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Project Costs

Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the 10 largest (a) research and development and (b) construction projects sponsored by her Department since 1997 that are yet to recoup outlay are; what the total cost to date is of each project; what the annual maintenance cost is of each; and what the estimated time is before outlay will be recovered. [211383]

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

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what regional (a) bodies, (b) institutions, (c) taskforces, (d) panels, (e) offices and (f) organisations the Government have established since May 1997 which are the responsibility of her Department. [220431]

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

Regional Development Agencies

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much in EU grants was distributed through regional development agencies in each of the last three years; and what the total amount distributed to (a) North Yorkshire and (b) South Yorkshire was in each year. [224557]

Mr. Alexander: According to the published accounts of the regional development agencies (RDAs), EU grants or funding received by the RDAs amounted to £25.9 million in 2002–3 and £112.5 million in 2003–04. Figures are not yet available for 2004–05.

The amount distributed by Yorkshire Forward to North Yorkshire was £1.3 million in 2002–03 and £0.8 million 2003–04. As an objective one region with a large urban demographic eligible for regeneration funding, South Yorkshire received £3.5 million in 2002–03 and £17.3 million in 2003–04.

Renewables

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 18 March 2005, Official Report, column 482W, on renewables, what the reasons are for the difference between the figure given in the answer and the target figure quoted on the departmental website. [224118]

Mr. Mike O'Brien [holding answer 4 April 2005]: The two figures differ in respect of coverage. The figure quoted on the Department's website relates to generation from all types of renewable plant and includes renewable sources that are not eligible for the Renewables Obligation (i.e. large hydroelectric plant and incineration of mixed wastes). The figure given in answer to the hon. Member's previous question on this subject, on 18 March 2005, Official Report, column 482W, concerns electricity supplied to final consumers (which is inevitably less than that generated) and was confined to sources eligible for the Renewables Obligation.

All estimates are regularly revised in the light of updated energy projections and the latest information on progress of major renewable projects.

Research and Development

Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the (a) resource allocation and (b) competition deadlines for the Grants for Research and Development are for each region in 2005–06. [217806]

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

Sellafield

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the occasions on which sections of uranium nuclear reactor fuel rods have been discovered outside the area where special nuclear materials are required to be held, with particular reference to Pelham House, Calderbridge. [221679]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: On 24 March 2000 the Environment Agency were notified of the discovery of a radioactive rod at Mormet Alloys in Tamworth. The Environment Agency reported that there was no indication of any hazard to members of the public and that no radioactive contamination had been found at the site. This rod would appear to have been one of two produced in the early 1960s by UKAEA Springfields (now BNFL) for engineering testing purposes. The rod was provided on loan to CA Parsons Ltd in Newcastle. This company was involved with construction consortia involved in the building of nuclear power stations. Because of the destruction of advice and delivery notes under the 30 year rule and the loss of the Parsons files it is impossible to establish if the rod was ever returned to Springfields by Parsons. The rod had been extensively damaged including the removal of both ends which would have had stamped identification numbers.

The rod was taken to Winfrith (and subsequently NNC at Risley) for analysis and then to Springfields for storage.

I understand from BNFL, British Energy and UKAEA that their current records show no other occasions on which sections of uranium nuclear reactor fuels rods have been discovered outside the areas where special nuclear materials are required to be held.

Skills Training Agency

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will assess progress made since 13 March 1989 in safeguarding pension arrangements for Skills Training Agency staff who transferred into the private sector. [217131]

Ms Hewitt [holding answer 21 February 2005]: It has not proved possible to respond to my hon. Friend in the time available before Prorogation.

Small Businesses

Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry from which regulations the Small Business Service has pressed for an exemption for small businesses since 2000; and on which occasions an exemption was awarded. [217782]

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

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many businesses in York have been helped by the Small Business Service since 1997. [224646]

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

Mr. Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations she has received from (a) industry and (b) trade associations in the past three months on her proposal to reduce support for small firms attending trade fairs and missions abroad. [224778]

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

Mr. Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received from small and medium-sized enterprises following changes to the Support for Exhibitions and Seminars Abroad scheme; and what response her Department will make to those representations. [223332]

Mr. Alexander: About 150 companies, mainly small and medium-sized enterprises, have made representations about the impact of proposed changes to the Support for Exhibitions and Seminars Abroad scheme (SESA). These proposals seek to integrate SESA assistance more fully with other support services from UK Trade and Investment and focus more resources on new-to-export companies in line with the SR 2004 settlement. UK Trade and Investment has carried out extensive consultations with accredited trade organisations, many of whom represent SMEs, and the issues raised will be taken into account in the re-design of support.

Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what guidance has been issued by her Department to advise small and medium-sized businesses on (a) protecting the security of staff and property and (b) contingency plans in the event of a terrorist attack. [217804]

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

Solar Heating

Mr. Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will continue the funding of grants for the installation of domestic solar water heating systems. [224827]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

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