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6 Mar 2006 : Column 1158W—continued
Oil Licences
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many oil licences were issued by his Department in each of the last 10 years. [55858]
Malcolm Wicks: The following table shows by year the number of offshore (seaward) and onshore (landward) oil and gas licences awarded by my Department in the last 10 years. In some cases the actual date of issue may occur in following year.
| Seaward | Landward | |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 45 | 3 |
| 1996 | 0 | 22 |
| 1997 | 28 | 0 |
| 1998 | 47 | 35 |
| 1999 | 1 | 0 |
| 2000 | 0 | 44 |
| 2001 | 9 | 0 |
| 2002 | 32 | 23 |
| 2003 | 92 | 8 |
| 2004 | 98 | 27 |
| 2005 | 151 | 0 |
Oil/Gas Industry Regulations
Mr. Amess:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the operation of (a) the Offshore Petroleum Activities (Conservation of
6 Mar 2006 : Column 1159W
Habitats) Regulations 2001, (b) the Prevention of Oil Pollution Act 1971, (c) the Offshore Petroleum Activities (Oil Pollution, Prevention and Control) Regulations 2005 and (d) the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 in the oil and gas industry. [55814]
Malcolm Wicks: The Offshore Petroleum Activities (Conservation of Habitats) Regulations 2001 apply the European habitats directive and the wild birds directive in relation to oil and gas projects on the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS). For the purpose of the regulations, oil and gas activities are defined as those carried out under the Petroleum Act 1998 in connection with the exploration for or production of petroleum on the UKCS.
The Prevention of Oil Pollution Act 1971 was replaced last year by the Offshore Petroleum Activities (Oil Pollution, Prevention and Control) Regulations 2005 which introduce a permitting regime to the UK oil and gas industry in relation to any oil discharges to the marine environment. In addition the new regulations introduce more wide-ranging powers for the DTI's Offshore Environmental Inspectors and authorise the introduction of Trading Schemes.
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 is enforced by the Health and Safety Executive which reports to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations he has received on the operation of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 in its application to the oil and gas industry. [55857]
Malcolm Wicks: The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 is enforced by the Health and Safety Executive which reports to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has had no recent representations on the Act's application to the oil and gas industry. PILOT, the joint industry/Government forum for the offshore oil and gas industry, which I chair and which includes a representative from the HSE, receives regular feedback on the progress of the industry's Step Change safety initiative.
Ministers and officials have also been involved in discussions with industry, other Departments and local communities following the explosion at the Buncefield oil terminal, on which the Health and Safety Executive published a progress report recently.
Oxley and Coward Solicitors
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for what reasons Oxley and Coward solicitors refused to release papers as instructed by Thomas Foster, a constituent of the hon. Member for Bassetlaw; and if he will take steps to investigate the matter. [55102]
Malcolm Wicks
[holding answer 2 March 2006]: This would appear to be an issue that your constituent should resolve with his solicitor. If so, and an impasse has been reached, it may be appropriate to refer the matter to the Law Society.
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Post Offices
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether (a) he, (b) ministers in his Department and (c) officials from his Department have had discussions with the European Commission on subsidy payments for the financial year 2006–07 to Post Office Ltd. [55587]
Barry Gardiner: The European Commission cleared our state aid application on 24 February 2006 to help maintain non-commercial rural post office branches. Following formal notification of our application in March 2005, two technical meetings were held between officials of DTI and the Commission.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the value is of the subsidy his Department proposes to pay during 2006–07 financial year to Post Office Ltd. for the maintenance of (a) rural and (b) other post offices. [55591]
Barry Gardiner: European Commission clearance has been given to pay up to £150 million to Post Office Ltd. to maintain non-commercial rural post offices in financial year 2006–07. There is also provision for Post Office Ltd. to draw-down up to £145 million in financial year 2006–07 to cover cash outflows, as approved by the European Commission under Decision N 784/2002.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the payment of subsidies to Post Office Ltd. for the maintenance of (a) rural and (b) other post offices required clearance from the European Commission under EU state aid rules. [55592]
Barry Gardiner: Government support to maintain rural post office branches required clearance from the European Commission under article 87 section 1 of the treaty. There is no similar support measure for non-rural branches.
Potash
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what his Department's policy is on potash anti-dumping measures. [56069]
Ian Pearson: [holding answer 3 March 2006]: The UK has supported the opening of an expiry review of the existing anti-dumping duties on potash. The purpose of the review is to determine whether the existing anti-dumping measures need to be extended. The review should be concluded by no later than July 2006 but in the meantime the existing measures stay in force.
Public Sector Shareholdings
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which public sector shareholdings have a market valuation; and what their current values are. [54726]
Barry Gardiner: There are no market valuations for any DTI public sector shareholdings.
Responsible Borrowing
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what Government policy is on enabling financial institutions to share customer data to facilitate responsible borrowing; and if he will make a statement. [55887]
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Mr. Sutcliffe: A key plank in our responsible lending policy is to encourage the greater sharing of data by creditors to enable them to make better responsible lending decisions. Major high street lenders have made significant steps towards full data sharing including data on current accounts. We will shortly be consulting on removing legislative barriers to the sharing of data on approximately 40 million accounts where the debtors did not give their permission for the data to be shared as part of the credit agreement. The Government are also taking steps to address responsible borrowing, such as improving financial education and the FSA's online debt test, as set out in the Government's Annual Report on Tackling Over-indebtedness.
Shareholder Executive
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the (a) public bodies and (b) shareholdings which fall within the remit of the Shareholder Executive. [54725]
Barry Gardiner: The Shareholder Executive's portfolio is listed in Annex A to its Annual Report 2004–05, as placed in the Library of the House on 21 October 2005. It is also available at www.shareholderexecutive.gov.uk/publications.
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive
Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations he has received from industry regarding the UK's implementation of the waste electrical and electronic equipment directive. [56454]
Malcolm Wicks: I announced on 14 December that the Department would review proposals for implementing the directive in the UK. We have received a number or representations from stakeholder groups during this review, and will continue to discuss the issues with them before undertaking formal consultation later in the spring.
Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce an enforceable recycling charge for electrical and electronic equipment under the waste electrical and electronic equipment directive. [56455]
Malcolm Wicks: I announced on 14 December that the Department would review proposals for implementing the directive in the UK. I will announce the results of this review in due course.
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