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13 Sep 2006 : Column 2330W—continued
Korea
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much the Department spent in each of the last five years building links between the UK and Korea with a focus on (a) engineering, (b) science and technology and (c) innovation. [79328]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The majority of the Department’s expenditure on these subjects is allocated from the Science Budget to the UK Research Councils. In turn, the UK Research Councils allocate the majority of their funds in a “bottom-up” mode responding to the demand of the science community and making funding decisions on quality rather than international geographic focus. It is therefore not possible to provide exact figures on spending which relates to collaboration with Korea. However, there is active collaboration, supported by the Research Councils, in wide range of areas—including genome work, nano and bio-nanotechnology, sustainable development and energy technologies, ICT and mobile technologies and space science.
The Office of Science and Innovation does have specific schemes to support links between UK and Korea in these areas which are administered by the Royal Society and which cost £400,000 from 2001-02 to 2005-06.
National Consumer Council
Mr. Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) when the budget of the National Consumer Council for 2006-07 will be finalised; and if he will make a statement; [91095]
(2) what the National Consumer Council’s budget will be for 2006-07. [91096]
Jim Fitzpatrick: Due to the tight budgetary position this year it has taken longer than usual for the Department to set definitive budgets in all areas. The Department has now completed the exercise for prioritising our budget across objectives, and is working out 2006-07 final budgets for the individual recipients.
In the case of the National Consumer Council, their budget includes funds from other sources as well as the Department. We will not settle the exact expenditure limit that we will apply to the Council until later this month.
Pressure Reduction Installation
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the safety of the proposed pressure reduction installation at Corse, Gloucestershire which is part of the Milford Haven to Tirley gas pipeline. [90579]
Jim Fitzpatrick [holding answer 11 September 2006]: None. The application for the pressure reduction installation at Corse falls on the local planning authority to determine under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.
Scientific Publication System
Mr. Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what response he has made to the European Commission Study addressing Europe’s scientific publication system; and if he will make a statement. [90746]
Margaret Hodge: The Department hosted a presentation by the authors of the study on the economic and technical evolution of the scientific publications markets in Europe. The presentation was attended by key stakeholders and representatives of the UK research publications community, and provided an opportunity for them to express views on the recommendations.
I am considering the recommendations of the Study and intend to send a response to the European Commission in due course.
Service Sector
Mr. Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions (a) he and (b) his officials have had with trade union representatives on the impact of globalisation on service sector jobs in the UK. [90587]
Jim Fitzpatrick: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and his officials regularly meet union representatives to discuss a number of issues including the effects of globalisation.
Mr. Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment the Department has made of the impact of globalisation on service sector jobs in the UK. [90588]
Margaret Hodge [holding answer 11 September 2006]: In December 2003 the Department published a consultation document “Services & Offshoring: the Impact of International Competition in Services” which set out some of the possible impacts of offshoring on the UK services sector. This was followed by the 2004 DTI White Paper “Making Globalisation a Force for Good” and the accompanying DTI Economics paper “Liberalisation and Globalisation: Maximising the Benefits of International Trade and Investment”. The conclusion was that globalisation should be positive for the UK economy in the long run, while acknowledging possible job losses in the short term.
The DTI has also commissioned and published studies of the impact of globalisation on UK contact centres and the UK software and IT services sector. These are available on the DTI website.
UN Conference on Trade and Development
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of (a) the UN Conference on Trade and Development annual report and (b) its assessment of the Japanese and German trade surpluses. [90899]
Margaret Hodge: We welcome UNCTAD’s annual report, which is broadly consistent with the UK’s position on trade and development set out in the 2004 Trade and Investment White Paper “Making Globalisation a Force for Good”.
We share the concern that global imbalances may present a risk to world growth. However Germany and Japan’s surpluses have been a long-standing feature of a growing and evolving world economy.
Treasury
Arms Exports Controls
Susan Kramer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 22 March 2006, Official Report, column 426W, on arms exports controls, what estimate he has made of the number of unreported breaches of arms export controls. [90915]
John Healey: HMRC does not make systematic assessments of unreported breaches of arms export controls. However, HMRC does undertake risk-testing exercises that support our assessment that there is not widespread abuse of export controls and that UK exporters are broadly compliant.
Susan Kramer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 22 March 2006, Official Report, column 426W, on arms exports controls, what assessment he has made of the reason for the decline in the number of reported breaches of strategic export controls since 2000. [90916]
John Healey: HM Revenue and Customs consider there to be a number of factors contributing to the decline in the number of reported breaches of strategic export controls since 2000. Firstly, at that time a large number of breaches related to trade sanctions on Angola and Iraq—these sanctions no longer apply. Secondly, controls on the export of off-road vehicles to the former Yugoslavia were discontinued in 2002. HMRC also assess that there is increased exporter compliance. Since 2000 the DTI, supported by HMRC and other Government Departments, have been very active in running national and regional seminars to increase exporter awareness of the controls. Additionally, DTI and HMRC supported a series of regional seminars run by the Defence Manufacturers Association prior to the introduction of the new Orders under the Export Control Act 2002.
