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4 Feb 2005 : Column 1194W—continued
Departmental Staff
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time members of staff in her Department, excluding agencies and secondees, are working on issues relating to (i) electricity generation from coal, (ii) electricity generation from gas, (iii) nuclear power and (iv) renewable energy; and if she will estimate what average proportion of their time is spent on these issues. [211781]
Ms Hewitt [holding answer 31 January 2005]: The structure of DTI's Energy Group is such that a number of teams handle various cross-cutting issues concerning the supply of energy as a whole, rather than electricity generation from specific energy sources. The division of staff time by fuel type is therefore not readily available.
However, the approximate numbers of full-time equivalent staff working in these areas in January 2005 were as follows:
(i) and (ii) around 60 staff work on issues relating to domestic energy markets (including electricity and other fuel sources);
(iii) around 30 staff work on a range of nuclear issues, primarily decommissioning, safety and security policy. In the Shareholder Executive, approximately four staff monitor the operation of British Energy and British Nuclear Fuels Limited (BNFL), including electricity generation and all other BNFL services;
European Union (Egality)
Mr. Hayes:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement
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on European Communities planned actions in the field of egality, with particular reference to projects arising from COM (2004) 352. [211379]
Ms Hewitt: The UK Government participate in the European Commission's Monitoring Committee on the Fifth Action Programme for Equal Opportunities. This includes projects arising from COM (2004).
Extended Warranties (White Goods)
Mr. Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on reform of the extended warranty market for domestic electrical goods. [211226]
Ms Hewitt: The Competition Commission report "Extended Warranties on Domestic Electrical Goods" (CM 6089–1) presented to Parliament in December 2003 concluded that the market was not working as well as it should. The Government accepted the Competition Commission findings and following public consultation has taken steps to implement the remedies recommended by the Commission. Measures to reform the market are set out in The Supply of Extended Warranties on Domestic Electrical Goods Order 2005 and related DTI Press Release P/2005/13 issued on 12 January 2005.
Farmers Markets
Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will invite the North West Regional Development Agency to assess the contribution of farmers markets to the economy in the North West. [213106]
Ms Hewitt: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Agency to write to my hon. Friend: a copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Iraq
Mr. Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the objectives of British commercial policy in Iraq. [213528]
Ms Hewitt: The Government want to see a vibrant private sector in Iraq that will create jobs and economic growth for the Iraqi people in the future. We also want to see UK companies play a substantial role in the reconstruction of Iraq's essential infrastructure. It is essential that the right skills and resources are utilised in the reconstruction process. The UK private sector has many of these.
Mobile Phone Advertising
Mr. Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether she has discussed with Ofcom the control of advertising of mobile phone services through media products with a high level of readership among children. [213372]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The control of advertising of mobile phone services is not a matter for Ofcom.
The Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones (2000) recommended a precautionary approach towards the use of mobile phones by children and
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recommended that the mobile network industry should refrain from promoting the use of mobile phones by children.
In line with the IEGMP's precautionary approach, the mobile operators reviewed their marketing policies to ensure they do not actively market mobile phones to under-16s.
The report by the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) in January 2005 endorsed this precautionary approach. The Government are currently considering the findings of the NRPB report and will be discussing them with industry, including the recommendation related to promoting phone use by children.
National Minimum Wage
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many Bassetlaw residents are benefiting from the national minimum wage. [211004]
Mr. Sutcliffe: It is unlikely that figures will be obtainable for Bassetlaw due to small sample size.
The latest low pay data from the ONS show that 1.1 million people in the UK stood to benefit from the October 2004 uprating of the National Minimum Wage. The DTI will provide estimates of National Minimum Wage beneficiaries by region as soon as possible. These figures will be made available in the House of Commons Library.
Official Residences
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the official residences for which her Department is responsible; who occupies each one; what the annual cost is of running each property; what contribution the current occupants make towards the running costs of each; what the total capital and refurbishment expenditure has been on those properties in each of the past five years; how much money was spent in each property on (a) flowers and plants, (b) wine and entertaining, (c) food, (d) telephone bills and (e) electricity and gas in 2003–04; how many (i) domestic and (ii) maintenance staff are employed at each property, broken down by post; and what the total cost of staff employment at each was in 2003–04. [213607]
Ms Hewitt: My Department is not responsible for any government owned official residences.
Post Office Card Accounts
Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the length is of the contract between her Department and Post Office Ltd. for the Post Office card account service. [211996]
Mr. Pond: I have been asked to reply.
The contract between POL and DWP commenced on the 22 March 2002 and ends on 31 March 2010.
Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry who has assisted her Department in the monitoring of the Post Office card account service. [211997]
Mr. Pond:
I have been asked to reply.
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A contract exists between the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Post Office Ltd. (POL) for the provision of the Post Office card account service. The contract is managed within DWP by professionally qualified purchasing staff. POL's delivery of the Service to specified requirements is monitored using recognised contract management tools such as regular Service Review meetings, to ensure compliance and early resolution of any issues.
Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what service standards have been set for the monitoring of her Department's contract with Post Office Ltd. for the Post Office card account service; and who set those standards. [211998]
Mr. Pond: I have been asked to reply.
Three contracts exist between Government Departments and Post Office Ltd. (POL) for the provision of the Post Office card account Service. One contract each with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), Inland Revenue (IR) and the Department for Social Development in Northern Ireland (DSD). DWP is responding to this question as the largest user of the Service.
The contracts between POL and the Government Departments contain service standards that were jointly negotiated with POL by DWP, IR and DSD when the provision of Post Office card account banking services was being agreed.
The service standards dictate the level to which the Services shall be provided and cover:
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