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24 July 2006 : Column 1033W—continued
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Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which IT contracts awarded by his Department in each of the last five years have been abandoned; and what the value was in each case. [88978]
Jim Fitzpatrick: During the last five years the Department has not abandoned any IT contracts awarded during that period. The Department has a main information technology contract which is a private finance initiative (PFI) agreement with Fujitsu Services and has been in place for more than five years. The Department has also recently awarded a competed services framework arrangement to six other suppliers but to-date no significant contracts have been awarded to these suppliers.
Local Distribution Grids
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the adequacy of investment in local distribution grids by the distribution network operators; and if he will make a statement. [86936]
Malcolm Wicks: Price controls for the period 2005-10, which set the operational and capital expenditure for the 14 electricity distribution networks, were agreed between the regulator (Ofgem) and the distribution network operators in January 2005. Ofgem has to allow the networks sufficient revenue to invest in their businesses to deliver licence conditions, which include having safe and reliable networks. At the same time, Ofgem seeks to keep costs down for consumers. The reliability of the distribution networks in Britain has improved, with power cuts relating to underlying performance (i.e. taking out major storms) down by 16 per cent. since performance incentives were introduced in 2002.
For the 2005-10 price control, £5.7 billion has been allowed for investment in the distribution networks. These allowances are 48 per cent. above the 2000-05 price control. Specific measures have been introduced to assist renewables and distributed generation. The 2005-10 price controls addresses three key areas: the need to increase investment and efficiency, to improve quality of service and to accommodate the growth in distributed generation.
Low Carbon Buildings
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total value is of household grants applied for since the start of the Low Carbon Buildings programme. [78486]
Malcolm Wicks: The total value of household grants applied for since the start of the Low Carbon Buildings programme is £1,670,730. This figure represents applications received some of which will not go forward. Actual grants offered up to 7 July 2006 is £527,763.
Minimum Wage
Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when his Department expects the next revision to the youth rate of the national minimum wage; what representations he has received on this matter; and what plans he has to make representations on this matter. [87126]
Jim Fitzpatrick: In line with the recommendation of the Low Pay Commission, on 1 October the development rate for 16-17 year olds will increase to £3.30 an hour.
Ministerial Meetings
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what trade-related (a) missions he plans to undertake and (b) meetings he plans to hold during the parliamentary recess. [86765]
Mr. McCartney: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry plans to visit Brazil in September, accompanied by a business delegation. During the recess he will continue to hold discussions on trade, investment and economic affairs, including with business, other non-governmental organisations, as well as European Union and non-European Union contacts, as necessary.
Ministerial Offices
Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many times his ministerial office has been decorated in each of the last five years. [87643]
Jim Fitzpatrick: During this period the walls of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State’s office were repainted in 2005.
Additionally in 2002, some changes including redecoration were made to his office as part of a wider programme of works affecting the whole floor to make more efficient use of space and greater use of open plan working.
Ministerial Visits (Accommodation)
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on how many occasions (a) civil servants and (b) special advisors in his Department have stayed overnight in (i) five star, (ii) four star and (iii) three star hotels in each of the last three years. [69001]
Jim Fitzpatrick: This information is not readily available and can be obtained only at disproportionate costs.
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total cost was of overnight accommodation for (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers in his Department staying overnight in (i) mainland Great Britain, (ii) Northern Ireland, (iii) the Republic of Ireland and (iv) other countries in each of the last three years. [69002]
Jim Fitzpatrick: Information on overnight accommodation broken down as requested is not available and could be made available only at disproportionate cost. The following table shows the total expenditure on hotel accommodation for both DTI officials and Ministers, split between the UK and overseas, in the last three years.
| Expenditure on overnight accommodation for DTI Ministers and officials | ||
| £ | ||
| Financial year | UK hotels | Hotel overseas |
New Power Stations
John Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what account he takes of different levels of forecast emissions of carbon dioxide in determining planning applications for new power stations. [86129]
Malcolm Wicks: There are no set limits for emissions of carbon dioxide when considering power station applications. However the Environmental Impact Assessment which accompanies an application includes a statement on how the proposal contributes to meeting the Government’s target to reduce emissions of gases which contribute to global warming and acid rain. In addition, and before any consent is granted, we need confirmation from the Environment Agency that the impact of emissions would not be detrimental to the health of people and flora and fauna.
NIREX
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the Nuclear Waste Management Organisation plan to replace NIREX will be independent of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority; and if he will make a statement. [86363]
Ian Pearson: I have been asked to reply.
Future policy, and arrangements for implementing this, will be decided by Government in light of the Committee for Radioactive Waste Management’s (CoRWM) final recommendations. CoRWM’s report is due to be delivered to Government at the end of this month. Government will make a formal response to their report after the recess when the UK Government and Devolved Administrations are sitting.
