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26 Jan 2009 : Column 210W—continued
Young Offender Institutions
David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the consequences of the absence of lock-out times in the juvenile estate, with particular reference to its effect on the number of late arrivals at young offender institutions. [247747]
Mr. Hanson: “Latest Reception” and “Reception Closing” times are locally agreed by all Prison Governors and Area Managers—including those in the juvenile estate—and communicated to escort contractors. Contractors incur performance measures for failing to deliver prisoners before receptions close. These performance measures can translate into financial payments if contractors are unable to demonstrate that the reasons for the failure are outside their control. Generally, the minority of young people who arrive later than the agreed time are nonetheless admitted to the establishment because of the emphasis placed on the primary need to safeguard vulnerable young people.
Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
Brazil: Overseas Investment
Mr. Hurd: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the monetary value of direct foreign investment by UK companies in Brazil has been for each year since 2001. [250122]
Mr. Thomas: The Office for National Statistics estimates of net UK foreign direct investment flows to Brazil are shown in the following table:
| £ million | |
The ONS estimated that the book value of net UK direct investment in Brazil was worth about £3,789 million at the end of 2007.
Sources:
ONS foreign direct investment First Release and MA4.
Brazil: Overseas Trade
Mr. Hurd: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the monetary value of goods (a) exported to and (b) imported from Brazil has been in each year since 2001. [250123]
Mr. Thomas: The data requested are shown in the following table:
| £ million | ||
| UK exports of goods to Brazil | UK imports of goods from Brazil | |
| Source: UK Balance of Payments Pink Book, 2008 edition | ||
Electronic Equipment: Waste Disposal
Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent discussions his Department has had with representatives of EU institutions on the introduction of targets relating to the provisions of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive; and if he will make a statement. [248843]
Ian Pearson:
BERR officials have had informal discussions with European Commission officials regarding
the proposed amendments to the waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) directive. It is anticipated that the Commission's Working Group negotiations will begin during the Swedish presidency in the second half of 2009. We will be consulting with UK stakeholders in the near future on the range of proposals being presented.
Manufacturing Industries: Government Assistance
Bob Spink: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will review the Government's manufacturing strategy to increase support to manufacturing industry in light of the current financial situation; and if he will make a statement. [248844]
Ian Pearson: The Government launched their new Manufacturing Strategy in September last year. It focuses on what the sector needs for success in the long-term—including seizing the opportunities of the low carbon economy, supporting skills, realising overseas opportunities, and improving the perception and understanding of manufacturing.
It builds on existing areas of support such as R and D tax credits, the Technology Programme, and the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS). MAS is monitoring the situation for small manufacturing companies and responding flexibly with suitable advice to help companies. We are also piloting increased support for MAS in the west midlands.
The Government are also taking steps to help businesses through the current economic downturn to boost capital and liquidity in the market. Key measures include the reduction in VAT, the introduction of a new Enterprise Finance Guarantee to support up to £1.3 billion of bank lending, a separate £10 billion guarantee facility to support further working capital bank lending, a £75 million Capital for Enterprise Fund to convert businesses' debt into equity, and £25 million of regional funds.
In the longer term, we are ensuring that the policies within the Manufacturing Strategy work to bolster UK manufacturing and deliver the foundations of 21(st) Century success such as world-leading R and D and a highly skilled work force.
New Businesses
Mr. Hunt: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many newly incorporated (a) hotels, (b) restaurants, (c) bars and (d) bed and breakfast establishments were registered with Companies House in each of the last five years. [240652]
Ian Pearson: The number of hotels, restaurants and bars incorporated each year since 2003 is shown in the following table. The figures are based on the Standard Industrial Classification code shown on the annual return. No figures are available for companies incorporated in 2008, as they have not yet filed their first annual return. There is no SIC code for bed and breakfast establishments.
| Hotels | Restaurants | Bars | |
Overseas Trade
Mr. Vara: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the monetary value of trade between the UK and (a) India, ( b) China, (c) Russia, (d) Brazil, (e) EU member states and (f) the USA was in each of the last 10 years. [250817]
Mr. Thomas: The data requested are shown in the following tables.
| £ million | ||||||
| UK exports of goods and services to: | ||||||
| India | China | Russia | Brazil | EU27 | USA | |
| £ million | ||||||
| UK imports of goods and services from: | ||||||
| India | China | Russia | Brazil | EU27 | USA | |
| (1 )For technical reasons associated with European Union enlargement, consistent figures for UK trade with the EU27 are not published for 1998. Some of the data were affected by transactions associated with missing trader VAT fraud, notably with the EU in the first half of 2006. Source: UK Balance of Payments Pink Book, 2008 edition, Table 9.2 | ||||||
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