and I concur that reducing our level of commercial contact would not strengthen our influence at a critical point in the middle east process.

Ian Stewart (Eccles) (Lab): My hon. Friend may be interested to know that I am in the process of establishing a new all-party group on conflict management and resolution. Does he agree that the lesson of Northern Ireland is that peace helps to generate trade and industry and that trade and industry help to generate peace? Is not that transferable to a new and enlivened peace process in Israel and Palestine?

Mr. Alexander: I pay tribute to my hon. Friend's work and wish every success to the organisation that he
 
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is in the process of establishing. We can look closer to home than Israel and the Palestinian situation for evidence of the case that he makes. If we consider recent economic progress in Northern Ireland, where record inward investment following the peace process has been self-reinforcing, his point is well made.

Coal Miners' Compensation Scheme

7. John Mann (Bassetlaw) (Lab): How many solicitors have sought remuneration for additional health tests for clients under the coal miners' compensation scheme for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and vibration white finger; and for how many individuals. [189176]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (Nigel Griffiths): It is not possible to provide a breakdown, but the House will want to know that the Department pays for the independent medical assessment process and there should be no need for claimants to incur further expenditure by undergoing additional health tests.

John Mann: That excellent and precise answer knocks on the head the myth that solicitors perpetuate to justify double-charging miners. Is not it time for miners and their widows to be paid the full 100 per cent. of their compensation? Can the Government help by holding back the cheques for those solicitors who refuse to pay 100 per cent. of the money, in exactly the same way as some solicitors have been holding back cheques for their clients to try to rake off extra money from the most generous scheme in the world?

Nigel Griffiths: My hon. Friend makes a good point and I am sure that 8,823 of his constituents in Bassetlaw are grateful for the help that he has given them in securing payments that total £52 million. We are in discussions with the Law Society and I was grateful to my hon. Friend for attending a meeting with that organisation. I shall ensure that the points he makes are registered with it.

Mr. Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley) (Con): Does the Minister accept that we are all disturbed by reports about the way in which some solicitors seem to have had their noses in the trough in the case of the compensation that we are considering? We all want to ensure that as much money as possible goes to those who deserve the compensation. Is it possible to have a review of how the compensation package has been administered and how much money has gone to solicitors so that, in future, we can ensure that, if there are other similar compensation cases, solicitors come at the bottom of the league and the people who deserve the compensation go to the very top?

Nigel Griffiths: I have already put the information that the hon. Gentleman requests in the public domain.

Jeff Ennis (Barnsley, East and Mexborough) (Lab): Can my hon. Friend update hon. Members about progress on trying to establish a minimum compensation figure for miners who suffer from chronic
 
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bronchitis and emphysema and financing it by using the inflation-updated solicitors' fees that the Department is currently paying out?

Nigel Griffiths: My hon. Friend made powerful representations in a recent Adjournment debate. He knows that discussions are currently taking place. Mr. Justice Turner is aware of his excellent contribution. Again, I stress that we want to do more to ensure that we build on the £72 million that has been paid out to miners—12,000 of them in my hon. Friend's constituency—and rectify remaining injustices. I undertake to keep him and the House informed of the results of deliberations.

Gas and Electricity Consumer Council

8. Mr. Harold Best (Leeds, North-West) (Lab): If she will take steps to increase the powers available to the Gas and Electricity Consumer Council for protecting gas and electricity consumers. [189177]

The Minister for Energy and E-Commerce (Mr. Mike O'Brien): The powers of the Gas and Electricity Consumer Council—Energywatch—were set out in the Utilities Act 2000. I have no plans to increase them.

Mr. Best: Does my hon. Friend agree that there is growing anxiety in the public mind, especially in the older section of our community, about energy prices and contracts? Will he give further consideration to the council's powers to be pre-emptive and ensure that people who may be vulnerable to being drawn into contracts that are not in their best interests are protected?

Mr. O'Brien: Under the Utilities Act 2000, the aim was to create a regulator with substantial powers and a consumer investigator—essentially, Energywatch. Ofgem obviously has the powers—it is the regulator—and is able to intervene if necessary, but we have found that, in practice, Energywatch can deal with such issues by entering into discussions with the various electricity companies. If such issues need to be addressed, using the energy investigator to engage successfully with the companies would be one way forward, but if problems are arising I am certainly happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss them.

Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York) (Con): I welcome the hon. Gentleman to his new position; we very much look forward to working with him. I pay tribute to his predecessor's work, especially the confirmation he gave the Opposition when we discussed the Energy Bill in respect of our proposals about vulnerable customers whose electricity or gas is about to be cut off. Apparently, many of those who would wish to intervene to help them are prevented from doing so by the Data Protection Act 1998. Will the Minister give his urgent attention to ensuring that no vulnerable customer is placed at such risk in future?

Mr. O'Brien: I thank the hon. Lady for her comments about my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary, who did a superb job as Energy Minister; I hope that I can begin to fill his shoes in that role.
 
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The hon. Lady makes a good point. Following extensive work earlier this year, the industry agreed and issued guidelines on disconnections, which will ensure that, as far as possible, no vulnerable customer is disconnected. If there is evidence of wrongful disconnections, Ofgem has the power to act. I understand that, thus far, Energywatch has not provided evidence of that happening widely, but it will continue to watch and monitor the position because, as she rightly points out, this is an important issue.

Mr. John Grogan (Selby) (Lab): Does my hon. Friend agree with the statement made by Allan Asher, the chief executive of Energywatch, that the opaque nature of the wholesale gas market, which is now a European market, is such that the only serious avenue open to protect consumers is an investigation by the European competition authorities or the Competition Commission?

Mr. O'Brien: Other avenues are open, including discussions between the various Governments and engagement with private sector companies. However, we can also use routes through the European Union to ensure that the consumer is protected. Obviously, wholesale prices, especially for gas, have been increasing, which partly reflects upward pressure on prices in continental Europe, where gas prices are contractually linked to high oil prices. We are continuing to watch the position very carefully, and we want to ensure that, throughout the process, the consumer is protected in so far as that is possible.

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