Written Ministerial Statements
Wednesday 17 June 2009
Business, Innovation and Skills
UK Inward Investment
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (Ian Lucas): My noble Friend the Minister for Trade, Investment and Business, Lord Davies, has made the following statement with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
I am pleased to inform the House that in these difficult times for the global economy, the UK is maintaining its status as a world class business destination.
UK Trade and Investment has announced today, in its launch of the UK Inward Investment results 2008-09, that there were 1,744 direct investments in the UK by foreign owned companies between 1 April 2008 and 31 March 2009, as reported by UK Trade and Investment and its partner agencies in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the English Regional Development Agencies. This is an increase of 11 per cent. on the year before and confirms that international business has continued to select the UK as the preferred investment location in Europe, second only globally to the United States of America. Seventy eight thousand five hundred and forty new and safeguarded jobs have been delivered to the UK through this foreign direct investment.
At a time of global economic downturn, inward investment is a long term decision for any company seeking to grow internationally. In the current climate, more investors are seeking to locate in the UK than anywhere else in Europe, helping to underpin the long term economic prospects of the UK’s business environment. The number of new projects has increased by 26 per cent. from 653 in 2007-08 to 827 in 2008-09 and there were 460 expansions by existing investors, up by 5 per cent. from 436 the previous year. In line with reduced global market liquidity, the number of acquisitions, joint ventures and mergers taking place is down 6 per cent. from 484 in 2007-08 to 457 in 2008-09.
Companies are seeking to invest internationally earlier in their lifecycles than at any time previously to fund their growth. The UK has positioned itself as a springboard for global growth for companies seeking to grow both in the UK and internationally from a UK base. UK Trade and Investment is the Government organisation leading support for such companies in the international business environment.
I am arranging for a copy of the UK Inward Investment report 2008-09 to be placed in the Library of the House.
Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council
The Minister for Business, Innovation and Skills (Mr. Pat McFadden): My noble Friend the Minister For Communications, Technology and Broadcasting (Lord Carter) has made the following statement.
Further to the written statement concerning the positions that HMG intended to take at the Telecommunications Council, held on 11 June 2009, I am pleased to be able to report back on the main conclusions and topics of discussion.
The Telecommunications Council took place on 11 June 2009 under the chair of the Czech presidency. Andy Lebrecht, the deputy permanent representative in Brussels, represented the
United Kingdom. Much of the discussion was taken up by two main items, an informal (and off the agenda) discourse on the review of the EU regulatory framework from electronic communications networks and services and a formal round-table on European network and information security policy.
On the review, after an introduction by the presidency (in which they regretted they had been able to preside over a final agreement) Commissioner Reding suggested that while she understood the concerns of member states over the introduction of amendment 138 (the clause that would make any internet disconnection subject to judicial review) she was more worried about a delay in the adoption of the framework that would occur if the Council decided on a conciliation process. In response the vast majority of member states said that they could not accept the EP amendment; some noting that it potentially interfered with national competencies. The UK noted that the amendment was unacceptable both in legal and policy terms, noting how it could constrain future decisions of the Government. In terms of a future conciliation process the vast majority of member states (including the UK) indicated their wish to see discussion limited to amendment 138 with other (agreed) issues not being re-opened. Most member states were also happy to leave the question as to whether Council should reject the whole package or just the better regulation directive, which contains amendment 138, to the presidency.
The presidency concluded that while a majority of member states wanted the framework adopted quickly, there was a strong majority who rejected amendment 138 and so the next step would be conciliation.
On the formal discussion on European network and information security policy Commissioner Reding introduced the Commission’s communication by noting that a breakdown in the critical telecoms infrastructure in the next five years was more likely now as a result of security flaws. She asked member states to take the threat seriously and to reflect on the role that the European network and information security agency (ENISA) may need to take. She noted the Commission intention to publish proposals concerning the reform of the ENISA mandate by April 2010.
Following this, during a wide-ranging exchange of views, the majority of member states endorsed the need for a pan EU (or even global) approach to information security and for enhanced co-operation between member states. All who spoke, with the exception of the UK and Hungary, also called for ENISA’s term and remit to be automatically extended. The UK, while also welcoming the Commission’s approach noted that a future role for ENISA should be discussed within the context of an overall policy discussion on information and security and critical infrastructure protection.
The Council then moved on to three items under Any Other Business, the first of which was on “Internet of Things—an action plan for Europe—Information from the Commission”, where the Commission noted that it would shortly be issuing a communication on the matter; a report from the presidency on the ministerial conference entitled “Safer Internet for Children” (Prague, 20 April 2009) where the Commissioner thanked the presidency for an important conference and “Internet Governance: The next steps”, where Commissioner Reding noted the imminent publication of a communication addressing, among other issues, the future of ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers).
Treasury
The Scottish and Northern Ireland Banknotes Regulations
The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (Kitty Ussher):
Today I am publishing a consultation document on secondary legislation made under part 6 of the Banking Act 2009, regarding arrangements underpinning the commercial issuance of Scottish and Northern Ireland banknotes. Copies of the document entitled, “The Banking Act 2009 (Scottish and Northern Ireland Banknotes)
Regulations 2009: a consultation” have been deposited in the Libraries of the House and the Vote Office and will be available on the HM Treasury website.