Nuclear Power
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of
26 June 2006, Official Report, columns 75-76W, on nuclear power, what nuclear decommissioning activity has been undertaken since 1 April 2005; and at what site the clean-up activity took place. [85962]
Malcolm Wicks: Details of the decommissioning activity carried out since 1 April 2005 will be set out in the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority's (NDA) Annual Report and Accounts for 2005-06. The accounts are currently being finalised and audited. They will be published and laid in the House in due course after they have been signed off by the Comptroller and Auditor General. Full details of all the NDA's activities can be found on its website:
www.nda.gov.uk
Mr. Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what reports his Department has received which identify sites suitable for building nuclear power stations in addition to those presently in service. [86711]
Malcolm Wicks: The Department has received no such reports identifying new potential sites for nuclear power stations.
October Bank Holiday
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will bring forward legislation to amend the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 to provide for an additional bank holiday on the last Monday in October each year; what recent representations he has received calling for an additional bank holiday; and if he will make a statement. [87109]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The Government receive a variety of suggestions for new or different bank holidays. The present pattern of bank holidays is well established and accepted, and we have no current plans to change the arrangements.
The Government are currently consulting on proposals to increase the statutory annual leave entitlement to ensure that time off equivalent to bank and public holidays is additional to the existing annual leave entitlement.
Outsourcing
Mr. Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what administrative functions for which his Department is responsible are outsourced overseas; and what assessment he has made of the merits of outsourcing further such functions overseas. [81557]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department has not outsourced any of its administrative functions overseas nor are there currently any plans in place to do so.
Personal Debt
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what account he has taken of increased casework caused by high levels of personal debt in the allocation of funding for donations to the Citizens Advice Bureaux by his Department. [88130]
Mr. McCartney: The Citizens Advice Bureaux have been very successful in bidding for support under the £45 million Financial Inclusion Fund for debt advice. They have led 10 of the 16 selected advice-giving projects that have resulted in around £30 million of funds being granted to them. Their casework evidence was a crucial factor in deciding this allocation.
Peugeot
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what conditions were applied to the grant offer made to Peugeot in November for the manufacture of the 207 at Ryton; and what reasons were given to his Department for the refusal of the grant. [86206]
Margaret Hodge: The terms and conditions of the £14.4 million Regional Selective Assistance grant offered to Peugeot for the manufacture of the 207 model at Ryton are confidential between the Government and Peugeot. The company did not take up the offer as they decided not to proceed with the project.
Planning (Energy Generation)
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what role (a) he and (b) ministers in his Department play in planning decisions for (i) new power plants and (ii) wind turbines. [86851]
Malcolm Wicks: Under the specialised regime of section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 onshore power stations, however fuelled, over 50 MW and offshore renewable power stations over 1 MW, in England and Wales fall to the Secretary of State to determine. Onshore power station proposals of 50 MW or less are dealt with under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 by local planning authorities and Ministers in this Department have no role to play in deciding those applications.
Post Office Card Account
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people visited each of the post offices in Chorley constituency using the Post Office card account to withdraw (a) benefit and (b) pensions in the last 12 months. [87433]
Jim Fitzpatrick: I understand from Post Office Ltd. (POL) that the information is not available in the format requested. POL cannot provide a breakdown of which benefits customers are withdrawing cash for as they may have a range of benefits paid into a Post Office card account (POCA) and then withdraw cash from any Post Office branch via their POCA. Also, they do not capture information on which customers are making visits or their withdrawal pattern.
Renewable Energy
Mr. Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will publish a consultation paper on banding the Renewables Obligation, as announced in the Energy Review Report. [87614]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The Government intend to publish the consultation document on the banding of the Renewables Obligation in the autumn this year.
Mr. Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the outcome has been of the project for Renewable Energy Systems at Beaufort Court; how much public money was involved in the project; and if he will make a statement. [75377]
Malcolm Wicks: Renewable Energy System’s development at Beaufort Court has not received any financing from UK Government but has, according to the website (http://www.beaufortcourt.com), received funding from the European Union through the EC framework 5 programme
Royal Mail (Complaints)
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many complaints from customers were received by the Royal Mail (a) nationally and (b) in the York postal area (i) in 2005-06 and (ii) each of the previous four years; and whether it is the Government's policy that the Royal Mail should continue to publish information about complaints received in each post code area. [87050]
Jim Fitzpatrick: This is an operational matter for Royal Mail. Adam Crozier, the Chief Executive of Royal Mail has been asked to reply direct to my hon. Friend .
Postcomm, the postal regulator is responsible for licensing postal operators. Under the terms of Royal Mail's licence they are required to publish details of complaints received, incorporating number of claims of compensation. They must be published in a manner that ensures reasonable publicity.
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