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9 Mar 2006 : Column 1721W—continued
Pensions
John Penrose: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of whether the period between publication of final versions of the (a) Occupational Pensions Schemes (Modification of Subsisting Rights) Regulations and (b) Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Regulations) was compatible with HM Revenue and Custom's stated objective of delaying the implementation of the simplified pension tax regime until April to allow employers and providers sufficient time to implement fully the benefits of simplification. [57076]
Mr. Timms: The Government do their best to ensure that regulations are laid in sufficient time. In the case of the Modification of Subsisting Rights Regulations, we have been working very closely with pension industry lawyers to ensure that the regulations provide the necessary flexibility that the industry itself has asked for. This means that we have had to strike a balance between ensuring that the regulations are effective and making sure that they are laid as early as possible.
In the case of the Miscellaneous Amendments Regulations, they make minor and technical amendments to correct errors or omissions in earlier legislation, and therefore clarify matters for industry. They do not introduce new policies.
Public Information
Mr. Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was spent on his Department's public relations and information services in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [48951]
Mrs. McGuire: The Department for Work and Pensions was formed in June 2001 from the Department of Social Security and parts of the former Department for Education and Employment including the Employment Service. Total figures are given in the following table.
| Financial year | Public relations(31) | Information services(32) |
|---|---|---|
| 2004–05 | 1,435 | 11,749 |
| 2003–04 | 1,412 | 2,553 |
| 2002–03 | 689 | 1,007 |
| 2001–02 | 59 | 1,588 |
| 2000–01 | — | 1,237 |
(31)Figures for public relations activity relate to promotion of departmental initiatives such as age positive, new deal, and disability discrimination awareness. The figures do not include the costs of advertising campaigns or running costs of the Department's press office.
(32)Information services include the costs of websites and telephone lines directly related to raising awareness/encouraging action on departmental initiatives with the general public and other specific targeted groups. The bulk of the increased costs in 2003–04 and 2004–05 are accounted for by increased expenditure on the development of online services delivered through the Department's websites.
Note:
DSS/DFEE costs.
9 Mar 2006 : Column 1722W
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Arms Export Licences
Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what arms export licences to Iraq have been awarded to (a) Helston Gunsmiths of Truro and (b) Super Vision International Ltd since the beginning of 2004. [57262]
Malcolm Wicks: Information on the Government's individual export licensing decisions is commercially confidential and I am therefore neither able to confirm nor deny whether Helston Gunsmiths of Truro or Super Vision International Ltd have been granted any export licences for Iraq since January 2004.
BAE Systems
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the activities of BAE Systems and its subsidiaries in respect of the export of military equipment and support systems to Uganda. [56169]
Malcolm Wicks [holding answer 7 March 2006]: None. Issues relating to the alleged export in question are a matter for the South African Government as the exports were made from there, not from the UK.
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what export credits guarantees have been awarded to BAE Systems and its subsidiaries for each of the past five years for which records are available. [56170]
Ian Pearson [holding answer 7 March 2006]: Guarantees have been issued to BAE Systems and its subsidiaries in the last five years for the Al Yamamah contracts in Saudi Arabia. In addition in 2003 guarantees were issued for contracts relating to frigate refurbishment and boarder surveillance vehicles in Romania. One other cause was supported during this period but ECGD cannot provide information regarding it as disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the commercial position of BAE Systems or ECGD.
Biomass Capital Projects
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what funds have been allocated for supporting biomass capital projects in (a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; how many projects which have had their applications accepted have proceeded in each case; and how many applications were rejected. [56888]
Malcolm Wicks
[holding answer 8 March 2006]: Funds were allocated following two rounds of the Bio-energy Capital Grants Scheme in 2002. No further allocations have been made since from this scheme other than minor adjustments.
9 Mar 2006 : Column 1723W
Note:
10 projects ongoing.
6 projects were ineligible.
2 were rejected.
| Project | Type | Funds (£) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| BI-1–14 The Wales Biocluster Project | Heat only | 347,970 | Ongoing |
| Port Talbot Bio-Energy Plant. | 13.7 MWe Power plant | 4.65 million | Ongoing |
| Total | 5.0 million |
Note:
4 projects were ineligible.
1 was rejected.
Note:
3 projects were ineligible.
0 were rejected.
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