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28 Mar 2007 : Column 1617W—continued
David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what advice his Department is offering to householders who encountered internet access problems while attempting to apply for a grant under the low carbon buildings programme on 1 March. [127253]
Malcolm Wicks: In the Budget 2007, it was announced that a further £6 million will be made available to the household stream, taking the total available for householders to more than £18 million.
Before deciding how to make best use of the extra funding, the household stream is to be suspended for the monthly allocation in April so that it can be re-shaped. Proposals will be brought forward in May.
David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what date he expects the household stream of the low carbon buildings programme to end; and if he will make a statement. [127251]
Malcolm Wicks: In the Budget 2007, it was announced that a further £6 million will be made available to the household stream of the low carbon buildings programme, taking the total available for householders to more than £18 million.
The low carbon buildings programme is a demonstration not deployment programme, and we believe that the current funding made available to the household stream will allow us to meet the key objectives of the scheme.
We aim to continue funding until June 2008, by which time some of our wider measures to promote microgeneration should be taking hold.
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment his Department has made of the level of household demand for capital grants under the low carbon buildings programme to March 2009. [127931]
Malcolm Wicks: In the Budget 2007, it was announced that a further £6 million will be made available to the household stream of the low carbon buildings programme, taking the total available for householders to more than £18 million.
Before deciding how to make best use of the extra funding, the household stream will be suspended for the monthly allocation in April so that it can be reshaped. Proposals will be brought forward in May.
We aim to continue funding until June 2008, by which time some of our wider measures to promote microgeneration should be taking hold.
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for what reasons his Department introduced a limit on the amount of capital grants to be allocated to households in any calendar month under the low carbon buildings programme; and if he will make a statement. [127932]
Malcolm Wicks: The purpose of the monthly cap was to ensure the resources did not run out before June 2008.
In the Budget 2007, it was announced that a further £6 million will be made available to the household stream of the low carbon buildings programme, taking the total available for householders to more than £18 million.
Before deciding how to make best use of the extra funding, the household stream will be suspended for the monthly allocation in April so that it can be reshaped. Proposals will be brought forward in May.
Mr. Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the impact on the UK household micro renewable market of his Department's introduction of a monthly cap for household grants under the low carbon buildings programme. [128719]
Malcolm Wicks: Prior to the introduction of the monthly cap, we made an average of 540 grant awards per month to low carbon buildings programme household applicants.
The purpose of the cap was to ensure the resources did not run out before June 2008. In March 2007, we allocated grants to 189 household applicants.
In the Budget 2007, it was announced that a further £6 million will be made available to the household stream of the low carbon buildings programme, taking the total available for householders to more than £18 million.
Before deciding how to make best use of the extra funding, the household stream is to be suspended for the monthly allocation in April so that it can be reshaped. Proposals will be brought forward in May.
Mr. Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what advice he is giving to householders who did not obtain a grant under the low carbon buildings programme on 1 February and 1 March. [128835]
Malcolm Wicks: In the Budget, it was announced that a further £6 million will be made available to the household stream of the low carbon buildings programme, taking the total available for householders to more than £18 million.
Before deciding how to make best use of the extra funding, the household stream will be suspended for the monthly allocation in April so that it can be reshaped. Proposals will be brought forward in May.
Overseas Companies: Colombia
Mr. Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he is taking to ensure British-based companies fulfil their social obligations when pursuing mining interests in Colombia. [129618]
Mr. McCartney [holding answer 27 March 2007]: The Government are a signatory to the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. These are voluntary standards of responsible corporate behaviour. UK companies are expected to adhere to the guidelines wherever they operate. Allegations of breaches of the guidelines can be investigated.
Post Offices
Sir Robert Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the number of post offices that will be required for the Post Office to meet the new access criteria that he has proposed. [130375]
Jim Fitzpatrick:
No such estimate has been made. Following Government’s final decisions, which I expect to announce in May, Post Office Ltd. will develop specific plans for the network which ensure that the access criteria are met. Those plans will also reflect the
Government framework of a maximum of 2,500 compensated closures of sub-post offices.
Sir Robert Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the reasons were for delaying the response to the consultation on the future of the Post Office from March to May. [130376]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department received over 2,500 representations to its consultation on the Post Office network. We need more time to give full consideration to the comments submitted and hope to be able to announce our final decisions in May.
Sustainable Development
Mr. Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will assess the merits of appointing a chief engineer to advise the Government on sustainable infrastructure. [130053]
Malcolm Wicks: The role of the Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser (GCSA) is a broad one, covering all scientific, engineering and technological disciplines.
The GCSA, currently Sir David King, has provided advice on a wide range of issues relating to sustainable infrastructure, for example in connection with climate change and energy, and including via previous Foresight projects on Intelligent Infrastructure Systems and Flooding and Coastal Defence, and the current Sustainable Energy Management and the Built Environment project.
Venture Capital: Takeovers
Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the impact of recent takeover activities of private equity organisations on trade, industry and business. [121829]
Mr. McCartney: The Government have not undertaken an assessment of the impact of recent takeover activities of private equity organisations.
The regulatory control of mergers and acquisitions which qualify under the Enterprise Act 2002 is a matter for the relevant independent competition authorities which assess mergers on the grounds of their impact on competition in the market.
