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23 Jan 2006 : Column 1768W—continued
Patents Act
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the operation of sections 1 to 4 of the Patents Act 2004. [41002]
Alan Johnson: Sections 1 to 4 of the Patents Act 2004 will bring UK patents legislation into line with the revised European Patent Convention (EPC"). These provisions will be brought into force at the same time as the revised EPC itself takes effect. This is desirable in order to maintain consistency between the UK and European patents systems. It is uncertain exactly when this will be, because the revised EPC takes effect two years after the 15th state has ratified or acceded, or (if earlier) three months after the final state has ratified or acceded. At present I understand that 14 states have done so, and that includes the UK. The revised EPC, and the corresponding provisions in the 2004 Act, are therefore unlikely to take effect before mid-2008.
Pension Contributions
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the cost was of pension contributions incurred by (a) his Department and (b) each (i) non-departmental public body, (ii) executive agency and (iii) other public body for which he is responsible in (A)Scotland, (B) Wales, (C) each of the English regions and (D) Northern Ireland in each of the last three financial years; and what the planned expenditure is for 2005–06. [39993]
Alan Johnson: The pension contributions recorded in the Department of Trade and Industry's Consolidated Resource Accounts (which include the executive agencies, The Insolvency Service, Employment Tribunals Service, National Weights And Measures Laboratory and the NDPB The Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service) are as follows:
| £000 | |
|---|---|
| 2002–03 | 30,053 |
| 2003–04 | 32,076 |
| 2004–05 | 34,876 |
23 Jan 2006 : Column 1769W
The pension costs of the non-consolidated bodies for which the Department is responsible are accounted for in each of the individual body's published accounts. To table each of these bodies to obtain this information would result in the incurring of disproportionate costs.
For 2005–06, employers' contributions are payable to the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS) at one of four rates in the ranges 16.2 per cent. to 24.6 per cent. of pensionable pay, based on salary bands. The Scheme Actuary reviews employer contributions every four years following a full scheme valuation; last carried out as at 31 March 2003. The contribution rates reflect the cost of benefits as they accrue (net of employee contributions), not the costs as they are actually incurred, and reflect past experience of the scheme.
Postcomm
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what reasons Postcomm gave for its decision to remove Presstream from price control when the new price control regime starts in April; and if he will make a statement. [44256]
Barry Gardiner: Price control is a matter for Postcomm, the industry regulator. Background information regarding its decision can be found on its website at http://www.psc.gov.uk/policy-and-consultations/consultations/price-control.html
Renewable Energy Systems
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for how many projects Renewable Energy Systems Groups has received Government grants, including grants from regional development agencies; and what the level of funding received was for each project. [43358]
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate his Department has made of the annual premiums Renewable Energy Systems would receive on electricity generated at the proposed wind farm at Den Brook. [43359]
Malcolm Wicks: The Department has made no estimate of the annual premiums Renewable Energy Systems would receive on electricity generated from the proposed wind farm at Den Brook.
This is primarily a matter for the developer.
Wind Farms
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions his Department has had with Renewable Energy Systems Groups regarding the proposed wind farm at Yelland, Devon. [43357]
Malcolm Wicks: The Department has had no discussions with Renewable Energy Systems regarding the proposed wind farm at Yelland in Devon.
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what premiums the Government offers to companies running wind farms for the energy that they contribute to the National Grid which is not available to energy generated through other means. [43355]
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Malcolm Wicks: The Government does not offer companies running wind farms a premium for their electricity that is not available to energy generated through other means.
However, wind farms, like some other sources of renewable energy such as wave and tidal power, are supported under the Renewables Obligation.
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the cost to public funds of grants to companies for the construction of wind farms has been for each of the last five years, broken down by company. [43360]
Malcolm Wicks: The cost to public funds of grants to companies for the construction of offshore wind farms in the last five financial years is as follows:
No capital grants have been paid to companies for the construction of onshore wind farms in the last five financial years.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Antisocial Behaviour Orders
Mr. Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders have been issued by courts in Hartlepool since the penalty was introduced; and how many have been breached. [39173]
Hazel Blears: A table giving a breakdown by the local government authority area in which prohibitions are imposed within antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) is available on the crime reduction website at www.crimereduction.gov.uk. This table gives data by year since ASBOs were introduced. The Home Office court proceedings database holds breach proceedings only where there has been a conviction. These data are available at criminal justice area level only.
Asylum/Immigration
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the Minister's statement in the Standing Committee on the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Bill, on 25 October 2005, Official Report, column 237, when the full review and evaluation of section 9 of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Act 2004, will be completed; if he will place a copy of the study and its results in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [41908]
Mr. McNulty:
The Immigration Service/National Asylum Support Service (NASS) review and evaluate section 9 is currently ongoing. The document is scheduled to be completed by the end of February.
23 Jan 2006 : Column 1771W
Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for theHome Department how many asylum applicants were returned to other EU countries under the terms ofthe Dublin Regulations in each month since June 2005. [40356]
Mr. McNulty: The approximate number of asylum applicants returned to other EU countries under the terms of the Dublin Regulations in each month since June 2005 is as follows:
| Number | |
|---|---|
| June 2005 | 130 |
| July 2005 | 140 |
| August 2005 | 150 |
| September 2005 | 140 |
These figures are based on internal management information and as such are not of sufficient quality to be published as National Statistics.
Mr. Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the removal of failed asylum seekers from the United Kingdom. [40442]
Mr. McNulty: All asylum claims are considered on their individual merits by specially trained caseworkers with access to comprehensive and up to date country information, with due regard to the United Kingdom's obligations under both the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the Human Rights Act 1998.
Asylum seekers whose claims are not successful are given every opportunity to leave the United Kingdom voluntarily. However, it is essential to the maintenance of a fair immigration and asylum system that those who have no right to remain in the United Kingdom and who have chosen not to leave voluntarily are removed.
This is always done in the most sensitive way possible, treating those being removed with courtesy and professionalism. We will only remove an asylum seeker from the UK where it has been found that it is safe to do so.
Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 20 December 2005, Official Report, column 2877W on asylum/immigration, what the cost would be of providing a quantitative answer to the question; and if he will make a statement. [43044]
Mr. McNulty: [holding answer 17 January 2006]: As part of the Home Office, IND is not obliged to comply with any information request where the prescribed costs of supplying the information exceed £600. The £600 limit applies to all central Government Departments. At the end of September 2005 there were 6,100 outstanding asylum applications awaiting an initial decision.
As the number of asylum cases outstanding by nationality is not available, confirming how many outstanding applications for leave to remain on grounds of asylum there are from applicants from each member state of the European Union would require an examination of each individual case record. The IND has estimated that this would considerably exceed the £600 figure.
23 Jan 2006 : Column 1772W
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum applications were made by Eritreans to the United Kingdom during 2004–05; and how many of these applications were successful. [43134]
Mr. McNulty: The requested information is not available. Information on asylum applications, grants of asylum at initial decision and appeal outcomes for Eritrean nationals is published quarterly and annually. Copies are available from the Library of the House and on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at: http://homeoffice. gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he plans to set up an Immigration and Nationality Directorate office in Scotland for the purpose of attracting more immigrants to Scotland. [39937]
Mr. McNulty: There is currently a Public Enquiry Office in Glasgow which offers a same day service for the consideration of straightforward applications for leave to remain and settlement from non-EEA nationals living anywhere in the UK.
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