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31 Oct 2005 : Column 695W—continued
Company Law
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will seek to introduce a statutory duty on company directors (a) to consider, (b) report on and (c) to mitigate negative impacts which their business may have on communities and their environment in his proposed reform of company law. [22077]
Alun Michael: The Government regards responsible business behaviour as very important and that corporate social responsibility can help companies to become more efficient, more profitable and more sustainable. The Company Law Reform Bill will address one aspect of corporate social responsibility through its introduction of a statutory statement of directors general duties. This will provide greater clarity to directors on how they are expected to behave. The basic goal of directors is the success of the company in the collective best interests of shareholders, but in fulfilling this duty directors will be required, to have regard to factors such as the impact of the company's operations on the community and the environment. This approach will give directors the clarity they need, while recognising that business prosperity and responsible business behaviour are two sides of the same coin. It complements the requirement on quoted companies to report on matters such as social and community issues and the environment in the operating and financial review where these are necessary for an understanding of the nature of the business.
The Government recognises that the corporate social responsibility agenda is varied and wide. It does not believe that company law reform can address all of the issues within this agenda, and it will continue to consider more broadly how the regulatory and fiscal framework can encourage responsible business behaviour.
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received on allowing stakeholders a means of redress when companies have had a negative impact on communities or the environment; and if he will make a statement. [22078]
Alun Michael:
The Government has received a large number of responses to its proposals for company law reform. Many of these have commented on the proposals relating to the statutory statement of directors' duties, and on issues relating to the question in whose interests should companies be run?". The
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responses have been considered carefully and have informed the drafting of the relevant clauses of the Company Law Reform Bill.
Consultants
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what his Department's total spending on management consultants has been in each of the last three years. [13153]
Alun Michael: Central records indicate that the Department's total spending on management consultants in each of the last three financial years has been as follows:
| £ | |
|---|---|
| 2003–04 | 1,107,186 |
| 2004–05 | 2,005,669 |
| 2005–06 | (4)1,095,494 |
(4) To date.
Departmental Publications
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many (a) publications and (b) surveys his Department has published in each year since 1997; and how many copies of these publications have been (i) distributed to businesses in hard copy and (ii) placed on the Department's website. [20958]
Alan Johnson: Between 1 January 1997 and 20 October 2005 10,066 titles were produced and notified to my Department's Publications Unit. On 20 October 2005, 3,889 were currently available, of which 2,516 were available on the website. Figures for individual years could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Under the current contract for distribution of hard copy publications 8,158,884 items were dispatched in 2003, 6,578,809 in 2004 and 4,250,532 from 1 January to 20 October 2005. Figures for earlier years could be provided only at disproportionate cost. It is not possible to distinguish between items sent to businesses and those sent to individuals.
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what cost benefit analysis is undertaken by his Department prior to commissioning publications and surveys; and if he will make a statement. [20959]
Alan Johnson: Cost Benefit Appraisal guidance is made available to all producers of DTI publications.
Statistical surveys throughout government are subject to Survey Control procedures co-ordinated by the Office for National Statistics. These procedures ensure compliance with instructions laid down by the Prime Minister in 1999 (see link below).
All survey sponsors must obtain Survey Control clearance.
Departments provide summary survey control information to ONS to produce the 'Annual Report of GSS Survey Activity' (see link below). Details of the balance of costs and benefits for each survey conducted in the Department are not however collated centrally.
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http://www.statistics.gov.uk/about/data/methodology/quality/downloads/gss_survey_control_new_instructions_inc_pms_ note.pdf
Annual Report of GSS Survey Activity
Departmental Staff
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the secondees (a) working and (b) who have worked during the last 12 months in his Department; and which organisation each has been seconded from. [17407]
Alan Johnson: The table indicates the secondees currently working in the Department of Trade and Industry and the organisation each has been seconded from.
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The following table indicates the secondees that completed their secondments to the Department of Trade and Industry during the last 12 months and the organisation each was seconded from.
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Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the rates of employee absence in his Department have been in each year since 1997. [21028]
Alan Johnson: I refer the hon. Member to the figures contained in the annual report Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service" published by the Cabinet Office. Table A of the report gives details of both the average working days absence per staff year and the number of staff years on which that calculation is based on. The most recent report for the calendar year 2003 was published on 1 November 2004, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House. This report and those for 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002 are available on the Cabinet Office website at: http://www.civilservice. gov.uk/management_of_the_civil_service/conditions_ of_service/occupational_health/publications/index.asp
Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what training in (a) literacy and (b) numeracy is offered to employees of his Department. [21121]
Alan Johnson: The Department of Trade and Industry offers all employees on an equal basis the right to attend courses to improve their numeracy and literacy skills. These include courses offered by the departmental supplier of training such as effective written skills. We also offer the chance to pursue the skills for life numeracy and literacy programme at an independent educational establishment on day release if they so choose.
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