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7 Apr 2005 : Column 1620W—continued

External Suppliers

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many tenders were let by her Department to external suppliers in the financial year 2003–04; and what the value was. [209093]

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

Fast Patrol Vessel Defender

Mr. Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 13 January 2005, Official Report, columns 628–29W, on the Fast Patrol Vessel Defender, to whom the vessel was sold; when the vessel was sold; for what amount the vessel was sold; and if she will place a copy of the marine surveyor's assessment in the Library. [211098]

Jacqui Smith: It has not proved possible to respond to my hon. Friend in the time available before Prorogation.
 
7 Apr 2005 : Column 1621W
 

Fireworks

Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has held with the RSPCA on ways of restricting the (a) sale and (b) use of noisy fireworks; and if she will make a statement. [223025]

Mr. Sutcliffe: In developing the Fireworks Regulations 2004, which, among other things, places restrictions on the sale and use of noisy fireworks, officials met with animal welfare representatives, including the RSPCA. All animal welfare organisations were also consulted formally on the proposed measures during the summer of 2004.

More recently, officials have met with the RSPCA to discuss the current noise levels of fireworks (as set out in the 2004 Regulations) and possible ways to achieve further reductions in sound levels.

Freedom of Information

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many inquiries have been made by members of the general public to her Department for information under Freedom of Information legislation since 1 January; and how many of these inquiries were responded to within 20 days. [213773]

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

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what categories of information are available under Freedom of Information legislation that have not been provided in written parliamentary answers by her Department in the last three years. [207779]

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

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what applications were made to her Department during January under the Freedom of Information Act 2000; what the cost was of discovery and distribution of the information requested; how many requests were answered within the statutory 20 days; and what reasons were given to those whose requests were rejected. [214236]

Ms Hewitt: My Department received 147 applications under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in January. No information is held centrally on the cost of dealing with these applications. 91 or 62 per cent. of the applications were answered within the statutory 20 days. 45 or 30 per cent. of the applications were refused in full or in part on the grounds of relevant exemptions provided for by the Act.

Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her policy is in respect of the publication (a) on the departmental website and (b) by placing copies in the Library of (i) all or (ii) a selection of the information disclosed in response to Freedom of Information requests since January. [215219]

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

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she established the Future for Nuclear group in her Department; what resources have been allocated to the group; which (a) officials and (b) contributors from outside her Department have participated in the group; in what format she expects the group to report; and when. [224714]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: No such group has been formed.

Growth Areas (Funding)

Phil Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what funding her Department has earmarked for growth areas to ensure that they have the resources required to meet the demands of a growing population. [218331]

Jacqui Smith: It has not proved possible to respond to my hon. Friend in the time available before Prorogation.

Handling Fees

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been paid to the Union of Democratic Miners in handling fees for coal health claims. [224774]

Nigel Griffiths: It has not proved possible to respond to my hon. Friend in the time available before Prorogation.

Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the results of the consultation on draft regulations to allow the NHS to re-coup costs under the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003; and what recent discussions she has had with the Department of Health about the effect that these proposals will have on (a) small businesses and (b) the cost of employers' liability insurance. [210305]

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

Higher Education (York)

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much was allocated to higher education institutions in the City of York by research councils in 2003–04; and how much she estimates will be allocated in 2004–05. [222290]

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

Inspection and Enforcement Costs

Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the annual cost of inspection and enforcement activities carried out by (a) her
 
7 Apr 2005 : Column 1623W
 
Department and (b) regulatory bodies and agencies sponsored by her Department was in (i) 1996–97 and (ii)2003–04. [217779]

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

Maternity Leave/Pay

Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 20 December 2004, Official Report, column 1380W, on maternity leave, if she will estimate the average length of time taken in paid maternity leave by those receiving (a) statutory maternity pay and (b) maternity allowance in (i) the latest year for which figures are available and (ii) each of the previous five years. [207786]

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

Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will estimate the change in average length of time taken in paid maternity leave by those receiving (a) statutory maternity pay and (b) maternity allowance since the changes implemented in April 2003; and if she will make a statement. [207787]

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

Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the annual (a) administrative and (b) policy cost of extending maternity pay to (i) nine and (ii) 12 months for (A) small and medium-sized enterprises and (B) large businesses. [217780]

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

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