| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
23 May 2006 : Column 1634W—continued
Insolvency Service
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people have been employed in the Office of the Official Receiver in the Insolvency Service in each year since 1989; and if he will make a statement. [72408]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The total number of staff employed (full-time equivalent) in Official Receives' offices at the end of each year since 2003 is as follows:
| Year ending March | Number |
| Notes: 1. These figures include permanent and casual staff, but do not include short-term appointees or agency staff. 2. The numbers of staff employed by The Insolvency Service in earlier years are published in the Agency's Annual Report and Accounts. |
Israel/UK Trade
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many officials in his Department are employed to increase trade between Israel and the United Kingdom; at what grade; and if he will make a statement. [72178]
Mr. McCartney: The commercial team in the British embassy in Tel Aviv comprises one UK-based D6 Head of Section and six local Israeli staff. In addition, UK Trade & Investment employs one Range 8 and one Range 6 officer in London, focused primarily on boosting trade and investment links with Israel, as well as more senior staff who have wider geographical responsibilities, which include Israel.
Ministerial Visits
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last visited the state of Israel; what was discussed; when he next plans to visit the state of Israel; and if he will make a statement. [72179]
Mr. McCartney: I have not yet had the opportunity to visit Israel, but hope to be able to do so during my time as Minister for Trade.
Nuclear Power
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will conduct an assessment of the lifecycle carbon dioxide emissions of nuclear power. [72558]
Malcolm Wicks: The Department is aware of a number of studies estimating the total life-cycle emissions and carbon costs of nuclear power.
In November 2005 my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced that there would be a review of energy policy which would report in summer 2006. This will take account of external assessments of the total life-cycle carbon costs of nuclear power.
Offshore Petroleum Licensing
Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what applications have been made in the 24(th) round of offshore petroleum licensing for production consents for field developments in the Cardigan Bay area; [72946]
(2) pursuant to the answer of 12 May 2006, Official Report, column 540W, on offshore petroleum licensing, when he expects to complete the Appropriate Assessment of potential impacts on the Cardigan Bay Special Area of Conservation in the 24(th) Licence Round; [72947]
(3) pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 13 March 2006, Official Report, columns 91-92WS, on offshore petroleum licensing, whether any of the 50 blocks that will not be offered for licensing at the request of the Ministry of Defence are in the Cardigan Bay area. [72948]
Malcolm Wicks: No 24(th) Round applications have been made, but the Round is open until 16 June. We will then consider whether or not to make licence awards. Drilling and production consents are not part of the licence award and have to be sought separately from my Department at a later stage and are subject to further environmental scrutiny.
It is not possible to give an exact date when the Appropriate Assessment will be concluded but it will be before any 24(th) Round licences are granted. This Assessment will cover all 24(th) Round acreage on offer, including those blocks in the Cardigan Bay area. We anticipate being able to award licences by the autumn.
Of the 50 blocks withheld from licensing at the request of the Ministry of Defence, none are in the Cardigan Bay area.
Pipe Organs
Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent progress has been made in developing a formal application for the total exemption of the manufacture of new pipe organs from the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive. [72930]
Malcolm Wicks [holding answer 22 May 2006]: The Department has been working with the pipe organ industry for some time and will continue to do so in order to secure a favourable outcome on this issue.
The UK Government do not consider that pipe organs should fall within the scope of this directive, a view widely accepted across Europe. The DTI is working closely with the European Commission and other EU member states to obtain agreement at a European level without the need for a formal exemption. Our aim is to reach a successful conclusion before the directive comes into force on 1 July.
Post Office Closures
Mr. Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many post offices have closed in Suffolk in each year since 1997. [72605]
Jim Fitzpatrick: Information relating to post office branches for each parliamentary constituency is placed in the Libraries of the House on an annual basis. I have, however, asked Alan Cook, the managing director of Post Office Ltd., to provide a direct reply to the hon. Member as the question relates to operational matters for which the company is directly responsible.
Sunday Working
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research he has undertaken on the impact of Sunday working on individuals working in the (a) food and (b) retail industry. [72058]
Mr. McCartney: From 13 January to 14 April we asked for views on all aspects of extending Sunday shop
opening hours. We are currently analysing the large number of responses we received. We intend to publish a summary of the responses on the DTI website (www.dti.gov.uk/consumers/buying-selling/Sunday%20 Shopping) within three months of the close of this consultation.
In addition we appointed Indepen Consulting Ltd. to produce an economic cost benefit analysis of easing the restrictions on Sunday shopping. We published Indepen's report on 5 May on the DTI website. Indepen's report includes some analysis of the impact on employment if large shops were allowed to open for longer on Sunday.
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what assessment he has made of the impact of Sunday trading hours on employees who also have caring responsibilities; [72064]
(2) what assessment he has carried out to determine the impact of extending Sunday opening hours on children and families. [72065]
Mr. McCartney: From 13 January to 14 April we asked for views on all aspects of extending Sunday shop opening hours. We are currently analysing the large number of responses we received. We intend to publish a summary of the responses on the DTI website (www.dti.gov.uk/consumers/buying-selling/Sunday%20Shopping) within three months of the close of this consultation.
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research has been undertaken to examine the implications of extending Sunday opening hours; and what the terms of reference were for this research. [72135]
Mr. McCartney: The DTI appointed Indepen Consulting Ltd. to produce an economic cost benefit analysis of easing the restrictions on Sunday shopping. We published Indepen's report on 5 May on the DTI website:
www.dti.gov.uk/consumers/buying-selling/Sunday%20Shopping
The terms of reference for this analysis are included as an annex in the report.
