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30 Oct 2006 : Column 85W—continued
Departmental Redundancies
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library copies of the advice his Department provides to officials on (a) taking voluntary redundancy and (b) being made compulsorily redundant; what steps his Department (i) has taken and (ii) plans to take during the next year to reduce spending in his Department; and if he will make a statement. [95111]
Jim Fitzpatrick: Staff considering voluntary early departure or who may be made compulsorily redundant are able to access the Cabinet Office pensions website which explains the benefits available under the Civil Service Compensation Scheme, and leavers are invited to attend either a pre-retirement course or a course covering job search, setting up a business and pursuing self-employment.
The Department's strategy is to become a more streamlined, influential, policy-making Department, with delivery through our agencies and arm’s length bodies. We are constantly looking at providing better value for money and greater efficiency in all our activities, but especially our own running costs. To this end, we are currently looking at how we can use our accommodation and ICT resources most efficiently, as well as examining whether our organisational structure is the most appropriate to deliver on our objectives in the medium term. This work will bring savings next year and in following years, and is being carried out as an integral part of the Comprehensive Spending Review.
Departmental Travel
David T.C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been spent by his Department on (a) chartering aircraft and (b) non-scheduled air travel in each of the last five years. [96229]
Jim Fitzpatrick: No costs have been incurred by the Department in the last five years on chartering aircraft for internal flights, or on non-scheduled air travel. There is only one instance in the last five years of a DTI Minister using a non-scheduled flight (PQ 20047 213446), and the cost in that case was met by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister’s Office.
In respect of overseas travel by Cabinet Ministers, since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. Where non-scheduled aircraft are used this is shown in the list. Information for 2005-06 was published on 24 July 2006. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House for the reference of Members. All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the “Ministerial Code” and “Travel by Ministers”, copies of which are available in the Library of the House for the reference of Members. All official travel is undertaken in accordance with the requirements of the “Civil Service Management Code”, a copy of which is also available in the Library of the House for the reference of Members.
Energy Review
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the expected timetable is for completion of each of the consultations and further studies set out in chapter 9 of the Energy Review, Cm 6887. [96351]
Malcolm Wicks: A number of consultations have already been launched and work is under way to take forward the ambitious package of measures outlined in the Energy Review report. This work will feed into an Energy White Paper next year.
For further details see the DTI website at http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/index.html.
Energy Technologies Institute
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 20 October 2006, Official Report, column 1495, on the Energy Technologies Institute, who the (a) large company, (b) small and medium sized enterprises and (c) non-governmental organisation who expressed interest were. [97654]
Malcolm Wicks: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry published a Prospectus for the Energy Technologies Institute on 14 September. By 11 October the following organisations from Wales had expressed an interest:
(a) one large company, Corus;
(b) two SMEs: OpTIC Technium/Optropreneurs Ltd. an IQE plc; and
(c) one NGO, the Centre for Alternative Technology.
In addition, the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, was mistakenly omitted from the response to my hon. Friend’s earlier question.
Enterprise Capital Funds
Mr. Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been invested in Enterprise Capital funds. [97968]
Margaret Hodge: To date, the Government have awarded six Enterprise Capital Funds and have agreed in principle to invest £106.2 million. Taken together with the private investment expected to be raised by each Enterprise Capital Fund, there will be a total of £162.5 million being available for investment over the 10-year life of each fund.
Enterprise Insight
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will reply to Question 85681, on Enterprise Insight, tabled by the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland on 11 July. [96416]
Margaret Hodge: According to DTI internal records this question was answered on 24 July. However, it did not appear in the Official Report for that day. I have sent the hon. Member a copy of the original answer.
Farepak
Mr. Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will investigate the circumstances surrounding the administration of hamper company Farepak. [96367]
Malcolm Wicks: I cannot make any comment on the particular case but I do sympathise with any customers who may lose money they have invested with Farepak.
The company went into administration on 13 October and my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Trade has already been in contact with the administrators.
The administrators have a statutory duty to report to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if they consider that the conduct of any of the directors makes them unfit to be the directors of a limited company. The Secretary of State then has a discretionary power to seek to have the directors disqualified if it appears to him to be in the public interest. My right hon. Friend hopes hon. Members will appreciate that these are very early days in the administration. If any Member has constituents with concerns about the conduct of the company's affairs, they should contact the administrators.
Mr. Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the circumstances surrounding the collapse of Farepak; whether the company continued to collect payments from families after being declared bankrupt; and what steps he is taking to assess what lessons can be learnt for the future. [96832]
Malcolm Wicks [holding answer 25 October 2006]: First let me say that I sympathise with any customers who may lose money as a result of this failure of Farepak.
The company went into administration on 13 October and my right hon. Friend the Minister for Trade met the administrators on 21 October to discuss the situation. They told him that they are working hard to establish the extent of the company's liabilities and the whereabouts of any assets.
The administrators have a statutory duty to report to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if they consider that the conduct of any of the directors makes them unfit to be the directors of a limited company. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State then has a discretionary power to seek to have the directors disqualified if it appears to him to be in the public interest.
Also, directors do not enjoy absolute immunity from personal liability when a company goes into liquidation. If there is evidence in liquidation cases to indicate that there has been fraudulent or wrongful trading, a liquidator can ask the court to declare that those responsible should make a personal contribution towards the assets of the company.
