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20 Dec 2005 : Column 2780W—continued
EU Domain
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps to ensure British businesses have equal access to the new.eu domain name. [38003]
Alun Michael:
All organisations with an address in the EU can register a domain name under the new.eu top-level domain. Registrations are made on a first come, first served basis, usual practice for domain name registries. There is a dispute resolution procedure in place.
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Under the current sunrise period", which opened on 7 December, organisations can apply for domain names where they can claim some rights (for example, a registered trade mark).
The registry responsible for operating the .eu top-level domain (EURID) and the European Commission have ensured reasonable awareness of the introduction of .eu internet addresses. Registrars—the organisations selling domain names have also advertised availability.
The domain name market is highly competitive, and it would be inappropriate for the UK Government to promote a particular top-level domain.
It is for organisations and individuals themselves to decide whether to apply for a .eu domain name.
Export Credits Guarantee Department
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions the Export Credits Guarantee Department has held with law enforcement agencies on (a) the impact of its anti-corruption procedures on law enforcement efforts to detect, investigate and prosecute overseas corruption offences and (b) the potential impact of its audit clause on future law enforcement investigations into overseas corruption. [38220]
Ian Pearson: ECGD has informed other Government Departments, including the Home Office, and certain law enforcement agencies of its anti-bribery and corruption procedures. ECGD has provided them with the opportunity to comment on proposed revisions to its procedures resulting from the current public consultation and will continue to do so.
Fur Import Ban
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has made within the EU on banning the import of cat and dog fur from China into the EU. [34605]
Ian Pearson: Within the EU this issue was discussed most recently at the 30 May 2005 Agriculture Council and at a meeting of chief veterinary officers on 6 July. At these meetings, the UK supported the position that the European Commission should explore concerns about the possible import of domestic cat and dog fur to the European Union as well as possible policy responses, including the possibility of a ban.
Glass Industry
Mr. MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to control the price of gas for the glass industry; and if he will make a statement. [38493]
Malcolm Wicks: Government policy is not to intervene in the energy market except in extreme circumstances, such as a threat to safety. We take the issue of security of energy supplies, and rising energy prices, very seriously, and are leaving no stone unturned in finding ways to mitigate the impact on customers.
The Department has been working with the Energy Intensive Users Group, of which British Glass is a member, and Ofgem through the Gas Prices Working
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Group (GPWG) to develop ideas for improving the operation of the wholesale gas market and ways to mitigate the effects of high wholesale prices. The GPWG has agreed an Action List of short to medium term measures, including maximising UK gas supplies, encouraging demand side response and pursuing energy market liberalisation in the EU.
In particular, the Department has worked hard to smooth the regulatory path for the construction of major new pipelines from Norway and the Netherlands, as well as two further gas import terminals in Pembrokeshire, all of which will ease the supply situation. Ofgem's Demand Side Working Group is working closely with industry to ensure that any necessary demand-side response is delivered in an efficient, flexible and responsive way. Also, the Government has put a lot of effort into pressing for full liberalisation within the EU, including at the successful Energy Council on 1 December, which I chaired, and this remains one of our key energy objectives. More recently, I have held meetings with the operators of North Sea gas fields, companies using the Bacton-Zeebrugge interconnector and the Isle of Grain gas import terminal to impress on them personally the importance I attach to the facilities operating effectively this winter.
Information and Communication Technology
Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Tradeand Industry when he will publish the 2005 International Benchmarking Study on the business use of information and communication technology. [32534]
Alun Michael: The Department has been reviewing the International Benchmarking Study (IBS) which was sponsored by the DTI until 2004 as a means of monitoring previous targets and has been considering the metrics needed to report against our new National Standard of 'Maintaining the UK's standing as one of the best places in the world for online business'.
This review has included an analysis of the cost of International Benchmarking Study research and a look at alternative reports/surveys of data such as Eurostat, ONS, Economist Intelligence Unit report and the Network Readiness Index as well as other public/private sources which were not available at the time the International Benchmarking Study was first commissioned. It has been concluded that there are now better ways of monitoring performance and that an International Benchmarking Study (IBS) covering the period 2005 would not offer value for money, and we will give a decision on the data to be produced shortly.
Internet Service Providers
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the number of internet service providers based in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales, (c) each of the English regions and (d) Northern Ireland. [39203]
Alun Michael: Such information is not collected.
Israel
Kate Hoey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what mechanisms exist (a) to
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monitor whether British firms violate (i) UK and (ii)international law on accepting contracts with Israel which include work in the Occupied Territories and (b) to enforce subsequent penalties. [35624]
Ian Pearson: British firms accepting contracts with Israel, which include work in the occupied territories, are not in violation of UK or international law provided they comply with UK export controls.
Mobile Telephones
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the number of mobile telephones in use in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales, (c) each of the English regions and (d) Northern Ireland. [39200]
Alun Michael: Ofcom, the independent regulator for the UK communication industries, estimates in its recent report The Communications Market 2005" that there are around 61 million mobile telephones in use in the UK today. The same report details a breakdown of household penetration of mobile telephony across the UK but does not include specific details across the nations for SME's or large corporates. According to thereport levels of household usage across each of the nations are: England 77 per cent., Northern Ireland 71 per cent., Scotland 68 per cent., and Wales 72 per cent.
Car/Motorcycle Manufacturing Industry
Mr. Paterson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many people were employed in the motorcycle manufacturing industry in each year since 1997; [38650]
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(2) how many people were employed in the car manufacturing industry in each year since 1997; [38651]
(3) what the total value was of sales of (a) new and (b) second hand cars sold in the UK in each financial year since 1997. [38817]
Alun Michael: The following table sets out answers to these questions to the extent that data is available.
For the UK auto industry, employment data is not separately available for car manufacturing, as the total for vehicles also includes commercial vehicles and engines. For completeness, the table also includes employment at component suppliers, although this understates the true size of the UK auto industry as many suppliers to the industry are classified in the statistics according to what they make (e.g. steel, glass). The ONS Annual Business Inquiry does not have employment data for 1997.
From this data, it can be deduced that UK auto industry productivity is improving, both in terms of cars made per worker per annum, and GVA per employee. These are important measures that indicate continuing improvements in UK's auto manufacturing competitiveness on the global stage.
As regards registrations data, new registrations are in the public domain and are quoted here. Used vehicle transaction data is normally a chargeable service from DVLA, but SMMT provides used car sales data on request, and this is quoted here.
Data on the value of vehicle sales, new or used, is commercially sensitive within the industry and not published. However, data is available from ONS on the value added generated by the motor trade and this is quoted here. Again, the value added generated per employee is on a rising trend, indicating continually improving efficiency and competitiveness.
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