From 13 January to 14 April we asked for views and evidence on all aspects of extending Sunday shop opening hours. We are currently analysing the large number of responses we received. We intend to publish a summary of the responses on the DTI website within three months of the close of this consultation.
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive
Mr. Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment his Department has made of the available infrastructure capacity in the UK to handle waste in accordance with the waste electrical and electronic equipment directive. [72510]
Malcolm Wicks: Successful implementation of the waste electrical and electronic equipment directive will require appropriate infrastructure capacity to be in place at various points along the waste management chain. Delivery of this infrastructure is necessarily driven by market forces. The role of Government is to
ensure that this market can operate properly by providing certainty about the regulatory environment. The Government are committed to implementing the WEEE directive as quickly as possible in consultation with stakeholders. The Department will issue a consultation paper and timetable for implementation before the summer recess.
Culture, Media and Sport
Arts Council
Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on what date the Arts Council was first informed that the West Bromwich arts organisation, The Public, was likely to exceed the projected costs of constructing its new building; and what steps (a) the Arts Council and (b) her Department subsequently took. [68960]
Mr. Lammy: The Public informed Arts Council England that it was likely to breach its funding envelope in a report to the organisation on 31 January 2006.
The Arts Council consequently commissioned a stocktake report and options appraisal, and the funders agreed upon one of the recommended options and to make short-term cash-flow funds available. However, in spite of close working between all stakeholders, the Board of The Public acted on legal advice and registered for insolvency on 3 March 2006. The Arts Council has since assembled a client handling team and has been working with other funders and the administrators to make progress on completion of the building project and a sustainable business plan for The Public.
My Department have been kept informed of the situation while respecting the arms length principle. The Government Office for the West Midlands has attended regular stakeholder meetings with funders and the administrators. A meeting took place on 27 March between myself, the Member for West Bromwich, East (Tom Watson) and representatives from the Arts Council to discuss the situation at The Public.
BBC Licence Fee
Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she expects to announce the new BBC licence fee settlement. [72571]
Mr. Woodward: The Government are currently conducting a funding review to determine the level of the licence fee to apply from April 2007. An announcement will be made in due course.
Correspondence
Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Chelmsford of 23 January
about the hon. Member for Havant (Mr. Willets)(ref 34665 and 39899); for what reasons there has been a delay in replying; and if she will make a statement. [72575]
Mr. Caborn: I apologise for the delay in responding to the correspondence from the hon. Member. I hope to provide you with a response shortly.
Internet Gambling
Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what research she has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the addictiveness of internet poker; [72399]
(2) what regulations govern the operation of internet poker; [72403]
(3) what assessment she has made of the extent of misuse of credit and debit cards by underage people in relation to internet gambling services; [72404]
(4) pursuant to the answer of 27 April 2006, Official Report, column 1234W, if she will commission research to establish the prevalence of problem gambling on the internet by (a) under and (b) over 18-year-olds. [72405]
Mr. Caborn: Under existing legislation it is illegal to operate remote gaming, including internet poker, from Great Britain. There are therefore no such sites currently based in this country. The Gambling Act, when fully implemented in September 2007, will enable remote gaming to be licensed and regulated in Britain. The Gambling Commission’s programme of consultation on its new regulatory regime is currently under way.
In addition to the updated National Lottery Commission research referred to in my previous answer, the Gambling Commission’s first prevalence study, which is currently under way, will look at the prevalence of problem gambling in those aged 16-years-old and over, across all gambling activities. My Department is now considering what additional research should be commissioned in this area.
Licensing Act/Gambling Act
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the impact of (a) the Licensing Act 2003 and (b) the Gambling Act 2005; and if she will make a statement. [71616]
Mr. Caborn: The Government believe it is too early to make any firm assessment about the impact of the Licensing Act 2003 either across the country or in any one area. It is, however, reassured by many positive examples which indicate an improving situation through better regulation, improved partnership working, targeted enforcement by police and local authorities, and proper engagement by all stakeholders.
The Government will continue to monitor the impact of the new legislation closely on a range on initiatives, including a programme of evaluation being
conducted by the Home Office into the impact of the licensing reforms on crime and disorder.
A regulatory impact assessment of the Gambling Act 2005 was published on 21 April 2005. We are currently working through the programme of secondary legislation needed to implement the Act, in order that the process of implementation will be complete in September 2007. An assessment of the impact of the Act will be made after this process has been completed.
London Olympics
Mr. Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games’s legal contract with the International Olympic Committee for the 2012 Olympic Games permits betting on individual sporting events. [73196]
Mr. Caborn: Presently, British betting operators are permitted to take bets on a range of sporting events including the Olympic Games. We have no plans to legislate otherwise. LOCOG is aware of the existing legal position relating to betting in Great Britain.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which organisation has formal responsibility for ensuring a lasting legacy of increased sporting participation following the 2012 Olympic games; and if she will make a statement. [71614]
Mr. Caborn: The Olympic Board has overall responsibility for ensuring that the social, economic and sporting benefits from 2012 are maximised. The board have agreed that the Greater London Authority, the British Olympic Association and Government will work together to ensure that there is lasting legacy of increased sporting participation in London, and the wider UK, as a result of the 2012 games.
Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much funding within the World Class Pathway Summer Olympic Investment 2006-09 is earmarked for (a) the English Institute of Sport, (b) the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme and (c) TASS 2012 scholarships, broken down by sport in each case. [72055]
Mr. Caborn: UK Sport will be allocating £9 million per annum to the English Institute of Sport (EIS) through its World Class Pathway programme for the benefit of summer Olympic sports over the period 2006-09. UK Sport is currently in discussion with the EIS and the Summer Olympic sports to determine an appropriate level of funding on a sport by sport basis over this period.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |