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Discrimination

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to propose extending anti-discrimination laws for gay men and lesbians to cover the provision of goods and services. [187134]

Jacqui Smith: The Government are aware of concerns about current imbalances in legislative provision for the different groups protected by discrimination legislation, which includes gay men and lesbians. One of the first tasks of the proposed Commission for Equality and Human Rights will be to review the legislative framework to ensure that it meets the needs of a modern Britain.

The Government are committed to improving equality and human rights for all in our society. This underpins our vision of a modern, fairer and more prosperous Britain. The creation of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights Commission will help create a more equal and cohesive society.

ECGD

Mr. Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry under what circumstances the decision to convert the Export Credits Guarantee Department to a capitalised Trading Fund would be reversed; and if she will make a statement. [187093]

Mr. Alexander: In my statement to the House of 1 July 2004 on the future of ECGD I set out my objectives in establishing the framework for the ECGD Trading Fund, specifically that it should:

provide a structure for managing ECGD's business consistent with the current risk-reward balance and business domain;

help to improve risk management; and

additionally that there should be transparent arrangements for reporting and accounting the economic costs to Government associated with ECGD's business.

The period of operating the Pilot Trading Fund from April 2005 will provide the opportunity to test the Trading Fund framework against these objectives and inform Ministers' decision on the move to the Statutory Trading Fund in 2007–08. That decision will be informed also by a consultation with customers on whether the pilot achieved its objectives.

Mr. Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether her plans for restructuring the Export Credits Guarantee Department include job cuts in (a) 2005, (b) 2006 and (c) 2007. [189374]

Mr. Alexander: ECGD's recently appointed Chief Executive is currently assessing all areas of the business in which cost reductions can be achieved including, among other factors, necessary staffing levels. Such cost reductions will be needed to deliver lower premium rates to
 
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exporters, in line with my right. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry's announcement of 1 July, Official Report, column 22WS.

UK Trade and Investment

Mr. Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the definition of a registered customer for the UK Trade and Investment website services includes an individual or company that (a) has derived measurable benefit from this service and (b) has supplied registration details only on the website. [189371]

Mr. Alexander: UK Trade and Investment's definition of a registered customer for our website, www.uktradeinvest.gov.uk, is an individual who has supplied registration details. They will usually be associated with a UK business. Customers of the website are not required to report their business improvement position as a result of using the service.

Mr. Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many of the UK Trade and Investment website's registered customers have reported a measurable increase in business improvement through their use of UKT&I services; and whether UKT&I is on track to increase the number of registered customers by 50 per cent. by 2006. [189372]

Mr. Alexander: UK Trade and Investment is on track to increase the number of registered customers by 50 per cent. by 2005. Customers of the website are not required to report their business improvement position as a result of using the service.

Mr. Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many new exporters were developed with the assistance of UK Trade and Investment in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004 to date; and how many were small and medium enterprises in each case. [189373]

Mr. Alexander: During 2003–04 UK Trade and Investment assisted in the development of 1,912 successful new exporters (against a target of 1,908) all of which were small and medium enterprises. During the first quarter of 2004–05 the figure was 348 (against an annual target of 2,088 and against the results of the first quarter of 2003–04 which were 338).

Ford Car Production

Mr. Geoffrey Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on discussions her Department has had with Ford Motor Company regarding Ford's future commitment to production in the West Midlands. [189443]

Jacqui Smith: Ministers and officials are in regular contact with the management of Ford Motor Company, as with other major manufacturers in the UK.

Jaguar's announcement on Friday 17 September, covering their plans for the Browns Lane site, is obviously disappointing, particularly given the efforts of the workforce to improve quality and productivity at Browns Lane. However, given the company's financial performance, tough decisions had to be taken. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has encouraged Jaguar's management to ensure that their workforce
 
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and trade unions remain informed and consulted, and that they discuss what steps might be taken to mitigate further job losses. It is important to note that no compulsory redundancies have been announced.

I am pleased that the company has taken the decision not to close Browns Lane Jaguar's Headquarters and administrative centre will remain in Coventry, as will the company's historic Wood Veneer Manufacturing Centre. And I am encouraged that the world leading R and D Centre at Whitely is being retained and welcome the employment opportunities for Browns Lane workers created by the growth and success at Aston Martin.

I hope that last Friday's announcement will help enable Jaguar to address its financial difficulties thereby securing a sustainable long-term future for the company, its products and its workforce here in the UK.

Mr. John Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on (a) the future of the Land Rover plant at Lode Lane, Solihull and (b) the future of the Jaguar plant at Browns Lane, Coventry. [189703]

Jacqui Smith: I welcome the news that the 'road map' for the Land Rover plant at Solihull has been agreed, and now ratified. I hope that all parties will now work together to achieve world-class productivity at the plant, and that it will have a successful future.

The decision to halt trim and assembly operations at Browns Lane has been a heavy blow to the workforce, their families and the surrounding region. It also broke the agreement the Company had with trade unions.

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer have committed to raise the matter with senior Ford executives in the US. In addition, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has also written to the company to encourage them to further engage with all the stakeholders, and particularly the workforce through their trade unions and the local MPs.

Gas Prices

Mr. Watts: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the impact of the recent increase in the wholesale price of gas on large industrial users; and if she will make a statement. [189657]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: While the cost of gas to industry has been rising recently, this should be seen in the context of historical trends. In real terms gas prices for industrial users in 2003 were nearly 30 per cent. below their level in 1990 and well below their average over the last 30 years.

The Department is monitoring closely developments in the UK gas market and the recent increase in the wholesale price of gas. OFGEM has now announced its conclusions on its investigation into gas price increases in 2003 and 2004. It has concluded that the main causes of rising UK gas prices are record oil prices feeding into gas prices and declining UK gas supplies.

OFGEM is taking two courses of action. It is asking the European Commission to put more resources into making gas competition work, and is continuing to examine why some UK gas supplies did not reach the market.
 
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