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14 Sep 2009 : Column 2187W—continued
Motor Vehicles: Manufacturing Industries
Mr. Brady: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many and what proportion of payments made under the Vehicle Scrappage Scheme to date relate to vehicles written off for insurance purposes. [290745]
Ian Lucas [holding answer 9 September 2009]: The Department does not hold this information.
Mr. Todd: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much has been spent on the vehicle scrappage scheme; and if he will make a statement. [290964]
Mr. Lammy: £79,540,000 has been claimed and paid under the vehicle scrappage scheme. This information was correct as at 8 September.
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many cars have been scrapped under his Department's scheme for vehicles over 10 years old; and how many of those were registered as historic vehicles for vehicle excise duty purposes. [291145]
Mr. Lammy: 195,009 orders for new vehicles have been taken since the scrappage scheme was announced in the Budget. This figure covers the period from 23 April up to 30 August 2009.
We do not hold information on how many of those were registered as historic vehicles for Vehicle Excise Duty Purposes.
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many individuals have claimed the £2,000 allowance for scrapped vehicles over 10 years old in respect of more than one vehicle. [291146]
Mr. Lammy: There have been 112 occurrences of more than one vehicle being scrapped by the same individual or business entity.
Overseas Trade: Afghanistan
Bob Russell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he has taken with the government of Afghanistan to encourage the export from Afghanistan to Britain of (a) food products and (b) other products; and if he will make a statement. [291014]
Ian Lucas: The role of UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) is to assist UK companies seeking to do business overseas and overseas companies seeking to invest in the UK. Assisting overseas companies to export to the UK does not fall within its remit. No steps have therefore been taken by UK Trade and Investment to encourage the export of goods from Afghanistan.
The Department for International Development (DFID) is working to improve the business environment in Afghanistan and to help Afghanistan economic development.
Regional Development Agencies: Trade Unions
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what funding each regional development agency has granted to trade union bodies since each such agency was established. [284173]
Ms Rosie Winterton:
RDAs fund initiatives through a variety of third party organisations to deliver projects to increase economic growth, such as on workforce development and economic inclusion. The specific focus
and priorities of such activities are set out in each region's Regional Economic Strategy and will differ according to the needs, opportunities and priorities for economic growth in each region.
The following table shows RDA funding to trade unions for 2003 to 2009. The RDAs retain records of the last six years. To provide records before this period will incur disproportionate costs.
| RDA | Total amount of RDA funding to trade unions 2003 to 2009 (£) |
Response With Responsibility
John Penrose: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills when he expects to respond to the recommendations contained in the Risk and Regulation Advisory Council's May 2009 report, Response with responsibility: policy making for public risk in the 21(st) century. [278055]
Ian Lucas: The Government expect to publish in autumn 2009 its response to the recommendations contained in the Risk and Regulation Advisory Council's May 2009 report, response with responsibility: policy making for public risk in the 21(st) century.
Risk and Regulation Advisory Council: Finance
John Penrose: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what the budget of the Risk and Regulation Advisory Council is for 2009-10; and how much the Council spent on (a) secretarial and administrative support, (b) advertising and marketing, (c) forum events and (d) publications in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [278056]
Ian Lucas:
For 2009-10, the budget of the unit responsible for raising awareness of the Risk and Regulation Advisory Council work and tools, covers both work connected to the Risk and Regulation Advisory Council and work unrelated to the Council. It is not possible to give a figure just for the work relating to the Risk and Regulation Advisory Council. However a provisional sum of £70,000
from a separate budget has been made available to this unit to use to raise awareness of the work of the RRAC and encourage the use of the tools it developed.
The following expenditure figures are in respect of the 2008-09 financial years:
(a) secretarial and administrative support: £251,000 (includes staff salaries and associated costs. This figure is different to that given in a previous answer as it represents expenditure rather than budget)
(b) and (c) advertising and marketing (including Public Relations) and forum events: £114,000
(d) publications:£28,000.
Safety: Window Blinds
Gordon Banks: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 1 July 2009, Official Report, column 324W, on domestic appliances: safety, what assessment he has made of the recommendations of Sheriff Mackie on looped cords for blinds and curtains. [290891]
Ian Lucas [holding answer 9 September 2009]: Officials have now met with representatives from the British Blind and Shutter Association (BBSA) to discuss what actions the industry can take to alert those who already have internal blinds with looped cords installed in their homes. The industry-has produced a leaflet and poster called "Make it safe" which offers practical advice on how to deal with looped cords installed in the home. This advice can be viewed at:
My officials are now considering with the BBSA and others how this message can be used and if necessary further developed to reach the widest possible audience.
As a result of the discussions with the BBSA, we are also looking at possible revisions to the relevant technical product standard.
Students: Radicalism
Mr. Holloway: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Lancaster and Wyre of 15 July 2009, Official Report, column 507W, on students: radicalism, which institutions will receive further targeted support in academic year 2009-10. [290879]
Ian Lucas [holding answer 9 September 2009]: In academic year 2009-10 the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills will be giving targeted advice and support to institutions in priority Prevent-funded local authority areas.
A full list of these priority areas can be found on the Communities and Local Government website:
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