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Coal Health (Compensation)
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many coal health (a) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and (b) vibration white finger cases have been submitted for deceased claims by Berefords Solicitors in (i) Wales and (ii) Scotland; and how many of each have been refused. [83834]
Malcolm Wicks: The figures requested for deceased claims submitted by Beresfords solicitors are set out in the following table:
| Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease | Vibration White Finger | |||
| Wales | Scotland | Wales | Scotland | |
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many meetings have taken place between his officials and UDM Vendside on coal health compensation since June 2005. [83897]
Malcolm Wicks: Three operational meetings have taken place since June 2005 between officials and representatives of the UDM. Two of these related to the vibration white finger scheme and the third to the respiratory disease scheme.
Company Law Reform Bill
Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what his definition is of a proper purpose for inspection of a company register of members under the provisions of the Company Law Reform Bill. [81592]
Margaret Hodge: The Bill does not define what is a proper purpose.
Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry under what circumstances a company could refuse to disclose information on its members under the provisions of the Company Law Reform Bill. [81593]
Margaret Hodge: Under clause 116 of the Bill, a request to inspect or to be provided with a copy of a company’s register of members must include the purpose for which the information is to be used. The company must either meet the request within five working days or apply to a court. The court will direct the company not to comply with the request if it is satisfied that it is not sought for a proper purpose.
Electricity Transmission
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what quantity of carbon dioxide emissions were attributable to electricity transmission and distribution losses in each of the last five years. [84529]
Malcolm Wicks: Estimated losses through the electricity transmission and distribution networks for the period 1999 to 2003 were as follows:
| GWh | |
Using the average carbon emission factor for each year provides the following estimates for the carbon emissions associated with these losses. These estimates are based on the average emissions factor for electricity generation in each of these years, which takes account of the mix between coal, gas and other forms of generation in those years.
| Million tonnes of carbon | |
Energy
John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in which year the Government expect the UK to be a net importer of energy. [84355]
Malcolm Wicks: Data on net imports of primary fuel are published in the annual Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics. Table 1.1.3 in the 2005 edition shows that, having been a net exporter of primary energy since 1993, the UK became a net importer of primary energy in 2004.
Mr. Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why the minutes of the latest meeting of the advisory board on sustainable energy policy have not yet been placed in the public domain. [85412]
Malcolm Wicks: The minutes of the Sustainable Energy Policy Advisory Board (SEPAB) have now been published on the DTI website as usual. Publication was held back until the Energy Review conclusions had been announced to Parliament.
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry from which (a) ministerial colleagues, (b) hon. Members and (c) members of the House of Lords he received a submission to the Energy Review; and what criteria were adopted in deciding which of these submissions were posted on the Energy Review pages of his departmental web site. [85048]
Malcolm Wicks: All responses to the Energy Review consultation exercise, which closed on 14 April 2006, have been posted on the DTI website at http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/review/consultation-submissions/page27883.html.
Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many applications for (a) gas and (b) electricity were declined by each energy supplier in (i) each region of England, (ii) Scotland and (iii) Wales in the last full year for which figures are available. [84377]
Malcolm Wicks: Ofgem does not collect data about refusal to supply.
Condition 32 of the standard gas and electricity supply licences requires suppliers to offer terms at a domestic customer's request. There are a number of exclusions within these conditions. Complaints about refusal to supply may be made to the statutory gas and electricity consumer body, Energywatch. Energywatch can refer matters to the industry regulator, the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) where it believes Ofgem may be able to use its power of licence enforcement.
Mr. Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the role of the energy supply ombudsman. [84573]
Malcolm
Wicks: In July 2005, the industry regulator, the Office of
Gas and Electricity Markets (OFGEM) required gas and electricity
suppliers to establish an independent ombudsman scheme to deal with
billing
disputes that had not been satisfactorily resolved under standard
complaints procedures. The suppliers have now established the Energy
Supply Ombudsman scheme, which was launched on 1 July 2006. The
Ombudsman will handle both billing and transfer disputes, can reach
decisions that are binding on suppliers and may award compensation of
up to £5,000 to customers. The scheme is additional to the
statutory arrangements governing the investigation of customer
complaints, which continue to
operate.