Susan Kramer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 22 March 2006, Official Report, column 426W, on arms exports controls, what offence was committed in respect of each prosecution for breaches of strategic export controls since 2000 where proceedings are complete; and what punishment was imposed in each case. [90917]
John Healey: The details are provided in the following table:
Breast Feeding
Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will discuss with (a) the Department of Health and (b) the Department for Work and Pensions the construction of fiscal incentives to promote breast feeding in the first six months of a baby's life. [90761]
Ed Balls: The Government recognises breastfeeding as the best form of nutrition for infants. Departments will continue to keep under review policies to promote healthy outcomes for infants.
The new Healthy Start scheme, that replaces the Welfare Food Scheme, provides for the first time equal benefits for both breastfeeding and bottlefeeding mothers.
Infant formula is the sole source of nutrition for those infants who are not breastfed and it is therefore vital that this product is available at an affordable price. The Government recognise that women have a choice in how they feed their infant and seek to maximise nutritional outcomes for all infants.
While the Government keeps all taxes under review, it is important to remember that there are other factors unrelated to price that will determine whether a mother chooses to breastfeed.
Cash Machines
Ben Chapman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of Citizens' Advice's evidence to his Department on fee-charging cash machines. [90854]
Ed Balls: The Government take very seriously the issue of free access to cash, especially for those on low incomes. In July this year, the Citizens Advice Bureau published survey evidence on cash machine charging, titled “Out of Pocket”. The working group on ATMs, chaired by my right hon. Friend the Member for Dunbartonshire, is looking at evidence from a range of stakeholders on the location and growth of free and surcharging ATMs, in order to reach a shared analysis on this issue. The Government look forward to seeing the recommendations of the ATM working group later in the year.
Ben Chapman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will work with the banking industry to raise the proportion of cash machines not charging a fee. [90859]
Ed Balls: The Government take seriously the issue of free access to cash, especially for those on low incomes. According to the latest figures from LINK, there are now more than 33,000 free ATMs in the UK, accounting for 96 per cent. of withdrawals made at ATMs. In the first quarter of 2006, there was a net increase of over 100 free ATMs.
The working group on ATMs, chaired by my right hon. Friend the Member for Dunbartonshire , is expected to look at the evidence on the location and growth of free and surcharging ATMs, in order to reach a shared analysis on this issue. The Government look forward to seeing the recommendations of this group later in the year.
CHIEF Computer System
Dr. Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment has been made of the impact on private sector service providers of HM Revenue and Customs service helping importers and exporters to supply information to the CHIEF computer system. [90641]
John Healey: The CHIEF system has been HM Revenue and Customs' primary system for processing customs declarations on imports and exports since 1994. HM Revenue and Customs provide a variety of electronic communications channels to enable importers and exporters to make customs declarations to the CHIEF service.
HMRC have an extensive and ongoing consultation process with stakeholders including importers, exporters, software suppliers, community service providers, logistics operators and freight carriers to help understand the full impact of all potential changes relating to the provision of information to the CHIEF service. Where appropriate, full regulatory impact assessments are carried out on proposed changes to the system.
Correspondence
Mr. Winnick: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Walsall, North of 3 August 2006, regarding a constituent, reference 5/01238/2006. [90964]
Ed Balls: I have replied to my hon. Friend.
Departmental Capability Review
Mr. George Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the departmental capability review for HM Treasury will be published. [90597]
Ed Balls: Any announcement on the Treasury's participation in the departmental capability review will be made in due course.
Departmental Contracts
Mr. Duncan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the value is of his Department’s contracts with (a) ER Consultants and (b) Praesta in each of the last three years; and which Ministers have made use of the services in each case. [90783]
John Healey: No contracts have been awarded by the Treasury to ER Consultants during the last three financial years. Payments of £29,326 excluding VAT were made to Praesta Partners in 2005-06 in connection with the training of departmental officials.
Our records show that Treasury Ministers have not made use of the services of either company.
Energy Efficiency (Information & Support to Business)
Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library copies of the minutes of meetings held by the group examining the provision of information and support on energy efficiency to business chaired by the Financial Secretary and Mr. Richard Ellis. [90912]
John Healey: Budget 2006 announced that Richard Ellis and I would co-chair a group to examine how best to provide information and support to business on energy efficiency. The meetings of this group represent part of the ongoing process of policy development, the outcome of which will be reflected in any future policy announcements on this area. As such, it would not be appropriate to place copies of the minutes of these meetings in the Library.
Export Controls
Susan Kramer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 22 March 2006, Official Report, column 426W, what percentage of breaches of export control legislation involved goods that would have been granted an export licence had the exporter applied for one in each of the last five years. [90914]
John Healey:
Estimates of the percentage of breaches of export control legislation involving goods that would have been granted an export licence, had the
exporter applied for one, in each of the last five years are set out in the following table:
| Percentage | |
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