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15 Dec 2005 : Column 2254W—continued
New Businesses
Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the rate of new business development per 10,000 population (a) was in 2004–05 and (b) is in 2005–06 in (i) England, (ii) the West Midlands and (iii)Stoke-on-Trent. [37718]
Alun Michael: According to Barclays Bank's latest survey of business creation, which includes non-VAT registered firms, there were 425,100 business start-ups in England in 2004, representing 105 new businesses per 10,000 resident adults 1 . A further 277,500 businesses started up in England in the first nine months of 2005.
Barclays data show that there were 36,100 business start-ups in the West Midlands Government Office Region in 2004, representing 85 new businesses per 10,000 resident adults 1 . A further 24,300 businesses started up in the first nine months of 2005. Barclays data show there were 1,100 business start-ups in Stoke-on-Trent unitary authority in 2004, representing 57 new businesses per 10,000 resident adults 1 . A further 700 businesses started up in the first nine months of 2005.
DTI figures based solely on VAT registrations for England, West Midlands Government Office Region and Stoke-on-Trent unitary authority are shown in the following table for 2004. Data for 2005 will be available in Autumn 2006.
| VAT registrations 2004 | VAT registrations per 10,000 resident adults(20), 2004 | |
|---|---|---|
| England | 158,535 | 39 |
| West Midlands | 14,855 | 35 |
| Stoke-on-Trent | 535 | 28 |
(20)Based on mid-year 2004 population estimates published by the Office for National Statistics.
Source:
Business Start-ups and Closures: VAT Registrations and De-registrations 1994–2004, Small Business Service, available at http://www.sbs.gov.uk/vats
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.
Nuclear Power
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research has been undertaken by his Department on the cost-effectiveness of nuclear power in reducing carbon dioxide emissions compared with other measures; and if he will make a statement. [37693]
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Malcolm Wicks: The 2003 Energy White Paper published the results of extensive modelling of the costs of different options for reducing carbon dioxide emissions over the period to 2050. The analysis is available at:
The Department is also aware of other recent studies providing estimates of the costs of nuclear energy, notably those by the Royal Academy of Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Chicago.
In November 2005 my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced that there would be a review of energy policy which would report in summer 2006. This will involve further analysis of the costs of different options, including nuclear energy, for meeting the Government's long-term targets for reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research his Department has commissioned on the cost-effectiveness of nuclear power in reducing carbon dioxide emissions compared with other measures; and if he will make a statement. [37700]
Malcolm Wicks: The 2003 Energy White Paper published the results of extensive modelling of the costs of different options for reducing carbon dioxide emissions over the period to 2050. The analysis is available at:
The Department is also aware of other recent studies providing estimates of the costs of nuclear energy, notably those by the Royal Academy of Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Chicago.
In November 2005 my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced that there would be a review of energy policy which would report in summer 2006. This will involve further analysis of the costs of different options, including nuclear energy, for meeting the Government's long-term targets for reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals have been made by the Nuclear Decommissioning Agency for the demolition of nuclear power stations; when he received the proposals; what the anticipated costs were; and when he will make a decision on the proposals. [37712]
Malcolm Wicks: The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority has set out in its draft Strategy proposals for the decommissioning and clean-up of its sites. The draft Strategy sets out the scope, schedule, and cost of work at each site over its lifetime—and includes proposals for its fleet of Magnox power stations. The draft Strategy is available at: www.nda.gov.uk I expect to receive the NDA's proposed Strategy before Christmas. It will go to the Scottish Ministers at the same time. The Scottish Ministers and I will then have until 31 March 2006 to consider and approve the NDA's proposed Strategy.
Mr. Chaytor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions have taken place in the Joint Research/Atomic Questions Working Party of
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the EU in respect of the draft council decision concerning the approval of the accession of the European Atomic Energy Community to a framework agreement for International Collaboration on research and development of generation IV nuclear energy systems (GIF); what decisions have been taken; and what financial commitment has been made by the United Kingdom in support of the GIF. [35653]
Malcolm Wicks: In 2005 EURATOM's accession to GIF has been discussed in the Joint Research/Atomic Questions Working party on the following dates:
At the September 2005meeting the presidency stated that as there was a clear qualified majority in favour of EURATOM's accession to the GIF it would be sent as an I" point to Coreper and an A" point to a future Council (i.e. to be agreed without discussion).
Council Secretariat has subsequently sent the finalised version of the draft Council Decision to all delegations to give them the opportunity to register any opposition.
DTI has allocated £10 million, £5 million in 2006–07 and £5 million in 2007–08, to support UK involvement in international research on advanced nuclear energy systems. Much of this is expected to fund UK research on Generation IV systems for
potential international deployment from around 2030; the exact amount will depend on the mix of research proposals that are submitted. The initiative will support UK skills needed to keep open the nuclear energy option and our capability to keep abreast of international developments and inform UK policy development.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions have taken place between the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate and the Environment Agency on the licensing of newly-built nuclear power stations. [36809]
Malcolm Wicks: HSEfs Nuclear Installations Inspectorate and the Environment Agency maintain a regular dialogue on various matters of mutual interest. Since the 2003 Energy White Paper, Nil and the EA have not engaged in any formal discussions about licensing new nuclear power stations. Recently, Nil and EA have had informal and very preliminary discussions about the regulatory strategy that might be appropriate for the licensing and authorization of new nuclear power stations, in the event of any applications to build new stations. Nil and EA share the view that a coordinated regulatory approach to any potential new nuclear build would be essential.
Post Offices
Sir Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many rural post offices have closed in the last 12 months. [37630]
Barry Gardiner:
I am advised by Post Office Ltd. that total net rural post office closures for the financial year 2004–05 were 144. Of these closures, 97 were in England, 22 in Scotland, 18 in Wales and 7 in Northern Ireland.
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Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 21 November 2005, Official Report, column 1555W, on post offices, what the timetable is for submitting formal notification to the European Commission for subsidies to support the rural post office network for the five years after March 2008; and if he will make a statement. [37493]
Barry Gardiner: Decisions concerning the future of the rural post office network have yet to be taken. Only when Government have had time to consider (a) the findings of the Post Office Ltd report on their trials of new, innovative and cost-effective ways of delivering post office services to rural communities and (b) ongoing analysis of the needs of stakeholders and the public, will it be possible to take well-informed decisions about the future of the rural network. If required, a state aid notification will be made at that time.
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 21 November 2005, Official Report, column 1555W, on post offices, whether the Government will be publishing the Post Office Ltd.'s report of their pilot programme, trialling new and innovative ways of delivering postal services to rural communities; and if he will make a statement. [37494]
Barry Gardiner: The Report is due to be presented to Government by the end of December 2005. Consideration will be given to its findings which will help inform the future options for the network on which a public consultation will be held in the new year. A decision on publication will be taken in due course.
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