Enterprise Insight
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the level of Government funding for Enterprise Insight is for 2006-07; and if he will make a statement. [82195]
Margaret Hodge: The level of Government funding for Enterprise Insight in 2006-07 is £5 million.
This support enables Enterprise Insight to continue developing and running the highly successful ‘Make Your Mark’ campaign. The campaign is aimed at people aged between 14 and 30 and encourages them to be enterprising in the broadest sense.
Enterprise Week is the focal point of the campaign. Last year saw 408,000 people from all over the UK attend 2,215 events, run by 722 organisations helped by 3,874 businesses. It is anticipated that these already impressive results will be bettered during Enterprise Week 2006, which Enterprise Insight will run from 13-19 November.
The funding will also support the development of new Local Enterprise Campaign Hubs in some of the country’s most deprived and under-performing areas. In addition, the funding will support the development of partnerships to run campaigns in specific industry sectors, emphasising the role of enterprise in the successful start up and growth of companies.
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last met representatives of Enterprise Insight; what the outcome was of the meeting; and what plans he has to hold further meetings with this organisation. [82196]
Margaret Hodge: As Minister for Industry and the Regions with responsibility for the Small Business Service, I met Enterprise Insight on 18 May.
The outcome of my meeting was a reaffirmed commitment that the Department will support the development and running of the ‘Make Your Mark’ campaign; and, to Ministerial participation in key events during the campaign’s flagship annual initiative of ‘Enterprise Week’, which this year will run from 13-19 November.
Further meetings with Enterprise Insight will be scheduled as the year progresses.
Gas Appliances
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department has taken in the past 10 years to encourage research and development of gas appliances. [78523]
Malcolm Wicks: This is a matter for manufacturers of gas appliances, which is a competitive commercial activity.
Global Oil Production
John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in which year the Government expect (a) global conventional oil production and (b) global total oil production to peak; and what the Government expect to be the level of peak global oil production. [84272]
Malcolm Wicks: The Government consider that the world’s oil resources are sufficient to prevent global total oil production peaking before 2030, by which time the International Energy Agency’s reference case scenario in its 2005 World Energy Outlook shows global oil demand reaching 115.4 million barrel per day, nearly 40 per cent. higher than current levels. The exact levels and years of the peaks in global conventional and total oil production will depend on assumptions about a number of factors, including the rate of global oil demand growth, the rate of investment in the global oil sector, and technological developments in finding and producing oil.
Market mechanisms will ration the remaining global supplies of oil and provide the incentive for a shift to alternative sources of energy. This process needs to be supported by Governments. The UK Government are already putting in place policies that will help ease the UK economy away from power supplied primarily through fossil fuels and is also promoting international efforts, for example through the G8 Gleneagles Plan of Action, to develop cleaner energy technologies and promote energy efficiency.
Home Heat Helpline
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many calls the Home Heat Helpline has received in each month since its launch; [83936]
(2) whether the Home Heat Helpline refers callers to (a) Energywatch, (b) local energy efficiency advice centres and (c) the Energy Savings Trust; [83937]
(3) how many people have (a) received benefit entitlement checks after contacting the Home Heat Helpline and (b) been identified as eligible for a benefit following a benefit entitlement check. [83938]
Malcolm Wicks: The Home Heat Helpline was established by the Energy Retail Association on behalf of gas and electricity suppliers. The Government supported the introduction of the Helpline, but is not involved in its funding or its administration. Questions about its operations are, therefore, entirely for the Association.
Liquefied Petroleum Gas Market
Mr.
Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of
State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the number of
households in (a) rural areas and (b) non-rural areas
using cylinders of a smaller capacity than those investigated by the
Competition
Commission in their recent inquiry into the domestic bulk liquefied
petroleum gas market; and if he will make a statement.
[84658]
Mr. McCartney: No such estimates have been made, as the successful functioning of consumer markets, and market investigations when required, are matters for the independent competition authorities rather than for the Government.