Separately, the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers supervises and regulates takeovers in accordance with the rules set out in the Takeover Code. The panel is an independent body which issues and administers the code. The code provides an orderly framework within which takeovers are conducted and so contribute to the integrity of the financial markets. The code is designed to ensure that shareholders are treated fairly and are not denied an opportunity to decide on the merits of a takeover. The code is not, however, concerned with the financial or commercial advantages or disadvantages of a takeover; these are matters for the company and its shareholders.
Whales
Bill Wiggin:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with his
foreign counterparts on whaling in the last 12 months. [128646]
Mr. Bradshaw: I have been asked to reply.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 19 February 2007, Official Report, column 194W.
Duchy of Lancaster
Civil Servants: British Nationality
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, in which Departments Ministers have the power to designate posts as reserved to UK nationals; how many designations have been made by Ministers, broken down by department; and if she will make a statement. [129718]
Mr. McFadden: Each Minister responsible for a Department has the authority to designate a post as reserved if it meets one of the categories set out in the European Communities (Employment in the Civil Service) Order 2007. If a post does not fall within these categories, then it is not capable of being reserved. The Cabinet Office will be collecting information in due course on the number of posts designated by Ministers as reserved.
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what estimate she has made of the (a) number and (b) percentage of Civil Service posts that need to be reserved to UK nationals in the public interest; and if she will make a statement. [129719]
Mr. McFadden: It is estimated that about 5 per cent. (27,000) of Civil Service posts will need to be reserved to UK nationals.
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, how many certificates under the Aliens' Employment Act 1955 permitting employment of aliens in the Civil Service are in force; how many there were in 2006-07; and in which Departments those holding such a certificate work. [129724]
Mr. McFadden: Figures for 2006-07 are still to be finalised. For information on earlier years, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 27 June 2006, Official Report, column 314W.
Departments: Advertising
Mr. Heald: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much her Department spent on (a) sponsoring newspaper or publication supplements and (b) funding advertorials in newspapers or publications in the last year for which figures are available; and what the subject was of each. [129226]
Hilary Armstrong: Cabinet Office communication group commissioned two sponsored supplements and no advertorials in 2005-06. These supplements were commissioned to promote the ‘Transforming Public Services’ conference, as part of the UK presidency of the EU and to promote the 10-point diversity plan for the civil service. These were commissioned at a total cost of £44,000.
Departments: Credit Cards
Mr. Heald: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many staff in her Department have corporate charge cards. [129142]
Hilary Armstrong: There are five staff within the Cabinet Office who have corporate charge cards.
We are currently phasing out the corporate charge card with the intention to replace them with the Government procurement card.
European Communities (Employment in the Civil Service) Order 2007
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what (a) consultations she held and (b) representations she received on the European Communities (Employment in the Civil Service) Order 2007 (i) prior and (ii) subsequent to its introduction; and if she will make a statement. [129714]
Mr. McFadden: The European Communities (Employment in the Civil Service) Order 2007 was drawn up after extensive consultation exercises within Government and with the support of the Council of Civil Service Unions. These also involved bilateral meetings between senior officials from the Cabinet Office and those Departments and agencies responsible for 98 per cent. of all reserved posts. Cabinet Office officials continue to liaise with departments and agencies while the new arrangements are being put in place.
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps she is taking to publicise the effects of the European Communities (Employment in the Civil Service) Order 2007 to (a) potential civil service recruits and (b) the public; and if she will make a statement. [129715]
Mr. McFadden: The civil service recruitment gateway, the guidance on the civil service nationality rules and the civil service management code are currently being revised to reflect the new arrangements under the European Communities (Employment in the Civil Service) Order 2007 and will be placed shortly on the Cabinet Office website. Central guidance on the new legislation was issued on 6 March by the Cabinet Office to HR directors and chief executive officers throughout the civil service to allow them to amend their recruitment literature.
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what guidance she has issued to Government Departments following the European Communities (Employment in the Civil Service) Order 2007 on the employment of (a) non-Irish EEA nationals in a public service reserved post, (b) an alien in any civil service post without a certificate and (c) an alien spouse of a UK national in the civil service; and if she will make a statement. [129716]
Mr. McFadden: The European Communities (Employment in the Civil Service) Order 2007 has no effect on the position of (a) non-Irish EEA nationals in public service reserved posts, (b) an alien in the civil service without a certificate issued under the Aliens' Employment Act 1955, and (c) an alien spouse of a UK national. They remain ineligible.
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what Government policy is on employment of (a) Commonwealth, (b) Irish and (c) EEA nationals in the Civil Service, following the European Communities (Employment in the Civil Service) Order 2007; and if she will make a statement. [129717]
Mr. McFadden: Commonwealth, Irish and EEA nationals are already eligible to apply for all non-reserved posts in the Civil Service. The European Communities (Employment in the Civil Service) Order 2007 defines more clearly the categories of post which may be reserved. It is anticipated that, following the Order, something in the region of a further 70,000 posts in the Civil Service will be open, in addition to UK nationals, to Commonwealth, Irish and EEA nationals.
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what assessment she has made of the effect of the European Communities (Employment in the Civil Service) Order 2007 on the (a) number and (b) percentage of posts reserved for UK nationals; and if she will make a statement. [129720]
Mr. McFadden: It is anticipated that the number of posts reserved for UK nationals will be reduced by about 70,000 following the European Communities (Employment in the Civil Service) Order 2007. This represents a reduction of 13 per cent. against the previous number of reserved posts within the Civil Service.
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