| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
10 Feb 2005 : Column 1798W—continued
National Minimum Wage
Mr. David Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to reduce the qualifying age for the higher rate of the national minimum wage from 22 years to 21 years; and if she will make a statement. [215392]
Mr. Sutcliffe: We expect to receive the next report from the Low Pay Commission by the end of this month, and will consider any recommendations on this point very carefully.
Natural Gas Imports
Mr. David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the volume and value of liquefied natural gas imported to the UK was in 2004. [214519]
Mr. Mike O'Brien [holding answer 7 February 2005]: There were no significant imports of liquefied natural gas into the UK in 2004.
Mr. David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to review the gas storage capabilities of the UK at the point when the UK becomes a net importer of gas. [214520]
Mr. Mike O'Brien [holding answer 7 February 2005]: According to the latest available data, the UK made the transition to being a net importer of gas in 2004.
Information on recent market movements suggests that the currently available storage has been sufficient to date over the course of the current winter and that stocks remain relatively high.
As outlined in the regular report published by the Joint Energy Security of Supply Working Group (JESS), there are a number of new gas storage projects due to come on stream over the next few years.
The latest update of the JESS report is available on the following weblink: http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/jess/reports.shtml
10 Feb 2005 : Column 1799W
Mr. David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the monthly (a) volume and (b) value of gas (i) exported from and (ii) imported to the UK was in 2004. [214521]
Mr. Mike O'Brien [holding answer 7 February 2005]: The DTI publish monthly data on volumes of natural gas imports and exports. These are given as follows in terawatt hours.
Statistics on the value of trade are collected by HM Customs and Excise and published in the Overseas Trade Statistics which is available in the House of Commons Library.
Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the activity of the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market in the UK in the past 12 months; and if she will list their publications and newsletters published over that period. [215233]
Mr. Alexander: The Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market have undertaken activities in the UK such as: speaking at conferences, seminars and courses; participating in Designs Fairs; collaborating with Intellectual Property Enforcement Agencies; and working with the UK Patent Office and other national offices to promote best practice.
In the same period the Office has published a large number of documents which include: its Annual Report; The Community Trade Marks Bulletin; The Community Designs Bulletin; and The Official Journal of the Office. A complete list of its publications has been placed in the Library of the House.
Post Offices
Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 1 February 2005, Official Report, column 800W, on rural post offices, how many of the 1,500 additional post offices brought under the protected rural category as a result of the adoption and implementation of the under-definition are located in Scotland. [215318]
Mr. Sutcliffe:
Post Office Ltd. (POL) did not differentiate between urban and rural branches before adopting the Countryside Agency definition of settlements with less than 10,000 inhabitants. POL
10 Feb 2005 : Column 1800W
cannot, therefore, provide a figure for the number of post offices in Scotland captured as a result of the adoption of that definition.
The number of rural post offices in Scotland is currently 1,157.
Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many post offices have closed in the Greater London area in each of the last five years. [215166]
Mr. Sutcliffe: Data for Greater London are available from March 2000. The net closure figures for the London region are:
| Number | |
|---|---|
| 2001(47) | 10 |
| 2002(47) | 16 |
| 2003(47) | (48)44 |
| 2004(47) | (49)155 |
| 2004–05(51) | (50)87 |
(47) Year to end March.
(48) Including 11 under the urban reinvention programme.
(49) Including 142 under the urban reinvention programme.
(50) Including 75 under the urban reinvention programme.
(51) First half.
Pregnant Women (Discrimination)
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps the Government are taking to prevent discrimination against (a) pregnant women and (b) new mothers. [215472]
Mr. Sutcliffe: Pregnant women and new mothers are protected from discrimination and other unfair treatment at work under the Sex Discrimination Act and the Employment Rights Act. Employers who discriminate against pregnant women are breaking the law and could be liable to pay compensation.
The Government are concerned, however, that the Equal Opportunities Commission's (EOC) current investigation into pregnancy discrimination in the workplace has found that some women still experience problems. The Government look forward to receiving the EOC's final report and recommendations later this year and will consider them carefully.
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps the Government are taking to give pregnant working women greater knowledge of their (a) maternity rights and (b) employer's responsibilities. [215473]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The Government look forward to the final report of the Equal Opportunities Commission's (EOC) investigation into pregnancy discrimination in the workplace. We have noted their interim recommendations which focus on improving awareness of the law and promoting increased dialogue between employers and employees before, during and after maternity leave.
The Government provide a range of guidance for employers and employees. Additionally, free confidential advice is available from ACAS and the EOC.
10 Feb 2005 : Column 1801W
Trade Associations
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether it is her policy to invite trade associations to play a greater role in training and the provision of apprenticeships. [206981]
Jacqui Smith: The network of employer-led Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) already include representatives of trade associations which contribute to the identification and implementation of skills needs and priorities. One of the roles of the SSCs is to develop apprenticeship frameworks and many trade associations already play a very active role in this regard.
UK Atomic Energy Authority Constabulary
Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the UK Atomic Energy Authority Constabulary IT programme. [214292]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The UK Atomic Energy Authority Constabulary IT programme has recently been focussing its efforts on the preparation for stand alone status as the Civil Nuclear Constabulary, and the implementation of the Airwave communication system.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |