---

18 Nov 2004 : Column 1924W—continued

EU Presidency (Greece)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many times during the Greek
 
18 Nov 2004 : Column 1925W
 
presidency of the EU (a) the EC-Canada Joint Committee on scientific and technological co-operation, (b) the EC-Russia Joint Committee on scientific and technological co-operation and (c) the EC-Argentina RTD Co-operation Steering Committee met; when and where each meeting took place; which UK Government expert was present at each meeting; what (i) technical and (ii) financial issues were raised by the UK Government expert at each meeting; what recommendations the Committee produced during that period; what actions were (A) proposed and (B) taken by (1) the EU and (2) the UK Government as a result of the Committee's recommendations; and if she will make a statement. [194348]

Ms Hewitt: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many times during the Greek presidency of the EU (a) the Advisory Committee for co-operation in the field of tourism, (b) the Committee on conformity assessment and surveillance of the telecommunications market and (c) the Advisory Committee for the transparency of measures governing the pricing of medicinal products for human use met; when and where each meeting took place; which UK Government expert was present at each meeting; what (i) technical and (ii) financial issues were raised by the UK Government expert at each meeting; what recommendations each Committee produced during that period; what actions were (A) proposed and (B) taken by (1) the EU and (2) the UK Government as a result of each Committee's recommendations; and if she will make a statement. [194351]

Ms Hewitt: The Telecommunication Conformity Assessment and Market Surveillance Committee established under Article 13 of the Radio Equipment and Telecommunications Terminal Equipment Directive (1999/5/EC) met once during the Greek presidency on 12 and 13 March 2003 in Brussels. The UK was represented by three officials from the Department of Trade and Industry and one from the Office of Telecommunications. At this meeting UK officials were involved in discussions on several different technical issues concerning the scope for regulation under the directive and free movement of compliant apparatus. No financial matters were discussed. The outcome of the meeting influenced application of the directive across member states.

EU Social Chapter

Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 3 November 2004, Official Report, column 274W, on the EU Social Chapter, what method was used for calculating the (a) policy costs and (b) administrative costs to employers of providing rights under the Social Chapter. [198008]

Mr. Sutcliffe: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
 
18 Nov 2004 : Column 1926W
 

Export Credits Guarantee Department

Mr. Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures (a) her Department and (b) the Export Credits Guarantee Department (i) has undertaken and (ii) plans to undertake to comply with the Sustainable Energy (CHP Provisions) Order 2003. [194423]

Mr. Alexander: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation

Mr. Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she expects to announce revised anti-bribery guidelines within the rules which came into force on 1 May to be followed by the Export Credits Guarantee Department. [193443]

Mr. Alexander: Discussions with ECGD's customers and their representative bodies concerning the final form of these procedures are nearing their conclusion. Revised application forms will come into force thereafter.

Mr. Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) which companies and organisations her Department consulted in drawing up the original anti-bribery guidelines to be followed by the Export Credits Guarantee Department; [193444]

(2) what the results were of the consultation her Department conducted with interested organisations and companies to ascertain their views on the anti-bribery guidelines which came into force on 1 May. [193445]

Mr. Alexander: ECGD's original measures to combat bribery and corruption were the subject of formal consultation with a range of customers' trade associations prior to coming into force in September 2000. Customers and other organisations were informed of subsequent changes to the procedures on four occasions since then, most recently on 4 March 2004.

Following the introduction of revised procedures on 1 May 2004, ECGD and DTI officials have held discussions with interested parties who made representations about their implementation, with a view to resolving issues surrounding the details and practical application of aspects of its existing bribery and corruption procedures.

Mr. Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what new forecasts she is conducting on the monetary impact of her revised anti-bribery guidelines on the volume of business supported by the Export Credits Guarantee Department; and when the results of those new forecasts will be made available; [193447]

(2) what forecasts (a) her Department and (b) the Treasury conducted which estimated the monetary impact of the anti-bribery guidelines which came into force on 1 May 2004 on the volume of business supported by the Export Credits Guarantee Department; and what the results of those forecasts were. [193446]

Mr. Alexander: No forecasts were made into the possible impact of ECGD's anti-bribery and corruption procedures on its future business volumes. These
 
18 Nov 2004 : Column 1927W
 
procedures were designed to further the Government's efforts to combat bribery and corruption without placing any undue burden on customers seeking ECGD's support. The current discussions with customers and their trade organisations are aimed at resolving issues surrounding the details and practical application of aspects of the existing anti-bribery and corruption procedures announced on 4 March 2004. The revised procedures emerging from this process will require customers applying for ECGD cover to provide information from sources, which should be readily available to them. They should thus have no material adverse impact on ECGD's future business volumes.

Mr. Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 5 July 2004, Official Report, column 512W, to the hon. Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne Central, on the Export Credits Guarantee Department, how much was paid under the Export Credits Guarantee Department to (a) Indonesia and (b) Zimbabwe; when the money was paid in each case; to which company; and for what project. [194124]

Mr. Alexander: A table, which will be placed in the Library, lists the amounts of defence claims authorised for payment and the financial year in which they were authorised for both Indonesia and Zimbabwe. It is not possible to provide a further breakdown of this information on a company or project basis as to do so could prejudice negotiations ECGD is having or will have about recovering debt.

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the impact of the revised anti-corruption procedures announced by the Export Credits Guarantee Department on 8 November on its capacity to combat bribery and corruption; and what the purpose of the revised procedure is. [198325]

Mr. Alexander [holding answer 17 November 2004]: ECGD has undertaken a detailed confidential comparison of its revised anti-bribery and corruption procedures with G7 counterparts. These confirm that the procedures announced by ECGD on 8 November are among the most rigorous and effective in use by any of the world's leading Export Credit Agencies.

The revised procedures are designed to:

Deter illegal payments, corrupt practices and money laundering by applicants for ECGD's support;

Ensure, as far as is practicable, that all transactions that ECGD supports are in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations and international agreements to which .the UK is a party; and

In the event that wrongdoing arises, protect the UK taxpayer's financial interests.

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many applications for cover from MW Kellogg the Export Credits Guarantee Department has considered since October 2003. [198044]

Mr. Alexander: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if she will list the guarantees issued to subsidiaries of Halliburton by the Export Credits Guarantee Department since 1 January 2003; and on what dates they were issued; [198045]
 
18 Nov 2004 : Column 1928W
 

(2) how many applications for cover from Kellogg, Brown and Root the Export Credits Guarantee Department has considered since October 2003. [198046]

Mr. Alexander [holding answers 15 November 2004]: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which companies have made representations to her Department regarding the anti-corruption procedures brought into force by the Export Credits Guarantee Department on 1 May; and if she will place these representations in the Library. [195936]

Mr. Alexander [holding answer 8 November 2004]: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

---