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7 Apr 2005 : Column 1632W—continued
Solar Photovoltaics
Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the effect of her Department's Solar Photovoltaics Major Demonstration Programme on private sector investment in the UK solar photovoltaic industry. [220502]
Mr. Mike O'Brien [holding answer 14 March 2005]: The Major PV Demonstration Programme is due to be assessed in 2005. This assessment will consider how well the programme has addressed its objectives to:
In this context, the assessment will consider the impact of the programme on the number of jobs created.
Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 8 March 2005, Official Report, column 1713W, on solar photovoltaics, how many projects were included in the 2004 Photovoltaic Demonstration Programme; and what plans she has (a) to promote and (b) to extend the programme. [221738]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: Unfortunately due to a double counting error the figure given in reply to PQ No 220204 was incorrect.
The number of installations in calendar year 2004 is as follows:
| Projects | kWp installed | |
|---|---|---|
| For Stream 1 | 236 | 513.936 |
| For Stream 2 | 39 | 883.877 |
| Total installed | 1,397 |
The current capital grants programme is due to end in March 2006 and the Department will continue its support for PV through a low carbon buildings" programme. The renewable innovation review, February 2004, recommended this more holistic approach to energy use in buildings incorporating both energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. The low carbon buildings programme is currently under development and there will be formal consultation shortly. The programme is expected to begin operating in 2006–07.
Mr. Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her Department's estimate of the number of full-time equivalent jobs in the UK solar PV sector is in the last year for which information is available; and if she will make a statement. [220904]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: It is estimated that the number of full-time equivalent jobs in the UK solar PV sector in 2003 was 337. This is based on data collected by the International Agency—Photovoltaics Power Systems Programme and reported in the 2003 National Survey Report. In addition the Survey records 66 jobs in solar PV research and development (non industry based).
Special Representative for International Trade and Investment
Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the appointment process was for the Special Representative for International Trade and Investment; and what the (a) role and (b) responsibilities of the Special Representative were. [224566]
Mr. Alexander
[holding answer 4 April 2005]: The Duke of York was appointed to the role in support of British Trade International (BTI) (which in 2003 became UK Trade and Investment), by Her Majesty The Queen, after consultation with The Cabinet Office, BTI and The Foreign and Commonwealth Office. He
7 Apr 2005 : Column 1634W
was given the title UK Special Representative for International Trade and Investment". His Royal Highness formally assumed this voluntary and unpaid position on 1 October 2001.
The roles and responsibilities of the UK's Special Representative for Trade and Investment are set out in the 2004 UK Trade and Investment Departmental Report available in the Libraries of the House.
Statutory Audit Requirements (Yorkshire)
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many businesses in (a) York and (b) Yorkshire were exempt from the statutory audit requirement in 1997; and how many are exempt from that requirement. [224645]
Nigel Griffiths: It has not proved possible to respond to my hon. Friend in the time available before Prorogation.
Stem Cell Research
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what financial commitment her Department plans to make to stem cell research in (a) 2005, (b) 2006, (c) 2007 and (d) 2008. [220508]
Ms Hewitt: It has not proved possible to respond to my hon. Friend in the time available before Prorogation.
Support and Exhibitions
Mr. Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what (a) criteria she has used and (b) research she has commissioned in order to assess the effects on the economy of reforms made by her Department to the Support for Exhibitions and Seminars Abroad scheme. [220559]
Mr. Alexander [holding answer 7 March 2005]: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Surplus Assets Sales
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the value of sales of surplus assets from her Department was in each year since 2000–01. [220974]
Ms Hewitt: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Telecom Billing Services
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations she has received about Telecom Billing Services Ltd. and their premium rate service. [224871]
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
The Department received four letters from MPs in the course of 2004 about Telecoms Billing Services Ltd. (TBS). The constituents had been billed by TBS for a service they had not used.
7 Apr 2005 : Column 1635W
Television Sets (Recycling)
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the cost to local authorities of recycling television sets. [223827]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Town Centres (Businesses)
Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what financial incentives the Government (a) have in place and (b) are planning to support (i)small and (ii) specialised businesses to remain open in town centres. [205288]
Nigel Griffiths: It has not proved possible to respond to my hon. Friend in the time available before Prorogation.
Trade Agreements
Mr. Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with the US Administration about its policy on countries entering into international environmental agreements as a condition of bilateral trade agreements. [213226]
Mr. Sutcliffe: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Trade Balance
Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent assessment she has made of trends in the UK's balance of trade figures. [217364]
Mr. Alexander: The latest official figures from the 2005 Budget report for the UK's total balance of trade in goods and services for 2004 show a deficit representing 3.3 per cent. of GDP. The Treasuryforecasts this to fall to between 3 per cent. to 3.1 per cent. of GDP by 2007.
Trade Development Schemes
Mr. Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research her Department has undertaken into the impact of reducing the role of trade associations and chambers of commerce in delivering UK Trade and Investment's trade development schemes. [224790]
Mr. Alexander: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Gentleman in the time available before Prorogation.
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