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24 Nov 2005 : Column 2204W—continued
CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS
Predictive Diallers
John Hemming: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many calls were made from call centres in her Department in 2004–05 using predictive diallers; how many such calls resulted in contact being made with the recipient without a Government agent available to talk to them; and what assessment she has made of the likely impact of Ofcom's policy on silent calls on the use of predictive diallers in departmental call centres. [28178]
Ms Harman: Two call centres are currently operated by the Department for Constitutional Affairs or its agencies:
Neither of these call centres currently makes use of predictive diallers and there are no future plans for their use.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Broadband
Mr. Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total amount of financial subsidies and grants received by BT has been since 1997 for the purpose of extending broadband availability in the UK. [29872]
Alun Michael: Since 1997 BT has received the following financial sums to enable exchanges to extend broadband availability in the UK:
East of England Development Agency paid BT approximately £500,000, to enable most of their remaining exchanges in BED A areas. This was awarded through the Broadband Aggregation programme.
Following a competitive tender South West Regional Development Agency awarded BT approximately £3900,000 to enable some exchanges in the Cornwall area.
Following a competitive tender, BT in Wales was awarded £3.6 million of European Structural Funding to upgrade over 40 BT telephone exchanges from UXD5, making ISDB2 services available to 99 per cent. of BT lines. The investment was also used to enable Digital Subscriber Lines, ahead of the commercial roll-out programme for the UK, in BT exchanges in market towns across Wales. It is estimated that the total project value was around £6 million.
Following a full EU Procurement Process to extend broadband availability in the North East region, BT was paid £1,830,345. This sum is subject to a downward adjustment, in accordance with a reverse contribution scheme, which operates to repay money to the Agency if broadband take up in the region exceeds a prescribed level.
£364k was awarded to Vale Royal Local Authority acting on behalf of the Cheshire Digital Development Agency who, following a competitive tender through the North West Regional Aggregation Body, awarded BT a contract to enable of a series of remote rural exchanges in Cheshire.
In Cumbria, Your Communications was awarded a large infrastructure project (Project Access) contract for approximately £17 million following a negotiated, state aid approved OJEU competitive tender. Your Communications sub contracted part of the contract with a value of around £1 million to BT for the early enablement of all the exchanges in Cumbria and specifically for the enablement of 14 exchanges in the remotest areas of the sub region.
In Scotland £16.5 million was awarded to BT following competitive tender. The roll-out has not yet been completed so not all the money has been paid as yet. The European Commission was notified under State Aid rules.
East Midlands Development Agency has worked with BT on a number of sub- regional strategic partnerships, to extend broadband availability. As part of the contractual arrangements confidentiality agreements were signed by the sub- regional partnerships to protect information as commercial in confidence. Accordingly, this information is not be available for disclosure.
Rail Freight (Scottish Coal)
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how the £9.7 million allocated to Scottish Coal (Opencast) to develop rail freight facilities for the transport of coal by rail has been spent. [30895]
Malcolm Wicks: This is a devolved matter for the Scottish Executive and my hon. Friend may wish to write to them about the issue.
Coal Imports
Mr. Meale: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much coal was imported into the UK in each of the past five years. [30904]
Malcolm Wicks: The total amount of coal imported into the UK in each of the five years from 2000 to 2004 is shown in the following table:
| Thousand tonnes | |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 23,446 |
| 2001 | 35,542 |
| 2002 | 28,687 |
| 2003 | 31,891 |
| 2004 | 36,153 |
Source:
Table 2.7, Digest of UK Energy Statistics, 2005
Coal Miners' Compensation
Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what his initial findings were in the June review of the work of (a) the Union of Democratic Miners, (b) claims handling firms and (c) other solicitors in relation to fraudulent handling of health compensation claims for ex-coal miners; and if he will make a statement. [31537]
Malcolm Wicks:
I hope to make a statement shortly.
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Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what conclusions he has reached following the review of his Department's administration of the health compensation scheme for claims by ex-coal miners; and if he will make a statement. [30654]
Malcolm Wicks [holding answer 21 November 2005]: I hope to make a statement shortly.
Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate his Department has made of the costs incurred as a result of the fraudulent handling of claims under the health compensation scheme for ex-miners; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure adequate safeguards are in place in the future administration of the scheme. [30655]
Malcolm Wicks [holding answer 21 November 2005]: I asked Stephen Boys Smith to look at this aspect as part of his review of the coal health compensation schemes and I hope to make a statement shortly.
Coal Production
Mr. Meale: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the levels of coal produced were in the UK in each of the past five years. [30903]
Malcolm Wicks: The total amount of coal produced in the UK in each of the five years from 2000 to 2004 is shown in the following table:
| Deep-mined | Opencast | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 17,187 | 13,412 | 30,600 |
| 2001 | 17,347 | 14,166 | 31,513 |
| 2002 | 16,391 | 13,148 | 29,539 |
| 2003 | 15,633 | 12,126 | 27,759 |
| 2004 | 12,543 | 11,993 | 24,536 |
Source:
Table 2.7, Digest of UK Energy Statistics, 2005
Departmental Sickness Absence
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many staff in his Department have been absent on sick leave during the last two years for more than (a) three months, (b) six months, (c) 12 months and (d) two years. [28726]
Alan Johnson: The DTI HQ's statistics show that, in the last two-year period, 128 staff have been continuously sick for over 3 months, 8 have been continuously sick for over 6 months, 1 for over a year and none for over 2 years.
Departmental Staff
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what arrangements are in place to monitor attendance by staff in his Department at seminars and conferences; and how much was spent in each of the last five years on attendance at conference and seminars by members of staff in his Department, broken down into (a) travel and accommodation expenses and (b) fees for attendance. [28733]
Alan Johnson:
Attendance at seminars and conferences requires the approval of a senior officer with the necessary delegated authority to commit to expenditure from an appropriate budget and is arranged
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at Management Unit level. No central monitoring takes place. Details of the amount spent on travel and accommodation by officials and fees paid to attend seminars and conferences over the last five years could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
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