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17 Jan 2006 : Column 1252W—continued
Post Office (Teynham)
Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the future of Teynham post office. [41888]
Barry Gardiner [holding answer 16 January 2006]: This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. (POL) and the chief executive has been asked to reply direct to the hon. Member.
Royal Mail
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the board members of Royal Mail; and what the date of appointment was of each one. [41911]
Barry Gardiner: The Board Members of Royal Mail Holdings plc currently are:
(10) A new finance director (currently being recruited), Ian Griffiths (as MD Letters) and Alan Cook (as MD Post Office Ltd.) are due to join the Board in early 2006.
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School Holidays (Price Rises)
Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what investigations have been undertaken by (a) the Office of Fair Trading and (b) the Competition Commission into the practice of travel companies raising prices during school holidays. [42374]
Mr. Sutcliffe [holding answer 2006]: While neither body has undertaken a formal inquiry into the practice the OFT did consider similar issues in the course of an investigation into the cost of flight supplements for package holidays from Scottish airports in 2001. The subsequent report concluded that there were no grounds for action under competition law.
The OFT's view is that in a competitive market it is inevitable that prices adjust based on supply and demand and one would therefore expect to see higher prices during school holidays when demand is greater relative to supply.
Sick Leave
David T.C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many of his Department's employees who are within one year of the official retirement age are on extended sick leave. [32589]
Alan Johnson: There are two employees in DTI HQ who have been on sick leave for at least three months and who are within a year, or later, of the normal retirement age. (normal retirement age is 60.)
The DTI remains committed to managing sickness absence effectively and, where appropriate, to putting in place the recommendations of the 2004 Managing Sickness Absence in the Public Sector" report to reduce long-term absence.
Sunday Trading
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 12 December 2005, Official Report, column 1675W, on Sunday trading hours, how many personal meetings he had with representatives of (a) trade unions, (b) supermarkets and (c) other large retail organisations in 2005 on Sunday trading. [40684]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The only meeting my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has held specifically on Sunday Trading to date was with USDAW (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) on 16 November 2005.
Mr. Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what recent written representations he has received on the (a) economic and (b) social implications of liberalised Sunday trading hours; [41035]
(2) what representations he has received from business stakeholders concerning the proposed review of Sunday trading laws. [41036]
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Mr. Sutcliffe: We have received representations from a range of stakeholders on the issue and welcome further views.
DTI officials have commissioned an independent cost-benefit analysis of the case for further liberalisation of the Sunday trading laws.
Mr. Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the planned cost-benefit analysis of liberalisation of Sunday trading hours will invite representations from groups interested in the social cost of longer trading hours; and if he will make a statement. [41047]
Mr. Sutcliffe: We are very happy to receive representations from stakeholders on all issues relevant to Sunday trading. The DTI website gives details of how to submit views and evidence.
Sunday Trading Laws
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether a change in Sunday opening would require primary legislation; and if he will make a statement. [41517]
Mr. Sutcliffe: I anticipate that primary legislation would be used to bring about any further liberalisation of Sunday Trading laws.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will strengthen the measures that protect those who for religious reasons do not wish to work on Sunday; and if he will include such proposals in the forthcoming consultation on changes to Sunday trading laws. [41519]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The right to opt-out of Sunday working under the ERA 1996 applies regardless of the individual's religion.
We are happy to receive representations from stakeholders on all issues relevant to Sunday trading.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Animal Welfare Bill
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with relevant Ministers about the extension of the Animal Welfare Bill to Northern Ireland. [42688]
Angela E. Smith: When consideration was given to extending the powers of the Animal Welfare Bill to Northern Ireland, it was viewed that this was inappropriate, as England and Wales legislation is different from Northern Ireland where animal welfare legislation dating back to 1911 has already been consolidated by the Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 1972.
However, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is finalising a review of Northern Ireland animal welfare legislation in order to identify measures, which are necessary to strengthen existing powers, by Easter.
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My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has had no-discussions with relevant Ministers about the extension of the Animal Welfare Bill to Northern Ireland.
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he plans to take steps to amend legislation on penalties for those found to be responsible for cruelty to animals in the light of recent cases in Northern Ireland. [42133]
Angela E. Smith: Unlike in the rest of the United Kingdom, where animal welfare legislation is at present spread over 23 Acts of Parliament going back to the Protection of Animals Act 1911, animal welfare legislation in Northern Ireland has already been simplified and consolidated by the Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 1972.
However, a review of animal welfare policy is currently being finalised with a view to identifying new measures that may be necessary to strengthen powers to deal with abuses of animal welfare, including illegal puppy farms, puppy trafficking and dog fighting. Following consultation with stakeholders, steps will be taken to consolidate current legislation and to introduce new powers and penalties to deal with new types of offences.
Antisocial Behaviour
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) interim and (b) full antisocial behaviour orders have been made in each Police Service of Northern Ireland district command unit since their introduction in Northern Ireland. [42685]
Mr. Hanson: The relevant authorities have notified the Northern Ireland Office of two antisocial behaviour orders in Larne district council area, one interim antisocial behaviour order in Belfast city council area, two interim antisocial behaviour orders in Coleraine borough council area, one antisocial behaviour order on conviction in Dungannon district council area, and one interim antisocial behaviour order in Magherafelt district council area. The NIO does not collect data by police DCU.
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