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10 Nov 2004 : Column 770W—continued
Research and Development
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what criteria are used to distribute grants for research and development to help (a) individuals and (b) small and medium-sized businesses to research and develop technologically innovative products and processes. [196776]
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Nigel Griffiths:
The criteria against which applications from eligible individuals and small and medium-sized businesses for grants for research and development are judged are explained in the guidance notes for applicants and are (i) the level of technological innovation and risk; (ii) the commercial potential; (iii) the background and experience of the applicant and business; (iv) wider aspects such as environmental and social impacts; and (v) the need for the grant.
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Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme
Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the default rate was on Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme loans broken down by numbers of loans made, in each year since 1990; and what the cost to her Department was in each year since 1990. [197251]
Nigel Griffiths: The information is contained in the following table.
The numbers of claims made each year are made up from loans that could have been guaranteed any time during the previous 10 years. Therefore, it is inappropriate to make any comparison between the number of loans guaranteed and the number of claims made each year.
Figures are not available before 1995.
Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many loans have been guaranteed through the Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme in each year since 1997; what the value of these loans was (a) in total and (b) by sector; and what proportion was made to start-ups. [197252]
Nigel Griffiths: The following table shows the number of guarantees in the financial years 1997 to 2004 and their total value and the total number of guarantees to start ups and their value.
Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many and what value of loans were made through the Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme in each year since 1997. [197253]
Nigel Griffiths: The following table shows the number of guarantees in the financial years 1997 to 2004 and their total value.
| Financial Year | Number of guarantees | Value (£ million) |
|---|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 5,081 | 201.34 |
| 1998–99 | 4,482 | 188.80 |
| 1999–2000 | 4,279 | 205.99 |
| 2000–01 | 4,312 | 240.46 |
| 2001–02 | 4,269 | 254.69 |
| 2002–03 | 3,916 | 269.461 |
| 2003–04 | 5,966 | 409.258 |
Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what financial provision her Department has made in respect of the Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme in each year since 1997. [197254]
Nigel Griffiths: The following table shows the financial provision for the Small Firms Loan Guarantee for the years 1997 onwards.
| Financial Year | Provision (£ million) |
|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 49.15 |
| 1998–99 | 45.07 |
| 1999–2000 | 47.34 |
| 2000–01 | 41.09 |
| 2001–02 | 40.2 |
| 2002–03 | 43.28 |
| 2003–04 | 45.77 |
| 2004–05 | 58.7 |
Trinidad and Tobago
Mr. Foulkes: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when a Minister from her Department last visited Trinidad and Tobago; and what plans there are for a Minister from her Department to visit the islands. [195960]
Mr. Alexander: The last DTI Minister to visit Trinidad and Tobago from 31 October-4 November 2001, was the then Minister for Employment Relations, Industry and the Regions (Alan Johnson). There are currently no plans for a DTI Minister to visit the islands.
Unsolicited Calls
Mr. Steen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many complaints about unsolicited silent calls by commercial power diallers have been referred to
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(a) Ofcom and (b) the Independent Committee for the Supervision of Telephone Information Services by consumers in the past 12 months. [196948]
Mr. Mike O'Brien [holding answer 8 November 2004]: The information requested is as follows.
(a) The Office of Communications (Ofcom) has received 302 complaints from consumers about unsolicited silent calls since Ofcom became fully operational on 29 December 2003. It is difficult to estimate how many of these complaints involved commercial power diallers, as some consumers may not be aware of such equipment or be certain that it has been used to make the calls.
(b) The Independent Committee for the Supervision of Telephone Information Services (ICSTIS) has received no complaints during the past 12 months about unsolicited silent calls made by commercial power diallers.
Working Parents
Mr. Wills: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the percentage of people who are employed by small and medium-sized enterprises who are parents of children aged (a) under five and (b) over five. [196028]
Nigel Griffiths: This information is not readily available. I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
CABINET OFFICE
Departmental Responsibilities
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 3 November 2004, Official Report, columns 268–9W, on departmental responsibilities, what decision has been made on the sum to be earmarked from the existing Cabinet Office budget to meet the cost of appointing a separate Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. [197333]
Ruth Kelly [holding answer 9 November 2004]: The costs of appointing a separate Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster will be met from the existing Cabinet Office budget, and will be accounted for in the 2004–05 Cabinet Office Annual Report and Resource Accounts.
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
Analogue Spectrum
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimates of the market value of the released analogue spectrum available after digital switchover informed the Cost Benefit Analysis of July 2003; whether her Department has made subsequent estimates; and if she will make a statement. [194663]
Estelle Morris:
The Cost Benefit Analysis model developed by Government economists for digital switchover does not make an estimate of the market value of the released spectrum. As is standard in CBA methodology, economists have used estimates of the
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value of the consumer surplus that would be created by the new services which use released spectrum. We made the simplifying and conservative assumption that the providers of the new services would cover their costs.
The assessment of the consumer surplus is based on estimates of consumers' willingness to pay, using evidence from a revealed and stated preference survey. Consumers are asked to value services, some of whose features are novel and potentially available only in the future. The results give estimates with a wide range.
The Cost Benefit Analysis of Digital Switchover published by DTI and DCMS in September 2003 and is available at www.digitaltelevision.gov.uk. This showed that the quantifiable benefits of switchover were in the region of £1.5—£2 billion in net present value terms for the central case. Further work to refine estimates of the costs and benefits of switchover continues. This includes incorporating the results of a fresh consumer survey undertaken in spring 2004. The updated cost benefit analysis will inform the decisions on how and when switchover should be implemented.
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