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3 Mar 2006 : Column 981W—continued
Unit Wage Costs
Mr. Holloway: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the change in unit wage costs was in each (a) year and (b) quarter since 1989. [54958]
John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 3 March 2006:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning what the change in unit wage costs was in each (a) year (b) quarter since 1989. (54958)
The tables below show the growth of unit wage costs for the UK whole economy for each year from 1989 to 2004. Table A shows the annual growth and Table B the quarterly growth.
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TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Broadband (Milton Keynes)
Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to ensure that broadband will be available to all new houses built in Milton Keynes. [54870]
Alun Michael: Virtually all the exchanges in the UK have been enabled for broadband, which means 99.7 per cent. of all households have access to broadband.
Building upon the high availability and high demand for broadband, DTI and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister are working with the industry to develop guidance to ensure that new builds are "broadband ready", thereby minimising disruption at a later stage. We expect the guidance to be ready for publication later this year.
Civil Service (Workforce Reductions)
Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what targets he has set for (a) UK Trade and Investment and (b) the Office of Fair Trading to achieve (i) efficiency savings and (ii) Civil Service workforce reductions. [52811]
Ian Pearson: UK Trade & Investment negotiated efficiency savings targets with the Treasury, as part of its 2004 Spending Review settlement. Under this settlement, these targets are £5.8 million for 2005–06; £18.0 million for 2006–07; and £35 million for 2007–08.
By 31 March 2008, UK Trade & Investment plans to reduce the number of posts in its London and Glasgow headquarters' offices by 200.
Office of Fair Trading agreed to achieve £1.5 million efficiency savings in 2005–06 and £2.5 million in each of 2006–07 and 2007–08.
By 31 March 2008, Office of Fair Trading plans to reduce the number of posts for those activities it carried out at April 2004, by 30.
Construction Industry (Fraud)
Mr. Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment his Department has made of the level of fraud involving use of fake construction skill cards; and what action is being taken to combat such fraud. [54787]
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Alun Michael: The Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) was launched in 1995 by the construction industry to bring different occupational schemes together under one set of standards with one easily recognisable 'badge'. It covers over 220 occupations and currently has approximately 1 million cardholders.
The key aims of the scheme is to set an industry standard for the quality of work onsite, to improve industry health and safety and to encourage construction employers to use competent workers. It provides employers and clients with proof that cardholders have the skills required for their stated occupation and have health and safety awareness. The scheme is owned and managed by CSCS Ltd, a company representing construction employers, trade unions and clients. Government has no responsibility for the scheme and its decision-making. These responsibilities fall within the remit of the CSCS Ltd Board.
The CSCS Ltd and the Construction Industry Training Board have jointly responded to incidents of fraud and called on the industry to help them to police the scheme.
Digital Switchover
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment has been made by (a) the Department and (b) its non-departmental public bodies of compliance with digital switchover Certification Mark scheme rules; and if he will make a statement. [54652]
Alun Michael: The Department of Trade and Industry developed the digital switchover certification mark scheme in conjunction with key stakeholders, including retailers, manufacturers, broadcasters and consumer bodies. Key industry bodies are aware of the scheme's requirements, which are clearly set out in their licence agreements and on a public website.
As part of a process of monitoring compliance with the terms of the digital switchover certification mark licence agreements, the Department of Trade and Industry commissioned a programme of mystery shopping in early 2005 during the first year of the scheme. This surveyed approximately 10 per cent. of retail licensees across the country. It did not identify any examples of deliberate attempts by retailers to mislead the public, but did show there was room for improvement in the provision of information. Results were used to inform developments for the second year of the scheme. In addition, several retailers and manufacturers have been contacted directly where the certification mark was being used incorrectly. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has appointed Digital UK, the independent not-for-profit organisation that is coordinating digital switchover, to administer and supervise key aspects of the second year of the scheme. Digital UK is currently developing its own programme of compliance monitoring.
Engineering Industry
Mr. Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on support for the British engineering industry. [55003]
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Alun Michael: The Government is seeking to provide the right macroeconomic conditions and support to ensure that UK engineering companies can compete successfully in world markets. We are working closely with the Engineering Employers Federation and other key stakeholders to further develop the support we are providing through the Manufacturing Strategy and working with the member of the Manufacturing Forum, which I co-chair with Kevin Smith, Chief Executive of GKN. DTI is also working closely with the Royal Academy of Engineering and other leading science, engineering and technology institutions to support the "Shape the Future" campaign which promotes science, engineering and technology to young people as a career option.
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