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14 Jun 2006 : Column 1244W—continued
| Operational Magnox | Lifetime/planned closure date | |
British Energy (BE) has eight operational power stations (seven advanced gas-cooled reactor (AGR) stations and one pressurised water reactor (PWR)). The following table sets out BE’s current estimated dates for station closure (and thereby decommissioning). Any changes to these dates will be a matter for BE, subject to approval from the NDA in certain circumstances: Current proposals are:
| Lifetime | Scheduled closure | |
| AGR Stations | ||
The NDA’s Strategy is available through its website at: www.nda.gov.uk.
Mr. Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the impact of a new generation of nuclear power stations on the UK’s water supply. [75602]
Ian Pearson: I have been asked to reply.
The option of building new nuclear power stations is still being considered as part of the Government’s Energy Review. Any implications for public water supply would be considered as part of the environmental impact assessment for the planning of individual power stations.
OECD Guidelines (Multinationals)
Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what steps his Department has taken to promote the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises; [72075]
(2) how many UK registered companies have adopted the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises; [72076]
(3) what steps his Department has taken to co-operate with non-Governmental organisations in the promotion and implementation of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises; [72077]
(4) To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many complaints have been investigated by the UK National Contact Point in each year since 2000; and when each case was (a) filed and (b) concluded; [72078]
(5) To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the (a) nature and (b) outcome was of each complaint made to the UK National Contact Point in each year since 2000. [72079]
Mr. McCartney:
The Government are committed to the effective promotion and implementation of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. For example, on 20 December 2004, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry wrote to the chairmen of all FTSE 100 companies drawing their attention to the importance of the guidelines and their relevance in developing corporate codes of conduct. The UK’s National Contact Point (NCP) for the guidelines also liaises with non-governmental and business organisations on a regular
basis, both formally and informally, to discuss the promotion and implementation of the guidelines.
In September 2005, the Government consulted stakeholders on possible improvements to the NCP’s promotion and implementation of the guidelines. We intend to publish a formal response in the near future.
The guidelines are recommendations addressed by governments to multinational enterprises. They are not adopted, as such, by companies.
Offshore Petroleum Licensing
Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the Answer of 23 May 2006, Official Report, columns 1635-36W on Offshore Petroleum Licensing; if he will publish the results of the Appropriate Assessment into the 24(th) Licensing Round; and 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. [77384]
Malcolm Wicks [holding answer 13 June 2006]: As of 13 June 2006, two 24(th) Round licence applications have been received—neither are for acreage in the Cardigan Bay area. However the Round is open to applications until 16 June 2006. Once the Appropriate Assessment for the Round has been completed we will take a decision on whether to publish the results. In any event, the results of this and any other necessary Appropriate Assessments relating to the Round will be available on request.
Also, as indicated in my Answer of 23 May 2006, Official Report, columns 1635-36W, drilling and production consents are not part of the licence award and have to be sought separately from the Department at a later stage and are subject to further environmental scrutiny.
Secured Debt Financial Products
Mr. Iain Wright:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether his Department is taking
steps to restrict celebrity endorsement of secured debt financial products. [75014]
Mr. McCartney: The laws concerning the advertising of financial products have recently undergone a thorough review. While they do not specifically deal with celebrity endorsement of products, the Consumer Credit (Advertisements) Regulations 2004 provide that advertisements must be clear, fair and not misleading. In the case of a loan secured on a debtor’s home, that advertisement must include a health warning regarding the consequences of not keeping up with repayments. Rules emanating from the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, under which first charge mortgages are regulated, contain similar provisions concerning financial promotions.
Minister for Women
Civil Service Pensions
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality if she will make a statement on equality of pensions in the civil service. [76154]
Mr. McFadden: I have been asked to reply.
The Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS) is a final salary scheme. Benefits are worked out as a proportion of final pensionable earnings multiplied by years of service. Men and women have paid the same level of contributions and received benefits calculated on the same basis, including contingent dependants’ benefits, in respect of service from 1 July 1987. To the extent that they have consistent career and salary patterns, the pension scheme therefore provides equal benefits.
New entrants to the civil service since October 2002 have, as an alternative to joining the PCSPS, been eligible to join partnership, a stakeholder pension arrangement, providing benefits on a money purchase basis. Employer contributions to partnership are between 3 per cent. and 12.5 per cent. of pensionable earnings based on the member’s age but regardless of gender. Employers also match employee contributions up to 3 per cent. of pensionable earnings.
In addition amendments to the rules of the PCSPS will be laid before the House before the summer recess. These amendments will ensure that the pension arrangements do not discriminate on the grounds of age without any objective justification.
Duchy of Lancaster
Public Sector Information
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many public information programmes have been broadcast since 1997, broken down by commissioning Department; and how much such programmes cost (a) to produce and (b) to screen. [76741]
Mr. McFadden: There have been 436 public information films produced since 1997. The numbers of public information films broken down by commissioning Department are shown in the following table.
| Public information films produced since 1997 | |
| Client | Number |
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