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Hearing Loss Claims

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many costs payments have been refused for cases by (a) Berefords solicitors, (b) Bakewell solicitors, (c) Heptonstall solicitors, (d) Brown and Co. solicitors, (e) Ollerenshaw solicitors and (f) UDM/Vendside for noise-induced hearing loss claims to his Department due to a breach of section 4 (2)c of the Conditional Fee Agreement Regulations 2000. [54999]

Malcolm Wicks: In the case of the UDM/Vendside, there is no conditional fee agreement and no dispute over costs. For the other named solicitors, this information is not readily available. Miners' hearing loss claims are not schemed so solicitors' costs for each claim are dealt with on their own merits. Concerns relating to a breach of regulation 4 of the conditional fee regulations would be raised as part of the negotiations on the appropriate level of costs for any given claim.

Media Training

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been spent by his Department on media training in each year since 1997–98. [55221]

Alan Johnson: Records held centrally do not distinguish between media training and other forms of training undertaken by DTI staff and the requested information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Military Equipment (Export Controls)

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what export control the Government places upon British companies with overseas subsidiaries in relation to (a) military equipment, (b) components for military equipment and (c) all other goods and services supplied by their subsidiary. [56747]

Malcolm Wicks: UK export controls apply to all exports from the UK of all goods and technologies on the UK Control List regardless of whether the exporter has a subsidiary outside the UK. UK export controls do not apply to exports made from countries outside the UK, whether by UK subsidiaries or otherwise. UK trade controls apply to the arranging of transfers of military goods between third countries where the transfer is arranged from the UK. In certain cases these controls may apply to transfers arranged by UK persons wherever they are based (for full details see the guidance on the Export Control Organisation website http://www.dti.gov.uk/export.control/publications.htm.

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department takes to regulate the export of components from UK companies which are or could be used for military equipment supplied to a recipient to whom the UK has resolved not to export military equipment. [56550]

 
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Malcolm Wicks: UK export controls apply to all exports from the UK of all goods and technologies on the UK Control List. The UK also controls the export to destinations subject to EU, OSCE or UN embargo of dual-use items not otherwise subject to control where the exporter has been informed that they are or may be intended for military end-use.

Ministerial Activities

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many (a) public speeches and (b) official visits he has made since 5 May 2005; and how many letters he sent in this period. [55701]

Alan Johnson: I made (a) 44 public speeches, (b) 17 official visits and (c) sent 2,671 letters in this period.

National Grid (Orkney and Shetland)

Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to improve the National Grid connections to Orkney and Shetland to enable the export of energy from those locations; and what assessment he has made of the cost of such improvements. [57199]

Malcolm Wicks: It is for National Grid to decide what investments are needed to improve the electricity transmission networks in line with their licence conditions. As a natural monopoly, this is done, with agreement from Ofgem, as part of their regulated price control. Ofgem are currently consulting on National Grid's next price control which will commence in 2007.

OECD Guidelines

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he has taken to ensure that (a) UK owned and (b) UK based transnational corporations adhere to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. [56171]

Ian Pearson [holding answer 7 March 2006]: The Government are committed to the effective promotion and implementation of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. The UK's National Contact Point (NCP) recently met stakeholders, including business representatives and UK companies, as part of the consultation on improving promotion and implementation. The Government's response is due shortly.

Potash Industry

Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what support his Department gives to promote the European potash industry. [56125]

Ian Pearson: 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. The Department and the
 
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regional agencies continue to have an active dialogue with the only UK producer of potash on this and other issues.

Private Offices

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the cost of his private office was in the last year for which figures are available. [55731]

Alan Johnson: The cost of my private office for the financial year from 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2005 was £409,000.

Regional Development Agencies

Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 20 July 2005, Official Report, column 1744W, to the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman), on regional development agencies, what the allocated funding was of each office outside the UK for 2005–06; and where each office was located. [56054]

Alun Michael: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 21 November 2005, Official Report, column 1550W.

Shoe Imports (China/Vietnam)

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the Government's position is on tariffs being imposed by the EU on shoes imported from China and Vietnam. [57170]

Ian Pearson: I am examining carefully a proposal by the European Commission to impose anti-dumping duties on footwear with uppers of leather originating in China and Vietnam. I am also consulting a wide range of UK interests, including retailers, importers and producers. Following the Commission's explanation of its proposal and discussion with member states at the 9 March meeting of the official-level Anti-Dumping Committee, the UK will present its position at the Anti-Dumping Committee meeting scheduled for 16 March.
 
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Thames Gateway

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made in developing a Thames Gateway economic statement. [54703]

Yvette Cooper: I have been asked to reply.

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has been working with the three Thames Gateway Regional Development Agencies, the Thames Gateway Sub-Regional Partnerships and the Learning and Skills Council on producing an economic statement for the Thames Gateway. An audit of economic development activity across the Gateway was presented to the Thames Gateway Strategic Partnership in early February.

Later this year, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will publish a Strategic Framework for the Gateway, which will have at its core the economic rationale and vision for the Thames Gateway.

Working Time Directive

Mr. Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the effect of the EU working time directive on the retirement age. [57221]

Mr. Sutcliffe: The Government are not aware of any effect of the EU working time directive on retirement age.

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