Manufacturing Forum
Mr. Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry who the members of the Manufacturing Forum are; and what its remit is. [84477]
Margaret Hodge: The membership of the Manufacturing Forum is:
Kevin Smith CBE, Chief Executive, GKN plc
Margaret Hodge MBE MP, Minister of State for Industry and the Regions
Ian McCafferty, Chief Economic Adviser, CBI
Nick Brayshaw, Chairman, CBI Manufacturing Council
Martin Temple CBE, Director General, EEF
Harald Krueger, Plant Director, BMW Hams Hall
Dr. Bryan Jackson OBE, Chair, East Midlands Development Agency
Allan Cook, Chief Executive, Cobham plc
Paul Lester, Chief Executive, VT Group
Steve Musgrave, Vice President Technical Operations, GSK plc
Dawn Gibbins MBE, Chairman, Flowcrete Group plc
John Wall, General Secretary, Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions
Peter Booth, National Organiser, T&G
Phil Davies, National Secretary, GMB
Tim Page , Senior Policy Officer, TUC
Jim Brathwaite CBE, Chair, South East England Regional Development Agency
Professor Mike Gregory CBE, Head, Institute for Manufacturing, University of Cambridge
Simon Edmonds, Director, Business Relations, DTI
Vicky Pryce, Chief Economic Adviser, DTI
Eleanor Mack, Head of Enterprise Team, HM Treasury
Greg Dyche, Deputy Director, Skills Group, Department for Education and Skills
Emily Thomas, Special Adviser, DTI
Geoffrey Norris, Senior Policy Adviser, Prime Minister's Office.
The Manufacturing Forum is jointly chaired by Government and Industry and was established following the review of the Government's Manufacturing Strategy in 2004. The Forum facilitates ongoing advice from key industry partners to ensure the effective implementation and evolution of the Government's Manufacturing Strategy.
Manufacturing Media Centre
Mr.
Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for
Trade and Industry what financial or other contribution his Department
and its agencies are making towardsthe establishment of a
Manufacturing Media Centre (MMC); what estimate he has made of the
potential
total cost of the MMC in each of its first three years; and when he
expects the centre to be fully operational.
[84478]
Margaret Hodge: The Manufacturing Forum Secretariat, which includes officials from the DTI,is working with stakeholders to establish the Manufacturing Media Centre (MMC). The MMC will cost approximately £300,000 per annum and will be funded by contributions from the manufacturing community, mainly from industry. It is planned to launch the MMC by the end of 2006.
Minimum Wage
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people have received the minimum wage in West Lancashire in each year since it was introduced. [84891]
Jim Fitzpatrick: Data at the parliamentary constituency level is not available.
However, the DTI estimates that around 120,000 in the North West stood to benefit from the October 2005 uprating of the national minimum wage.
Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the potential for a conflict of interest to arise from a board member of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority also being a board member of the Environment Agency. [85507]
Malcolm Wicks: Matters such as the potential for conflicts of interest arising as a consequence of membership of the Boards of public bodies are taken fully into account during the recruitment process. The DTI press release of 13 October 2004 announcingthe appointment of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority’s non executive Board members provided detail on their other appointments and interests. In addition, public bodies maintain records of Board members’ interests.
Nuclear Power
Mr. McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from the Scottish Executive regarding the Energy Review with particular reference to the planning system for future nuclear power stations. [81661]
Malcolm Wicks [holding answer 3 July 2006]: The Government have worked closely with the Devolved Administrations throughout the Energy Review on all the areas of devolved responsibility, including planning.
The Government's report on the Review, “Our Energy Challenge”, was released on 11 July 2006. It is available on the DTI website at:
www.dti.gov.uk/energy/review
Paul
Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for
Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 4 July 2006,
Official Report, columns 910-11W, on nuclear power, what the
total operating budget was for his Department’s Office for Civil
Nuclear Security in each financial year since 2001-02.
[85386]
Malcolm Wicks [holding answer 14 July 2006]: The information requested is as follows.
| OCNS Operating costs | |
| £000 | |
The answer of 4 July 2006, Official Report, columns 910-11W referred to the charges made to recover the costs of regulatory services from those who received them. The figures in the table are total operating costs. The difference between total operating costs and fees charged (as stated on 4 July) is the net funding provided by DTI to cover the cost of work that falls outside the scope of The Nuclear Industries Security (Fees) Regulations and which therefore cannot be charged to industry. Office for Civil Nuclear Security (OCNS) activity covered by net funding includes, for example, policy advice within government, work on proposed future legislation and international work.
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