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3 May 2007 : Column 1815W—continued
| COPD | ||
| Claimants’ representatives | Claims registered | Average damages paid on claims settled by paymen t (£) |
In each of the tables, figures of Claims Registered may be lower than in the previous answers due to claimants having changed representatives.
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many coal health claimants are awaiting a medical examination in (a) Bassetlaw and (b) the UK. [135425]
Malcolm Wicks:
The number of coal health claimants that are currently awaiting a medical examination for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
in Bassetlaw is 408 and in the UK is 65,221. For vibration white finger the figures for Bassetlaw is 35 and the UK is 1,639.
Iran: Export Credit Guarantees
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what advice is being given by his Department to the Export Credit Guarantees Department on loan guarantees for UK exports to Iran. [134322]
Mr. McCartney: ECGD has advised Ministers on export credit cover policy towards Iran. For some time, ECGD has restricted the availability of cover. At present, applications for cover are not being processed pending clarification of the applicability of UN Security Council resolution 1747 to the provision of export credits. In any event, there has been a sharp decline in the demand for ECGD cover.
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent changes have been made to Government policy on loan guarantees for UK exports to Iran; and if he will make a statement. [134323]
Mr. McCartney: ECGD has pursued a cautious policy towards Iran for some time. Cover capacity has been limited in order to contain exposure. In the light of recent developments with Iran, ECGD is required to consult Ministers before approving any applications for export credit support.
Since the adoption of UN Security Council resolution 1747 in March, ECGD is not processing applications for cover pending clarification on its applicability to the provision of export credits to Iran. In any event, there has been a sharp decline in demand for ECGD cover.
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what his role is in decisions on whether to approve export credit guarantees to companies wishing to trade with Iran; and if he will make a statement. [134329]
Mr. McCartney: In the light of recent developments with Iran, ECGD is required to consult Ministers before approving any applications for export credit cover. No applications for cover are currently being processed pending clarification on the applicability of UN Security Council resolution 1747 to the provision of export credits. In any event, there has been a sharp decline in demand for cover for Iran.
Migrant Workers: Minimum Wage
Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to ensure that migrant workers (a) receive the minimum wage and (b) are protected from employer coercion in relation to their terms of employment. [135069]
Jim Fitzpatrick:
Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs minimum wage compliance teams are devoted to making sure all workers receive their entitlement to be paid at least the national minimum wage. Every year the DTI publicises details about the minimum wage
and the number to ring (0845 6000 678) if workers need more information or believe they are being underpaid. The helpline operators have access to language line interpreters so that callers can be phoned back allowing the caller to speak in their own language.
The Government will not tolerate the mistreatment of migrant workers. Legal migrant workers have the same employment rights and recourses as their UK equivalents. To ensure migrant workers are aware of their rights we have produced ‘Know before you go’ leaflets in partnership with the Polish, Lithuanian and Portuguese governments. The Home Office is also distributing a one page DTI note on “basic employment rights and where to go for further advice”. This is going to all workers registering under the worker registration scheme and is available in a range of languages.
Nuclear Power
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 19 March 2007, Official Report, column 635W, on nuclear power, what additional areas the new consultation on nuclear energy will cover. [134929]
Malcolm Wicks: Our new consultation on nuclear energy will endeavour to bring together the evidence and analysis Government have collected and published since the Energy Review began. It will help people reach informed views and provide the Government with valuable contributions, which will help inform the Government’s decision in the autumn.
Photovoltaics Demonstration Programme
Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much money was (a) allocated for grants and (b) disbursed by the photovoltaics demonstration programme in each month since the scheme began. [131742]
Malcolm Wicks [holding answer 16 April 2007]: The information requested is as follows.
| Solar PV major demonstration programme—Stream 1 | ||
| £ | ||
| Month | Allocated | Disbursed |
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