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5 Dec 2005 : Column 1012W—continued
Post Office
Dr. McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it his policy to maintain the Post Office as a public utility; and if he will make a statement. [33589]
Barry Gardiner: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry made it clear at DTI oral questions on 21 July that the Government will not privatise Royal Mail. We will continue to pursue our ambition of a publicly owned Royal Mail Group, including Post Office Ltd., fully restored to good health and providing customers with an excellent service and its employees with rewarding employment.
Public Service Agreements
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the feasibility of making international comparisons of consumer empowerment and support for the purposes of measuring achievement against public service agreement target 3. [30062]
Alan Johnson: In 2003, my Department published a comparative report on consumer policy regimes. The report can be found at http://www.dti.gov.uk/ccp/topics1/pdf1/benchmain.pdf. This was the result of work by DTI, OFT and HM Treasury officials looking at nine different consumer policy regimes across the OECD.
A DTI-led research programme under the OECD's Committee on Consumer Policy is now examining in more detail specific aspects of consumer policy regimes in OECD countries, with the aim of identifying the common features of effective regimes. As the research progresses, our understanding of what makes an effective consumer regime should improve and we will be able to compare aspects of our own regime against this.
Regional Assistance Grant
Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total amount of regional assistance grant to industry was in (a) each constituency in the north west of England and (b) each region in England in 2004–05; and if he will make a statement. [33444]
Alun Michael: The figures in the table include Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) and Selective Financial Investment (SFI) grants. RSA came to an end at the end of the financial year 2003–04 and was replaced by Selective Financial Investment (SFI). However some RSA grants received at the end of the financial year 2003–04 were processed in 2004–05.
RSA and SFI are aimed specifically at assisted areas (list as follows) which means that not all the constituencies in the North West are eligible for funding.
5 Dec 2005 : Column 1013W
Renewable Energy
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made in achieving an increase in electricity production from renewable energy sources in line with EU Directive 2001/77/EC; and if he will make a statement. [32745]
Malcolm Wicks: The Government have made significant progress in increasing electricity production from renewable energy sources in line with EU Directive 2001/77/EC, on the promotion of electricity produced from renewable energy sources in the internal electricity market.
In 2004, 4.39 per cent. of electricity was derived from renewable sources on a Renewables Directive basis, compared to just 2.85 per cent. in 2001. The details of which are published in the Digest of UK Energy Statistics (DUKES). A copy of DUKES is available from the Libraries of the House.
5 Dec 2005 : Column 1014W
Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research his Department has undertaken to assess the export potential of renewable energy technologies to developing countries. [33985]
Malcolm Wicks: The renewable sector trade promotion service is currently focussing its market visit and appraisal work on countries that have demonstrated the greatest market potential for the UK and is supporting companies to win business in those markets. The service has in the past carried out formal market appraisal work for some developing countries including India and Indonesia which were followed up with trade missions.
Small Business Service
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many inquiries the Small Business Service had from Southend West constituency in each of the last three years for which figures are available. [33547]
5 Dec 2005 : Column 1015W
Alun Michael: Inquiries for small businesses are handled by the local Business Link. The hon. Member's constituency falls within the catchment area of Business Link for Essex. In 2002–03 Business Link received 12,717 inquiries; in 2003–04 16,014 and in 2004–05 18,657.
The Business Link for Essex does not collate data at constituency level. However, it holds the following records of inquiries for Southend by financial year:
| Number of inquiries | |
|---|---|
| April 2003 to March 2004 | 936 |
| April 2004 to March 2005 | 1,228 |
| April 2005 to November 2005 | 1,623 |
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many businesses were started in Southend West constituency with the help of the Small Business Service in each of the last three years for which figures are available. [33548]
Alun Michael: DTI figures based solely on VAT registrations for Southend West parliamentary constituency are shown as follows for 2002 to 2004. Data for 2005 will be available in autumn 2006.
| DTI figures | |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 275 |
| 2003 | 265 |
| 2004 | 245 |
VAT registrations do not capture all start-up activity. Businesses are unlikely to be registered if they fall below the compulsory VAT threshold. Only 1.8 million out of 4.3 million enterprises were registered for VAT at the start of 2004.
Public funding for start-ups takes various forms, including support from Business Link. In relation to Business Link, data is not routinely captured at constituency level. However, Business Link for Essex holds the following records of inquiries for Southend by financial year:
| Number of inquiries | |
|---|---|
| April 2003 to March 2004 | 936 |
| April 2004 to March 2005 | 1,228 |
| April 2005 to November 2005 | 1,623 |
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much funding was made available to companies by the Small Business Service in each of the last three years for which figures are available. [33549]
Alun Michael: The total programme expenditure for the Small Business Service, as reported in its Annual Report and Agency Accounts, was:
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| 2002–03 | 357 |
| 2003–04 | 378 |
| 2004–05 | 386 |
5 Dec 2005 : Column 1016W
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Small Business Service in assisting the establishment of new companies. [33551]
Alun Michael: Since the Small Business Service was established in 2000, business start-ups have risen to record levels. The number of small businesses has risen by over 500,000, since 1997, to 4.3 million. In England the Business Link service is now supporting 170,000 pre-start ups each year. The Small Business Service's Public Sector Agreement target is to help to build an enterprise society in which small firms of all kinds thrive and achieve their potential with (i) an increase in the number of people considering going into business, (ii) an improvement in the overall productivity of small firms, and (iii) more enterprise in disadvantaged communities. Recent progress in achieving this target is available on the DTI website: www.dti.gov.uk/expenditureplan/report2005/pdfs/expenditure_plan_complete.pdf
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