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23 Oct 2006 : Column 1699W—continued
Mrs. Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the number of lives saved in the UK by flammability regulations on furniture. [95193]
Mr. McCartney: The DTI commissioned the University of Surrey to research the effectiveness of the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988. The resulting report—“Effectiveness of the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988”—was published in June 2000 and copies were placed in the Libraries of both Houses. The report’s findings were ‘extremely good news’. At a conservative estimate, the Regulations had saved at least 710 lives (1,860 when additional factors are taken into consideration) and prevented at least 5,770 injuries from 1988 to 1997. Recent figures from the Department for Communities and Local Government show that the downward trend in deaths and injuries has continued.
Illegally Imported Furniture
Mrs. Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with (a) the Department for Communities and Local Government and (b) trading standards enforcement officers on the health and safety compliance of illegally imported furniture. [95175]
Mr. McCartney: The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has policy responsibility for fire safety, setting clear priorities for the fire and rescue service. It is not responsible for the health and safety compliance of imported furniture, and as such I have not discussed this issue with DCLG. Trading Standards is responsible for enforcing the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988, and my officials regularly liaise with its officers on matters arising from these regulations.
Internet Neutrality
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the Government's policy is on internet neutrality; and if he will make a statement. [93816]
Margaret Hodge: The Government are looking at the issue of net neutrality in the context of the EU review of the regulatory framework for electronic communications. Our current view is that in a competitive market customers can benefit from a choice of prices and access speeds set by the access provider. This will work as long as customers understand what they are paying for and can change service provider if they wish to quickly, easily and cheaply. On this basis, we believe that competition law should suffice in dealing with any issues arising. While this is not currently an issue in Europe or the UK we are keeping the situation under review.
Details about the EU review (including links to Commission papers) can be found on the DTI website: http://www.dti.gov.uk/sectors/telecoms/2006review/page26449.html
Ministerial Visits (Accommodation)
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 25 July 2006, Official Report, column 1524W, on ministerial visits (accommodation), why the total amount spent on overnight accommodation rose between 2004-05 and 2005-06. [91736]
Jim Fitzpatrick: Ministerial visits overseas are determined by the need to represent the UK at international negotiations and other business fora.
As indicated in my earlier reply, 25 July 2006, Official Report, columns 1524-25W, 2005-06 includes travel costs for the six-month period when the UK held the EU Presidency.
DTI Ministers also attended the WTO Doha round of negotiations in Hong Kong and participated in the Prime Minister's trade summit to India and China.
Under the terms of the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, when travelling on official business, Ministers are expected to make efficient and cost effective travel arrangements.
Nuclear Stocks
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the written statement of 20 July 2006, Official Report, column 54WS, on civil plutonium and uranium stocks, if he will clarify the reason for the 200 kg reduction in the quantity of plutonium contained in unirradiated MOX fuel or other fabricated products at reactor sites or elsewhere; in what part of the reprocessing process the plutonium is lost; where it is now; what his definition of down-blending is; and who is responsible for accounting for such materials. [95132]
Malcolm Wicks: Further detailed analysis of the Annual Statement has identified that a clerical error occurred in the allocation of material to the appropriate Civil Unirradiated Plutonium category.
This has resulted in the figure for plutonium in unirradiated MOX fuel or other fabricated products at reactor sites or elsewhere being less than it should be. This has not affected the total plutonium holding. Revised figures for the UK's stocks of civil plutonium and uranium will be placed in the Libraries of the House and the Department's website once they have been verified.
The material has not physically moved and has been accounted for on a monthly basis. The material in question is not part of any process losses.
Down-blending is the opposite process to enrichment. Uranium with a high U-235 content is mixed with uranium with a lower U-235 content to give a product with an intermediate U-235 content, which depends on the relevant proportions of the start materials. In this instance high enriched uranium residues, recovered during decommissioning operations at the Capenhurst Gaseous Diffusion Plant, are blended with either low enriched uranium or depleted uranium to give a product containing less than 5 per cent. U-235.
The accounting of such materials is the responsibility of individual site licence companies.
Oil Industry
Mr. Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on which occasions during the last 10 years did stocks of Category 2 refined oil products fall short of the UK's Compulsory Stocking Obligations; and by what proportion stocks of Category 2 products fell short on each occasion when the Compulsory Stocking Obligation was not met. [95080]
Malcolm Wicks [holding answer 19 October 2006]: The following table shows the percentage shortfall in the UK's Category 2 obligation by month since January 1998. Where no shortfall is shown the UK was compliant or in surplus. Data by category are not available prior to 1998.
| 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | |
The failure to meet that part of our obligations relating to Category 2 was caused by market changes, with small companies below the threshold for the obligation entering a supply chain previously dominated by oil companies. In 2003 and 2004 we agreed short-term additional obligations with the industry, which have ensured a surplus in most subsequent months. We also held a public consultation, and are working with industry on a new system, based on product from refineries or entering the UK as imports, capable of meeting the national obligation in the long term.
Peugeot
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what (a) Government and (b) EU grants Peugeot has received in the last 15 years; and if he will make a statement. [94145]
Margaret Hodge [holding answer 18 October 2006]: In 1994, Peugeot received £900,000 for investment in the 306 model, followed by £2 million in 1998 towards the cost of investment to add a third shift at a time of strong demand for its 206 model. In November 2004, a grant of £14.4 million was offered to Peugeot for manufacture of the 207 at Ryton, but the project did not proceed.
The Government also offer various forms of technology grant. Peugeot has participated in consortia which have received grants, although it is not believed that the company has received any direct funding.
The Government are not aware of Peugeot’s UK activities having received any R&D grants direct from European Union institutions. The Government do not
routinely collate data regarding grants received by automotive companies elsewhere in the EU from either the EU itself or other Governments.
Post Office Closures
Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many proposed post office closures have been withdrawn following the formal consultation period in each of the last five years. [95958]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The information is not available in the format requested.
Over the last five years, Post Office Ltd. carried out its planned closures of post office branches in urban areas under its Urban Network Reinvention Programme. All proposed closures were managed through a formal consultation process agreed with and monitored by Postwatch, the independent consumer watchdog.
Under the urban reinvention programme, a total of 76 post office branch closure proposals were permanently withdrawn following the consultation process. The programme is now complete.
Public Limited Companies
Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the statement by the Minister of State for Industry and the Regions to Standing Committee D on 13 July 2006, Official Report, column 703, on Clause 399 of the Company Law Reform Bill, whether it is his intention that a UK public limited company would be required to report on its relationship with suppliers overseas within the Business Review in order to comply with subsection (4) of Clause 399 if it purchases products from them indirectly via an importer. [89273]
Margaret Hodge: All public companies must produce a Business Review, as required under what is now clause 423 of the Companies Bill. Subsection (4) requires the Business Review to be a balanced and comprehensive analysis of the company's business, consistent with the size and complexity of the company's business. It is for the directors to judge whether information on suppliers overseas is relevant in this context. In the case of quoted companies, the Government believe it right that information on contractual and other relationships essential to the business should be included in their directors' Business Review to the extent necessary for an understanding of the development, performance or position of the company's business. I have tabled an amendment to the Bill to this effect.
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