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British Summer Time
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will assess the merits of extending British Summer Time in England and Wales so that it remains in force all year. [1627]
Mr. Sutcliffe [holding answer 6 June 2005]: As there is not a clear public desire for any particular change, I am not persuaded that a change to our existing arrangements would be in the best interests of the UK.
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations have been received on British Summer Time by his office during thepast five years; and how many of these were in favour of continuing British Summer Time throughout the year. [1628]
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Mr. Sutcliffe [holding answer 6 June 2005]: The Department receives representations on British Summer Time from time-to-time. These reflect the divergence of opinion that exists on this issue and indicate that there is no clear public desire for any particular change.
Business Support (Hertfordshire)
Mr. Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to encourage the (a) establishment and (b) growth of small and medium enterprises in Hertfordshire; and if he will make a statement. [771]
Alun Michael: The Department for Trade and Industry sponsors the East of England Development Agency (BEDA) to develop and pursue a Regional Economic Strategy and contribute to achievement of the Government's Public Service Agreement targets. EEDA provides funding for Hertfordshire Business Link and Hertfordshire Economic Partnership to help existing businesses to grow and new businesses to be created.
An extensive range of support and services is provided including the provision of business information, helping clients access and secure appropriate finance, supporting businesses with people issues and building managerial capacity.
Other support includes helping clients embrace technology, overcoming technical/manufacturing issues and securing new customers particularly in overseas markets.
Mr. Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures he is taking to encourage (a) national and (b) international investment in Hertfordshire; and if he will make a statement. [774]
Alun Michael: The Department for Trade and Industry sponsors the East of England Development Agency (BEDA) to develop and pursue a Regional Economic Strategy and contribute to achievement of the Government's Public Service Agreement targets. EEDA supports national and international investment in Hertfordshire both directly and through funding the activities of other agencies, working in partnership with UK Trade and Investment.
EEDA provides grants directly to Small and Medium Sized Enterprises for research and development.
EEDA also provides funding to the following:
East of England International (EEI) which identifies and attracts global mobile projects to invest in the East of England and also provides support to existing foreign owned businesses in the region. In the seven years since the inward investment agency was established it has secured 34 foreign inward investment successes for the county.
Hertfordshire Future which provides a range of services for foreign owned businesses in Hertfordshire to complement EEFs activities.
The Hertfordshire Business Incubation Centre, which is creating new businesses through spin-offs from academia and the larger technology based businesses.
Correspondence
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what legal advice was sought over the implications of the undated UDM letter, reference CNW/REG/VWF, faxed to his Department on 24 May by the hon. Member for Bassetlaw, when the letter was first seen by his Department. [1481]
Malcolm Wicks [holding answer 6 June 2005]: When the letter (Ref: CNW/REG/VWF) was first brought to its attention in December 1999 the Department sought legal advice from its external lawyers advising in relation to the VWF Scheme. The advice received was that further inquiries should be made before a decision as to what action to take was made. Having received that advice further inquiries were undertaken of the UDM. The UDM assured the Department that the letter related to a very limited number of Claimants who were part of a pilot group who had, for operational reasons and with the agreement of the DTI, undertaken the VWF MAP report process twice. The UDM acknowledged that it had been wrong to issue the letter and gave the Department assurances both as to its limited use and its unconditional withdrawal. The Department also made inquiries of its Claims Handlers at the time in relation to the cases affected having received the UDM's explanation and having reconsidered the advice from its legal advisers in the light of the information received from its Claims Handlers the Department chose to take no immediate action either against the UDM or any individual Claimant, but to keep under very close review the potential for the coaching of claimants.
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when his Department received the letter from the Union of Democratic Mineworkers, reference cnw/reg/vwf; and what response was made to the letter. [1777]
Malcolm Wicks [holding answer 6 June 2005]: The Department was passed a copy of the letter in December 1999. Subsequently we wrote to the UDM who assured the Department that only 41 claimants had received copies of the letter. This cohort of claimants had undergone a Medical Assessment Process (MAP) examination for Vibration White Finger but because the UDM had raised concerns about a particular consultant they asked for 41 claimants seen by this consultant to undergo a second MAP examination. It was in between these two examinations that the letter was sent. The Department's claims handlers reviewed all 41 claims and they considered that the letter had had no impact on the results of the examinations.
Energy Policy
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps to ensure that officials in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs are invited to comment on policy advice he receives from his officials on energy matters; and if he will ensure that such comments are made available to him on a regular basis. [1524]
Malcolm Wicks
[holding answer 6 June 2005]: Energy matters are discussed by Ministers and officials regularly, in particular through the sustainable energy
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policy network, whose ministerial group oversees the delivery of the Energy White Paper commitments. The group is jointly chaired by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.
European Law
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the effects of ECJ ruling C-88/04, 2005/C 45/21, OJ C45 of 19 February 2005; and if he will make a statement. [492]
Barry Gardiner: The judgment of the European Court of Justice in case C-88/04 concerns non-implementation in Gibraltar of Directive 2001/29/EC on the harmonisation of certain aspects of copyright and related rights in the information society. The Government's response to the ruling foreshadowed implementation in Gibraltar early in 2005 and the European Commission has since been notified of the entry into force of this legislation. The Directive was implemented in the United Kingdom by Statutory Instrument (2003) No. 2498 which came into force on 31 October 2003 (The Copyright and Related Rights Regulations 2003).
Export Control Advisory Committee
Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which (a) companies, (b) organisations and (c) trade associations are represented on the Export Control Advisory Committee. [943]
Malcolm Wicks [holding answer 26 May 2005]: The CBI; NEC UK; Engineering Employers Federation; UK Steel; the Defence Manufacturers' Association; the Society of British Aerospace Companies Ltd.; GAMBICA; Chemical Industries Association; Manufacturing Technologies Association; the Defence Industries Council; Intellect (Federation of Electronic Industries); the Gun Trade Association; UK Universities; the Royal Society; the UK Industrial Space Committee; the British Chambers of Commerce; and the Export Group for Aerospace and Defence (EGAD). Also, DTI, MOD, FCO, DfID and HM Revenue and Customs.
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