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7 Nov 2005 : Column 51W—continued
Royal Mail
Mr. Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how much compensation was paid to members of the public for letters lost or stolen while in the possession of the Royal Mail in the last three years for which information is available; [24948]
(2) how many letters (a) were lost or stolen and (b) had items stolen from inside the letter while in the possession of the Royal Mail in the last three years for which information is available. [24949]
Barry Gardiner:
This is an operational matter for Royal Mail. I have therefore asked Adam Crozier, the chief executive of Royal Mail, to provide a direct reply to my hon. Friend.
7 Nov 2005 : Column 52W
Information on complaints and compensation are published on the Royal Mail website: http://www.royalmail.group.com/
Security-sensitive Exports
Peter Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the implications for the effectiveness of oversight of security-sensitive exports of the change in the number of posts in his Department's Export Control Office. [23549]
Ian Pearson: The reduction in the headcount of the Export Control Organisation has not so far materially affected its effectiveness or efficiency, as measured by the accuracy and timeliness of its licensing decisions. However I shall be monitoring the situation carefully to ensure consistent levels of service.
Small Businesses
Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to help small businesses to expand. [24561]
Alun Michael [holding answer 3 November 2005]: The Government places high priority on helping small business to grow and is pleased that SME productivity growth has exceeded all firms" productivity growth over the 4-year period 1999–2003 (the most recent period for which statistics have been published.
The Government provides a range of support to encourage small businesses to expand and grow, including help with access to finance, measures to improve skills, promoting innovation and help for businesses to export. The way for any small business to gain access to this support is to contact the local Business Link, while the website www.businesslink.gov.uk provides authoritative information from over 40 Government Departments and agencies. We are also active in reducing the regulatory burden on business, freeing more entrepreneurs' time to focus on growth.
Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what grants are available for research and development undertaken by small and medium-sized enterprises. [24555]
Alun Michael: The starting point for any business in England is to contact the local Business Link, which exists to provide advice and help in identifying the help available to meet that business's specific needs. In doing so, the Business Link will draw on assistance funded by Government and by others including local government and by commercial and other providers. The assistance provided by Government is as follows:
Each year the DTI invests over £400 million assisting businesses through grants, loans and subsidised consultancy. DTI provides the following help to small and medium-sized businesses to undertake research and development:
Grant for Research and Development" provides grants to help individuals and small and medium-sized businesses research and develop technologically innovative products and processes.
Collaborative Research and Development" provides grants to businesses of all sizes to carry out projects in strategically important areas of science, engineering and technology.
Collaborative Research and Development can also be used to fund collaboration with international partners through EUREKA.
Full details of DTI's support for business can be found on the DTI website at www.dti.gov.uk/bss.
Businesses can find details of further sources of help with starting and growing a business through the Grants and Support Directory on www.businesslink.gov.uk/support but will be given a personal service of advice and help by their local Business Link.
UK Trade and Investment
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the annual budget for UK Trade and Investment and its predecessor body was in each year from 1997; and what the staff complement was in each year. [20550]
Ian Pearson: UK Trade and Investment (formerly British Trade International) was established in 1999. According to its annual report and accounts the annual spend in support of the organisation's objectives for the period 2000–01 (the first year that information is available) until 2004–05 and the staff complement for each of those years is as follows.
| Total net resources | Staff numbers(7) | |
|---|---|---|
| 2000–01 | 277 | 2,224 |
| 2001–02 | 257 | 2,217 |
| 2002–03 | 279 | 2,303 |
| 2003–04 | 289 | 2,305 |
| 2004–05 | 291 | 2,312 |
(7) Whole time equivalents.
Note:
For 2004–05 the figures are indicative.
Source:
Except for 2004–05, UK Trade and Investment (Formerly British Trade International) published Resource Accounts.
7 Nov 2005 : Column 54W
UK/Uganda Trade
Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the volume of trade was between the United Kingdom and Uganda in each year since 2001, broken down by product. [24437]
Ian Pearson: The information is as follows:
| UK Exports | UK Imports | |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 34,814 | 8,542 |
| 2002 | 33,666 | 10,672 |
| 2003 | 36,765 | 9,448 |
| 2004 | 36,397 | 13,174 |
Product breakdown is as follows:
(8) Total trade figures rounded up/down.
Source:
Compiled by DTI Statistics from HM Revenue and Customs data.
7 Nov 2005 : Column 55W
Universal Banking Service
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the impact of the universal banking service on financial inclusion of the residents of small rural communities; and if he will make a statement. [22200]
Mr. Plaskitt: I have been asked to reply.
The move to Direct Payment and the introduction of universal banking services, which have brought banking services into many rural and urban deprived areas for the first time, have resulted in a number of benefits for individuals and the communities in which they live. Many people who were previously financially excluded in these areas now have more choice and improved local access to banking services.
The banking industry have worked with Government to make basic bank accounts, which were specifically designed to address the needs of the financially excluded, more accessible. Since the start of universal banking in April 2003, a net total of around 1.4 million basic bank accounts have been opened—and the majority of these have the facility to withdraw cash at post office counters as well as through bank branches and ATMs. Some 20 million people are able to access their current accounts through post office branches.
In April 2003, only 43 per cent. of DWP customers were paid directly into an account—following the move to Direct Payment and the introduction of universal banking services that figure has now increased to over 97 per cent.
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