My right hon. Friend hopes hon. Members will appreciate that these are very early days in the administration. If any Member has constituents with concerns about the conduct of the company's affairs, they should contact the administrators.
My right hon. Friend has also asked officials to make further inquiries as to the circumstances of the company's failure.
My right hon. Friend has been discussing with the British Retail Consortium the possibility of their members making some form of goodwill gesture to the customers of Farepak who have lost the money they had been saving towards Christmas. I am pleased to say that the BRC has accepted in principle this suggestion, given the exceptional circumstances, and are contacting their members to consider further the practical steps required. This will not be a compensation package, and members of the BRC are under no legal obligation to provide any help, but they have had a lot of interest from many large retailers, who are keen to try and do something, and I am grateful to them for their co-operation.
Mr. Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what response he has had from the British Retail Consortium to his inquiry about support for those affected by the collapse of Farepak. [96833]
Malcolm Wicks [holding answer 25 October 2006]: I have great sympathy for those people who have lost money they saved over the year as a result of the collapse of Farepak and feel badly let down.
My right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Trade met the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and administrators of Farepak on 21 October to assess the level of the problem caused by the company going into administration.
It was a productive meeting and the BRC accepted in principle the idea of a goodwill gesture, given the exceptional circumstances surrounding Christmas. The discussion focused on the number of people affected and how my right hon. Friend wants to ensure that any package would be simple, not derisory, fraud free, easy
to administer at store level and providing as much choice as possible for the customers to shop where they want.
This will not be a compensation package and members of the BRC are under no legal obligation to provide any help but they have had a lot of interest from many large retailers, who are keen to try and do something. The BRC is in discussion with its members so that retailers can decide what they might be able to provide and to consider further the practical steps required to take this matter further.
My right hon. Friend would like to thank personally both the Administrators and the BRC for their co-operation so far.
In the meantime, customers who have paid money to Farepak either directly or through an agent should contact the Administrators, BDO Stoy Hayward, to register a claim. Contact details are:
Website: www.farepak.co.uk
Telephone: 0870 830 6010
Fax: 01793 606057
E-mail: customer.claims@farepak.co.uk
Postal: Farepak Food & Gifts Limited—In Administration
Kings Wharf
20-30 Kings Road
Reading
RG1 3EX
Customers should ensure that their payment books are up to date and that they retain the books as evidence of their claim.
Mr. Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received concerning the placing into administration of Farepak Food and Gifts Limited; and if he will make a statement. [97049]
Malcolm Wicks: I have great sympathy for those people who have lost money they saved over the year as a result of the collapse of Farepak and feel badly let down. There is wide public interest in this case and that has been reflected in a range of representations from individuals, MPs and business.
The company went into administration on 13 October. The administrators are required to act in the interests of all of the creditors and should seek the best outcome for them. They also have a statutory duty to report to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if they consider that the conduct of any of the directors makes them unfit to be the directors of a limited company. In addition, as the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry announced to the Trade and Industry Committee, an investigation under the Companies Act 1985 is now under way.
My right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Trade met the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and administrators of Farepak on 21 October to assess the level of the problem caused by the company going into administration.
It was a productive meeting and the BRC accepted in principle the idea of a goodwill gesture, given the exceptional circumstances surrounding Christmas. The discussion focused on the number of people affected and how my right hon. Friend wants to ensure that any package would be simple, not derisory, fraud free, easy
to administer at store level and providing as much choice as possible for the customers to shop where they want.
This will not be a compensation package and members of the BRC are under no legal obligation to provide any help but they have had a lot of interest from many large retailers, who are keen to try and do something. The BRC is in discussion with its members so that retailers can decide what they might be able to provide and to consider further the practical steps required to take this matter further.
My right hon. Friend would like to thank personally both the Administrators and the BRC for their co-operation so far.
In the meantime, customers who have paid money to Farepak either directly or through an agent should contact the Administrators, BDO Stoy Hayward, to register a claim. Contact details are:
Website: www.farepak.co.uk
Telephone: 0870 830 6010
Fax: 01793 606057
Email:customer.claims@farepak.co.uk
Postal:Farepak Food and Gifts Limited—In Administration
Kings Wharf
20-30 Kings Road
Reading RG1 3EX
Customers should ensure that their payment books are up to date and that they retain the books as evidence of their claim.
Furniture Industry
Mrs. Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with HM Revenue and Customs on the import of furniture which does not meet required safety standards. [96600]
Malcolm Wicks: None. Fire safety of furniture imported to the UK is governed by the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988. These Regulations are enforced by Trading Standards. HM Revenue and Customs liaises with Trading Standards on furniture imports as appropriate.
Mrs. Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with the European Commission on the effect on the UK furniture industry of standards applying to the manufacture of furniture. [96602]
Mrs. Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the European Commission's policy is towards the regulation of standards in the furniture industry in Europe. [96603]
Malcolm Wicks: The European Commission's policy on standards is reflected in the General Product Safety Directive 2001/95/EC, where European standards are recognised as a means by which products can be shown to meet the general safety requirement. However, the directive also acknowledges that the requirements of national legislation (including mandatory compliance with national standards) take precedence in the absence of product-specific Europe legislation.
International Trade Advisers
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many international trade advisers there are in his Department. [96837]
Malcolm Wicks [holding answer 26 October 2006]: Through UK Trade and Investment, the Department funds 264 international trade advisers across the English regions.
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