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2 Mar 2005 : Column 1189W—continued
Business Regulatory Costs
Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate her Department has made of the financial burden of business regulation for 2004. [217363]
Nigel Griffiths: All proposals which impact on business, charities or the voluntary sector require a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) which includes details of the costs, benefits and risks of the proposal. Copies of final RIAs are available from the House Libraries and on departmental websites. We consult fully on proposals on the basis of these RIAs with business and other stakeholders.
Business Start-ups (Hartlepool)
Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many business start-ups were registered in Hartlepool in each year since records for unitary authorities are available. [218511]
Nigel Griffiths: Barclays data show that there were 400 business start-ups in Hartlepool unitary authority in 2003 and a further 500 in the first nine months of 2004. This represents a 67 per cent. increase on the first nine months of 2003.
Business start-up data for unitary authorities are not available for before 2003. Barclays Bank's latest survey of business creation includes non-VAT registered firms and shows that there were 445,000 business start-ups in England and Wales in 2003, a 16 per cent. increase on the year before. A further 396,000 businesses started up in England and Wales in the first nine months of 2004. This represents an increase of 14 per cent. on the first nine months of 2003.
DTI figures based solely on VAT registrations and de-registrations for Hartlepool unitary authority are shown below for 1994 to 2003. Data for 2004 will be available in autumn 2005.
| VAT registrations | Hartlepool |
|---|---|
| 1994 | 145 |
| 1995 | 95 |
| 1996 | 105 |
| 1997 | 110 |
| 1998 | 130 |
| 1999 | 110 |
| 2000 | 110 |
| 2001 | 115 |
| 2002 | 105 |
| 2003 | 135 |
Source:
Business Start-ups and Closures: VAT Registrations and De-registrations 1994–2003, Small Business Service, available from the Library of the House and also at: http://www.sbs.gov.uk/analytical/statistics/vatstats.php.
2 Mar 2005 : Column 1190W
A separate series of data is available for 1980 to 1993. Due to large increases in the VAT threshold in 1991 and 1993, and geographical boundary changes in the 1990s, this series is not comparable to the 1994 to 2003 series. DTI figures based solely on VAT registrations and de-registrations for Hartlepool are shown in the table for 1980 to 1993.
| Number | |
|---|---|
| 1980 | 130 |
| 1981 | 160 |
| 1982 | 180 |
| 1983 | 200 |
| 1984 | 195 |
| 1985 | 210 |
| 1986 | 220 |
| 1987 | 195 |
| 1988 | 235 |
| 1989 | 230 |
| 1990 | 215 |
| 1991 | 165 |
| 1992 | 170 |
| 1993 | 155 |
Source:
Business Start-ups and Closures: VAT Registrations and De-registrations 1980–1993, Small Business Service, available from http://www.sbs.gov.uk/analytical/statistics/vatstats.php
VAT registrations do not capture all start-up activity. Businesses are unlikely to be registered if they fall below the compulsory VAT threshold, which has risen in each year since 1997. Only 1.8 million out of 4 million enterprises were registered for VAT at the start of 2003.
Debt Recovery
Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 10 February 2005, Official Report, column 1788W, on debt recovery, what the repayment schedule for each of the countries listed is; and what the estimated cost to the Government of rescheduling the debts is. [217612]
Mr. Alexander: The following table shows repayment schedules for debt that has been rescheduled under Paris Club agreements. Repayments are due to be made in half-yearly instalments.
| Market | Next payment due | Final payment due |
|---|---|---|
| Algeria | 31 May 2005 | 30 November 2011 |
| Ghana | 01 April 2005 | 01 July 2025 |
| Indonesia | 01 June 2005 | 01 June 2021 |
| Pakistan | 31 May 2005 | 30 November 2024 |
The details of non-Paris Club rescheduling arrangements are Commercial in Confidence. To reveal details would compromise ongoing negotiations with similar debtors.
2 Mar 2005 : Column 1191W
In addition to the premium that ECGD charges for insuring or guaranteeing a risk, the debt agreements through which recoveries of claims are made earn interest which is expected to cover the cost of funding the outstanding debt, including administration costs.
Digital Tick Logo
Mr. Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the take-up has been to date of the digital tick logo indicating digitally compatible products and service among manufacturers and retailers; what the cost of the scheme has been so far; and if she will make a statement on the take-up of digital products and services. [218603]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The Digital Switchover Logo licensing scheme was open to receive licence applications from manufacturers and retailers from 16 September 2004. As at Thursday 18 February 2005, manufacturer and retailer licensees of the logo numbered:
Those companies who applied within the first seven weeks of the scheme, and single branch independent electrical retailers, were not required to pay an administration fee for the first year of the scheme. Once the founder member period, ended, all subsequent applicants were charged an administration fee.
Ellington Colliery
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with (a) the National Union of Mineworkers and (b) UK Coal about (i) safety of and (ii) the proposal to close Ellington Colliery. [219070]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: I have held discussions with representatives of both the National Union of Mineworkers and UK Coal. A range of issues were discussed.
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the proposed closure of Ellington Colliery. [219072]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: As a privately owned company, UK Coal is the operator of Ellington, and any decision taken is a commercial one for the company. However, the Government do deeply regret the loss of Ellington, and our sympathies are with the workforce and their families at this difficult time. One North East is working with its partners on plans to assist regeneration in the in the area and offer the best possible new job opportunities for Ellington workers.
EU Committees
Angus Robertson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Advisory Committee on medical devices met;
2 Mar 2005 : Column 1192W
when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement. [217886]
Ms Rosie Winterton: I have been asked to reply.
The committee on safety of devices (CSD) is an advisory non-departmental public body. This committee advises on a wide range of device related initiatives in order to help healthcare professionals deliver high standards of care to patients in relation to medical devices.
The CSD met once during the Italian presidency, not at all during the Irish presidency and twice during the Dutch presidency. These meetings took place on 20 November 2003, 1 July 2004, and 18 November 2004. All the meetings took place in London. The Government expert present was Dr. Susanne Ludgate, clinical director (devices) of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, which acted as secretariat.
A series of Command Papers on prospects for the European Union—Cm6174, laid in April 2004, Cm 6310, laid in September 2004 and Cm 6450, laid in February 2005, which cover the periods of the above presidencies are available on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website at: www.fco.gov.uk/commandpapers.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Advisory Committee on Common Rules for Exports of Products met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement. [217914]
Mr. Alexander: This Committee did not meet during these presidencies.
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