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8 Feb 2006 : Column 1218W—continued
Local Government
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales pursuant to his answer of 30 November 2005, Official Report, column 532W, on local government, how much funding the Valuation Agency received from the National Assembly for Wales Government. [48040]
Mr. Hain: The Valuation Office Agency received a total of £28.63 million in funding from the Welsh Assembly Government in the three years 2002–03 to 2004–05. This included £5.27 million to cover the cost of revaluation in Wales.
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales pursuant to his answer of 30 November 2005, Official Report, column 532W, on Local Government Act, whether local authorities, with particular reference to council tax collection departments, incurred costs because of the implementation of section 77 of the Act. [48154]
Mr. Hain: The Welsh Assembly Government's proposals for revaluation and rebanding were set out in its policy statement Freedom and Responsibility in Local Government" and were implemented in agreement with local authorities and the Welsh Local Government Association. The WLGA did not identify any additional financial pressures as a consequence of revaluation—costs were met from within existing resources.
Manufacturing
Mr. Paul Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the (a) First Minister and (b) Welsh Assembly Government on support for the manufacturing industry in Wales. [44494]
Mr. Hain: I regularly meet the First Minister and discuss a range of issues including support for manufacturing in Wales. My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Wales has similar meetings with Welsh Assembly Government Ministers.
Both the UK Government and the Welsh Assembly Government recognise that manufacturing remains vital to the Welsh economy, accounting for 19 per cent. of GVA—proportionally higher than the UK as a whole.
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The UK Government are working in partnership with industry, trade unions regional development agencies and other stakeholders to deliver the Manufacturing Strategy launched in May 2002 and reviewed in 2004, to secure a long-term future for manufacturing.
The Assembly and its agencies provide a range of support to Welsh manufacturers. These include financial assistance, business advice, promoting innovation, for example the Technium programme, and initiatives to improve skills and promote entrepreneurship.
The Assembly works directly with the sector through the manufacturing task and finish group. The Assembly's Economic Development Minister announced at the Wales TUC manufacturing conference last October that there will be a Welsh manufacturing forum represented by a cross section from the sector, and is consulting on the detail. This initiative has been well received by the manufacturing sector in Wales.
Parliamentary Questions
David T.C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many parliamentary questions tabled in the last 12 months for answer by him on a named day (a) were transferred and (b) received a substantive answer (i) on the day named and (ii) after the day named. [49883]
Mr. Hain: Departments aim to ensure that Members receive a substantive response to their named day question on the named day and to endeavour to answer ordinary written questions within a working week of being tabled. Unfortunately, this is not always possible but this Department makes every effort to achieve these time scales.
David T.C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many ordinary written parliamentary questions tabled for answer by him in the last 12 months have been answered (a) within 14 days, (b) between 14 and 28 days, (c) between 28 days and two months and (d) in excess of two months after the date of tabling; and if he will make a statement. [49893]
Mr. Hain: Departments aim to ensure that Members receive a substantive response to their named day question on the named day and to endeavour to answer ordinary written questions within a working week of being tabled. Unfortunately, this is not always possible but this Department makes every effort to achieve these time scales.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Accountancy Profession
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce legislation to break up the big four accountancy firms. [49726]
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Mr. Sutcliffe: The Government have no plans to introduce such legislation.
Aerospace Trade Missions
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which British companies (a) took part in the October 2005 aerospace trade mission to Japan and (b) will be taking part in the February 2006 aerospace trade mission to Singapore. [48434]
Ian Pearson: (a) The following companies took part in the October 2005 aerospace mission to Japan:
(b) The following companies are scheduled to take part in the February 2006 mission to Singapore:
The mission to Singapore is timed to coincide with the Asian aerospace trade fair at which other UK companies are exhibiting.
Anti-corruption Guidelines
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to publish the Export Credits Guarantee Department's revised anti-corruption guidelines. [48435]
Ian Pearson: ECGD expects to publish the Government's final response to the consultation on its anti-bribery and corruption procedures in the next few weeks.
Automotive Academy
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he plans to extend Automotive Academy re-employment training to areas other than the West Midlands; and if he will make a statement. [49026]
Alun Michael:
The Automotive Academy is an independent organisation established by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders to deliver on a partnership between the Government and the industry. Its remit, supported by a £12 million grant from DTI, is to raise the skills base in the automotive industry among small and large companies alike, throughout the supply
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chain. It does this in part by developing industry-led world-class training courses and materials. The pre-employment training programme is a new course striving to augment the skill set of those actively seeking re-employment. This course is being piloted in the West Midlands. The Automotive Academy has a national focus and once fully tested and developed all courses are made available across the UK via the academy's regional infrastructure for delivery via quality assured third party training providers.
Bifrangi UK Ltd
Mr. MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the dates of the meetings officials of his Department have held with representatives of Bifrangi UK Ltd in Sheffield in the last 12 months. [49077]
Alun Michael: Since January 2005 officials have met representatives of Bifrangi UK Ltd on the following dates:
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