Energy and Climate Change
Coal and Carbon Capture Storage
The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (Edward Miliband): I am today publishing a consultation on coal and carbon capture and storage entitled “A Framework for the Development of Clean Coal”.
In April, the Budget announced financing for up to four CCS demonstration projects in the UK and, the following day, I outlined proposals for a new regulatory regime for new coal-fired power stations. Following the statutory strategic environmental assessment, this consultation document sets out the Government’s proposals in more detail.
The aims of our proposals are to drive the decarbonisation of our energy supply, to safeguard our energy security and to get the best deal for consumers and businesses. The conditions on new coal proposed in this document are the most environmentally ambitious of any country in the world, requiring the demonstration of CCS on a substantial proportion of any new power station and the 100 per cent. retrofit of CCS when it is proven.
The document also sets out for consultation the process for funding and taking forward the demonstration projects that will enable us to maintain coal as part of our energy mix, supporting diversity and therefore security of supply.
By acting early, jobs will also be created as Britain develops the expertise in what could be a major new industry, with CCS projects offering the potential to form the hubs for clusters of low carbon industries.
By driving the development of CCS in this country, we are also, as a country, playing an essential role in tackling climate change. Coal is already widely used in developed and developing countries and its use is expected to grow further: 70 to 80 per cent. of the predicted growth in emissions in the coming decades will come from developing countries unless we find a route to low carbon growth
Copies of the consultation have been placed in the Library and it is available from: www.decc.gov.uk
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Animal Health and Veterinary Performance Targets
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Hilary Benn): I have set Animal Health (AH) the following performance targets for 2009-10.
Demonstrate readiness for major outbreak of exotic disease.
Working with our policy customers and operational partners, design and deliver exotic animal disease exercises across Great Britain, testing response to cross-border incidents and planning for multiple outbreak centres. To be delivered in conjunction with operational partners.
Continue improvement of system and processes.
Design, build and roll out the TB work management module of the Business Reform Programme. This will give clear visibility of TB testing demand and activity, and support the delivery of different policy requirements in this key area.
Enhanced engagement with end user customers.
Test the impact of changes to our service delivery model by engaging with specific customer groups. Focus on centralised delivery of services relating to International Trade, aim to achieve a customer satisfaction standard of 90 per cent.. We will establish focus groups for strategically important customer segments. Specifically in 2009-10 we will focus on:
The animal by product industry.
Cattle farmers.
We will consult with customer panels on improving customer service, policy development and provision of advice and guidance.
Achieve a further 3.5 per cent. (£4 million) efficiency saving by the end of the 2009-10 financial year, and identify options to enable a further 5 per cent. of savings to be made in the following financial year.
Charge end users fairly and efficiently
Working with policy customers, identify areas in which end user customers should be bearing more of the costs associated with regulation. Produce pricing proposals and develop a charging mechanism to support the introduction of an increased volume and scale of charges to support delivery of policy outcomes.
(i) I have set the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) the following performance targets for 2009-10.
Deliver 90 per cent. contracted research milestones.
Deliver 85 per cent. of research final reports on time.
Deliver 85 per cent. of contracted surveillance deliverables to time.
Maintain appropriate third party quality accreditations.
Achieve a score of 85 per cent. on a three-year rolling average in the VLA customer satisfaction survey.
Achieve full cost recovery.
Conduct one table top notifiable disease simulation exercise to test current laboratory response capability, identify gaps and implement action plan.
To improve the VLA’s safety record using 2007-08 as a comparator.
I have set the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) the following performance targets for 2009-10.
Target 1—To authorise veterinary medicines according to legislative requirements and published standards, and monitor reports of suspected adverse reactions to identify emerging trends and take proportionate action.
Target 2—To ensure that UK policy objectives are reflected in EC legislation and guidance and that UK legislation and guidance enables veterinary medicines to be used responsibly, effectively and safely.
Target 3—To ensure the regulatory system is effective and contributes to protecting public health by taking risk-based action on the findings from surveillance of residues in food-producing animals.
Capacity and Capability and Value for money
Target 4—To ensure that the appropriate infrastructure is in place to achieve targets 1, 2 and 3 and provides value for money and VMD achieves full cost recovery.
There are stringent performance indicators for each of these targets.
Further details are given in the respective “Agencies’ Business Plans for 2009-10”, copies of which will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Home Department
Terrorism Act 2000 (Carlile Report)
The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Alan Johnson): I am pleased to say that Lord Carlile of Berriew QC has completed his report on the operation of the Terrorism Act 2000 and part 1 of the Terrorism Act 2006 in 2008, which will be laid before the House today.
I am grateful to Lord Carlile for his detailed report and have considered his recommendations fully. Following consultation within my Department and with other relevant Departments and agencies, I am also pleased to lay before the House today my response to Lord Carlile’s recommendations.
Copies of both Lord Carlile’s report and the response will be available in the Vote Office.
| Index | Home Page |