---

14 Oct 2004 : Column 338W—continued

TRANSPORT

Galileo Satellite

Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will make a statement on the military implications for Galileo arising from the EU White Paper, "New Frontier for an Expanding Union" published in June; [190054]

(2) if he will make a statement on the military implications for Galileo arising from the meeting of the Council of the European Union's politico-military group on 8 September. [190075]

Mr. Jamieson: The Galileo satellite navigation system is being developed by the European Union and the European Space Agency as a civil project for transport and other non-military applications. It has been stated by successive Transport Councils that Galileo is a civil programme under civil control. A Joint Action of the Council has been agreed which enables referral of aspects of the Galileo programme that relate to the security of the European Union or its member states to an appropriate formulation of Council, i.e. Pillar II, where unanimity applies.

Driving Licences

Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has held with European Union institutions about the standardisation of driving licences across the EU. [190806]

Mr. Jamieson: The European Commission published a proposal for a Third Directive on driving licensing on 5 December 2003. The Directive aims to promote free movement of citizens, improve road safety and increase the security of the driving licence system. My officials consulted fully and widely on these proposals during spring 2004. After detailed discussions in the Council Working Group, at which the European Commission was present, on 7 October the Transport Council reached a general approach on the Directive, which meets most of the Government's key objectives. The European Parliament is expected to complete its First Reading of the proposal in January 2005. I shall be writing shortly to the Chairmen of the Lords and Commons European Scrutiny Committees to bring them up to date on progress.

Pedestrian Walkways

Martin Linton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what powers are vested in (a) local authorities and (b) the police to prevent motorised vehicles from blocking pedestrian walkways. [190591]

 
14 Oct 2004 : Column 339W
 

Charlotte Atkins: Section 137 of the Highways Act 1980 makes it an offence to obstruct a highway without lawful authority. The pedestrian footway is part of a highway. The police may issue a fixed penalty notice for such obstruction. However, in London, by virtue of section 8 of the London Local Authorities and Transport for London Act 2003, authorised officers of borough councils and Transport for London are also empowered to issue a fixed penalty notice for the offence of obstruction under section 137 of the 1980 Act.

Section 15 of the Greater London (General Powers) Act 1974 makes it an offence to park a vehicle on footways and grass verges in London. This offence has been decriminalised under section 76 of the Road Traffic Act 1991 and, unless parking on the pavement has been specifically allowed at a particular location, London borough council parking attendants may issue a penalty charge notice where a vehicle is found parked on a pedestrian footway.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

BT

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 28 April 2004, Official Report, column 1150W, on BT, if she will make a statement on the progress of the review of the rating system; whether she has received its initial findings; and when she expects the report to be published. [190703]

Mr. Sutcliffe: The independent rates review recommended by the Broadband Stakeholders Group (BSG) is currently at draft stage. The first draft was produced in the summer; a final draft is due at the end of October and it is expected that it will be presented to the Broadband Stakeholders Group in November.

Combined Heat and Power

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what factors governed the date of publication on the departmental website of the report by Cambridge Econometrics consultants on "Modelling Good Quality Combined Heat and Power Capacity To 2010: Revised Projections". [190798]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: Cambridge Econometrics' report titled "Modelling Good Quality Combined Heat and Power Capacity to 2010: Revised Projections" was completed on 6 November 2003 and made available on DTI's website on 12 November 2003.

Entrepreneurship Education

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with the Department for Education and Skills to promote education in entrepreneurship in schools and colleges. [190837]

 
14 Oct 2004 : Column 340W
 

Jacqui Smith: My right hon. Friend has regular meetings with the Secretary of State for Education and Skills during which they discuss a wide range of issues, including enterprise education and work-related learning, which is now a statutory requirement in English secondary schools.

In this context our two Departments have been working closely to ensure that all young people are provided with a wide range of high quality, relevant, structured experiences of work that will develop enterprise capability, innovation, creativity, risk management and risk-taking. This is necessary to prepare young people for the world of work and to equip them with the enterprise and employability skills to meet employer and workplace demands as well as the ability to start and successfully run their own businesses.

That is why she welcomed the recommendations made by Sir Howard Davies in his Review of the Economy and Enterprise Education and the commitment made in the 2002 Budget to ensure that from 2005 all year 10 pupils will have the opportunity to experience five days enterprise learning, helping to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes for enterprise capability, financial capability and economic and business understanding. The commitment also provides funding for Enterprise advisers to work with 1,000 secondary schools in deprived areas in order to give extra support to the enterprise education agenda.

Both DTI and DfES along with other government departments are supporting the UK's first Enterprise Week—Make Your Mark Campaign on 15–21 November 2004. It aims to inspire people in their teens and twenties to be enterprising, and to engage those who influence young people or provide services for them in a discussion about the importance of enterprise. Enterprise Week is co-ordinated by Enterprise Insight, which was founded by the UK's main business organisations working in partnership with leading enterprise development organisations.

Post Office

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what (a) representations she has received and (b) consultation has taken place with sub-post masters concerning the speed of the New Horizon computer system. [190285]

Mr. Sutcliffe [holding answer 13 October 2004]: None. Issues relating to the post office network computer system are operational matters for the company.

Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many post offices have closed in Pembrokeshire since May 1997. [190899]

Mr. Sutcliffe: I am advised by Post Office Ltd. that data on post office closures by county or constituency is not available in the form requested, as the company does not require this data for operational purposes.
 
14 Oct 2004 : Column 341W
 
However it has produced quarterly statistics on post office closures by Government region/country since March 2000 and the net closure figures for Wales are:

Year to end March	Number
2001	68
2002	26
2003	18
2004	73
2005 (first quarter only)	45

Wind Energy

Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 14 September 2004, Official Report, column 1541W, on wind energy, what assessment she has made of the (a) impartiality and (b) objectivity of the study commissioned by the British Wind Energy Association. [189692]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: None. Though similar studies, including the one by S.W. White and G.L. Kulcinski at the University of Wisconsin, and detailed within the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee, 4th Report of Session 2003–2004, "Renewable Energy: Practicalities", show shorter payback periods for wind farms.

---